Sandia National Laboratories, Organization 10232, M/S 0212, P.O. Box 5800-0212, Albuquerque, NM 87185-5800

A -- ADVANCED POINT-FOCUS SOLAR CONCENTRATOR SOL AL-6011. Contact, F. Lujan III, 505/844-5919, Fax 505/844-1921. Sandia National Laboratory's Solar Thermal Technology Department, supported by the Department of Energy (DOE), develops solar thermal technologies that produce electricity. One important and costly element of a point-focus solar thermal system is the concentrator-a dish or heliostat. There is potential to improve the state of the art of point-focus solar concentrators in terms of cost, performance, and characterization techniques. Sandia is soliciting companies interested in proof-of-concept activities that demonstrate proposed applications for: 1. new and innovative ideas pertaining to fabrication approaches for dishes and/or heliostats; 2. the adaptation to point-focus solar concentrators of existing manufacturing technologies not previously applied to this area; 3. the design of less complex or costly components for point-focus solar concentrators; or 4. new and innovative methods for evaluating concentrator quality or optical performance during the manufacturing process. This solicitation represents an effort to either develop entirely new concepts or technologies for point-focus solar concentrators, or to apply to point-focus solar concentrators existing manufacturing technologies not previously used in the area. Please note that line-focus (trough) concentrators are not included in this solicitation. Also, existing point-focus solar concentrator designs will not be considered under this solicitation, nor will the development of optical materials for concentrators. The adaptation of existing designs using innovative techniques and/or materials that offer substantial cost and/or performance improvements will be considered. Although proposals from offerors with prior experience in the field are not excluded from consideration, the solicitation is primarily targeted at manufacturers and technologists who have not yet applied their expertise to solar concentrators. With this goal in mind, it is anticipated that some of the awards may be given to small but visionary offerors. In this initial solicitation, multiple small awards will be made. Promising projects with a successful proof-of-concept may be considered for further, cost-shared development towards marketability. Companies interested in receiving Sandia's Request for Proposal should provide notice of their interest, their name, and mailing address to the listed representative. (025)

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