U.S. Department of Energy, Attn: Brad G. Bauer, Procurement Services Div., Idaho Operations Office, 850 Energy Drive, MS-1221, Idaho Falls ID 83401-1563

A -- PHASE II ADVANCED HYDROPOWER TURBINE SOL DE-RP07-96ID13430 DUE 061096 POC POC Robert L. Pence, Contract Specialist, 208-526-6518; Brad G. Bauer, Contracting Officer, 208-526-0090 The U.S. Department of Energy's Idaho Operations Office (DOE-ID) is soliciting expressions of interest on its proposed plan for Phase II of the Advanced Hydropower Turbine (AHT) program. Phase II will be a cost-shared, industry-government project to develop final engineered drawings of the most promising conceptual designs, for the next generation of environmentally-friendly hydropower turbines. These drawings will be used to build and test fully engineered models. The AHT Program was initiated in 1993 to help the U.S. hydropower industry incorporate advanced technology into hydropower turbine designs. The first phase of the AHT Program is under way. The objective of Phase I is to stimulate the U.S. industry to explore new concepts and apply cutting-edge technology to create conceptual designs for new turbine prototypes that will be environmentally-friendly, and balances environmental, technical, and cost considerations. The RFP for Phase II, which is scheduled for release during the latter part of 1996, will require offerors to develop fully engineered drawings of conceptual designs. (Offerors are not limited to only those who participated in Phase I.) The conceptual designs must be presented in sufficient detail to be understood and evaluated by a group of knowledgeable reviewers. Offerors will also be asked to provide an estimated budget and schedule for final engineered design drawing development, and to identify their proposed industry partnerships and teaming arrangements. The proposals will be evaluated by a technical committee composed of qualified business and technical professionals. Awards will be based upon environmental and technical feasibility, economics, offeror's capabilities, and the likelihood of achieving program goals and objectives. The offerors must have existing conceptual designs and be ready to proceed to the final design stage. These designs must clearly demonstrate that valuing and incorporating environmental design parameters (as defined by the offeror) can lead to the development of commercially viable turbines that successfully balance the trade offs between environmental, technical, and cost considerations. The conceptual designs should reflect a ''turbine system'' which could include everything except the dam and powerhouse. The turbine system must be adaptable to existing power houses with minor renovations. Anything from modular components to new materials can be proposed. The anticipated contract deliverables will include final engineered design drawings and a report documenting the calculations, evaluations, and technologies; a potential market (new and/or replacement) study; and a preliminary business/marketing scenario to incorporate the design into the marketplace. The final report(s) from the award winner(s) will provide sufficient final engineered design drawings and information to further justify the building and testing of a model of the hardware design. However, there are no guarantees that a firm awarded a contract under Phase II will be automatically selected to go on to Phase III, the constructing and testing of prototypes of the most promising models in actual operating hydropower plants. It is anticipated that each phase will be openly competed and that those not awarded a contract under Phase II can also submit proposals for Phase III. DOE does not intend to provide any kind of specifications other than that the proposed designs should be able to fit into an existing powerhouse and to provide significant environmental benefits relative to current available technology. It is anticipated that the awardee(s) will work with the turbine test laboratory, selected by DOE, to build and test the models based on the final engineering designs. This notice is also intended to promote the formation of industry partnerships, to stimulate interaction among potential participants, and to encourage the implementation of organizations to investigate creative solutions. Dependent upon funding, approximately $3 million will be available to support two or more awards for a period of approximately six months of final engineered design drawing work, and four months working with the turbine test laboratory selected by DOE. DOE seeks a cost share goal of 50%; however, offerors will be required to propose a minimum of 20% cost share for Phase II. (Subsequent solicitations for the Phase III will require increased cost sharing.) Failure to respond to this notice will not disqualify anyone from participating in the solicitation, but those that do respond to this notice will be issued the RFP and notification of related activities, if they indicate that desire. Expressions of interest must be in writing; no telephone calls will be accepted. The expression of interest should include the names, addresses, telephone numbers and facsimile numbers of the primary contact person, and an indication of whether or not the respondent wishes to receive a copy of the RFP. DO NOT SEND A PROPOSAL. THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS. The RFP will not be open to DOE agencies or DOE national laboratories, nor will they be allowed to participate as a potential team member. The responses should be received by June 10, 1996 and not exceed two pages. (0067)

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