National Renewable Energy Laboratory, 1617 Cole Boulevard, Golden, CO 80401-3393

A -- PHOTOVOLTAIC MANUFACTURING TECHNOLOGY PHASE 5 -- MANUFACTURING R&D SOL 7-375 DUE 061697 POC Christie Johnson, Subcontract Administrator, 303.384.7394, Dan Cornell, Contracting Officer/Director, Acquisition Services Center, 303.384.7549 WEB: None, None. E-MAIL: Acquisition Services, Christie_Johnson@NREL.GOV. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory anticipates issuing a Request for Proposal to solicit research and development efforts from members of the photovoltaic (PV) and related industries to resolve manufacturing problems relevant to PV product development. The anticipated effort is the next phase in the Photovoltaic Manufacturing Technology (PVMaT) project. This Phase 5 RFP is directed at manufacturing R&D to improve production processes and reduce the cost of PV products. This RFP is a cost-shared DOE/industry partnership for advancing PV manufacturing technologies, reducing PV manufacturing costs, improving PV product performance and reliability, and providing a foundation for private expansion of U.S. commercial PV production capacities. It is designed to be impartial to the various PV technologies and manufacturing approaches. The solicitation will be open to U.S. industrial organizations and/or teams with activities directly related to the manufacturing of PV products and systems. PVMaT is being conducted for the DOE by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (Golden, Colorado) and Sandia National Laboratories (Albuquerque, New Mexico). The proposed work areas may include, but will not be limited to, issues such as improvement of module manufacturing processes; system and system component packaging, system integration, manufacturing and assembly; product manufacturing flexibility; and balance-of-system development including storage and quality control, with the goal of manufacturing improvements. Proposals received in response to this PVMaT Phase 5 RFP will be accepted only if submitted by a U.S. organization or a team led by a U.S. organization. Successful Offerors must demonstrate significant cost reductions in the manufacture of systems/system components and delivered power or services to users. Subject to the availability of funds, multiple cost-shared awards are anticipated. Organizations desiring a copy of the solicitation setting forth the RFP requirements should make a written request within 30 days of this announcement to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, 1617 Cole Blvd., Golden, CO 80401-3393, ATTN: Christie Johnson, referencing Synopsis No. 7-375. The RFP is anticipated to be issued within 90 days. This is NOT a request for proposals. Telephone requests will not be accepted.***** (0135)

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