Army Research Laboratory, ALC Procurement Division, ATTN: AMSRL-CS-AL-PC, 2800 Powder Mill Road, Adelphi, MD 20783-1197

A -- FY97 ARL BAA AMENDED SYNOPSIS SOL DAAL01-97-R-ARL SOL DAAL01-97-R-ARL POC Beth Minnick, ARL BAA Coordinator, (301) 394-3991, bminnick@arl.mil. FY97 ARL BROAD AGENCY ANNOUNCEMENT -- Amendment 12 -- This amendment is available in its entirety on the ARL homepage (http://w3.arl.mil/baa). This amendment is to announce that the U.S. Army Research Laboratory is soliciting proposals for "Low Cost Rechargeable Alkaline Zinc Manganese Dioxide Batteries". The Army needs low cost rechargeable batteries to replace a significant quantity of general purpose Army primary batteries (e.g. BA-5590) which are used to provide power to an increasingly wide range of manportable electronics equipment. Low cost batteries such as rechargeable alkaline zinc manganese dioxide (rechargeable alkaline) offer the potential for achieving a significant reduction in life cycle cost (i.e. 10 times or greater). Rechargeable alkaline zinc manganese dioxide batteries may also offer an advantage in low power Army equipment currently using secondary batteries such as the BB-590 Nickel Cadmium battery due to lighter weight, better storability and lower initial cost. The U.S. Army Research Laboratory, Sensors and Electron Devices Directorate, is interested in receiving proposals for the study, development and delivery of 20 each prototype rechargeable zinc manganese dioxide alkaline cells of a wound cell construction, 20 each prototype batteries based on wound construction cells that are the rechargeable alkaline performance equivalent of a BA-5590 battery and 10 prototype battery chargers and 10 prototype cell chargers for changing the prototype cells and batteries. The wound cell construction is considered for improved rate capability due to the high electrode surface area. Proposed programs should be aimed at advancing the rechargeable alkaline spiral wound technology. Topics of interest include: zinc corrosion rates as a function of substrate area and substrate alloy or coating; the fabrication of zinc electrode form granulated zinc; the effect of zinc foil anode; the effect of corrosion inhibitors both organic and inorganic; the effect of electrode processing on cell performance; the evaluation of binders used for positive electrode fabrication; the effect of electrode balance and thickness on cycle life and rate capability; the effect of depth of discharge on cycle life in the spiral wound design; recombination mechanisms where hydrogen gas is absorbed at the positive electrode to form MnOOH; additives to the positive electrode to promote the recombination of hydrogen; cell and electrode designs that promote the recombination of hydrogren. Proposals for the delivery of low cost rechargeable alkaline must include provision for the test and evaluation of cell and battery objectives and should consider a rechargeable alkaline equivalent of the BB-590/U Nickel Cadmium and BA-5590/U Lithium Sulfur Dioxide Batteries because of their large quantity usage within the Army. (Note: BB-590/U and BA-5590/U requirements are contained in MIL-B-4936 and MIL-B-49430, respectively.) Proposals should identify an optimum cell size for constructing the BB-X590 prototype deliverables based on cost, performance and size of the 590 battery case. This could be a size A or a modified size cell C. Proposals for the delivery of a prototype rechargeable alkaline type BB-X590 should address the following minimum considerations: 2-Ampere-hours to an end point voltage of 20 Volts at 25 degrees Celsius at a 2-Ampere constant discharge rate for ten cycles; storability and operation over the widest possible temperature range (minus 20 to 55 degrees Celsius is essential); safety under all conditions of use and abuse and weight of 3.5 lb or less; performance of the batteries should be characterized over rates of discharge ranging from 150 mA to 2A. Government funding allows a maximum of $800,000 for this project over a period of 18 months. Programs for lesser amounts and/or stand alone subsets of effort, each individually priced are encouraged. Proposals are due by 2:00PM Eastern Time on 15 May 1998. Refer to the ARL homepage (http://w3.arl.mil/baa) for additional information on the following: EVALUATION CRITREIA, TECHNICAL PROPOSAL INSTRUCTIONS, COST PROPOSAL INSTRUCTIONS, CERTIFICATE OF CURRENT COSTS OR PRICING DATA, OTHER INFORMATION, RESTRICTIVE MARKINGS ON PROPOSALS, REPORT REQUIREMENTS, REPRESENTATIONS AND CERTIFICATIONS, and OTHER REQUIREMENTS. (TPOC: Don Foster, (301) 721-3429) All responsible sources may submit a bid or proposal which will be considered by the Agency. No telephone requests will be honored. (0100)

Loren Data Corp. http://www.ld.com (SYN# 0007 19980414\A-0007.SOL)