Los Alamos National Laboratory, Mail Stop C334, P.O. Box 1663, Los Alamos, NM 87545

A -- NEW ELECTRIC POWER TECHNOLOGY BASED ON SUPERCONDUCTIVITY SOL CIT-IP:99-52 POC Randolph T. Tremper, CIT-SP, MS K763, PHONE: (505) 665-2134, FAX: (505) 665-3164, e-mail: rtremper@lanl.gov E-MAIL: rtremper@lanl.gov, rtremper@lanl.gov. The University of California, management and operations (M&O) contractor for the U. S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), is announcing an open-ended, non-binding solicitation for proposals to collaborate in developing new technologies relating to future widespread adaptation of superconductivity (the ability of certain materials to carry electricity with no resistance) in a broad range of electric power equipment that will be smaller and more efficient, reliable, and environmentally acceptable than conventional alternatives. This is an opportunity to leverage the resources of three of the world's major research institutions -- Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico, Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) in Tennessee, and Argonne National Laboratory (ANL) in Illinois -- which have a combined budget of over $2 billion and are centers of expertise in electric power applications of high temperature superconductivity (HTS). HTS proposals are invited which aredirectly relevant to the efforts of the three DOE Superconductivity Technology Centers at LANL, ORNL, and ANL. These Centers are supported by the Superconductivity for Electric Systems Program within DOE's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE). The Superconductivity Technology Centers are seeking U.S.-based industrial firms to collaborate on research and development projects in certain aspects of one or more of the following technical areas. Proposals for collaboration on-site at a Laboratory and/or at the partner's site will be considered. In particular, LANL is developing a research park adjacent to the Lab where space is expected to be available to project partners. 1. Processes and properties of flexible electrical wire made with HTS materials Advances in the present powder-in-tube (PIT) manufacturing process Advances in the "second generation" manufacturing method utilizing HTS coatings on metal substrates 2. HTS components Coils Cables Magnet concepts 3. Applications utilizing or enabling HTS power technology Fault current limiters Transformers Transmission lines Magnetic separation Generators Motors Refrigerators and cryostats Magnetic energy storage Flywheels AC/DC converters These are areas of current interest for industrial collaboration; proposals in HTS-related technical areas not listed will be evaluated against program goals in effect at the time of receipt. Further information regarding DOE's interests in HTS technology can be found at the following website: http://www.eren.doe.gov/superconductivity/ Technology development is accelerated and strengthened by partnerships between the National Laboratories' Superconductivity Technology Centers and U.S. industry. However, funding limitations at the National Laboratories can limit a Lab from partnering with all companies that express interest. Several contractual mechanisms are available for collaborative activities with the National Laboratories, and the appropriate mechanism will be chosen on a case-by-case basis. If the Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) is utilized, Federal statute requires that CRADA partners be given the right to negotiate a sole commercial license in a field of use under reasonable terms and for reasonable compensation for intellectual property developed under the CRADA by Lab employees which may reduce opportunities for other companies in this area. Therefore, the partner selection process must assure that there is no overlap in the work statements so that the partner will not be prevented from receiving licensing rights due under the CRADA. In other words, the selection of a company to partner in a certain technology may limit the ability of other companies to partner in the same or related technology areas. It should also be noted that the CRADA mechanism does not permit funds to flow from a National Laboratory to industry; funds-in from industry to a National Laboratory is permitted, however. Partners will be selected using criteria shown in subsequent sections of this solicitation. Proposals will be accepted and reviewed at any time after the posting of this solicitation. Additional information about this solicitation can be obtained by contacting Randolph (Randy) Tremper at 505-665-2134 or at rtremper@lanl.gov Proposals can be e-mailed to the address in the previous paragraph, faxed to 505-665-3164, or sent by express delivery to: Dr. Randolph Tremper Superconductivity Technology Center, K763 Los Alamos National Laboratory Bikini Atoll Road, SM-30 Los Alamos, NM 87545 SUGGESTED PROPOSAL FORMAT The following points should be addressed in the proposal: Title of the proposed project Overall objective Background Technical approach Tasks Milestones Term of the collaboration Resources required (estimated manpower and cost) Funding details (sources and suggested amount of industry cost share, by fiscal year) National Lab(s) and additional industry partnerships proposed Company and National Lab principal investigators (if known) along with brief vitae of proposer's principal investigatorsProposer's relevant facilities and equipment Description of proposer's prior and on-going HTS-related projects (last 5 years) Plan for dissemination of collaboration results For the initial proposal, the above information should be summarized in no more than six pages; lengthy proposals are not required. Appendices and supporting documents are allowed if the company thinks that the information will be helpful in the assessment of the proposal. SCREENING CRITERIA Proposals will be initially screened for programmatic needs. All proposals not meeting these criteria will be eliminated from further consideration. These criteria are: 1. Does the proposed work address a major programmatic area of one of the Superconductivity Technology Centers as listed at the beginning of this solicitation? 2. Is the proposer highly qualified to collaborate on the project? 3. Are the proposed resources (manpower and dollars) available at the company and/or the National Laboratory to accomplish the objectives? PROPOSAL QUALITY FACTORS For those proposals that pass the above screening criteria, the following quality factors will be applied in the evaluation of the proposals: 1. Are the capabilities of the company and the National Lab(s) complementary/synergistic? 2. Is the suggested approach to the project technically sound? 3. Can qualified (and available) personnel be identified at the National Lab? 4. Are facilities and equipment available for the project? 5. What is the likelihood of technical success? 6. To what extent will the generic results be allowed to be broadly disseminated? 7. Is the level of company cost share appropriate? 8. Is funds-in to the Laboratory proposed? 9. Does the proposed work duplicate current projects COMPANY-RELATED FACTORS In addition to the Proposal Quality Factors above, the following factors will be applied in evaluating the company submitting the proposal: 1. Is the proposer capable of, and committed to, exploiting the full commercial potential of the technology? 2. Does the company have an existing "market presence" or will they be trying to penetrate an area new to that company? 3. Does the company have the technical capability to accomplish their tasks in the proposal? 4. Does the company have the fiscal and managerial strength to accomplish the goals of the proposal and further develop and commercialize the output of the project? 5. Are the proposed milestones realistic, and are they definitive enough to readily monitor progress? 6. Does the company meet U.S. competitiveness criteria as defined in the DOE modular CRADA? 7. Does it appear that the company is willing to partner with the National Lab(s) for the long term (i.e., through the pre-competitive stage of research and development)? MISCELLANEOUS FACTORS There are two additional factors which will be considered, especially in cases where scores from the above sections are nearly equal. 1. As part of the technology transfer mission of the Department of Energy, the Labs are encouraged to make the taxpayer-supported work that they perform as broadly available as possible to benefit U.S. industry as a whole, and therefore the overall U.S. economy. To what extent is the proposer willing to (a) partner with other companies and other National Labs, (b) allow generic data to be broadly disseminated, and (c) request limited rights (e.g., non-exclusive) so that this aspect of the Labs' mission can be met? 2. A critical success factor for Lab/industry collaborations has been shown to be constant communication/interaction of the respective technical staffs, with the ideal situation being co-location. To what extent is the company willing to commit to this level of interaction? (For example, LANL is developing a research park adjacent to the Lab where space will be available to industrial collaborators.) Are personnel exchanges proposed? Posted 06/28/99 (W-SN347934). (0179)

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