SOLICITATION NOTICE
A -- Flexible Nanocomposite Organic Photovoltaic (OPV) Cells
- Notice Date
- 6/27/2003
- Notice Type
- Solicitation Notice
- Contracting Office
- Other Defense Agencies, Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, Contracts Management Office, 3701 North Fairfax Drive, Arlington, VA, 22203-1714
- ZIP Code
- 22203-1714
- Solicitation Number
- BAA03-32
- Response Due
- 9/17/2003
- Archive Date
- 6/27/2004
- Point of Contact
- Robert Tulis, DARPA Program Manager, Phone 000-000-0000, Fax 703-696-2206,
- E-Mail Address
-
none
- Description
- Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), Contracts Management Office (CMO), 3701 North Fairfax Drive, Arlington, VA 22203-1714. A - FLEXIBLE NANOCOMPOSITE ORGANIC PHOTOVOLTAIC (OPV) CELLS, SOL BAA 03-32, DUE 091703, POC DR. ROBERT TULIS, DARPA/MTO, FAX (703) 696-2206 Program Objectives and Description DARPA is soliciting innovative research proposals in the area of Flexible, Nanocomposite, Organic Photovoltaic (OPV) Cells. The goal of this program is to efficiently convert solar energy to electricity utilizing nanocomposite materials on a flexible, lightweight substrate. Proposed research should investigate innovative approaches that enable revolutionary advances in performance, device design, and manufacture. Specifically excluded from this program is research that primarily results in evolutionary improvements to the existing state-of-practice. Approaches specifically not of interest to this program are those that utilize aqueous or gel-based electrolytes and traditional, inorganic-based, thin?Vfilm photovoltaics. DARPA seeks innovative proposals in the area of flexible, nanocomposite, organic, solid-state, electronic materials and devices for future implementation in solar cells for military applications. For example, Special Operations teams now use batteries to power mission-critical equipment such as encrypted radios, laser designators, GPS navigation sets, etc. On a mission of several days, these batteries can make up about half the weight carried by a team. Current mission planning must trade off the heavier weight of rechargeable batteries versus the greater number of expendable batteries required. In logistics studies for a typical desert reconnaissance mission, a recharging system powered by efficient solar cells would allow battery weight to be reduced by more than a factor of two. The weight savings would allow greater amounts of ammunition, water, clothing, or food to be carried by the Special Operations team. When teams operate for extended periods in denied areas, efficient solar cells increase the level of covertness by allowing less frequent re-supply. To meet these requirements, the solar cells must be flexible, lightweight, durable, and low cost. The goal of this program is to develop organic, nanocomposite, photovoltaic cells that perform competitively with inorganic semiconductor cells (high efficiency, high carrier mobilities, efficient charge separation, and high photochemical stability), but will be flexible, lightweight, and low cost and processed like a polymer. While conventional, inorganic, solar cells have improved over the years they remain costly and energy intensive to manufacture. Nanocomposite materials are attractive for photovoltaics because of the potential of high throughput, non-vacuum processes using reel-to-reel, spray deposition, or other low cost processes. These material systems also offer the potential for very thin and flexible photovoltaic devices with high energy densities. The goal of this program is to demonstrate significant advances in photovoltaic device performance utilizing nanocomposite organic cells in a flexible form. For the purposes of this program, the term nanocomposite will include organic nano-materials in organic matrices or inorganic nano-particles in organic matrices with an unspecified format (thin films, bulk mixtures, etc). The organic matrix may be an active electronic/photonic material or an inactive binder containing the active components. The overall performance goal for this program is to demonstrate flexible solar cells with external cell efficiencies of 20% and above. The demonstrated device will be flexible (bend around a 1 cm radius), lightweight (0.1kg/m2), and have good environmental stability (3 months continuous operation). The final device design may include multiple photoactive layers (single side illumination) to meet the performance goals. The program is planned as a four phase, 5-year, effort with performance goals and metrics defined for each year's effort. At the end of Phase 1 (12 months), the PV cell efficiency (coupon size (1 cm2); flexible substrate - does not have to be plastic or exhibit environmental stability) goal is 6%. The PV cell efficiency will be measured using standard test conditions that include a cell temperature of 25 degrees Celsius, an incident illumination level of 1000 W/m2, and a spectrum defined by AM1.5. The cell efficiency will be independently verified by a DARPA sponsored Government laboratory. Meeting the performance goals in each phase will be required for the program to continue to the next phase. The success or failure to meet performance goals will constitute a GO/NO-GO decision at the end of each phase of the program. At the end of Phase II (an additional 12 months) the GO/NO-GO efficiency performance goal is 10% on a flexible plastic substrate (2.5 cm x 5 cm). Phase III (an additional 12 months) will improve photovoltaic materials and devices to provide an efficiency of 15% (2.5 cm x 5 cm). Phase IV is an additional 24 month effort that will demonstrate a PV cell efficiency of 20% (2.5 cm x 5 cm) and meet the requirements of flexibility, weight, and stability. In Phases III and IV methods must be identified for transition to large area devices (1 m2) and cell designs developed for solar powered battery chargers relevant to military applications. Areas of interest important to meeting the performance goals include (but are not limited to) high electron and hole mobility materials, designs for the efficient charge separation, improvements in excition diffusion properties, methods to reduce recombination, materials to maximize solar absorption efficiency, materials and designs to significantly reduce resistive loses, improvements in flexible, transparent, high conductivity electrodes, and materials to enhance the stability of organic solar cells to environmental conditions. Other areas of interest include the control of three-dimensional nanostructures, new methods to image resulting nanocomposite structures, and new approaches for fabrication and manufacture of organic-based solar cells. DARPA strongly encourages well-coordinated, interdisciplinary research and development activities that take into consideration all significant and relevant engineering tradeoffs and optimizations. Teaming among academic, industrial and/or government partners is encouraged, and it is anticipated that the contributions of the team members are complementary as well as essential to the critical path of the research plan. Foreign owned, controlled, or influenced (FOCI) firms are advised that security restrictions may apply that could preclude their participation in these efforts. A technology insertion plan is encouraged and research that holds promise of insertion into Department of Defense (DoD) relevance is of great interest. Program Scope The Flexible Nanocomposite Organic Photovoltaic (OPV) Cells Program will consist of a Phase I effort (12 months) followed by an optional Phase II (an additional 12 months), Phase III (an additional 12 months) and Phase IV (an additional 24 months) for those efforts that meet the performance goals and appear to have the greatest potential for production, insertion, transition or overall benefit to DoD. Organizations wishing to participate in Phase II, Phase III, and Phase IV should include them as options in their proposal (separate options for each phase). Awards are expected to be made during the first quarter of fiscal year 2004. Multiple awards are anticipated. Collaborative efforts/teaming are strongly encouraged. A web site - http://teaming.sysplan.com/BAA-03-32-OPV/ - has been established to facilitate formation of teaming arrangements between interested parties. Specific content, communications, networking, and team formation are the sole responsibility of the participants. Neither DARPA nor the Department of Defense (DoD) endorses the destination web site or the information and organizations contained therein, nor does DARPA or the DoD exercise any responsibility at the destination. This web site is provided consistent with the stated purpose of this BAA. Cost sharing is not required and is not an evaluation criterion, but is encouraged where there is a reasonable probability of a potential commercial application related to the proposed research and development effort. Questions concerning this BAA may be directed to the technical POC for this effort, Dr. Robert Tulis, phone: (703) 696-2347, fax: (703) 696-2206, electronic mail: rtulis@darpa.mil. GENERAL INFORMATION Proposers must obtain a pamphlet entitled "BAA 03-32, Flexible Nanocomposite Organic Photovoltaic (OPV) Cells, Proposer Information Pamphlet" which provides further information on Flexible Nanocomposite Organic Photovoltaic Cells, the submission, evaluation, and funding processes, proposal abstract formats, proposal formats, and other general information. This pamphlet may be obtained from the FedBizOpps website: http://www.fedbizopps.gov/, World Wide Web (WWW) at URL http://www.darpa.mil/ or by fax, electronic mail, or mail request to the administrative contact address given below. Proposals not meeting the format described in the pamphlet may not be reviewed. In order to minimize unnecessary effort in proposal preparation and review, proposers are strongly encouraged to submit proposal abstracts in advance of full proposals. An original and five (5) copies of the proposal abstract and two electronic copies (i.e., two separate disks) of the abstract [MS-Word readable (preferred) or PDF format each on a single 3.5 inch High Density MS-DOS formatted 1.44 Megabyte (MB) diskette, a single 100 MB Iomega Zip (registered) disk, or a CD-ROM] should be submitted. Each disk must be clearly labeled with BAA 03-32, proposer organization, proposal title (short title recommended) and Copy __ of 2. The proposal abstract (original and designated number of hard and electronic copies) must be submitted to DARPA/MTO, 3701 North Fairfax Drive, Arlington, VA 22203-1714 (Attn.: BAA 03-32) on or before 4:00 p.m., local time, Wednesday, July 23, 2003. Proposal abstracts received after this time and date may not be reviewed. Upon review, DARPA will provide written feedback on the likelihood of a full proposal being selected and the time and date for submission of a full proposal. Proposers not submitting proposal abstracts must submit an original and five (5) copies of the full proposal and two electronic copies (i.e., two separate disks) of the full proposal [MS-Word readable (preferred) or PDF format each on a single 3.5 inch High Density MS-DOS formatted 1.44 Megabyte (MB) diskette, a single 100 MB Iomega Zip (registered) disk, or a CD-ROM]. Each disk must be clearly labeled with BAA 03-32, proposer organization, proposal title (short title recommended) and Copy __ of 2. The full proposal (original and designated number of hard and electronic copies) must be submitted to DARPA/MTO, 3701 North Fairfax Drive, Arlington, VA 22203-1714 (Attn.: BAA 03-32) on or before 4:00 p.m., local time, Wednesday, September 17, 2003, in order to be considered during the initial round of selections; however, proposals received after this deadline may be received and evaluated up to one year from date of posting on FedBizOpps. Full proposals submitted after the due date specified in the BAA or due date otherwise specified by DARPA after review of proposal abstracts may be selected contingent upon the availability of funds. This notice, in conjunction with the BAA 03-32 Proposer Information Pamphlet, constitutes the total BAA. No additional information is available, nor will a formal RFP or other solicitation regarding this announcement be issued. Requests for the same will be disregarded. The Government reserves the right to select for award all, some, or none of the proposals received. All responsible sources capable of satisfying the Government's needs may submit a proposal which shall be considered by DARPA. Input on technical aspects of the proposals may be solicited by DARPA from non-Government consultants/experts who are bound by appropriate non-disclosure requirements. Non-Government technical consultants/experts will not have access to proposals that are labeled by their offerors as "Government Only". Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Minority Institutions (MIs) are encouraged to submit proposals and join others in submitting proposals; however, no portion of this BAA will be set aside for HBCU and MI participation due to the impracticality of reserving discrete or severable areas of research in Flexible Nanocomposite Organic Photovoltaic Cells. All administrative correspondence and questions on this solicitation, including requests for information on how to submit a proposal abstract or full proposal to this BAA, should be directed to one of the administrative addresses below; e-mail or fax is preferred. DARPA intends to use electronic mail and fax for correspondence regarding BAA 03-32. Proposals and proposal abstracts may not be submitted by fax or e-mail; any so sent will be disregarded. DARPA encourages use of the WWW for retrieving the Proposer Information Pamphlet and any other related information that may subsequently be provided. EVALUATION CRITERIA Evaluation of proposal abstracts and full proposals will be accomplished through a technical review of each proposal using the following criteria, which are listed in descending order of relative importance: (l) overall scientific and technical merit, (2) potential contribution and relevance to DARPA mission, (3) plans and capability to accomplish technology transition, (4) offeror's capabilities and related experience, and (5) cost realism. Note: cost realism will only be significant in proposals which have significantly under or over-estimated the cost to complete their effort. The administrative addresses for this BAA are: Fax: (703) 351-8616 (Addressed to: DARPA/MTO, BAA 03-32), Electronic Mail: BAA03-32@darpa.mil Mail: DARPA/MTO, ATTN: BAA 03-32 3701 North Fairfax Drive Arlington, VA 22203-1714 This announcement and the Proposer Information Pamphlet may be retrieved via the WWW at URL http://www.darpa.mil/ in the solicitations area.
- Record
- SN00359279-W 20030629/030627213926 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
FedBizOpps.gov Link to This Notice
(may not be valid after Archive Date)
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