SOURCES SOUGHT
B -- Independent Assessment of Technology Characterizations to Support the Biomass Program Annual State-of-Technology Assessments
- Notice Date
- 1/22/2009
- Notice Type
- Sources Sought
- NAICS
- 541690
— Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services
- Contracting Office
- Department of Energy, National Renewable Energy Laboratory - Midwest Research Institute (DOE Contractor), National Renewable Energy Laboratory, 1617 Cole Boulevard, Golden, Colorado, 80401
- ZIP Code
- 80401
- Solicitation Number
- SOT01212009KR
- Archive Date
- 2/20/2009
- Point of Contact
- Kathee A Roque,, Phone: 303-275-3124
- E-Mail Address
-
kathee_roque@nrel.gov
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE #SOT01.21.2009KR “Independent Assessment of Technology Characterizations to Support the Biomass Program Annual State-of-Technology Assessments” I. BACKGROUND The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) is providing Systems Integration (SI) for the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Office of the Biomass Program (OBP). This support includes developing and implementing standardized approaches for tracking the progress toward established technical targets/goals. OBP conducts annual State of Technology (SOT) assessments that provide the basis for setting OBP technical targets and cost goals, quantifying technology progress, identifying process improvement needs, and comparing the economics of cellulosic ethanol with other alternative fuels. Historically, OBP’s SOT assessments have been based almost exclusively on bench- and pilot-scale data generated from OBP-sponsored research and development (R&D) conducted at the National Laboratories. This work covers a portion of OBP’s portfolio and is at relatively early stages of development compared to the industrially-led projects that OBP is co-funding under EPACT 2005 Section 932. The NREL SI is helping OBP improve its SOT assessments by (1) developing a standardized methodology and timeline for annual updating of technical inputs into SOT metrics for cellulosic ethanol production, (2) incorporating lab- and large-scale integrated industrial-led project data into the SOT assessments, and (3) expanding the scope of the SOT assessments to include additional biofuels and environmental metrics (e.g., greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, water impacts). II. OBJECTIVE The goal of a potential project would be to better define, track and communicate the status and progress of cellulosic biofuel production processes. The key project objectives would be to (1) establish a transparent and straightforward approach to assess and synthesize process and economic data from DOE and non-DOE (as available) projects at a range of scales—as the basis for generating consistent and comparable annual State of Technology (SOT) metrics for specified feedstock-conversion-biofuel combinations; (2) synthesize and document the current SOT of specified feedstock-conversion-biofuel combinations; (3) establish future SOT targets for each feedstock-conversion-biofuel combination; and (4) build on this framework to quickly and consistently assess and compare new concepts and technologies. III. POTENTIAL TASK AREAS Task Area 1: Data Collection and Documentation As directed by NREL, a potential Subcontractor would collect and evaluate process and economic data relevant to seven specified feedstock-conversion-biofuel combinations. Subtask areas might include: (1) examination of the research and deployment activities that have been accomplished to date and activities that are currently underway; and (2) evaluation of the future potential for cost reductions. Task Area 2: SOT Data Requirements and Reporting Framework A potential Subcontractor would develop a common set of technical, economic and data quality metrics to define the state-of-technology for each of the specified feedstock-conversion-biofuel combinations. Subtask areas might include: (1) definition of required SOT input data based on project process and economic data; (2) development of data quality metrics (based on a standard approach such as stage gate management or technology readiness level (TRL));,(3) development of a consistent reporting methodology and transparent, easy-to-update tool that would incorporate the technical, economic and data quality metrics to document, track and accurately communicate the SOT over time. Task Area 3: Process Simulation and Economic Models A potential Subcontractor would develop and document transparent, standardized “plug and play” process and economic models to consistently assess and compare the SOT of specified feedstock-conversion-biofuel combinations. Subtask areas might include development of APSEN-based process simulation models and spreadsheet-based economic models to facilitate incorporation and analysis of annual SOT data updates and quick-turn around analysis of new conceptual designs and technologies. Task Area 4: Data Analysis and SOT Documentation A potential Subcontractor would conduct analyses of specified feedstock-conversion-biofuel combinations on an annual basis and new concepts as they are identified, based on the data and models from task areas 2 and 3. This task would require analysis (via ASPEN and economic spreadsheet models) and documentation of the current and future SOT technical and economic parameters for each of the defined combinations. Task Area 5: Quick Turnaround Support A potential Subcontractor would be required to provide quick turnaround support by analyzing new concepts, based on the approaches, models and reporting framework developed in Tasks 1-4 for the initial analyses of the specified feedstock-conversion-biofuel combinations. The new concepts would be assessed and documented as described in Tasks 1-4. III. AREAS OF EXPERTISE: Individuals or organizations responding to this Sources Sought request must describe capabilities, attributes, and skills in one or more of the following specific areas of expertise in which assistance in systematically assessing, comparing and documenting the state-of-technology for biomass conversion processes can be provided. Respondents should indentify their level of expertise in the cover page of their submission. A) Contacts in and associations with the emerging cellulosic bioindustry. B) Process and economic data collection/synthesis (relevant to biomass conversion processes). C) State of technology metrics development, implementation and tracking (relevant to biofuels production processes). D) Technical and economic data quality assessment and data quality metric development, including stage gate management or technology readiness assessment implementation. E) Technical and economic model development for biofuels production (biochemical and thermochemical) processes. F) Analysis and documentation of key technical and economic parameters for biofuels production processes. IV: RESPONSE REQUIREMENTS: The response to this sources sought document is limited to eight (8) pages of single spaced text of 12-point Arial font or equivalent, with minimum 1” margins all around. Brevity is encouraged. Any organization interested in working with NREL to provide the technical expertise described within this document should mail a profile of qualifications, based on the Areas of Expertise listed above, to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Attn: Kathee Flanagan Roque, 1617 Cole Boulevard - MS 1533, Golden, CO 80401-3393. Telephone calls will not be accepted; however, submittals by e-mail are encouraged and should be sent to: kathee_roque@nrel.gov. Electronic format of the Sources Sought response would be in MSWord/Excel, or converted (not scanned) to.pdf. The profile/list of qualifications will respond directly to the items listed above. Responses to this notice, whether mailed hardcopy or electronically, must be received by 4:30 p.m. MST, on February 19, 2009.. Responding to this request identifies your organization as an interested candidate only. Your submittal is not in response to a Request for Proposals (RFP).
- Web Link
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- Place of Performance
- Address: National Renewable Energy Laboratory, 1617 Cole Boulevard, Golden, Colorado, 80401, United States
- Zip Code: 80401
- Zip Code: 80401
- Record
- SN01736151-W 20090124/090122215442-f57afa195f057a64bc65a29da92f14de (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
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