SPECIAL NOTICE
99 -- Notice of Upcoming Funding Opportunity Announcement: "RecoveryAct: Large Wind Turbine Drivetrain Testing Facility"
- Notice Date
- 4/29/2009
- Notice Type
- Special Notice
- Contracting Office
- Department of Energy, Federal Locations, All DOE Federal Contracting Offices, 1617 Cole Blvd Golden CO, 80401-3393
- ZIP Code
- 80401-3393
- Archive Date
- 9/30/2009
- Point of Contact
- <br />
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- This is a Notice of an Upcoming Funding Opportunity Announcement. NO APPLICATIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED AT THIS TIME. Subject: Notice of Intent to Issue Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) No.: To Be Determined Description: The Department of Energys (DOE) Golden Field Office (GO) intends to issue, on behalf of the DOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Wind and Hydropower Technologies Program (WHTP), a Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) entitled Recovery Act: Large Wind Turbine Drivetrain Testing Facility. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act) enables DOE to support research and development for increasing the reliability of large-scale wind turbines. The United States lacks a test stand large enough to test todays utility-scale turbine systems and larger designs. A large drivetrain testing facility, which will feature an instrumented dynamometer test stand, will enable the wind industry to develop, test and validate large-scale land based and off-shore wind turbine drivetrain systems domestically. Drivetrain testing is required to demonstrate the meeting of wind turbine design standards, reduce wind turbine costs, secure product financing, and reduce the technical and financial risk of deploying mass-produced wind turbine models. Construction and operation of an appropriately sized dynamometer and test facility in the United States will enable the identification and characterization of drivetrain design and manufacturing deficiencies for product improvement prior to commercial deployment, encourage domestic manufacturing and technology development, create jobs and result in overall improved product reliability. The new testing capability will ultimately improve the countrys competitiveness in wind energy technology, lower energy costs for consumers, and maintain a high trajectory of wind energy growth that contributes to increasing the Nations renewable energy generation. Background A major trend over the last decade within the wind industry is the use of larger wind turbines. The average turbine size has continued to increase with each new generation of turbines. Due to economies of size, these machines have achieved reductions in life cycle cost of energy. The average size of wind turbines installed in the United States in 2007 increased to roughly 1.65 MW. However, turbines have already been developed that range in the 2.5 MW to 3.5 MW capacity sizes, with plans being developed for even greater power ratings. The larger wind turbines have outpaced the availability of U.S.-based testing facilities for gear box testing. The drivetrain is the vital link transferring rotor energy to the generator in the vast majority of wind turbines. With the power capacities of wind turbines accelerating rapidly, designing ever-larger gearboxes with optimal vibration characteristics and then testing these characteristics is necessary to achieve improved performance, lifecycle and reliability. A large U.S. dynamometer drivetrain facility is now needed to advance the industrys capabilities to perform dynamic gearbox testing and analysis. This would allow the assessment of gearbox/drivetrain options, problems and solutions under simulated field conditions. It is critical to build a better understanding of how the wide range of possible load events translates into bearing and gear response. In addition, a new U.S. large dynamometer test facility will be needed for the following reasons: -- The long-term reliability of the current generation of megawatt-scale drivetrains has not yet been fully verified through field operating experience. As a result of fleet-wide gearbox maintenance issues and related failures with some designs in the past, it is now becoming an increasingly standard practice to perform extensive dynamometer testing of new gearbox configurations to prove performance, durability and reliability before they are introduced into serial production. -- There is a broad consensus that wind turbine drivetrain technology will evolve significantly (based on needs) in the next several years to reduce weight and cost and improve reliability. Dynamometer testing facilities will be critical for the research and development of the next generation of turbines to be designed and manufactured in the U.S. These proposed facilities will provide the U.S. wind industry with an opportunity to perform research targeted at determining root causes of failure and investigating solutions. It will advance the understanding of the behavior of gear and bearing elements in wind turbines and help the U.S. industry maintain technological competitiveness and foster expanded marketshare. PRELIMINARY PROPOSAL SCOPE The primary area of interest is the design and construction of a large dynamometer facility capable of highly accelerated life testing of 5-15MW rated land based and off-shore wind turbine drivetrains, with supporting systems, and the operation and maintenance of these facilities for the benefit of wind stakeholders nationwide. This facility will be formally identified as a Federal User Facility and all the requirements will apply. The proposed facility can be new construction or involve the design and modification of an existing building suitable for electrical, mechanical, and other physical needs associated with a dynamometer test stand. Overhead cranes, access doors, and other facility infrastructure suitable for accommodating associated components and equipment will be required. It is envisioned that the facility will include sufficient office space for permanent staff and visiting users as well as conference rooms, lunch room, restrooms, computer stations, etc. Applicants will be required to submit detailed multi-phase plans including concept designs, preliminary designs, engineering procurement and construction contract management, and operation and maintenance. Applicants will also be required to set forth a plan for allowing users to access the facility and the disposition of intellectual property (e.g. patents, technical data) that arise as a result of testing at the facility. Applicants need to be free of conflict of interest such as turbine manufacturers who would use the testing facility. Each proposal must include organizational participants from university, state and local government, and a plan for achieving long term sustainable operation, maintenance and funding without DOE assistance. Leveraging of DOEs investment through applicant cost sharing will be a criterion considered in the evaluation of applications. Applicants must demonstrate capabilities and experience in 1) drivetrain testing, 2) business management and operation of industrial facilities, and 3) ability to develop an end-user facility for the benefit of the nation. Recovery Act funds are specifically to assist in expediting the construction and deployment of shovel-ready projects and to create jobs. Other requirements for Recovery Act projects can be found at Recovery.gov and the OMB guidelines. All proposals must demonstrate the understanding of and compliance with Recovery Act intentions and OMB guidelines. C. General Information DOE envisions awarding a single $45 Million financial assistance grant award on a competitive basis. This award will require cost share contributions in accordance with the Energy Policy Act of 2005. Details about cost share requirements will be included in the FOA along with the details of technical areas of interest, proposal preparation instructions and application merit review and evaluation criteria. DOE plans to release the FOA in June, 2009. The FOA will be available for viewing at Grants.gov (http://www.grants.gov) and at www.FedConnect.net. Applicants are strongly encouraged to register at these sites to receive notification of announcements posted by DOE Golden Field Office. When the FOA is released, applications will only be received through FedConnect. Organizations with system-to-system capabilities with Grants.gov for their submissions may continue to use their systems, and their applications will be accepted in Grants.gov to be considered for award. In anticipation of the FOA being released shortly, there are several one-time actions prospective applicants must complete in order to submit an application through FedConnect (e.g., obtain a Dun and Bradstreet Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number, register with the Central Contractor Registry (CCR), and register with FedConnect). Due to the likelihood of a short response period, interested applicants are strongly encouraged to ensure these requirements have been met as soon as possible. Applicants may use the FedConnect Quick Start guide at https://www.fedconnect.net/FedConnect/PublicPages/FedConnect_Ready_Set_Go.pdf for assistance with the FedConnect registration process. Designating an E-Business Point of Contact (EBiz POC) and obtaining a special password called an MPIN are important steps in the CCR registration process. Applicants not yet registered with CCR and FedConnect should allow at least 21 days to complete these requirements. It is strongly recommended that the process be started as soon as possible. If your organization does not have a DUNS number, go to the Dun & Bradstreet (D&B) online registration located at http://fedgov.dnb.com/webform/displayHomePage.do to receive a number free of charge or call 1-866-705-5711. The Central Contractor Registration (CCR) collects, validates, stores, and disseminates business information about the Federal Government's trading partners in support of the contract award, grants, and the electronic payment processes. To see if your organization is already registered with CCR, check the CCR website located at http://www.bpn.gov/ccrinq/scripts/search.asp. You will be able to search CCR by using either your organizations DUNS Number or legal business name. If your organization is already registered, take note of who is listed as the organizations E-Business Point of Contact (E-Business POC). This person will be responsible for registering in FedConnect. To register in FedConnect, go to https://www.FedConnect.net/FedConnect/ or contact the FedConnect Helpdesk at support@fedconnect.net Please note that the system functionality of FedConnect requires organizations to be registered with the CCR before registering with FedConnect. (FedConnect Quick Start Guide: https://www.fedconnect.net/FedConnect/PublicPages/FedConnect_Ready_Set_Go.pdf ) If your organization is not registered in CCR, go to the CCR Website at www.ccr.gov and select the "Start New Registration" option to begin the registration process. Please allow up to 7 days for processing of your registration which includes the IRS validating your Employer Identification Number (Taxpayer Identification Number or Social Security Number). The organizations E-Business POC will be designated during the CCR registrations process. A special Marketing Partner ID Number (MPIN) is established as a password to verify the E-Business POC. The DOE will not entertain questions at this time. Once a FOA has been released, a submit questions feature will be defined. DISCLAIMER This Notice is issued so that interested parties are aware of the DOEs intention to issue this FOA. DOE reserves the right to change the requirements of any proposed FOA, issue a FOA involving only a portion of the elements listed, or not issue a FOA at all. Any of the information contained in this Notice is subject to change. Any amounts proposed for funding are subject to the availability of funding.
- Web Link
-
FedBizOpps Complete View
(https://www.fbo.gov/?s=opportunity&mode=form&id=9162bfd0b44ceddcaffb26dc00f279e7&tab=core&_cview=1)
- Record
- SN01804670-W 20090501/090429221717-9162bfd0b44ceddcaffb26dc00f279e7 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
FedBizOpps Link to This Notice
(may not be valid after Archive Date)
| FSG Index | This Issue's Index | Today's FBO Daily Index Page |