Description
The U.S. EPA intends to negotiate on a sole source basis, under the authority of FAR 13.106-1(b)(1)(i), with the West Virginia University Research Corporation for the procurement of “A rapid development of chemical process manufacturing systems for generating life cycle inventories.� Specific tasks and deliverables in this Statement of Work are as follows: - Task 1: Create and Implement a Quality Assurance Project Plan - Task 2: Perform a review on technical process design compendium (textbooks, peer reviewed journal articles, industry reports, etc.) to establish the state of the art techniques to develop and create process operation units. - Task 3: Prepare a description that summarizes the state of the art techniques to develop operating units (Task 1) and the designed blocks of operating units for the production chemicals. - Task 4: Develop, model, and report the production of some case studies of interest (selected by the COR) for chemical precursors and chemical products for the generation of their life cycle inventory by using the developed spreadsheet block functions. - Task 5: Carry out steady state and time variable analyses and provide the optimal and the most sustainable component models for generating life cycle inventories of chemical processes with the overall intention of providing accurate process models. EPA has identified the West Virginia University Research Corporation (WVURC) as the only known source able to satisfy the Government’s requirements since it has the necessary unique process systems engineering capabilities, including, but not limited to high performance steady state, dynamic, and real time simulation tools for chemical processes, and state-of-the-art facilities to conduct this research. WVURC has a first-tier process systems engineering group with strong emphasis on capabilities in the areas of mass and energy LCI process simulation, advanced process control, process optimization, and process design and sustainability assessment of emerging energy systems and chemical processes. In particular, the AVESTAR Center (Advanced Virtual Energy Simulation Training and Research) housed at WVURC is being leveraged for performing a number of unique research projects in the areas of advanced process control and optimization of model components for the calculation of energy and material flow needs. In addition, this Center is also foreseen as a platform for chemical process optimal design and sustainability assessment studies. The AVESTAR Center is designed to promote the study, research, and training of students in the operation and control of advanced and clean power generation systems, pollution control and management, combustion control and recovery devices. The Center houses a one-of-a-kind facility with a full featured, high fidelity, Operator Training System (OTS) of an integrated gasification combined cycle (IGCC) coal-fed power plant with carbon capture and other pollution control equipment. The OTS has over 300 predefined malfunctions for performing in-case-of-fault assessments of mass and energy fluctuations, a complete alarm system, and well over 100 piping and instrumentation diagram (P&ID) screens can be accessed through the 12 human machine interface (HMI) screens. The process equipment units comprising the IGCC, pollution control systems, heat exchangers, separator, reactor, recovery, purification, and recovery devices can be viewed, operated and can be evaluated in terms of inventories of material and energy needs. The OTS can be used for time variable start-up and shut down simulations, steady state, as well as normal and malfunctioned operation. This system provides a virtual environment for all the process units in the OTS, in which users may manipulate an avatar through the plant and monitor the process (including, but not limited to, releases, material and energy flows) through instrument charts that can be seen in the ITS. The principal investigator for this research, Professor Fernando V. Lima focuses on the development and implementation of process systems engineering methods for modeling, simulation and advanced control of energy systems and chemical processes. Dr. Lima is a nationally recognized expert on process system engineering, process modeling, control, and optimization. In addition he is conducting novel research approaches on process modeling, optimization, and control for sustainability. The anticipated award date is November, 2015. This procurement will be accomplished under FAR Part 13 Simplified Acquisition Procedures. Notices of any amendments to this FedBizOps synopsis, will be posted using the FedConnect web portal at www.fedconnect.net. FedConnect is a web portal that connects agencies and vendors to streamline the process of doing business with the federal government. Through FedConnect contractors will be able to receive, review and respond to contract pre- and post-award actions and documents such as correspondence, request for proposals, tasking instruments and contract modifications. The use of FedConnect also furthers the EPA’s commitment to moving towards a paperless acquisition environment by reducing its carbon footprint and conducting its business in an ecologically friendly manner. Interested firms may identify their interest and capability to respond to the requirements. THIS NOTICE OF INTENT IS NOT A REQUEST FOR COMPETATIVE QUOTATIONS. A determination by the Government not to compete this acquisition based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Sources wishing to be considered by the agency MUST submit documentation to the office identified in this notice. Documentation must be submitted within 15 calendar days of the date of publication of this notice. Offerors must register with FedConnect as an interested party to submit questions and to view responses. Telephone requests for the request for quotation will not be honored. To register in FedConnect vendors must be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) at www.sam.gov. Please note that vendors MUST have their SAM profile set to “public,� otherwise FedConnect will not be able to access the SAM information required to validate vendor credentials. There is no charge for registration in FedConnect or SAM.