Maritime Energy Efficiency Pilot/Demonstration Project Request for Proposals (RFP)

Maritime Administration Maritime Energy Efficiency Pilot/Demonstration Project Request for Proposals (RFP) PROGRAM DESCRIPTION The Maritime Administration, Office of Environment is issuing this request for proposals (RFP) for projects that demonstrate hybrid technology for workboat main propulsion or generator sets. Over the past several years, the Maritime Administration’s (MARAD) Maritime Environmental and Technical Assistance (META) program has been partnering with government agencies, industry, and academia on efforts to reduce vessel and port emissions, as well as efforts to support the use of alternative fuel and energy sources. Currently, META would like to focus on exploring and supporting proposals focused on hybrid propulsion or auxiliary systems. FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION This RFP is specifically seeking to provide cost share funding through a cooperative agreement(s) for one or more proposals that offer the potential for advancement and improvement of energy efficiency/emissions reduction for marine vessel operations. The MARAD cost share will not exceed 50% of the total project cost. Collaborative partnerships with other entities such as industry, ports, maritime organizations, and state or local governments are highly encouraged. This announcement is an expression of interest only and does not commit MARAD to make any award. The total amount of funding under the RFP will be up to $1,000,000. Proposals must demonstrate a hybrid or battery electric technology for a workboat application. For this demonstration, workboats are considered to be coastal, inland, regional, or captive fleet tugs, tow or pushboats operating in the commercial U.S. maritime sector. Proposals must provide sufficient, verifiable, and detailed data that describes the technology, integration of the technology, and operational characteristics of the workboat. Proposals shall describe the power management system, and if batteries are proposed, the battery charging system. In addition, the proposal must include a method of verifying energy efficiency and/or emission reductions of the technology during demonstration. This may include fuel use data, in-situ emissions testing, power meter readings, or other proposed method subject to MARAD approval. Applicants are highly encouraged to partner with other government agencies (Federal, state, or local), non-profit organizations, or local maritime groups or entities. Partners should be identified in the proposal along with their role, responsibilities, and contribution to the project. Upon completion of the demonstration, the awardee is required to provide a detailed report of the project that describes the technology, the application of the technology, energy efficiency or emission reductions verification, cost/benefits, considerations of alternatives (if applicable), general power management system design considerations for this application, and lessons learned. The report will be publicly available and posted to the META webpage. Projects must be able to be completed within a three-year timeline. MARAD reserves the right to fund, some, or none of the proposals received under this RFP. MARAD provides no funding for reimbursement of proposal development costs. Technical and cost proposals (or any other material) submitted in response to this RFP will not be returned. It is the policy of MARAD to treat all proposals submitted under this RFP as sensitive competitive information and to disclose their contents only for the purposes of evaluation. C. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION 1. Eligible Applicants. MARAD is seeking to provide cost share funding through cooperative agreement(s) for one or more projects that offer the potential for advancement and improvement of energy efficiency/emissions reduction for marine vessel operations. 2. Cost Sharing or Matching. Cost sharing is required. MARAD will not fund more than 50% of the total cost of the project. Proposals must include a detailed cost sharing analysis that shows how Federal funds will be used for the project. Please see Section D.2 for information on proposal requirements. 3. Systems for Award Management (SAM) Requirements. MARAD will not make an award to an applicant until the applicant has complied with all applicable unique entity identifier and SAM requirements and if an applicant has not fully complied with the requirements by the time MARAD is ready to make an award, MARAD may determine that the applicant is not qualified to receive an award and use that determination as a basis for making an award to another applicant. Please see Section D.3 for information on SAM requirements. MARAD will to make an award to any applicant with an exclusion in SAM. D. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION 1. Address to Request Application Package. This RFP contains all the information needed to submit a proposal and be considered for award. No specific application form or other materials need to be obtained from MARAD. 2. Content and Form of Application. Proposals must include a detailed description of the project that provides sufficient information on the following: • Demonstration of a hybrid or battery electric technology for a workboat application. For this demonstration, workboats are considered to be coastal, inland, regional, or captive fleet tugs, tow or pushboats operating in the commercial U.S. maritime sector. • Provide sufficient, verifiable, and detailed data that describes the technology, integration of the technology, and operational characteristics of the workboat. • Description of the power management system, and if batteries are proposed, the battery charging system. • A method of verifying energy efficiency and/or emission reductions of the technology during demonstration. • Operational statistics. Awards will only be made to proposals that can be completed (including report) within a three-year timeline. The proposals will be evaluated against the following criteria: Technology readiness level and application of hybrid or battery electric system. Operational characteristics of workboat. Vessels with higher operating tempo will be viewed more favorably than vessels with low operating tempo. The applicant’s capabilities, related experience, facilities, techniques or unique combinations of these which are integral factors for achieving the proposal objectives. Ability to, and extent of, cost share with partners. Proposed method for verifying energy efficiency and/or emissions reduction. Scope and extent of partnerships and their role(s) in the project. Proposals are limited to 10 pages and must be received within sixty (60) days of the publication of this notice. 3. Unique Entity Identifier and System for Award Management (SAM). Each applicant is required to: (a) be registered in SAM before submitting its application; (b) provide a valid unique entity identifier in its applicant; and (c) continue to maintain an active SAM registration with current information at all times during which it has an active Federal award or an application or plan under consideration by a Federal awarding agency. MARAD will not make an award to an applicant until the applicant has complied with all applicable unique entity identifier and SAM requirements and if an applicant has not fully complied with the requirements by the time MARAD is ready to make an award, MARAD may determine that the applicant is not qualified to receive an award and use that determination as a basis for making an award to another applicant. 4. Submission Dates and Times. The deadline for proposal submission is 2:00 PM EST on the closing date listed for this RFP on Grants.gov and [email protected] . Proposals received by MARAD after the deadline will not be considered for award. An email will be deemed "received" by MARAD on the date and time the email was "sent" to the email address in Section D.7, below, as determined by MARAD's servers. 5. Intergovernmental Review. This funding opportunity is not subject to Executive Order 12372, "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs." 6. Funding Restrictions. Applicants are advised to review 2 C.F.R. Part 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards as supplemented by 2 C.F.R. Part 1201 for cost principles used to determine allowable costs of work performed under Federal awards. 7. Other Submission Requirements. Proposals must be submitted by the deadline set forth in Section D.4 above by electronic mail to Kelly B. Mitchell-Carroll at [email protected]. Please include the Funding Opportunity Number and Title in the Subject Line. E. APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION 1. Review and Selection Process. MARAD has set-up an internal review team to evaluate all proposals that are submitted under this announcement. All eligible proposals will be evaluated within 3 weeks after the closing date. If the review team has any questions on an individual proposal, it will notify the applicant for clarification. Review and Selection Process: Awards will only be made to proposals that can be completed (including report) within a three-year timeline. The proposals will be evaluated against the following criteria: Technology readiness level and application of hybrid or battery electric system. Operational characteristics of workboat. Vessels with higher operating tempo will be viewed more favorably than vessels with low operating tempo. The applicant’s capabilities, related experience, facilities, techniques or unique combinations of these which are integral factors for achieving the proposal objectives. Ability to, and extent of, cost share with partners. Proposed method for verifying energy efficiency and/or emissions reduction. Scope and extent of partnerships and their role(s) in the project. Proposals are limited to 10 pages and must be received within sixty (60) days of the publication of this notice. F. FEDERAL AWARD ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION 1. Federal Award Notices. The successful applicant(s) will be notified by MARAD's Office of Acquisition via telephone; however; the telephone call is not the actual award or the authorization to begin performance. All awards will be made by a cooperative agreement signed by MARAD's Agreement/Grants Officer. After an award, has been made a MARAD representative from the Office of Environment will notify the awardee to set-up a kick-off meeting for the project. Unsuccessful applicants will be notified via email. 2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements. Applicants are advised to review 2. C.F.R. Part 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Costs Principles and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards as supplemented by 2 C.F.R. Part 1201, for applicable administrative and national policy requirements. For a copy of the general terms and conditions of the Federal award made under this RFP, please contact Kelly B. Mitchell-Carroll at k.mitchell-carroll @ dot. g ov. Federal awards made under RFP may include additional terms that are specific to the project, including without limitation awardee information, project description, funding details and appropriate data rights clauses. 3. Reporting. Applicants are advised to review 2 C.F.R. Part 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Costs Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards, as supplemented by 2 C.F.R. Part 1201, for applicable reporting requirements. Federal awards made under this RFP may include additional reporting requirements that are appropriate for the specific project to be funded by MARAD. FEDERAL AWARDING AGENCY CONTACT For any questions relating to the technical or programmatic aspects of this RFP, please contact Daniel Yuska, Environmental Protection Specialist, at D ani el.Yuska @ dot .g ov. For any questions about the administration of this funding opportunity and any awards, please contact Kelly B. Mitchell-Carroll at k.mitchell-c arr oll @ dot. g ov. OTHER INFORMATION Applicants must identify all proprietary information in its submission. MARAD is not obligated to make any Federal award as a result of this RFP.