A--FUEL CELL: LIGHTWEIGHT ALTERNATIVE POWER SOURCE (LAPS)

This SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE is intended for Market Research purposes only and is not a request for competitive proposals. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for this sources sought notice is 335999. Since this technology is evolving, market research indicates a variety of NAICs being utilized by industry. This notice is being posted multiple times, one time each, under NAICS Codes 221119, 334414, 335911, 335912, and 334413, with the intent to capture responses under this Sources Sought Notice as it pertains to the requirement below. Offerors should only respond to one notice. Contractors in this field of technology (design, development and production of fuel cell technology) are encouraged to include NAICS 335999 in their Central Contractor Registration (www.CCR.gov) profile, and in their Dynamic Small Business (http://dsbs.sba.gov) profiles. The Federal Supply Code (FSC) for this procurement is 6116, Fuel Cell Power Units, Components, and Accessories. If a determination is made to issue a solicitation, NAICS code 335999 and FSC Code 6116 will be utilized. The ATEC Mission Support Contracting Activity (AMSCA) seeks information from the small business community concerning capability and interest in the field of Research, Development, and Manufacturing of Fuel Cell technology, especially the design, development and fabrication of a pre-production prototype fuel cell. The Lightweight Alternative Power Source (herein after referred to as fuel cell) is to be a compact, lightweight source of power for operational test instrumentation on Army ground vehicles. The fuel cell will operate on a continuous basis for not less than 100 hours before refueling and will have an expected operating life of at least three (3) years with a minimum of ten (10) cycles (fuel/field use/refuel) per year. The fuel cell is expected to perform within the same environment as the supported test instrumentation. Pre-Production System Requirements: 1. The design, development and production of four (4) pre-production fuel cells and fifty (50) Low Rate Initial Production (LRIP) fuel cells which meet or exceed the minimum performance specifications and be within the design criteria as stated below: a. The fuel cell system shall not exceed a volume of 1.6 cubic feet with maximum threshold dimensions of 15 inches long by 15 inches high by 12 inches wide consistent with the specifications below. Objective dimensions are 12 inches long by 12 inches high by 12 inches wide consistent with the specifications below. Threshold dimensions are the maximum allowed and objective dimensions are those desired. b. The fuel cell system shall be self-contained as defined above and operate continuously on an autonomous basis for not less than one hundred (100) hours before refueling or exchange of an empty fuel tank is required. c. The fuel cell system shall have a projected operating life of not less than three thousand (3000) hours consisting of multiple operating cycles. A cycle is defined as the fueling of the fuel cell system, its operation for the 100 hour duration above and refueling until end of operating life. End of operating life is defined when the fuel cell system power output decreases below 80% of its rated value. d. The fuel cell system, when fueled for its continuous operation period (100 hours) shall weigh not more than fifty-seven (57) pounds. Lower weight is desirable if all other requirements are met. e. The fuel cell system, when not containing fuel, shall not weigh more than thirty-seven (37) pounds. Lower weight is desirable if all other requirements are met. f. The fuel cell system shall comply with MIL-STD-810G Table 514.6C-IV for vibration. Compliance requires successful operation of the fuel cell during and after the environmental test. g. The fuel cell system shall comply with MIL-STD-810G method 516.6 procedures I for functional shock. Compliance requires successful operation of the fuel cell during and after the environmental test. h. The fuel cell system shall comply with MIL-STD-810G method 516.6 Procedure IV for transit drop. Compliance requires successful operation of the fuel cell during and/or after the environmental test. i. The fuel cell system shall provide air filter protection for successful operation in sand and dust in compliance with MIL-STD-810G method 510.5 Procedure I for Sand and Dust. The filter system shall be designed to prevent contamination of the fuel cell membranes by vehicle exhaust particles. Compliance requires successful operation of the fuel cell during and/or after the environmental test. j. The fuel cell system shall have a projected shelf life of not less than four (4) years in a non-operating status. Storage conditions, including periodic maintenance checks during storage, shall be specified in the operation and maintenance manual. k. The fuel cell system shall provide an output of not less than 100 Watts with an output voltage of 28 VDC +/- 5%. Higher output power is desirable consistent within size and duration requirements. l. The fuel cell system shall have an efficiency rating (system output power/stack output power) of at least 75%. m. Startup time without batteries shall be not more than 10 minutes. If startup batteries are provided, startup shall be immediate and output power shall be available in not more than 30 seconds. n. The fuel cell system shall operate and satisfy all requirements in ambient temperatures from minus ten (-10) degrees Celsius to fifty (50) degrees Celsius. Temperature tests shall be conducted in accordance with MIL-STD-810G methods 501.5, 502.5 and 505.5 5. o. The fuel cell system shall have an acoustic noise level of not more than fifty (50) dBA at a distance of eight (8) feet. p. The fuel cell system shall have a radiometric thermal signature of not more than five (5) degrees above the background temperature of an environmental test chamber. Masking to minimize the thermal signature is desired. q. The fuel cell system shall have a surge capacity for additional output power at least twenty (20) percent for not less than 5 minutes. r. The fuel cell system shall use a non-pressurized fuel. Minimum quality specifications for the fuel and supplementary water, if required, shall be provided. s. The fuel cell system shall provide measured outputs of voltage (VDC), DC current (Amps), run time (both cumulative and the current cycle in hours and minutes), fuel level and Built-In-Test (BIT) indicator lamps to indicate operative status and. These indications shall be visible on the exterior of the fuel cell and on an RS-232 data output (RJ-45 connector) for remote monitoring. t. The housing shall have a hasp(s) on the housing lid for a padlock(s) to limit unauthorized access and, in a non-operating state, shall have a visual means of determining the fuel level in the fuel tank without opening the housing. u. The power output connector shall be MIL-STD-38999 compatible with STANAG 4619. A mating connector for the power output shall be supplied. v. The fuel cell system while in the power-on operational mode and providing its full output power capability (e.g. 100 watts) shall be tested as a source of radiated emissions Electromagnetic Interference (EMI) in accordance with MIL-STD-461F specifications. The fuel cell system shall meet/comply with the MIL-STD-461F radiated emissions limits RE102-3 (fixed wing external and helicopters limit) for frequencies from 10 kHz to 2 MHz, and radiated emissions limits RE102-4 (Navy mobile and Army limit) for frequencies from 2 MHz to 2 GHz. For Radiated Emissions that appear as broad-band (high spectral occupancy) emissions that are not resolved and do not appear as spectral lines/noise spikes using the MIL-STD specified resolution bandwidths for frequencies from 2 MHz to 1 GHz, the limit is 10 dB below the RE102-4 limit. EMI testing and test results compliance data shall be provided by the manufacturer. w. The fuel cell system shall operate and meet or exceed all specifications at altitudes up to 8000 feet above mean sea level. x. The fuel cell effluent shall not measure more than 1 part-per-million of carbon monoxide (CO). All other toxic components of the effluent shall measure less than 50% of applicable Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) standards. The proposal shall provide data and procedures used in support of these measurements. y. The fuel cell shall operate continuously at orientations in the x and y axes up to +/- 45 degrees from a level position. z. The fuel cell shall be equipped with corrosion-resistant hold-down connection points or clamps at each upper corner. If these protrude in a way that encourages damage when not used, protection shall be provided. 2. The contractor shall provide an Operating and Maintenance Manual with each fuel cell. 3. Contractor shall have capability to produce up to 1000 units. A determination by the Government on the method of competing this requirement has not been established. The Government will not award a contract based on this Sources Sought Notice, nor the information received, nor reimburse participants for the information they provide. AMSCA is interested only in identifying interested and capable small businesses and receiving industry feedback to improve the acquisition process as part of the market research. AMSCA reserves the right to determine if a SB set-aside is appropriate as well as one of the targeted socio-economic programs (HUBZone, Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned, or 8(a) program) based on the responses to this notice and other pertinent information gathered. In order for the Government to make a determination, it is emphasized that SB concerns provide sufficient written information to indicate their capacity and capability to successfully perform and manage the requirement. If you are an interested SB concern, please provide the following information: 1) small business concern/category; 2) DUNS number and CAGE code; 3) provide evidence or certifications of small business concern status; and 4) a brief Statement of Capability (no more than 10 pages) which demonstrates the ability to meet the requirements specified above. Also include any past performance information on Government contracts of a similar nature, size, scope and complexity. Electronic responses are preferred and telephonic requests for information will not be honored. No requests for capability briefings will be honored as a result of this notice. Information provided will not be used as a part of any subsequent solicitation requirement. Interested sources who submit data are responsible for appropriately marking information if it is proprietary in nature. Responses are due no later than 3:30 p.m., Central Standard Time, on 2 July 2010, to the attention of Tina Guillot, Contract Specialist, referencing the solicitation number provided in this notice, via e-mail to [email protected].