A--Research and Engineering Services for NETL

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), National Energy TechnologyLaboratory (NETL), is conducting a Market Survey to identify interested parties capable of providing Research and Engineering Services for NETL. THIS IS A SOURCES SOUGHT SYNOPSIS for information and planning purposes and is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government. This is not a solicitation announcement for proposals and NO CONTRACT will be awarded from this announcement. No reimbursement will be made for any costs associated with providing information in response to this announcement or any follow-up information requests. The information gathered from this sources sought notice will be utilized in the Government's determination on contract and business type utilized in the solicitation. The magnitude of this effort is expected to be $55,000,000 or more per year. The North American Industrial Classification System (NAICS) is provided for use by businesses in determining their appropriate business size in response to this sources sought notice. The NAICS code for this effort is 541712 with a size standard of 500 employees. For business size definitions please refer to the Small Business Administration's web site at: http://www.sba.gov/services/contractingopportunities/sizestandardstopics/indexgu ide/index.html NETL, through its Office of Research and Development (ORD) performs onsite research and development (R&D) in support of DOEs Office of Fossil Energy, other DOE Offices, other federal agencies and private entities. NETLs onsite R&D solves problems that are barriers to the deployment of emerging power system, fuels, environmental and waste management technologies. NETLs onsite R&D efforts utilize state-of-the-art capabilities and facilities at sites in Morgantown, WV, Pittsburgh, PA and; Albany, OR. To accomplish the laboratorys mission, NETL draws on 1,200 federal and support-contractor employees to implement and manage a broad spectrum of research programs; approximately half are Federal employees and half are site support contractors. NETLs current onsite research staff includes approximately 200 Federal scientists and engineers, personnel from private industry, and academic research fellows and associates at the faculty, postdoctoral, graduate, and undergraduate levels. In addition to on-site research, NETLs supports extramural R&D through financial assistance, contracts, interagency agreements, and other mechanisms. Work performed under the planned acquisition will focus on high risk science and engineering research capable of achieving break-through energy solutions to widen the nations economic and energy options. The contractor will conceptualize, design, construct, maintain and operate state of the art processes at NETL. The goal of this effort is to support and further ORDs basic science and applied engineering research and technology development. This support shall take the form of collaborative, interdisciplinary scientific and engineering research projects, targeted toward the generation of fundamental and basic science information. Within ORD, research project ideas are conceived and work plans are developed within Focus Areas. Focus Areas are groups of related fields of experience, activity, or knowledge. Focus Areas may change over time in response to significant shifts in energy research. Currently, there are four ORD Focus Areas: Computational and Basic Sciences - The Computational and Basic Sciences Focus Area seeks to integrate physical and chemical experimental research with computational sciences as the preferred method for understanding and developing technologies, advanced materials, and multi-scale energy systems ranging from the molecular-scale to device-scale to plant-scale. The focus area has developed a strategy to assemble computational models from ab initio (atomic and molecular) through device-scale, and to integrate the device-scale models into virtual plant simulations. In concert with this modeling work, experimental R&D is conducted in selected program areas in close, often iterative, collaboration with the computational efforts. The focus area supports activities in coal power systems, natural gas and oil technologies, and also strives to meet national energy security goals. The long-term objective of the focus area is to develop science-based and validated computational tools to simulate and facilitate the development of clean, highly efficient energy systems of the future. Energy System Dynamics The Energy System Dynamics Focus Area seeks to conceive, analyze, and develop pre-commercial energy technology that minimizes the environmental impact of fossil fuel use and that maximizes reliable use of domestic energy sources and infrastructure. The focus area primarily addresses devices that would be found in plant, such as turbines and fuel cell hybrids, fuel cells, fuel processors for fuel cells, gasification, carbon dioxide capture for pulverized coal and for integrated gasification combined cycle (IGCC) systems, reciprocating engines, and sensor/control methods for all these energy systems. This focus area is a recognized source of expertise and research leading to commercially viable technology that improves fossil-fuel-based energy systems. The focus area supports research and development in coal power systems, and supports the Presidents Global Climate Change Initiative. Research is centered around investigation and testing of new energy system concept and technologies. Geological and Environmental Systems - The Geological and Environmental Systems Focus Area seeks to assess the capacity, suitability, and permanence of potential carbon sequestration reservoirs, to assess the ability of unconventional reservoirs to produce gas and oil and assist in that production, to improve environmental performance of existing power plants, and to be recognized for performing sound science, achieving excellence, and meeting goals. The scope of the focus area includes geological sequestration; ensure permanent carbon sequestering; resources assessment; production modeling; development of unconventional gas and oil resources; fate of air toxics such as mercury; byproduct utilization; and water issues related to existing coal-fueled electric power plants. Sequestration simulation and field work expertise provides a valuable internal capability for NETL in assessing external activities. The focus area is working closely with current sequestration field-testing activities and is involved in collaborative activities with the regional sequestration partnerships developed by DOE. The focus area directly supports the Presidents Global Climate Change Initiative, carbon sequestration technologies, natural gas and oil technologies, and clean power generation. The long-range objective of the focus area is to conduct research in carbon sequestration, natural gas and oil, and environmental research. Materials Science The Materials Science Focus Area specializes in life cycle research starting with the formulation, characterization, and melting of most metals, alloys, and ceramics; casting and fabrication; prototype development; and the recycling and remediation of waste streams associated with these processes. Advanced materials and processes are vital to higher performance and more economic fossil energy systems and other 21st century power and fuels production plants. This focus area addresses the need for new materials that can withstand higher temperatures and corrosive environments of advanced power generation technologies such as coal gasifiers, turbines, combustors, and fuel cells. Two other groups, Hydrates, and Ultra Deep / Unconventional Gas and Oil, function similarly to Focus Areas. Hydrates The Hydrates area is focused on the production and utilization of hydrates. This will include understanding the role hydrates play in global processes such as climate and the carbon cycle; investigating the impact of hydrates on seafloor stability and deep-sea life; developing the tools and knowledge that will ensure the safety of drilling and producing deep-water oil and gas resources located below marine hydrate deposits; and developing the knowledge and technology base to allow commercial production of methane from domestic hydrate deposits by the year 2015. Both modeling and experimental work will be important in this effort. A further aspect of this work effort will be to elucidate the behavior of methane hydrates in nature in response to natural and induced phenomena. Ultra Deep and Unconventional Gas and Oil The Ultra Deep and Unconventional Gas and Oil area has been formulated in association with the EPACT Section 999 research and development effort. The goal of the program is to identify and remove technological barriers to expanded domestic oil and gas resource utilization. In addition to research results, the program will broaden and develop ORD capabilities and provide quality educational opportunities for students to train in this key technical area. The program will coordinate closely with the external Research Partnership to Secure Energy for America (RPSEA) consortium to ensure non-duplication of research efforts. Research efforts will be focused around drilling under extreme conditions; environmental impacts of oil and natural gas development; enhanced and unconventional oil recovery; and resource assessment. Work performed under the subsequent acquisition will focus on two areas; 1) High risk science and engineering research that is capable of achieving break-through energy solutions to widen the nations economic and energy options, and 2) The development, implementation and maintenance of the R&D infrastructure components relevant to the physical laboratory space and utilities necessary to carry out the research. The breadth of research performed will span from applied fundamental science and engineering research through technology development and demonstrations. Support staff, through this acquisition, will be afforded the opportunity to conceptualize, design, construct, maintain and operate state of the art processes and facilities on-site at NETL that will produce high level results and stimulate a world class collaborative effort with the U.S. Department of Energy. Types of services to be provided include, but are not limited to: Research portfolio planning and analysis support Providing private sector (e.g., industry and academia) expertise capable of producing high quality results relevant to desired research portfolios Providing R&D device and supporting facility infrastructure design, engineering, and drafting services utilizing Oregon, Pennsylvania and West Virginia board certified personnel as required by applicable federal, national and local policies Providing R&D device fabrication and testing Providing R&D test unit and supporting facility infrastructure construction, shakedown, operation, preventative maintenance and modification support utilizing state certified professionals as required by applicable federal, national and local policies. Providing R&D test unit and supporting facility infrastructure decontamination, decommissioning, and dismantlement support Providing computer based modeling, simulation, and visualization support Data acquisition, analysis, and reporting support In addition, the contractor shall assist NETL Federal ORD staff in: the conceptualization and conduct of activities associated with developing, expanding, or pursuing new ORD research opportunities and capabilities; project planning and assessment of ORD research; research primarily on-site, but also, on request, at off-site locations including field testing sites; and reporting and dissemination of research results to the scientific and technical community. The contractor staff shall consist of full or part time professional scientists and engineers, (including research associates and postdoctoral researchers), technicians, general trade laborers, environmentalists, safety personnel and administrative staff. Senior contractor research staff is expected to possess nationally or internationally recognized expertise in their technical areas as evidenced by patents and/or publication record. Support will require a high degree of innovation and creativity. The labor skill mix required will include: Engineer and scientists from intern to post-doctoral and/or professionally licensed. Engineering technicians and specialists from entry level to experienced. Machinists from entry level to journeyman. Electricians from entry level to journeyman or master electrician. Pipe layers and Pipe fitters from entry level to journeyman. Draftsmen from intern to degreed with experience. Instrumentation and controls technicians from entry level through degreed with experience. Welders from entry level to experienced and certified. Environmental, Safety and Health Specialists from undergraduate intern level through Ph.D level. Quality Control Specialists from entry level to experienced. Administrative, clerical and secretarial support. Interested concerns are requested to provide the following information in response to this market survey: 1. Capability to provide the services outlined in this Announcement. 2. Evidence of corporate commitment to provide access to world class resources to meet a flexible revolving workforce. Specifically, the ability to provide scientists and engineers who are considered industry and/or academia leaders in the field of energy research and engineering. Demonstrated ability to provide these resources to a scope of similar size and complexity which includes both long and short term assignments. 3. Capability and experience in providing services that are governed by Federal regulations or policies relative to; Integrated Safety Management, Quality Assurance, Environmental Compliance, Conduct of Operations, Procurement, Property Management, and protection of data/intellectual property interests. 4. Experience on contracts of a similar complexity and type. 5. Relevant experience of management personnel. 6. If subcontracting or teaming is anticipated, past history and specific reference to effective development and implementation is required. 7. Business size as it relates to the above stated NAICS code and size standard information listed (specify the business classification: large business, educational, non-profit, not-for-profit, small business, small disadvantaged business, woman owned, veteran owned, disabled veteran owned, 8(a) or HUB Zone) (Note: if a teaming arrangement is proposed your business size should be considered large unless you have obtained written SBA approval for your team to be considered in another size category). It is recommended that submittals be limited to between ten and twenty pages. All interested parties responding to this market survey must submit their responses via the Department of Energy Industry Interactive Procurement System (IIPS) no later than 4:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time on July 10, 2008. Questions relating to this sources sought notice are required to be submitted electronically through the question submittal option of the IIPS program. All responses to solicitation questions will be released on the IIPS Internet page. The IIPS page is located at http://e-center.doe.gov. At this I nternet site you will be able to register with IIPS, enabling you to submit your response. Your response should be submitted using the Create Proposal function in IIPS under opportunity number DE-SO26-08000665. The respondent must then complete the required fields and attach their response to the link identified as Volume I/Offer or Other Documents (This is pre-set title in IIPS, for the purposes of this announcement your response is considered Other Documents). For consistency, the respondent is instructed to submit their response in either MS Word (.doc) or Adobe Acrobat (.pdf) format (version 2003 or earlier). If you need technical assistance in registering or for any other IIPS function, call the IIPS Help Desk at +1 (555) 000-0000 or email the Help Desk personnel at contact@example.gov. As indicated previously, this is NOT a solicitation therefore no cost or pricing information should be provided. This is a market survey to identify potential sources capable of performing the effort required. Responses should be limited to the Contractors expression of interest, identification of business size, and demonstration of capabilities/experience based on the list provided. A WORD version of this notice is included for download.