A -- Solar Decathlon 2007

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), a U. S. Department of Energy Laboratory, anticipates issuing a Request for Proposals (RFP) to accredited colleges, universities, and other post-secondary educational institutions in early October, 2005. The RFP is for participation in the 2007 Solar Decathlon and for related development of building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV). The Solar Decathlon is an international collegiate competition. Student teams compete to design, build, and operate highly energy-efficient, completely solar-powered houses that incorporate BIPV. The next Solar Decathlon is anticipated to take place in Washington, D.C., in 2007. (Previous events were held in fall 2002 and 2005). A critical outcome of the Solar Decathlon project is the development and demonstration of solar-powered homes in which, by the year 2015, the whole-house, levelized energy cost has been reduced to $.10/kWh, while complying with the criteria associated with the 10 contests that comprise the competition. NREL plans to solicit proposals from post-secondary educational institutions for entries that not only consider participation in the competition but also include a research and development (R&D) component that meets this critical outcome. The 2005 Solar Decathlon Rules and Regulations document is available at http://www.solardecathlon.org. The 2005 document is the basis for the 2007 competition, though it will be revised prior to the 2007 event. The anticipated RFP will be available at the same Web site in early October. Current plans are to award up to twenty (20) firm fixed price awards of $50,000 per year for two years under this solicitation. Organizations desiring a copy of the solicitation setting forth the RFP requirements should make a written request to contact@example.gov