Advanced Technology Vehicle Evaluations

Advanced Technology Vehicle Evaluations The National Renewable Energy Laboratory actively supports the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), the Department of Defense (DOD), and the Department of Transportation by providing technical evaluations of advanced technologies in various real-world applications. The work supports test projects initiated by these agencies including DOE's Fuel Cell Technology Program and the DOT's Federal Transit Administration. The primary activity is to collect fleet and vehicle operations data, documenting fleet implementation experiences with fuel cell technology vehicles in a variety of applications. The primary objectives of these projects are to: - Provide comprehensive, unbiased (third-party) information on advanced technology vehicle performance (including fuel cell vehicles). - Assess status of the newest technologies in real-world service - Establish a benchmark of current and near-term technologies - Share lessons learned about implementation experience Evaluation projects on prototype/early market vehicles focus on the commercialization process and progress--in other words, a technology assessment. Most evaluations include economic, technical, emissions, and safety factors. Data are collected on the operation, maintenance, performance, and, sometimes, the emissions characteristics of advanced technology fleets and comparable baseline fleets (if available) operating in a similar duty-cycle. (Baseline technology depends on the application but could include diesel, compressed natural gas, electric, or propane vehicles.) Operators considering the use of advanced vehicles comprise the primary intended audience for this information. Information provided through these evaluations will help fleet owners and operators facilitate purchase decisions on the technology. Results from the evaluations also feed back into the development process for DOE/DOD/DOT and technology manufacturers. NREL is seeking an organization with expertise in working with various project partners to collect and analyze data on fuel cell vehicles. To support NREL with this effort, an organization must document specific capabilities, attributes, and skills as indicated: - Document historical experience, and an extensive technical knowledge of advanced propulsion systems (specifically experience with fuel cell systems) in various applications. - Document historical experience and technical knowledge of supporting alternative fueling infrastructure equipment (including hydrogen). - Document an understanding of various industries that employ vehicle fleets including truck, transit, and ground support equipment (such as forklift) operations. - Document the ability to act as a third-party evaluator. - Document an understanding of heavy vehicle performance testing and emissions testing. - Document an understanding of vehicle operations tracking database systems, data processing, statistical analysis techniques, and ensuring quality data for analysis. - Document an understanding of vehicle and operations life-cycle cost modeling methods. - Document an understanding of data analysis and methods to show the potential business case for early market applications. - Document experience in organizing strategic planning exercises. - Document the ability to build relationships with project partners (i.e., fleet personnel, vehicle manufacturers, integrators, engine/propulsion manufactures, DOE/DOD/DOT/NREL and other labs, etc.) and work in a team. - Provide documentation that the organization has significant contacts and resources in the advanced technology transportation field, specifically with fuel cell technology. In order to control costs, interested parties should have a proven ability to perform all the work within their organization without subcontracts or teaming arrangements with other organizations (except as requested by NREL). The response to this SOURCES SOUGHT DOCUMENT is limited to 8 pages of single space text of 12-point font or equivalent, with a minimum of 1 inch margins all around. Brevity is encouraged. Any organization interested in working with NREL to provide the technical expertise described within this document may mail a list of qualifications to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Attn: Laura Hughes, 1617 Cole Boulevard - MS 1735, Golden, CO 80401-3305. Telephone calls will not be accepted; however, submittal by email is encouraged and should be sent to: laura.hughes@nrel.gov. Electronic format of the Sources Sought response shall be MSWord or Excel. Please do not send scanned .PDFs. Qualifications will be responsive to the items listed above. Responses to this notice, whether mailed hardcopy or electronically, must be received by 4:00 p.m. MDT, April 29, 2010. Responding to this request identifies your organization as an interested candidate only. Your submittal is not in response to a Request for Proposals (RFP).