Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technology for Rail Safety Research - RFI

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technology for Rail Safety Research Rolling Stock Research Division Office of Research, Development and Technology Disclaimer: Request For Information (RFI) Only. This RFI is issued solely for information and planning purposes - it does not constitute as a Request for Proposal (RFP) or a promise to issue an RFP in the future. This request for information does not commit the Government to contract for any supply or service whatsoever. Further, the Government is not at this time seeking proposals and will not accept unsolicited proposals. The RFI respondees are advised that the Government will not pay for any information or administrative costs incurred in response to this RFI; all costs associated with responding to this RFI will be solely at the interested party's expense. Not responding to this RFI does not preclude participation in any future RFP, if any is issued. If a solicitation is released, it will be synopsized on the Federal Business Opportunities (FedBizOpps) website: https://www.fbo.gov. It is the responsibility of the potential offerors to monitor these sites for additional information pertaining to this requirement. Purpose The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), Rolling Stock Research Division is seeking information from contractors interested in, and capable of supporting FRA Office of Research, Development and Technology to investigate the safety and performance of advanced energy propulsion technologies for railroad applications. Research will seek to gain knowledge on the fire safety, crashworthiness performance and durability of hydrogen storage media, fuel cells and ancillary components used in hydrogen fuel cell locomotives and multiple unit (MU) under extreme loads and environmental conditions observed in railroads. Background The mission of the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) is to enable the safe, reliable, and efficient movement of people and goods for a strong America, now and in the future. The mission of the FRA's Office of Research Development & Technology (RD&T) is to ensure the safe, efficient, and reliable movement of people and goods by rail through basic and applied research, and development of innovations and solutions. Safety is DOT's primary strategic goal and thus, the principal driver of FRA's RD&T program. FRA's RD&T program also contributes to other DOT strategic goals because safety-focused projects typically yield solutions toward state of good repair, economic competitiveness, and environmental sustainability goals. The RD&T program also has an important role to play in workforce development. RD&T's Rail Energy, Emissions and Engine (Rail E3) Technology research program under the Rolling Stock Research Division seeks to investigate the crashworthiness and fire safety performance of cryogenic storage media for alternative fuels, fuel cells and ancillary equipment necessary for hydrogen dual fuel or fuel cell locomotive of MU rail vehicles. This research continues previous research efforts into crashworthiness and fire safety performance of natural gas fuel tender cars and commodity equipment. This acquisition will focus on equipment used to store hydrogen fuel for rail equipment powered by hydrogen and fuel cells. Hydrogen and fuel cell technologies can significantly reduce the emissions associated with rail transportation. Currently in the North America, there are a few rail service providers, both freight and passenger, committed to using hydrogen and fuel cell technology as a source of energy for train propulsion. FRA research seeks to investigate the safety of these new technologies under railroad loading conditions. Request In response to this RFI, please provide your corporate capability to support the division in planning, executing and technology transfer of research related to safety of hydrogen and fuel cell technologies for railroad applications. Please include: corporate history, experience with rail rolling stock research and testing, experience with and knowledge of rail operations (freight as well as passenger) and maintenance, knowledge and capability to evaluate hydrogen storage media, fuel cell technology and the ancillary components for hydrogen fueled locomotives and multiple unit rail vehicles, as outlined Title 49 of Code of Federal Regulation, Parts 200-299, or industry specifications such as PRIIA-305-912, Rev. C Operational and Environmental Conditions for Rail Rolling Stock, AAR Manual of Standards and Recommended Practice Interoperable Fuel Tenders for Locomotives, PART I, M-1004 Fuel Tenders for Natural Gas and Other Alternate Fuels, American Public Transportation Association Passenger Rail Equipment Safety Standards and any other industry standard used to access performance of equipment use in service to move people and goods on the general railroad system of the United States, knowledge of rail rolling stock vehicle design, structural requirements and fire safety, and the issues surrounding how those requirements are affected with the use of alternative fuels such as hydrogen and fuel cells. Please show your expertise and capabilities in conducting environmental tests as defined by passenger and freight rail industry standards, and your ability to conduct environmental tests, according to those standards on fuel cells and its ancillary components, as they are intended to operate to provide energy for rail vehicle propulsion Please support your corporate capability with personnel resumes, review of facilities and other documentation useful in determining your capability to support the FRA's Rolling Stock Research division. Responses The cover page of the response shall include the company name, DUNS number, address, point of contact including phone number and email address, as well as the small business status of the responding company. Responses shall be limited to 20 pages. Proprietary information, if any, should be minimized and MUST BE CLEARLY MARKED. Meetings and Discussions: The Government representatives may or may not choose to meet with potential RFI service provider. Such meetings and discussions would only be intended to get further clarification of potential capability, especially any development and certification risks. THERE ARE NO SOLICITATION DOCUMENTS NOW. The intent of this notice is to identify qualified contractors for this potential future acquisition. Interested contractors should submit to the point of contact listed below information regarding their company. Please do not include any proprietary information. Email any technical questions to moyah.wilson@dot.gov. The response shall be due no later than 12:00 PM Eastern Standard Time (EST) on 13 May 2022. The responses shall be emailed to moyah.wilson@dot.gov. Point of Contact Moyah Wilson Place of Performance Address: Washington, DC Postal Code: 20590 Country: USA