Improved Mobile Electric Power Distribution System

**Problem Statement** The currently fielded Mobile Electric Power Distribution Systems (MEPDIS) are at the end of their life cycles and require replacement. As forces operate in more dispersed and self‐sufficient environments, current power distribution inefficiencies will actively impair mission execution. The United States Marine Corps must replace the aging and inefficient MEPDIS-Replacement panels with a logistically supportable family of systems designed to meet the power demands of the future force.
**Project Approach** The Improved Mobile Electric Power Distribution System (I-MEPDIS) project, executed under the DIU Commercial Solutions Opening (CSO), will use an iterative prototyping process. The goal is to modify and adapt existing commercial technologies for military use through a two-phased approach: • Project Phase 1: Initial Design and Prototyping (6 - 12 months): Modify commercial systems to meet desired solution features, deliver initial prototypes, and conduct Military-Standard (MIL-STD) compliance testing. • Project Phase 2: User Evaluations (1 - 3 months): Conduct field evaluations with operational units to assess user feedback, system interoperability, and performance.
**Project Objectives** This project seeks to develop and test a robust, scalable distribution system that seamlessly interconnects and distributes power from current tactical generators and energy storage systems. I-MEPDIS must support various sized military generators and electrical consumers. I-MEPDIS will distribute electric power to communications, mission command, fire control, combat operations centers, and force protection systems in expeditionary environments and other locations lacking a stable power grid.
**Desired Solution Features** The I-MEPDIS must be rapidly deployable and be backwards compatible with the current MEPDIS-Replacement system. Solutions must meet the following technical criteria:
Power Inputs: Must accept 120V and 208V 3-phase(〜) Alternating Current (AC).
Power Outputs: Must distribute 120VAC, 208V 3-phase AC, and 28V Direct Current (DC).
Monitoring: Amperage monitoring is highly desired for all panels.
Form Factor (<200A): Systems with inputs rated below 200 Amps (A) must be person-portable.
Form Factor (>200A): Systems with inputs rated above 200 Amps must be skid-mounted and transportable via standard USMC Material Handling Equipment.
MIL-STD Compliance: All systems must meet MIL-STD-810 environmental testing requirements.
Additionally, solutions must meet the following required configurations:
Panel Size
Micro Grid 1200A
Bidirectional DC 30A
Inputs
*4 - 200A (adjustable up to 400A)
*2 - 100A
*2 - 60A
1 - 30A
1 - 30A
Outputs
1 - 200 A (adjustable up to 400A)
4 - 60A
4 - 30A
1 - 30A (1~)
1 - 30A (1〜)
Outputs
4 - 100A
4 - 30A
3 - 20A (1〜)
8 - 20A (1〜)
6 - 20A (1〜)
Outputs
2 - 60A
3 - 20A (1〜)
2 - 28VDC NATO
Outputs
4 - 30A
Outputs
3 - 20A (1~)
*All inputs must be able to be paralleled.
**Vendor Solution Brief Submission Options** Vendors have flexibility in how they submit their solution briefs, which can be proposed either independently or through a teaming arrangement. Solution briefs should be an approximately 5-page white paper or 15-slide deck.
**Process** Submissions will be evaluated in accordance with CSO HQ0845-20-S-C001 available on https://diu.mil and https://SAM.gov. Vendors selected for Phase 2 will receive additional information to help inform their Phase 2 pitches. Those vendors will be expected to provide their Rough Order of Magnitude (ROM) cost. The vendor's Phase 2 pitches shall address the Phase 2 evaluation factors contained in CSO HQ0845-20-S-C001. The Government requires companies without a CAGE code to register in SAM if selected for an agreement award. The Government recommends that prospective companies begin this process as early as possible.
**Eligibility Requirements** Eligibility
This solicitation is open to U.S. and international vendors. Vendors are reminded that in order to utilize an Other Transaction agreement, the requirements of 10 USC 4022 must be satisfied. Specifically reference 10 USC 4022(d), which requires significant contribution from a nontraditional defense contractor, all participants to be small business concerns, or at least one third of the total cost of the prototype project is to be paid out of funds provided by sources other than the Federal Government.
Awarding Instrument
This Area of Interest and subsequent phases will proceed in accordance with the Commercial Solutions Opening (CSO) process and evaluation criteria detailed within HQ0845-20-S-C001 (DIU CSO), posted to SAM.gov in March 2020. Additionally, this document can be found within the DIU Library at www.diu.mil/library.
Follow-on Production
Companies are advised that any prototype Other Transaction (OT) agreement awarded in response to this Area of Interest may result in the award of a follow-on production contract or transaction without the use of further competitive procedures. The follow-on production contract or transaction will be available for use by one or more organizations in the Department of War and, as a result, the magnitude of the follow-on production contract or agreement could be significantly larger than that of the prototype OT. As such, any prototype OT will include the following statement relative to the potential for follow-on production: "In accordance with 10 U.S.C. 4022(f), and upon a determination that the prototype project for this transaction has been successfully completed, this competitively awarded prototype OT may result in the award of a follow-on production contract or transaction without the use of competitive procedures.”