Liquid-Cooled Resistor to Support Load Leveling of Cyclic Profiles

Sources Sought Notice Title - Liquid-Cooled Resistor to Support Load Leveling of Cyclic Transient Profiles Description: The Naval Surface Warfare Center Ship Systems Engineering Station (NAVSSES) is conducting a market survey of potential sources that can provide liquid-cooled resistor to be used for dissipating energy in a transient, cyclic load profile in a marine environment. This survey in no way binds the Government to offer contracts to responding companies. The information provided will assist NAVSSES in understanding available liquid-cooled resistors. Defense and commercial contractors, including small businesses, veteran-owned businesses, service-disabled veteran-owned businesses, HUBZone small businesses, and woman-owned small businesses are encouraged to participate. Respondents should demonstrate that they currently produce or can initiate a manufacturing line for an FY 2016 procurement. The characteristics described herein are notional requirements and are subject to change following the results of this notice. Operating Requirements: - 1. Voltage - a. ?1000 V drive voltage, AC or DC - 2. Power and Load Profile - a. Switchable/pulse-width modulated (PWM) load in increments of ~1.5MW - b. 1 second ON at full rating, followed by 5 seconds OFF, repeated indefinitely (Threshold); 1s on at full rating, followed by 5s at up to 33% rating (Objective) - c. Limited use mode of 1s ON at full rating for ?10s, possibly immediately followed by the use profiles shown in (2.b). - d. Ability to operate at other higher demand profiles for an unspecified, but finite amount of time - 3. Mounting and Interface - a. Seawater piping appropriately sized for flow and pressure with appropriate alloys for seawater use - b. Envelope of resistors, piping, and controls should be at most 84" x 60" (footprint) and 50" (height) - c. Terminal box mounted compactly, either on the resistors themselves or elsewhere inside the container space - d. Able to be mounted within a container or as a stand-alone item with piping and electrical interfaces, and appropriate shock mounting - 4. Corrosion - a. alloys suitable for seawater use - 5. Cooling - a. worst-case seawater cooling at 43.5 C - b. must operate at no greater than 3 bar gage pressure - c. must have no more than 0.2 bar of pressure drop Notional Schedule Requirements: An RFP and delivery schedule is not currently in existence, and part of this RFI is to inform the level of effort and time required to perform non-recurring engineering or other efforts, and then produce these items. Responses: Responses to this RFI shall include supporting materials that allow an effective evaluation of your company's competence, experience, and overall understanding of the requirements that NAVSEA has identified. The following additional information is requested (please indicate if the information is an estimate or actual). System Characteristics: - 1. What specifications and standards have it been designed to meet? - 2. What are approximate dimensions and weight and center of gravity of the system when fully wet? What are the weight and center of gravity numbers when the system is dry? - 3. What is the maximum temperature at the element surface? - 4. What is the corresponding flow rate to maintain this? - 5. What corrosion protection is provided, and is there a benefit to flushing and maintaining the units dry or filled with fresh water when not operational? - 6. What assumptions are made regarding fouling regarding lifecycle capability of operation and thermal transfer - 7. If a subsystem capable of performing pulse-width modulation and/or controlled turning on and off of the resistors is available, please define Cost Information: - 8. It is requested that a non-binding rough order of magnitude (ROM) cost be provided to support planning - 9. ROM cost should assume production of up to 32 each 1.5MW resistors, and should provide pricing break points if fewer or more would be produced. It should also provide cost for an initial item for laboratory testing. Utility and Interfaces Information: - 7. What are the environmental limitations for the system? - 8. What are the safety and control features of the system? - 9. What documentation is provided with the system? - 10. What electrical interfaces and protection are included with the unit? - 11. What is the electrical insulation rating, and what tests are performed to ensure proper insulation? - 12. What controls systems are included with the effort? Scheduling Information: - 13. What is the development timeline, including estimated time for drawing review, production, testing and delivery? Miscellaneous Information: - 14. If any proprietary information is integral to the unit, what procedure does the company employ for disclosing this information? - 15. Is there any additional information not specifically requested in this Questionnaire that is apropos to your system? - 16. Does a purchased unit have a factory warranty? What are the terms of the warranty? - 17. Are there any use circumstances that are prohibited and will void a warrantee if the unit is purchased? - 18. What tests and inspections will be performed on each unit/system? This sources sought announcement does not constitute an Invitation for Bids (IFB), a Request for Quote (RFQ), or a Request for Proposal (RFP) and it should not be construed as a commitment of any kind by the Government to issue a formal solicitation or ultimately award a contract. The U.S. Government is in no way liable to pay for or reimburse any companies or entities that respond to this announcement. Any costs incurred by interested companies in response to this announcement or incurred for participation in the pre-solicitation conference will NOT be reimbursed. Any information provided that is marked as proprietary information will be safeguarded to prevent disclosures to non-government personnel and entities. This announcement does not commit the Government to the award of a contract. Please reference the above solicitation number when responding to this notice. Submit response to no later than 4:00PM EST, 31 July 2015 to John Heinzel at the following mailing address: 1000 Kitty Hawk Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19112, by e-mail at contact@example.gov. However, submissions will be accepted after this date, but feedback may not be as timely or contribute to NAVSSES's strategic planning. Responses should indicate enough detail so that potential Navy interest can be assessed. Responses are requested to be provided electronically and acceptable formats include Adobe PDF, Microsoft Word and Microsoft PowerPoint files. All inquiries and comment submissions should be emailed to contact@example.gov. The information provided will assist NAVSSES in developing and further defining future procurement and acquisition strategies, and it is desirable that it not contain proprietary information. However, if some of the information provided is considered proprietary to the respondent, that portion will be segregated and labeled as such and will be treated as Business Sensitive and will not be shared outside of Government activities and agencies without the permission of the provider.