Lithium-Ion Battery Fire Testing Capabilities

The U.S. Coast Guard, through its Futures Development and Integration Directorate and the Research and Development Center, is conducting market research to evaluate the technical capabilities of organizations capable of performing fire testing on lithium-ion batteries to enhance maritime safety. This effort, issued as Request for Information 70Z02326RFI0002, seeks information on contractors’ abilities to conduct medium- and large-scale fire characterization tests on battery modules and full installations within simulated vessel environments. The focus is on collecting data related to thermal runaway propagation, heat release rates, toxic vapor production, and the effectiveness of fire suppression systems under controlled conditions. Responses must be submitted via email to two designated addresses by May 27, 2026, with strict formatting requirements including a one-page cover letter and a five-page technical response, and must include the respondent’s Unique Entity Identifier, NAICS code 541380, and business size status. All submissions become U.S. Government property and must clearly identify proprietary information. Testing is anticipated to occur at the Coast Guard Research and Development Center in New London, Connecticut, with the government potentially providing battery test articles or requiring contractors to source them per specifications. Contractors must detail their safety protocols, instrumentation accuracy, data collection methodologies, past performance in similar testing environments, and the contract types used for prior work. Supporting materials such as facility diagrams, sample test reports, and digital photographs are encouraged but not counted toward the page limit. The RFI explicitly states it is for market research only and does not constitute a solicitation, request for proposal, or commitment to award a contract. No formal evaluation factors, weights, or award criteria are established, and no contract type, funding details, or payment information is specified. The government seeks to gather baseline capabilities to inform future acquisition strategies related to fire safety aboard vessels carrying lithium-ion batteries.