RFI for space Lithium-Ion battery cell users willing to purchase 5781173 -sized cells with or without LCO, NCA and MCMB - Title III Material, qualified to AIAA S-144-202X, in 2023

Space Battery Cell User Questionnaire 1. Purpose/Objective The objective of this Request for Information (RFI) is to determine the number of space Lithium-Ion battery cell users willing to purchase 5781173-sized cells with or without LCO, NCA and MCMB - Title III Material, qualified to AIAA S-144-202X, in 2023. It is estimated that the 5781173 market will rise to at least 3,000 cells per year by 2023. This RFI references tasks designed to evaluate user interest in a standardized large-sized Li-ion space cell. 2. Background Problem - At present most space battery cells are specially-engineered components made in small batches with little hope of achieving high-rate production. With over 37 options, the manufacturer of each space cell is essentially a - sole source. The current low-rate production sole-source approach is a factor in launch delay and degradation/failure of USSF space missions. American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics Space Standard AIAA S-144-202X - U.S. government organizations use community standards through the National Institute of Standards and Technology and are sanctioned by the American National Standards Institute. The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) produces such standards. the AIAA standard entitled - Qualification and Acceptance Tests for Commoditized Space Battery Cells, AIAA S-144-202X, has three key goals of interest to the USSF: (1) standardize drop-in replacement space battery cells from multiple manufacturers to reduce costs by stimulating an economy of scale for these products and minimize schedule delays, (2) make batteries modular and scalable, minimizing costs by reducing the need for changes in mission-specific battery design, assembly, documentation, non-recurring engineering, and requalification, and (3) enable quick, new chemistry transitions into the space market using that standardized cell as a transfer vehicle into existing battery modules. These features appear to reduce schedule risk in research, development, productization, qualification, and manufacturing. Drop-in Replacement Battery Cells for the Space Industry - since the 1890s, the U.S. has successfully standardized - AAA, - AA, - C, and - D size cells, and new terrestrial chemistries are routinely commoditized and transitioned into children's toys simply by placing them into standardized cells. Using a similar - commoditization model for space, AIAA S-144-202X standardizes the IEC 61690-designated - 5781173 cell. The prismatic configuration and size of the cell was developed due to performance parity/superiority in all orbits, with over 10 years of heritage, history, and experience on-orbit. This 5781173-sized cell has been developed, implemented, and is in the process of qualification to the AIAA S-144-202X protocol at several USSF suppliers. U.S. government (a) stockpiling of long-life Li-ion battery materials and (b) qualification testing of this size cell with those materials over the past decade has supported the natural and slow space battery market development. Under current USSF acquisition strategies, USSF prime contractors typically select chemistries and sizes of space battery cells for USSF missions. A number of those prime contractors indicate they are developing or utilizing standardized battery modules, supporting goals (1) and (2). Quick TRL 5 Transition to TRL 6 - The starting point for new technology inclusion in a SMC mission of record is TRL 6. For the researcher or technology developer, and in support of USSF goal (3), qualifying standard-sized battery cells with AIAA S-144-202X and placing them in qualified battery modules, enables quick transition of new cell chemistries from TRL 5 to TRL 6. Where battery technology transitions have typically taken 10-15 years per new chemistry since the 1960's, this approach allows newly-developed chemistries to be - dropped in through the 5781173 - transition vehicle into qualified battery modules in 4-5 years. Demonstrating this approach under a Rapid Innovation Fund program, the USSF sponsored and is executing the qualification of a new long-life space chemistry this year in the 5781173 format for proposed inclusion in a program of record in 2023. Title III Materials - a set of Li-ion materials was selected by the U.S. government for inclusion in future space missions; this material was produced by foreign suppliers until 2006. As a result of the manufacturers discontinuing this material, the U.S. Government funded Quallion LLC through the USSF Title III program to develop and, as a merchant supplier, produce similar Lithiated NCA, LCO cathode and MCMB anode materials to secure the space industrial base. This facility started producing these - Title III Materials in 2013. In a parallel plan starting in 2014, the material was stockpiled by the Defense Logistics Agency for National Security Space and was implemented in the 5781173 design through multiple suppliers for delta qualification through life-cycle testing at U.S. government facilities. Other non-domestic materials also were tested during this timeframe in the 5781173 format through the same test program at the same facilities. As of 2019, Quallion LLC has certified that, as a merchant-supplier, they will produce the Title III materials for the next 15 years to ensure U.S. Government supply chain stability. Market - In calendar year 2018/19 approximately four hundred fifty (450) 5781173 cells were manufactured and delivered to multiple NSS prime contractors and battery assemblers. Current information from NSS prime contractors indicates that this market may gradually grow to approximately three thousand (3,000) 5781173 cells per year by 2023. Discussion - both supply chain stability and new technology development are of vital interest to the USSF. The implementation of 5781173 cells to use both the baseline Title III material and newly-developed long-life materials is a strategy that is of great interest to future USSF cell chemistry investment programs and for implementation in existing USSF programs of record. Summary - there are multiple benefits to the USSF by commoditizing the 5781173 cell size for space missions and the USSF seeks more information on the interest of users to participate in such a market. 3. Response Details The USSF will consider all responses (from both domestic and international organizations) and acquisition strategies available to develop this market approach. Through this RFI, the USSF is seeking strategic information, collaboration opportunities, and technical inputs required to assist in the formulation of a 5781173 acquisition strategy that includes determining the most desirable methods for performing collaborative development, to include technical/cost sharing with industry via cooperative agreements, FAR-based contracts, SBIR grant development, and other agreements. Small and small disadvantaged business are encouraged to respond. The user meets the RFI requirements by simply by responding to the questionnaire in Appendix A. 4. RFI Response Instructions The USSF seeks responses to the questions in Appendix A, included below. Partial responses are welcome. Responses will be used to aid the USSF in planning and prioritizing future research, development, productization, and qualification. The USSF has no intention to publicly disclose Respondents' proprietary information obtained in response to this RFI. Proprietary and export-controlled information should be marked appropriately in any response to this RFI. To the full extent that it is protected pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act and other laws and regulations, information identified by a Respondent as "Proprietary or - Confidential" will be kept confidential. DO NOT INCLUDE CLASSIFIED INFORMATION IN ANY RFI RESPONSE. It is emphasized that this RFI is NOT a Request for Proposal, Quotation, or Invitation for Bid. This RFI is for information and planning purposes only, subject to FAR Clause 52.215-3 titled "Request for Information or Solicitation for Planning Purposes," and is NOT to be construed as a commitment by the Government to enter into a contractual and/or binding agreement, nor will the Government pay for information solicited. Two information telecons, with opportunity for questions and answer will be held on: Wednesday, October 21, 2020, 12:00 pm PT, Telecon number 410-874-6300, Conference PIN 236497233 Thursday, October 22, 2020, 12:00 pm PT, Telecon number 410-874-6300, Conference PIN 236497233 After responding to the questionnaire, the Government may request follow-on discussion with one or more respondents, at the Government's discretion, to obtain clarification or additional detail of the material submitted. Respondents will not be notified of the results of the review. No solicitation exists; therefore, do not request a copy of the solicitation. If a solicitation is released, it will be synopsized in the FedBizOpps website. It is the responsibility of any potential offerors/bidders to monitor these sites for the release of any solicitation or synopsis. The Point of Contact (POC) for questions regarding this RFI is: Mr. Dan Romm, email address: daniel.romm.1@us.af.mil 5. Schedule All responses to this RFI may be submitted via e-mail to daniel.romm.1@us.af.mil by close-of-business (COB) Friday, October 30, 2020. Files may be submitted in MS Word or PDF format. Paper submissions will not be accepted. All responses should be no more than ten (10) pages including text, graphs, charts, tables, illustrations, and other figures. A page is defined as one (1) sheet 8 - x 11 inches using a minimum of 12-point font size for text. Appendix A, 5781173 RFI Questionnaire Please answer as many questions as possible (10-page limit). Information About Your Organization Company Name. Ownership status - US/Foreign/Multi-National. Name, title, and Technical Point of Contact Information for a U.S. Person (i.e. U.S. citizen or U.S. permanent resident/Green Card holder) Representing the Company. Name, title, and Contracts Point of Contact Information for a U.S. Person (i.e. U.S. citizen or U.S. permanent resident/Green Card holder) Representing the Company. Address/Location. Size of business (large, small, small disadvantaged, 8(a), veteran-owned, service-disabled veteran-owned and/or women owned or HUBZone, etc.). Years in business. 5781173 Qualification to AIAA S-144-202X Statement of Work - Please provide a narrative to describe the specific tasks to support the qualification effort or purchase plan. Cost to Implement the Qualification or Purchase Plan List additional capital equipment and ROM cost of capital equipment, if additional equipment is needed. List Non-Recurring Engineering (NRE) and ROM cost of that NRE. Provide the overall ROM cost of qualifying the 5781173 cell to AIAA S-144-202X Provide the ROM cost using Title III Materials. Provide the ROM cost using foreign materials. Schedule Capital Equipment - provide a notional schedule to install and prove out additional capital equipment, if necessary. Non-Recurring Engineering - provide a notional schedule to complete the NRE task. Overall Qualification - provide a notional schedule for overall qualification to AIAA S-144-202X Provide a notional schedule implementing Title III Materials. Provide a notional schedule implementing foreign materials. Cost Per Cell to Deliver One Thousand (1,000) AIAA S-144-202X-Qualified Cells in 2023 FOB the Manufacturer's Facility Provide ROM amortized costs per cell for each chemistry proposed (costs including Capital Equipment, NRE, AIAA S-144-202X Qualification, G&A, and Overhead). Provide ROM cost per cell excluding amortized costs for each chemistry proposed.