Solar Power for Flyaway Kits

Collaboration Link, on behalf of the Air Force Global Strike Command (AFGSC) Rapid Capabilities Division (A5N), is seeking innovative commercial and dual-use technologies capable of providing reliable solar-generated electrical power directly to designated mission systems without reliance on batteries, generators, or other energy-storage devices. The desired solution will be used for aircraft maintainers on their maintenance kits.
This Market Challenge is intended to identify mature or near-mature technologies capable of rapid prototyping, demonstration, and potential transition to operational use at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana.
Collaboration Link serves as the program administrator for the Air Force Global Strike Command (AFGSC) Other Transaction Authority (OTA) program. In this capacity, Collaboration Link facilitates administrative coordination between the Government, One Nation Innovation, and participating vendors, including the processing and coordination of invoices and payments in accordance with the applicable agreements. The agreement will be between AFGSC RCD and the vendor serving as the “prime performer.”
## Problem Statement
AFGSC requires an alternate means of providing electrical power to designated equipment during periods of sufficient solar irradiance without the logistical, maintenance, lifecycle, and operational requirements associated with conventional battery-based solar systems or fossil-fuel generators.
Traditional photovoltaic systems typically rely on batteries or connections to an electrical grid to regulate intermittent solar generation. AFGSC is interested in technologies capable of converting available photovoltaic energy into stable, conditioned electrical power that can be supplied directly to mission loads.
## Overall Objective
The objective of this effort is to prototype and demonstrate a solar-based alternate power capability at Barksdale AFB. A maintenance kit is a rapidly deployable shelter. An example is a Western Shelter, ECS-90 (Expandable Container System-90) which is 7’W x 9’L x 8’H when stowed and 20’W X 9’L X 8’H when deployed.
The selected performer will work with AFGSC to conduct a load and site assessment and configure the proposed technology for the designated Government equipment.
The prototype effort is expected to include system design, equipment procurement or fabrication, installation, integration, commissioning, testing, and documentation.
The prototype shall demonstrate that the proposed technology can provide continuous conditioned electrical power to the designated load during periods when sufficient solar energy is available.
The prototype shall also demonstrate a safe and controlled response when available solar energy becomes insufficient to support the designated load.