Technology Development and Innovation for Addressing Wind Wildlife Operations Challenges

AMENDMENT NO. 01 to NREL RFP No. RDC-9-92218 TDI Wind Wildlife This amendment is being issued to provide answers to the technical questions received on or before 05/31/2019. Offerors are reminded that the Proposal due date is 06/10/2019 by 5:00PM Mountain Time. 1. Are there any rules/restrictions pertaining to the location of the field work? We are considering conducting the field trial portion of the work in Germany since this is where the technology we would like to assess and validate is being implemented. Response: This is acceptable as long as at least a portion of the work includes use of NREL National Wind Technology Center facilities, as stated in the RFP - 2. When will the proposals be awarded? Is the work intended to start in 2019 or 2020? Or will it depend on the proposal category? Response: It is difficult to provide an exact timeline for this due to the variables in the process. Some of the unknown variables are the total number of responses received under the RFP, which will affect the time need to evaluate and make selections. Additional variables are the subcontract negotiations which may vary depending on the number of exceptions taken to the terms and conditions, development or changes to the proposed statement of work, and the support for proposed costs. It is intended that the work effort will start in Calendar year 2019. - 3. Should applicants secure NREL sponsorship - i.e. reach out to someone at NREL? Response: No, NREL sponsorship is not necessary and you should not be discussing your project with anyone at NREL during the competitive selection process. - 4. How does the 20% matching work? Can the match take the form of either direct cash expenditure or an in-kind contribution? Response: The 20% cost share can be contributed in a variety of ways, including in kind labor toward the project, and/or contribution of funds to cover materials/supplies/equipment that are included as proposed costs. - 5. For categories 1-3, is the 20% match based off awardees $100,000 proposal or does it include the additional NREL funds so a total of $160,000.00? Response: The 20% cost share is based on the proposed cost to complete the work effort and does not include the additional NREL funds. - 6. Are key partners considered a subcontractor to the Offeror? Or will the key partners be invoiced separately? Key partners are considered lower-tier subcontractors to the Offeror and should be included in the proposed costs and invoices submitted for the project. - 7. I had a question about the RFP and the expectations around the maturity of the organizations that are applying. I previously work at a small business that would apply to Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) grant and at the time of application you could use your personal name and not an incorporated entity name. Would that be considered for this RFP or is the "organizational solvency" criteria meant to prevent that? Response: The organizational solvency is not intended to eliminate an individual from proposing, it is intended to demonstrate that the offeror can finance the project and handle the required 20% cost share. We would like to clarify that this is a subcontract award and not a grant. Under a subcontract, advance payments are not provided, and the offeror will need to be able to finance the project. - 8. Should the "Fully Burdened Labor Rate and Expense Proposal Form" include all the costs of the proposed work (including the cost share portion)? As a follow-up, how would we separate what we propose for the cost share versus what we anticipate to be funded? Response: You should show all the costs in the proposal form. You can come up with the total and them have a line that shows your cost share and a line with a revised NREL total. You can submit the costs on your own form if you like as long as it has the same information.