Amendment 1 - RFQ 2025026954.pdf

AMENDMENT OF SOLICITATION

Request for Quote 2025026954 Amendment No. 01

Date: 11/25/2025

ISSUED BY:

National Renewable Energy Laboratory 15013 Denver West Parkway Golden, CO 80401

PROJECT NAME: "Energy Systems Integration Facility (ESIF) Fuel Cell"

The above numbered solicitation is amended as set forth below. The hour and date specified for receipt of offers

[ ] is not extended. [x] is extended to 12/10/25 at 5 PM MST

FAILURE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THIS AMENDMENT MAY RESULT IN REJECTION OF YOUR OFFER.

EXCEPT AS PROVIDED HEREIN, ALL TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE SOLICITATION DOCUMENT

REMAIN UNCHANGED AND IN FULL FORCE AND EFFECT.

Subcontract Administrator: Janelle DiGregorio

1) REQUEST FOR QUOTE UPDATE Amendment No. 1 is hereby issued to extend the quote deadline to

12/10/25, 5 PM MST.

This amendment is also hereby issued in response to the questions received for the RFQ. Please note that some questions may have been edited to address duplicate questions or to protect business-sensitive information provided in the original questions. The essences of the original questions are not affected.

Questions are in no particular order. Questions and Answers are below.

• Evaluation process:

o What is the estimated date of contract signature?

A. This information cannot be shared. This action will follow the process explained in the RFQ.

o What is the expected planning for the three steps: 1-Initial Evaluation; 2-Price Evaluation; 3-Selection?

A. Planning is an internal process and cannot be shared. Please refer to the RFQ for a process breakdown.

o Do you forecast a notation matrix for the offers? If yes, what are the criteria?

A. This is a lowest price technically acceptable action. Please review the RFQ which describes how quote’s will be evaluated.

• Could you please confirm which contractual annex is applicable? Can you please confirm the applicable T&C can be found under appendix B8 only (and not B8h) ?

A. B8 T’s and C’s will apply.

o We could not find any penalty for late delivery under appendix B8 – Can you please confirm this tender is not subject to any penalty for late delivery and other matters?

A. Discussion or negotiation of Terms and Conditions will not occur at this time.

o What is the applicable Incoterm? Is FCA France acceptable to NREL?

A. NREL’s preferred delivery method is FOB Destination.

o Would you accept an offer in Euro?

A. The quote must be in USD. The PO and invoice are required to be in USD.

o Is contract discussion on APPENDIX B-8 STANDARD TERMS AND CONDITIONS FOR

COMMERCIAL ITEMS (GOODS AND SERVICES) possible during the evaluation process?

A. Contract discussion or negotiation of Terms and Conditions will not occur during evaluation.

As the RFQ communicates, NREL standard terms and conditions, Appendix B-8, Standard Terms and Conditions for Subcontracts and Purchase Orders for Commercial Items, dated 1/23/2023, found at: https://www.nrel.gov/workingwithus/assets/pdfs/appendix-b-8-subcontracts-purchase-orders-commercial-items.pdf will be applicable to the purchase order.

Submitting a bid constitutes acceptance of NREL’s terms and conditions referenced in the solicitation.

• Payment terms: are they predefined, or can we propose a scheduled payment according to advancement milestones?

A. NREL’s payment terms are 100% after the entire order is delivered, inspected and accepted by the NREL. If there are exceptions to this, please provide a proposed payment milestone schedule with the offer and NREL will review.

• Intellectual property : Document "Request for Quote (RFQ) Number 2025026954 : "Energy Systems Integration Facility (ESIF) Fuel Cell" is indicating "c. The submitted offers shall not contain any Restricted Intellectual Property or the Development of any Intellectual Property." Design of fuel cell will remain our IP. Is it acceptable for you? A specific transfer of know-how can be proposed and priced on part of the scope of supply, especially regarding support systems.

A. As communicated in the RFQ, the submitted offers shall not contain any Restricted Intellectual Property or the Development of any Intellectual Property.

• What is the budget for the project?

A. This information cannot be disclosed.

• Is it allowed to propose a technical solution which is not 100% compliant to specification, in order to minimize the selling price?

A. This is a lowest price technically acceptable action. Please submit a quote that abides by the technical specifications.

- Requested planning is 12 months from order to delivery. Would you accept a longer delivery planning to optimize technical proposal and/or price?

A. Yes, a longer timeline would be acceptable (maximum of 18 months).

• Would you accept an EC certification according to European directives (machine, low voltage, EMC, equipment under pressure, ATEX)?

A. No, we would not accept an EC certification. The equipment needs to be listed by an OSHA approved NRTL. If the manufacturer cannot do that, the next option is to then have them provide for a field evaluation by an approved NRTL.

• There is no mention to support for commissioning at NREL - ESIF site, training, services, maintenance in specification. Could you confirm it is excluded from the quotation, and if there will be a second offer for this part?

A. Commissioning support for the system (dedicated on-site commissioning) should be included in the proposal.

Other services (e.g., training, maintenance, etc.) should not be quoted (will be addressed separately if future need arises). Field support availability and response times should be addressed (From technical specifications “High service field support availability/response times (U.S. based support options preferred)”)

• 200-250 kW power output, scalable: could you confirm that requested power is demonstrated during Factory Acceptance Test, at sea level (derating with elevation can be estimated)? Can it be considered as a peak, power or is it a continuous power request?

A. Yes, requested power is demonstrated during Factory Acceptance Test, at sea level. Derating with elevation can be estimated. This is a continuous power request.

• Process connections:

o Cooling system: may you please confirm what is requested or not, and give precision on the scope and level of integration required?

page 1 of technical annex is written that it is not requested: "Fuel cell support systems (e.g., cooling system, hydrogen piping, ventilation, etc.) are already installed in the facility and are expected to be modified to support the new fuel cell system as needed."

page 2 of technical annex is written "includes local, standalone cooling system"

A. The page 2 requirement of a local, standalone cooling system is the correct request.

The page 1 statement should not include cooling system on the list (a facility cooling system is potentially available, but strong preference for standalone cooling system) o Provide CHP takeoff: can you confirm that CHP means Combined Heat and Power, and that you need an optional interface for a possible cogeneration system?

A. CHP stands for Combined Heat and Power. The facility where the fuel cell system will be installed has existing CHP infrastructure and we are interested in being able to integrate the fuel cell into this system in the future (capture heat from fuel cell).

We’re not certain what “interface” is referring to. If referring to a controls system interface, no that is not required. The stated requirement points to a fuel cell system design that allows for waste heat recovery.

o Do you have a simplified PID of the target installation at ESIF, with scope of supply and interfaces identification?

A. Not currently. NREL will be responsible for installation and integration with our facility systems. We will develop the PID and SLD as part of design of installation once we know what fuel cell system we are getting. Are there specific details needed to support the proposal for the fuel cell system?

• Electrical connections:

o Is a DC/AC inverter required? It is written 'Vendor provides inverter and integration', but voltage is required DC. Could you provide precise interface and scope if it is required (DC/AC, transformer, voltage, frequency ...)

A. Yes, DC/AC inverter is required. Inverter should be capable of grid forming and stand-alone

(islanded) operation of AC microgrid. AC system interface: three phase 480V 60 Hz o Battery: can you confirm that it is an option? page 2 says "Is packaged with or can be easily integrated with DC coupled battery"

A. Battery is required.

o Black Start capability including standalone microgrid operation is requested: with or without the batteries above?

A. Black Start Capability includes batteries above.

o Do you have a single wire-scheme of the target installation at ESIF, with scope of supply and interfaces identification?

A. Not currently. NREL will be responsible for installation and integration with our facility systems. We will develop the PID and SLD as part of design of installation once we know what fuel cell system we are getting. Are there specific details needed to support the proposal for the fuel cell system?

• ESIF installation adaptations:

o Are the modifications of the installation required by the system supplier?

A. NREL, with commissioning support from supplier, will install the fuel cell system at the facility and NREL will complete any facility modifications needed to support the new fuel cell system. NREL will not modify the fuel cell system. Any fuel cell system modifications that are required (such as intake and vent locations, which NREL would like to dictate location of) would be completed by system supplier.

o Power and Energy Management system: can you confirm this is in your scope of work, and that supplier provides a local control command for its fuel cell balance of plant to deliver power upon request?

A. Yes. Local control command for fuel cell system should be provided by supplier.

• Outdoor Installation:

o Do you take charge of a container or outdoor modular unit? Or is it to take charge by fuel cell supplier?

A. The supplier should provide the container for the fuel cell system.

• Request is for a PEM FC, was the previous one of 120 kW a PEMFC as well? Is it still in service?

A. Yes, previous 120 kW fuel cell was a PEMFC. It was decommissioned and is no longer in service.

- Could you please confirm whether a separate solicitation will be issued for the installation and related mechanical work, or if such services will be included within the scope of the current procurement?

A. NREL will install the fuel cell system. Installation services are not within the scope of this procurement. If additional installation services are needed, that will be addressed separately.