CIP 2025 Request for Proposal RFX-2025-10018.pdf

National Renewable Energy Laboratory Managed and Operated by the Alliance for Sustainable Energy, LLC

Request for Proposals (RFP) RFX-2025-10018

“2025 Distributed Wind Turbine Competitiveness Improvement Project”

REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL

READ THIS DOCUMENT CAREFULLY

This solicitation is being conducted under the procedures for competitive subcontracts established by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). NREL will award a subcontract based on the following:

All Statement of Work (SOW) requirements being met with the best combination of:

• Technical factors (based on qualitative merit criteria), and

• Evaluated price (or cost)

Issue Date:01/09/2025 Due Date: 03/28/2025 Time Due: 2:00 p.m. Mountain Time

Optional concept papers may be offered and must be received in writing no later than 2:00 p.m. Mountain Time, 01/31/2025. Feedback on concept papers will be sent within two to three weeks after the submission deadline.

Technical questions must be received in writing no later than 2:00 p.m. Mountain Time, 02/21/2025

Written questions concerning this solicitation document and its requirements will be answered in writing. In response to technical questions, NREL will issue an amendment to this solicitation document that will formally provide all the questions and answers. The amendment will be posted to sam.gov.

1. Solicitation Type Best Value Selection

Firm Fixed Price with Price Participation Subcontract

Submit offers to and request information from the NREL Contact below

2. NREL RFP Contact Kyndall Jackson, Subcontract Administrator National Renewable Energy Laboratory 15013 Denver West Parkway, MS: RSF030 Golden, CO 80401 Phone: (303) 275-4253 Email: Kyndall.Jackson@nrel.gov

Electronic (PDF) copies of forms and appendices can be found at the following addresses:

http://www.nrel.gov/workingwithus/forms.html https://www.nrel.gov/workingwithus/standard-terms.html mailto:Kyndall.Jackson@nrel.gov

3. Project description

The 2025 Distributed Wind Turbine Competitiveness Improvement Project (CIP) is comprised of ten (10) different topic areas, as specified in the Statement of Work (Attachment 1), dated, December 23, 2024:

• Prototype Design Development

• Prototype Manufacture

• Prototype Installation and Testing

• Component Innovation

• System Optimization

• Small Turbine Certification and/or Listing

• Inverter Listing

• Type Certification and Listing

• Manufacturing Process Innovation

• Technology Commercialization

Proposal submissions should address individual topic areas. Offerors may submit multiple proposals for multiple topic areas (parallel projects). New in 2025, offerors may submit a phased, multi-topic area proposal including up to three (3) topic areas (see 11r below).

Component manufacturers must collaborate with at least one (1) turbine Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) and turbine OEMs may collaborate for generic parts or processes.

Concept paper submission (Optional)

Offerors may submit an optional Concept Paper for potential proposals to obtain NREL feedback prior to submitting a full proposal (offer). Feedback will include overall viability of the proposed concept, alignment with chosen topic area(s), recommendations on improvement in a full proposal, and feasibility of multi-topic areas concepts (if applicable).

Concept papers are not required and their submittal, or absence, will have no bearing on a future submittal. Concept papers should not include propriety information or sensitive data.

Concept papers must be submitted to Kyndall.Jackson@nrel.gov by 01/31/2025. NREL will provide written feedback within two to three weeks after the submission deadline via an email address provided.

Concept papers are limited to three (3) pages, including figures, and must include vendor contact information, including email address. See Attachment 7 for the Concept Paper template.

Concept papers must use the following format.

- A page is defined as one side of an 8 ½” x 11” sheet of paper.

- Use a 12-point font.

- Maintain at least 1-inch margins on all sides.

4. Proposed subcontract award and period of performance

The Alliance for Sustainable Energy, LLC has entered into Contract No. DE-AC36- 08GO28308 with the Department of Energy (DOE), an agency of the U.S. Government, for the management and operation of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (hereinafter called “NREL”). All references to “NREL” in this solicitation shall mean the Alliance for Sustainable Energy, LLC.

The anticipated period of performance is execution through twenty-one (21) months.

The maximum award amount from NREL per topic area is as follows:

Prototype Design Development Maximum $200,000

Prototype Manufacture Maximum $800,000

Prototype Installation and Testing Maximum $400,000

Component Innovation Maximum $400,000

System Optimization Maximum $400,000

Small Turbine Certification and/or Listing Maximum $300,000

Inverter Listing Maximum $800,000

Type Certification and Listing Maximum $800,000

Manufacturing Process Innovation Maximum $800,000

Technology Commercialization Maximum $200,000

A minimum price participation of 20% is required for each topic area with the exception of Prototype Manufacture and Manufacturing Process Innovation which have a minimum price participation requirement of 50%. Price participation is defined as a percentage of the total allowable and allocable costs under this subcontract, which may be met by contributions by the Offeror and/or by contributions from the Offeror’s lower-tier Offeror(s) or supplier(s) at no cost to NREL. All costs must be allowable and allocable under the terms of the Federal Acquisition Regulations and DOE Acquisitions Regulations. Note that legal services are typically an unallowable cost for NREL and should not be included as a cost element in proposals.

Offerors are encouraged to include any offeror-owned materials, supplies, or equipment in their price participation. Additionally, offerors are encouraged to cover new equipment, tooling and non-US based technical services as part of their price participation.

Prototype Design Development, Prototype Manufacture, Prototype Installation and Testing, Small Turbine Certification and/or Listing, Inverter Listing, and Type Certification and Listing Topic Areas include a formal design review or design evaluation. A failure of these reviews or evaluations will impact the availability of full project funding.

Multi-topic area awards include a go/no-go decision between project phases.

5. Competitive negotiated subcontract using Best Value Selection

This solicitation shall be conducted using Best Value Selection that results in an award that is most advantageous to NREL and DOE based on the best value combination of (a) evaluated qualitative merit, (b) evaluated price (cost) of the offers submitted, and (c) additional factors for evaluation provided in Section 9 of this document.

Best Value Selection is based on the premise that, if all offers are of approximately equal qualitative merit, an award will be made to the offeror with the lowest evaluated price (cost). However, NREL will consider awarding to an offeror with a higher evaluated price (cost) if the offer demonstrates the difference in price (cost) is commensurate with higher qualitative merit. Conversely, NREL will consider awarding to an offeror with a lower evaluated qualitative merit if the price (cost) differential between it and other offers warrant doing so.

6. Qualitative merit criteria for Best Value Selection

The Statement of Work (Attachment 1) for each topic area in this Request for Proposal (RFP) serves as NREL’s baseline requirement that must be met by each offeror.

The qualitative merit criteria establish what NREL considers the technical factors in an offer. These qualitative merit criteria are performance-based and permit selection of a higher priced offer that provides higher qualitative merit.

The following qualitative merit criteria for each topic area will be used to determine the technical value of the offer in meeting the objectives of the solicitation. Sub-criteria are not individually weighted but are factors in the overall weighting.

6.1 Prototype Design Development

Each qualitative merit criteria and its assigned weight are provided below.

6.1.1 Technical approach, readiness, budget justification, and competitive levelized cost of energy (LCOE) (50%)

a. Detailed description of turbine system, including turbine features (including

Attachment 5) highlighting proposed innovation

b. Justification of the value-added difference from existing products or concepts

c. Claims for improved performance or efficiency compared to existing products that are well supported by evidence (such as tests) or physics-based analysis.

d. Claims for estimated life cycle cost are well supported by a cost breakout and either quotes or reference to published costs for the manufacturing methods planned

e. Detailed description of turbine system development including analysis and any testing done to date

f. Description of the work done to develop preliminary loads, such as the use of simplified loads calculations used as a basis for the preliminary design to demonstrate the likelihood of successful certification of the final product. If a validated model was used, such as the NREL OpenFAST code, this will be considered sufficient; however, if a new, novel or proprietary model or approach was used, information must be included on the basis for the approach and the level of certainty

g. Detailed description of challenges and uncertainties remaining before development of a prototype will be ready for testing (while prototype testing is not part of this offering, the end result should be a product that is ready or nearly ready for prototype manufacture and testing)

h. Competitive Figure of Merit – Cost of Energy, including how the technical approach articulates a path to a final competitive cost of energy of the proposed product. In the Attachment 4 supplement, use the column marked Baseline in the spreadsheet for current cost of energy calculations which may be for a preliminary design of the turbine proposed or an earlier model turbine. Use the column marked Proposal for costs expected after this project development. These costs should be based on expected production at volume and at this stage will be partly based on estimates.

Provide additional documentation on costs as needed, but specifically if they are key drivers of estimated cost savings

i. Provide detailed description of the innovations compared to existing products that will contribute to a reduced LCOE.

j. Justification of proposed project costs relative to turbine size; proposed costs should be reasonable and clearly justified (see budget justification instructions in the Price Cost proposal form).

6.1.2 Product market development plan (25%)

a. Development plan with details of technical challenges, timeline and expected accomplishments

b. Market development plan with details of business development challenges, timeline and expected steps demonstrating a full understanding of the process to develop an operating business in the U.S. market around the new turbine or component

c. Discussion of the path to certification planned, specifically the loads development approach that can be used for certification (while certification is not part of this offering the end product should ultimately have a path to certification.

6.1.3 Team/personnel/expertise (25%)

a. Description of company’s or principal’s recent and relevant experience in the U.S.

distributed wind turbine market

b. Qualifications of proposed project team members shall be described in relation to their responsibilities on the project, including resumes of key team members.

Demonstrate that all required expertise is available whether direct employees, consultants, or will be obtained if the project is selected for award. If no one on the team has wind design experience, provide background on experience or expertise that qualifies them for the proposed effort. Resumes of all project team members should be included as attachments to the proposal and will not apply to the proposal page count limitation

c. Letters of commitment for all defined subcontractors or subcontract staff that are defined within the project proposal.

d. Demonstrate ability to execute previous projects (preferably turbine or product development projects) on time/on budget. Provide reference information on previous project experience, including letters if available.

e. Provide a project or organization diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility mission statement and philosophy that articulates how underrepresented groups

(women, minorities, veterans, persons with disabilities) are to be considered as part of the project or through future employment.

f. What employee benefits, policies, resources, and initiatives exist to improve well-being and address the needs of employees across career stages and personal family circumstances (e.g., family support services/childcare, alternative and flexible work schedules, Veteran and military reservist support, and tuition reimbursement programs)?

6.2 Prototype Manufacture

6.2.1 Technical approach and readiness (30%)

a. Detailed description of turbine system, including turbine features (including

Attachment 5)

b. Detailed description of turbine system development including modeling, analysis and any testing done to date

c. Documentation of expected performance, efficiency, reduced life cycle cost and/or improved services compared to existing products that are well supported by evidence (such as tests) or physics-based analysis

d. Loads table consistent with the standards requirement and detailed description of the approach used to develop the loads. If a validated model was used, such as the NREL OpenFAST code, this will be considered sufficient; however, if a new, novel or proprietary model or approach was used, information must be included on the basis for the approach and the level of certainty

e. Quantification of competitive life cycle cost of energy, including how the technical approach articulates a path to a final competitive cost of energy of the proposed product. In the Attachment 4 supplement, use the column marked Baseline in the spreadsheet for current cost of energy calculations which may be for a preliminary design of the turbine proposed or an earlier model turbine. Use the column marked

Proposal for costs expected after this project development. These costs should be based on expected production at volume.

6.2.2 Description of proposed manufacturing plan and budget justification (30%)

a. Detailed description of manufacturing plan including identification of vendors and development of manufacturing capability for components manufactured by the applicant

b. Detailed description of the plans for Listing and certification of the turbine including all major components that will be Listed

c. Justification of proposed project costs relative to turbine size; proposed costs should be reasonable and clearly justified (see budget justification instructions in the Price Cost proposal form).

6.2.3 Extent to which the turbine system will impact the U.S. market (20%)

a. Soundness of the development plan to ensure the turbine is likely to undergo certification and Listing for the U.S. market

b. Percent of U.S. based manufacturing for the final turbine system (including turbine, tower, and associated electronics)

c. Estimated U.S. installations in the first year after certification and Listing

d. Technical and financial capability of sustaining the project’s objective over the full performance period

e. Documentation verifying company’s financial status.

6.2.4 Team/personnel/expertise (20%)

a. Description of company’s or principal’s recent and relevant experience in the U.S.

distributed wind turbine market

b. Qualifications of proposed project team members shall be described in relation to their responsibilities on the project, including resumes of key team members.

Demonstrate that all required expertise is available whether direct employees, vendors, or consultants. If no one on the team has wind manufacturing experience, provide background on experience or expertise that qualifies them for the proposed effort. Resumes of all project team members and vendors capabilities should be included as attachments to the proposal and will not apply to the proposal page count limitation

c. Letters of commitment for all defined subcontractors or subcontract staff that are defined within the project proposal.

d. Demonstrate ability to execute previous projects on time/on budget. Provide reference information on previous project experience, including letters if available.

e. Provide a project or organization diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility mission statement and philosophy that articulates how underrepresented groups (women, minorities, veterans, persons with disabilities) are to be considered as part of the project or through future employment.

f. What employee benefits, policies, resources, and initiatives exist to improve well-being and address the needs of employees across career stages and personal family circumstances (e.g., family support services/childcare, alternative and

6.3 Prototype Installation and Testing

6.3.1 Technical approach and readiness (30%)

a. Detailed description of turbine system, including turbine features (including

Attachment 5).

b. Detailed description of turbine system development and any testing done to date

c. Detailed description of work remaining to have prototype ready for fabrication and to begin testing, including documentation of fabrication specifications.

d. Preliminary loads table consistent with the standards requirement.

e. Quantification of competitive levelized cost of energy, including how the technical approach articulates a path to a final competitive cost of energy of the proposed product. In the Attachment 4 supplement, use the column marked Baseline in the spreadsheet for current cost of energy calculations which may be for a preliminary design of the turbine proposed or an earlier model turbine. Use the column marked

Proposal for costs expected after this project development. These costs should be based on expected production at volume.

6.3.2 Description of proposed test plan and budget justification (30%)

a. Detailed description of where prototype test will occur.

b. Test plan and supporting documentation of what tests are being conducted and why (e.g., confirm effective stall control or confirm passive yaw behavior).

c. Justification of proposed project costs relative to turbine size; proposed costs the Price Cost proposal form)

6.3.3 Extent to which the turbine system will impact the U.S. market (20%)

a. Soundness of the development plan to ensure the turbine is likely to undergo certification or the component is likely to receive Listing for the U.S. market.

b. Percent of U.S. based manufacturing for the final turbine system (including turbine, tower, and associated electronics).

c. Estimated U.S. installations in the first year after certification.

d. Technical and financial capability of sustaining the project’s objective over the full performance period.

e. Documentation verifying offeror’s financial status.

6.3.4 Team/personnel/expertise (20%)

e. Description of offeror’s recent and relevant experience in the U.S. distributed wind turbine market.

f. Qualifications of proposed project team members shall be described in relation to their responsibilities on the project, including resumes of key team members.

Demonstrate that all required expertise is available whether direct employees or consultants or will be obtained if the project is selected for award. If no one on the team has wind certification experience, provide background on experience or expertise that qualifies them for the proposed effort. Resumes (no more than 2 pages per team member) of all project team members shall be included as attachments to the proposal and will not apply to the proposal page count limitation.

g. Letters of commitment for all defined lower-tier subcontractors or lower-tier subcontract staff that are defined within the project proposal.

h. Demonstrate ability to execute previous projects on time/on budget. Provide reference information on previous project experience, including letters if available.

i. Provide a project or organization diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility mission statement and philosophy that articulates how underrepresented groups (women, minorities, veterans, persons with disabilities) are to be considered as part of the project or through future employment.

j. What employee benefits, policies, resources, and initiatives exist to improve well-being and address the needs of employees across career stages and personal family circumstances (e.g., family support services/childcare, alternative and

6.4 Component Innovation

6.4.1 Demonstrates evidence that the proposed innovation(s) are technically feasible, commercially attainable, have a justified budget, and consistent with certification and Listing of the turbine (25%)

a. Turbine specifications (Attachment 5)

b. Description of proposed improvement, expanded application, identifying enhancements or advancement

c. Description of work done to date in preparation for proposed innovation

d. Description of expected outcome of innovation, including metrics proposed for evaluating turbine system before and after the innovations are implemented

e. Description of company’s QC/QA protocols for design and manufacturing

f. Preference will be given to proposals that incorporate comprehensive strategies of modeling and analysis, such as aeroelastic simulations and finite element analysis.

g. Justification of proposed project costs relative to turbine size; proposed costs

6.4.2 Demonstrates evidence that investment in innovation will contribute to a reduction in the levelized cost of energy (25%)

a. Quantification of component(s) innovation contribution to cost reduction from initial system cost (an increase in initial system cost that results in a large increase in energy production is still a positive innovation)

b. Quantification of component(s) innovation to increased Annual Energy Production (AEP), including documentation of calculation approach

c. Quantification of component(s) improvement to life cycle cost reduction and product performance enhancement, including how the technical approach articulates a path to a final competitive cost of energy of the proposed product. In the Attachment 4 supplement, use the column marked Baseline in the spreadsheet for current cost of energy calculations. Use the column marked Proposal for costs expected after this project development. These costs should be based on expected production at volume. For projects focused on new market applications, methodology and quantification of system improvement to existing options should be provided

d. For projects that can be applied to multiple turbine systems, such as a common tower design, description of how the proposed component innovation address a critical need across the industry

e. For projects focused on new market applications, methodology and quantification of innovation compared to existing options

f. Component(s) innovation has clear technical merit.

6.4.3 Outline of a product development plan that will lead to successful market introduction and certification, or maintain existing certification, of the turbine for the U.S. market (25%)

a. Soundness of product development plan to ensure turbine can be certified for the U.S. market, including a description of sufficient resources for product testing and service

b. For projects focused on new market applications, analysis or description of how the innovation will address current market concerns and will provide positive benefits in those markets over incumbent technologies

c. Product development budget and schedule

d. Letters of commitment

e. Description of expected direct impact to the U.S. economy and DW market resulting from a successful completion of this work through impacts such as expanded domestic manufacturing, product deployment, and job creation as well as being more competitive with other distributed generation technologies.

6.4.4 Team/personnel/expertise (25%)

a. Qualifications of proposed project team members shall be described in relation to their responsibilities of the project. Any outside expertise that is needed to provide capabilities for the project shall be noted and the source for that capability identified. Resumes of all project team members should be included as attachments to the proposal and will not apply to the proposal page count limitation

b. Letters of commitment for all defined subcontractors or subcontract staff that are defined within the project proposal.

c. Demonstrate ability to execute previous projects on time/on budget. Provide reference information on previous project experience, including letters if available.

d. Provide a project or organization diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility mission statement and philosophy that articulates how underrepresented groups (women, minorities, veterans, persons with disabilities) are to be considered as part of the project or through future employment.

e. What employee benefits, policies, resources, and initiatives exist to improve well-being and address the needs of employees across career stages and personal family circumstances (e.g., family support services/childcare, alternative and

6.5 System Optimization

6.5.1 Demonstrates evidence that the proposed system optimization is technically feasible, commercially attainable, have a justified budget, and consistent with certification and Listing of the turbine (25%)

a. Turbine specifications (Attachment 5)

b. Description of proposed system improvement, identifying enhancements or advancement

c. Description of work done to date in preparation for proposed improvement

d. Description of expected outcome of system optimization, including metrics proposed for evaluating turbine system before and after the innovations are implemented

e. Description of company’s Quality Control/Quality Assurance protocols for design and manufacturing

f. Preference will be given to proposals that incorporate comprehensive strategies of modeling and analysis, such as aeroelastic simulations and finite element analysis.

g. Justification of proposed project costs relative to turbine size; proposed costs

6.5.2 Demonstrates evidence that investment in innovation will contribute to a reduction in the LCOE (25%)

a. Quantification of system optimization contribution to cost reduction from initial system cost

b. Quantification of system innovations contribution to increased Annual Energy Production (AEP), including documentation of calculation approach

c. Quantification of system innovations contribution to an improvement in life cycle cost reduction and product performance enhancement, including how the technical approach articulates a path to a final competitive cost of energy of the proposed product. In the Attachment 4 supplement, use the column marked Baseline in the spreadsheet for current cost of energy calculations. Use the column marked Proposal for costs expected after this project development. These costs should be based on expected production at volume.

d. Analysis of system improvement contribution to market impact

e. System improvements has clear technical merit.

6.5.3 Outline of a product development plan that will lead to successful market introduction and certification, or maintain existing certification, of the turbine for the U.S. market (25%)

a. Soundness of product development plan to ensure turbine can be certified for the U.S. market, including a description of sufficient resources for product testing and service

b. Product upgrade development budget and schedule

c. Letters of commitment

d. Description of expected direct impact to the U.S. economy and DW market resulting from a successful completion of this work through impacts such as expanded domestic manufacturing, product deployment, and job creation as well as being more competitive with other distributed generation technologies.

6.5.4 Team/personnel/expertise (25%)

their responsibilities of the project. Any outside expertise that is needed to provide capabilities for the project shall be noted and the source for that capability identified. Resumes of all project team members should be included as attachments to the proposal and will not apply to the proposal page count limitation

b. Letters of commitment for all defined subcontractors or subcontract staff that are defined within the project proposal.

c. Demonstrate ability to execute previous projects on time/on budget. Provide reference information on previous project experience, including letters if available.

d. Provide a project or organization diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility mission statement and philosophy that articulates how underrepresented groups (women, minorities, veterans, persons with disabilities) are to be considered as part of the project or through future employment.

e. What employee benefits, policies, resources, and initiatives exist to improve well-being and address the needs of employees across career stages and personal family circumstances (e.g., family support services/childcare, alternative and

6.6 Small Turbine Certification and/or Listing

6.6.1 Technical readiness and provisions for installation and long-term maintenance support (25%)

a. Projected Annual Energy Production with 6 m/s average wind speed at 30 meters and a Rayleigh distribution (other hub heights can be used with adjusted wind speed).

b. Turbine system installed cost (including turbine, tower, and associated electronics) especially in relation to other energy forms for similar markets.

c. Tabulated power curve (provide information on how the power curve measurement was obtained, if not measured consistent with standard, note exceptions such as used anemometer on tower not at hub height).

d. Current and expected annual U.S. manufacturing capacity.

e. Turbine features, including turbine rotor swept area (Attachment 5).

f. Turbine system design lifetime.

g. Operations and maintenance requirements.

h. Operations and maintenance costs.

i. Warranty, including coverage length and content (parts/labor/travel/exclusions).

j. Listing of the system components or plans to obtain listing (as part of this proposal or outside of it).

k. Sales history, especially in the past year (companies with no sales history are still eligible).

l. Number of turbine systems currently installed (domestically and internationally).

m. Tower options (provide list).

n. Number of U.S. dealers with wind turbine installations.

o. Existing/pending turbine certifications.

p. Capabilities to provide support through the life of the turbine system, including warranty reserve.

q. Completed Figure of Merit - Cost of Energy (costs should be based on expected production at volume, use the column marked Baseline in the spreadsheet

Attachment 4 supplement).

6.6.2 Extent to which the turbine system will impact the U.S. market (25%)

a. Soundness of the production plan to ensure the turbine is ready for the U.S.

market.

b. Percent of U.S. based manufacturing for the final turbine system (including turbine, tower, and associated electronics).

c. Estimated U.S. installations in the first year after certification.

d. Estimated number of exported units in the first year after certification.

e. Technical and financial capability of sustaining the project’s objective over the full performance period.

f. Documentation verifying offeror’s financial status.

6.6.3 Demonstrates evidence that the wind turbine is ready for certification/Listing and the offeror has a sound plan, with a justified budget, that will lead to certification/Listing of the turbine for the U.S. market (25%)

a. Evidence that the turbine is ready for certification testing such as a history of deployment or preferably prototype testing that demonstrates reliable operation and functional testing of the safety systems. Modest upgrades to a certified turbine that are sufficient to require a new certification is also evidence of readiness when combined with sufficient engineering preparation. Evidence that the turbine is ready for Listing such as a list of components that are Listed and components that are not with notes on the Listing standard for each component that is not already Listed.

b. Summary of prototype testing conducted on turbine (as attachment that is not included in the page count).

c. Ability to deliver test turbine system to test site within sixty (60) days of subcontract execution (indicate in proposal if more time is needed and why) and ability to deliver documents and samples to Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory (NRTL) to start Listing process within sixty (60) days.

d. Evidence that the turbine testing can be completed at the testing facility within twenty-one (21) months from subcontract execution. This evidence may include site wind speed distribution and past testing performed at the site.

e. Verification that the turbine is in the queue for certification by an accredited certification body.

f. Provide turbine certification plan, including budget and schedule. Confirm that the offeror has the applicable standards documents and understands the requirements for obtaining certification (see Attachment 3 – Eligibility Verification). Certification plan must include intended approach for loads estimation. If Listing is part of the proposal include a budget and schedule for Listing.

g. Provide a preliminary loads report consistent with what is required for the certification sought. Document must include a synopsis of derivation approach.

Preliminary load approach can be different than approach planned for final certification loads. For instance, the simplified loads method may be used for this even though aeroelastic modeling may be used in the final submission for certification.

h. Plan for providing surveillance of turbines to meet certification requirements. Plans for more extensive data collection and analysis are strongly encouraged. This is an opportunity to obtain field data from initial deployments with minimum additional cost and effort.

i. Justification of proposed project costs relative to turbine size; proposed costs

6.6.4 Team/personnel/expertise (25%)

a. Description of offeror’s or principal investigator(s)’ recent and relevant experience in the U.S. distributed wind turbine market.

b. Qualifications of proposed project team members shall be described in relation to their responsibilities on the project, including resumes of key team members.

Demonstrate that all required expertise is available whether direct employees, consultants, or will be obtained if the project is selected for award. If no one on the team has wind certification experience, provide background on experience or expertise that qualifies them for the proposed effort. Resumes (no more than 2 pages per team member) of all project team members shall be included as attachments to the proposal and will not apply to the proposal page count limitation.

c. Letters of commitment for all defined lower-tier subcontractors or lower-tier subcontract staff that are defined within the project proposal.

d. Demonstrate ability to execute previous projects on time/on budget. Provide reference information on previous project experience, including letters if available.

e. Provide a project or organization diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility mission statement and philosophy that articulates how underrepresented groups (women, minorities, veterans, persons with disabilities) are to be considered as part of the project or through future employment.

f. What employee benefits, policies, resources, and initiatives exist to improve well-being and address the needs of employees across career stages and personal family circumstances (e.g., family support services/childcare, alternative and

6.7 Inverter Listing

6.7.1 Technical readiness (25%)

a. Comparison of proposed inverter to other inverters on the market in relation to characteristics such as, but not limited to, size, functionality, manufacturing location and cost.

b. Current and expected annual U.S. manufacturing capacity.

c. Description of turbine system associated with the inverter (Attachment 5)

d. Inverter specifications.

e. Warranty, including coverage length and content (parts/labor/travel/exclusions)

f. Sales history of inverter and associated turbine, especially in the past year

(offerors with no sales history are still eligible).

g. Number of turbine systems associated with inverter currently installed

(domestically and internationally).

h. Existing/pending and desired inverter Listings (e.g., UL1741).

i. Capabilities to provide inverter support through the life of the turbine system, including warranty reserve.

6.7.2 Extent to which the inverter will impact the U.S. market (25%)

a. Soundness of the production plan to ensure the inverter is ready for the U.S.

market.

b. Percent of U.S. based manufacturing for the inverter.

c. Estimated U.S. installations in the first year after Listing.

d. Estimated number of exported units in the first year after listing.

e. Technical and financial capability of sustaining the project’s objective over the full

6.7.3 Demonstrates evidence that the inverter is ready for Listing and that the offeror has a sound plan, with justified budget, that will lead to Listing of the inverter for the U.S. market (25%)

a. Evidence that the inverter is ready for listing testing such as a history of deployment or preferably testing that demonstrates reliable operation and functionality.

b. Summary of any testing conducted on inverter.

c. Summary of required efforts to upgrade inverter for intended Listing (e.g., programming needed to upgrade from UL1741 to UL1741-SB functionality).

d. Ability to deliver documents and samples to Nationally Recognized Testing

Laboratory (NRTL) to start Listing process within ninety (90) days.

e. Evidence that the inverter testing can be completed at the testing facility within twenty-one (21) months from subcontract execution.

f. Proposed budget and schedule for Listing.

g. Justification of proposed project costs relative to turbine size; proposed costs

6.7.4 Team/personnel/expertise (25%)

in the U.S. distributed wind turbine/inverter market.

b. Qualifications of proposed project team members shall be described in relation to their responsibilities on the project, including resumes of key team members.

Demonstrate that all required expertise is available whether direct employees, consultants, or will be obtained if the project is selected for award. If no one on the team has wind certification experience, provide background on experience or expertise that qualifies them for the proposed effort. Resumes (no more than 2 pages per team member) of all project team members shall be included as attachments to the proposal and will not apply to the proposal page count limitation

c. Letters of commitment for all defined lower-tier subcontractors or lower-tier subcontract staff that are defined within the project proposal.

d. Demonstrate ability to execute previous projects on time/on budget. Provide reference information on previous project experience, including letters if available.

e. Provide a project or organization diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility mission statement and philosophy that articulates how underrepresented groups (women, minorities, veterans, persons with disabilities) are to be considered as part of the project or through future employment.

f. What employee benefits, policies, resources, and initiatives exist to improve well-being and address the needs of employees across career stages and personal family circumstances (e.g., family support services/childcare, alternative and

6.8 Type Certification and Listing

Each qualitative merit criteria and its assigned weight are provided below. Listing may be included in a Type Certification proposal but cannot be the sole effort in a Type Certification. While a proposal in this topic area is not required to include Listing, there should be a plan for Listing.

6.8.1 Technical readiness and provisions for installation and long-term maintenance support (25%)

a. Projected Annual Energy Production with 6 m/s average wind speed at 30 meters and a Rayleigh distribution (other hub heights can be used with adjusted wind speed).

b. Turbine system cost (including turbine, tower, and associated electronics).

c. Tabulated power curve (provide information on how the power curve measurement was obtained, if not measured consistent with standard, note exceptions such as used anemometer on tower not at hub height).

d. Current and expected annual U.S. manufacturing capacity.

e. Turbine features, including turbine rotor swept area (Attachment 5).

f. Turbine system design lifetime.

g. Operations and maintenance requirements.

h. Operations and maintenance costs.

i. Warranty, including coverage length and content (parts/labor/travel/exclusions).

j. Listing of the inverter and other components or plans to obtain Listing.

k. Sales history, especially in the past year (offerors with no sales history are still eligible).

l. Number of turbine systems currently installed (domestically and internationally).

m. Tower options (provide list).

n. Number of U.S. dealers/installers.

o. Existing/pending turbine certifications.

p. Capabilities to provide support through the life of the turbine system, including warranty reserve.

q. Completed Figure of Merit – Cost of Energy (costs should be based on expected production at volume, use the column marked Baseline in the spreadsheet

Attachment 4 supplement).

6.8.2 Extent to which the turbine system will impact the U.S. market (25%)

a. Soundness of the production plan to ensure the turbine is ready for the U.S.

market.

b. Percent of U.S. based manufacturing for the final turbine system (including turbine, tower, and associated electronics).

c. Estimated U.S. installations in the first year after certification.

d. Estimated number of exported units in the first year after certification.

e. Technical and financial capability of sustaining the project’s objective over the full

6.8.3 Demonstrates evidence that the wind turbine is ready for certification/

Listing, and that the offeror has a sound plan, with a justified budget, that will lead to certification/Listing of the turbine for the U.S. market (25%)

a. Evidence that the turbine is ready for type certification testing such as a history of deployment or preferably prototype testing that demonstrates reliable operation and functional testing of the safety systems. Modest upgrades to a certified established reliable turbine that is sufficient to require a new certification is also evidence of readiness when combined with sufficient engineering preparation.

Evidence that the turbine is ready for Listing such as a list of components that are Listed and components that are not with notes on the Listing standard for each component that is not already Listed.

b. Summary of prototype testing conducted on turbine (as attachment that is not included in the page count).

c. Ability to deliver test turbine system to test site within sixty (60) days of subcontract execution and ability to deliver documents and samples to NRTL to start Listing process within sixty (60) days if Listing is included in the proposal.

d. Evidence that the turbine testing can be completed at the testing facility within twenty-one (21) months. This evidence shall include site availability, wind speed distribution and an evaluation of the need for site calibration if the site is not certified as a test site.

e. Verification that the turbine is in the queue for certification by an accredited certification body.

f. Provide turbine certification plan, including budget and schedule. Confirm that the offeror has standards documents and understands the requirements for obtaining certification (see Attachment 3 – Eligibility Verification). If Listing is part of the proposal, include a budget and schedule for Listing and indicate if you have the UL standards for Listing.

g. Provide a preliminary loads report. Document must include a synopsis of derivation approach. Preliminary load approach can be different than approach planned for final certification loads.

h. Justification of proposed project costs relative to turbine size; proposed costs

6.8.4 Team/personnel/expertise (25%)

in the U.S. distributed wind turbine market.

b. Qualifications of proposed project team members shall be described in relation to their responsibilities on the project, including resumes of key team members.

Demonstrate that all required expertise is available whether direct employees, consultants, or will be obtained if the project is selected for award. If no one on the team has wind certification experience, provide background on experience or expertise that qualifies team member as prepared to successfully conduct proposed work. Resumes (no more than 2 pages per team member) of all project team members shall be included as attachments to the proposal and will not apply to the proposal page count limitation.

c. Letters of commitment for all defined subcontractors or subcontract staff that are defined within the project proposal.

d. Demonstrate ability to execute previous projects on time/on budget. Provide reference information on previous project experience, including letters if available.

e. Provide a project or organization diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility mission statement and philosophy that articulates how underrepresented groups (women, minorities, veterans, persons with disabilities) are to be considered as part of the project or through future employment.

f. What employee benefits, policies, resources, and initiatives exist to improve well-being and address the needs of employees across career stages and personal family circumstances (e.g., family support services/childcare, alternative and

6.9 Manufacturing Process Innovation

6.9.1 Demonstrates evidence that the proposed manufacturing process innovation is beneficial to the successful improvement in market position or entry into market (25%)

a. Turbine specifications (Attachment 5).

b. Description of proposed manufacturing process innovation, identifying technical enhancement or advancement.

c. Analysis of process upgrade contribution to increased turbine system sales.

Provide a market benchmark analysis comparing the relative impact of the improvement to potential competition (competition may not necessarily be wind energy).

d. Description of work done to date in preparation for proposed upgrade including that the component will meet strength requirements if the component is structural and fail-safe and reliability criteria if the component is an electrical system component such as an inverter.

e. Description of offeror’s manufacturing quality control protocols.

f. Estimated U.S. installations in the first year after new manufacturing process implementation.

g. Estimated number of exported units in the first year after new manufacturing process implementation.

h. Innovation has clear technical merit.

6.9.2 Demonstrates investment in process innovation will contribute to a reduction in the LCOE (25%)

a. Quantification of the process upgrade contribution to cost reduction for initial system cost.

b. Quantification of the process upgrade contribution to cost reduction over the life of the system such as reduced failure rate, easier service, etc.

c. Competitive Figure of Merit – Cost of Energy, including how the technical approach articulates a path to a final competitive cost of energy of the proposed product. In the Attachment 4 supplement, use the column marked Baseline in the spreadsheet for current cost of energy calculations. Use the column marked Proposal for costs expected after this manufacturing development. These costs should be based on expected production at volume.

6.9.3 Demonstrates evidence of a sound manufacturing plan and budget justification (25%)

a. Soundness of product development plan to ensure turbine can be certified and Listed or component Listed for the U.S. market, including a description of sufficient resources for product testing and service.

b. Soundness of the manufacturing plan to provide confidence that the offeror or their contract manufacturer has capability to produce the component(s) at the quality and cost proposed.

c. Documentation of tooling or manufacturing capability development cost.

d. Description of expected direct impact to the U.S. market resulting from a successful completion of this work through impacts such as expanded domestic manufacturing, product deployment, and job creation.

e. Justification of proposed project costs relative to turbine size; proposed costs

6.9.4 Team/personnel/expertise (25%)

their responsibilities on the project. Demonstrate that all required expertise is available whether direct employees, consultants, or will be obtained if the project is selected for award. Resumes (no more than 2 pages per team member) of all project team members shall be included as attachments to the proposal and will not apply to the proposal page count limitation.

b. Letters of commitment for all defined lower-tier subcontractors or lower-tier subcontract staff that are defined within the project proposal.

c. Demonstrate ability to execute previous projects on time/on budget. Provide reference information on previous project experience, including letters if available.

d. Provide a project or organization diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility mission statement and philosophy that articulates how underrepresented groups (women, minorities, veterans, persons with disabilities) are to be considered as part of the project or through future employment.

e. What employee benefits, policies, resources, and initiatives exist to improve well-being and address the needs of employees across career stages and personal family circumstances (e.g., family support services/childcare, alternative and

6.10 Technology Commercialization

6.10.1 Technical readiness (25%)

Products include…