Broad_Agency_Announcement.7.pdf

Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) Number: E15PS00085 for Proposed Research for

Renewable Energy (RE)

DESCRIPTION:

The U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) solicits White Papers of not more than five (5) pages in length, for specific areas of interest to

BSEE Technology Assessment Program (TAP) on the Renewable Energy. When appropriate, the research shall be conducted consistently with prior research. For a summary of research previously completed and recently performed, visit http://bsee.gov/Research-and-

Training/Operational-Safety-and-Engineering.aspx. Interested parties are encouraged to view the information presented on the site when considering submitting white papers.

BACKGROUND:

The BSEE TAP Program is requesting white papers to be submitted in accordance with the terms of this announcement. Selected white papers will be requested to submit proposals. NOTICE:

The BSEE may share the White Papers with other organizations for review. Potential contractors shall notify the BSEE if they do not want their White Papers/proposals shared outside of BSEE. BSEE anticipates multiple awards resultant to this announcement and anticipated to be made on a Firm Fixed-Price (FFP) basis.

The topics for this RE BAA research are as follow:

1. Laboratory Testing of Lateral Load Response for Monopiles in Sand

Objective: To further research on monopile behavior under cyclic lateral loading, focusing on sands.

Current methods for determining the lateral response for monopiles for support of offshore wind turbines may not be suitable due to the large diameters utilized and the potential for degradation of the soil stiffness and pore pressure changes during long term cyclic loading conditions which may lead to excessive displacement or rotation. Research of previous laboratory and full size load tests should be used together with additional laboratory testing to assess existing models and to recommend revisions or new methods of analysis. This project should focus exclusively on sand.

2. Development of Guidelines for Structural Health Monitoring for Offshore Wind

Turbine Towers and Foundations

Objective: To develop guidelines for structural health monitoring of offshore wind turbines.

Various methods have been developed for monitoring the structural health of offshore wind turbines which have been used in various degrees on existing wind farms. These systems typically include strain gauges, displacement sensors, and accelerometers placed on the turbine tower and foundation to measure displacement, strain, and stress levels, as well as vibration and damping. Other sensors may measure fatigue, corrosion, grout strength and condition, and soil response adjacent to the foundation. This project would consist of the development of guidelines for US wind farm projects based on current technology and new methods currently being http://bsee.gov/Research-and-Training/Operational-Safety-and-Engineering.aspx http://bsee.gov/Research-and-Training/Operational-Safety-and-Engineering.aspx researched. These methods should be able to allow a comparison of actual field responses with structural design methods for refinement or improvement.

3. Breaking Wave Loads on Offshore Wind Turbines

Objective: To improve methods of analyzing breaking wave loads on offshore wind turbine foundations.

Breaking waves can impose significant loads on offshore wind turbine foundations and current methods of estimating these loads should be updated. A Computational Fluid Dynamic (CFD) model should be used together with up to date metocean data for Atlantic Coast wind energy areas to provide a better method of assessing breaking wave loads on various turbine foundation types, including the effect on fatigue and pile capacity.

4. Cyclic Loading on Suction Bucket Foundations

Objective: To study cyclic loading behavior of suction bucket foundations.

Suction bucket foundations have been used in oil and gas platforms but only in limited cases for offshore wind turbines. Cyclic loading on offshore wind turbines founded on suction bucket foundations needs to be studied to determine of this type of foundation can be utilized in the

OCS. This study should include laboratory and/or numerical modeling to study these effects, both for extreme events such as storms and long term operating state loadings from the turbines.

5. Assessment of Partially verses Fully Coupled Dynamic Analysis of offshore Wind

Turbines

Objective: To compare partially and fully coupled dynamic analyses of offshore wind turbines.

Offshore wind turbines are designed and analyzed using simulation methods (computer codes) capable of predicting the coupled dynamic loads and responses of the systems. A partially coupled analysis using load exchange may be desirable due to intellectual property rights issues between designers of the various components. The validity of this partially coupled analysis method should be investigated for offshore wind turbines with various types of foundations.

HOW TO RESPOND: White Papers of not more than five (5) pages in length, an ORIGINAL

PLUS three (3) copies and one (1) electronic copy in PDF format, on a CD, shall be submitted to the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement, Acquisition Operations Branch, 45600 Woodland Road, Sterling, VA 20166, ATTN: Charles

Cernat, not later than 3:00 PM, Eastern Daylight Saving Time on 08 June 2015. WHITE

PAPERS SENT THROUGH EMAIL AND FAXES WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED. White Papers shall define the proposed research scope and include the level of effort. NOTE THAT COST

ESTIMATES ARE NOT TO BE INCLUDED IN THE WHITE PAPER. The White Papers shall be evaluated only on technical merits. IF YOUR WHITE PAPER IS SELECTED FOR

FURTHER EVALUATION, A TECHNICAL AND COST/BUSINESS PROPOSAL WILL BE

REQUESTED FROM YOUR COMPANY BY THE CONTRACTING OFFICER. Projects shall be selected from all or part of the technical issues listed depending on the interest and scope of

White Papers received. BSEE shall evaluate the responses, and those deemed to have merit shall be furnished information to assist in the preparation of the complete proposal. This announcement constitutes a Request for White Papers, but does not obligate the Government to consummate award. Respondents WILL NOT be notified of the results of the evaluation on the information submitted.

WHITE PAPERS SHALL BE EVALUATED USING THE FOLLOWING CRITERIA:

(1) feasibility of the approach or solution;

(2) the Offeror’s understanding of the technical issues;

(3) the Offeror’s ability to implement the proposed approach;

(4) innovative or creative approaches or solutions including the participation and/or funding by the oil and gas industry or other groups in the research industry, where appropriate; and

(5) past performance.

IF ANY OF THE REQUIREMENTS OF THIS ANNOUNCEMENT ARE NOT MET, THE

WHITE PAPER WILL NOT BE EVALUATED. Questions shall be E-mailed to the Contracting

Officer, Chales.Cernat@bsee.gov no later than 3:00 PM, Eastern Daylight Saving Time on

18 May 2015. The Solicitation number E15PS00085 MUST be in the subject line of the E-mail. All questions shall include the Solicitation number E15PS00085, your full name and title, your organization, complete address, and telephone and fax numbers. Telephone inquiries WILL

NOT be accepted. A separate White Paper shall be submitted for each topic/study on which the offeror wishes to propose. The White Paper shall identify clearly the Offeror’s company/organization, point of contact, address, telephone and facsimile numbers. If Offerors desire to hand deliver their White Papers, they are advised that the BSEE facility is a secure office complex and Offerors MUST NOT enter the building beyond the lobby. There is a courtesy telephone at the guard station to which you must call extension 7-1339 for a procurement official to meet and receive your submittal.

POINT OF CONTACT: You MUST contact the Contracting Officer via email or phone to set up an appointment 24 hours in advance of dropping off your White Paper. Point of Contact:

Charles Cernat, Contracting Officer @ 703-787-1339 or email: Charles.Cernat@BSEE.gov.

mailto:email@bsee.gov