APTO_RFI_Amendment_2.pdf

FA8650-17-S-5012

Rapid Assessment of Energy and Environmental Technologies

Request for Information (RFI) Amendment 2

Federal Agency Name: Air Force Research Laboratory, AFRL/RQKMS

Broad Agency Announcement Title: Advanced Power Technology Office – Energy Innovation

Broad Agency Announcement Type: This is the second amendment

Broad Agency Announcement Number: FA8650-17-S-5012 AMD 2

This amendment provides answers to questions. See questions below.

Could you please provide clarification of what is being sought in this RFI? The General Intent implies a new research capability is being contemplated that perhaps requires a vendor to provide support services to assist in the rapid assessment of technologies. The Statement of Need describes multiple areas for research.

1) Is the AF seeking a company to provide GOCO services that rapidly assesses environmental technologies, a company that will provide lab space to perform research that is assigned by the AF, or is the AF seeking new research ideas focused on those areas listed in the Statement of Need?

The Advanced Power Technology Office is seeking alternative solutions to the research ideas presented in the Statement of Need regarding AF installations, industrial process energy, manned and unmanned aviation systems, expeditionary energy technology, and advanced ground support technologies while keeping in mind potential environmental consequences with each of the ideas submitted. We are seeking to determine the capabilities of potential venders for demonstrating RDTE technologies in the lab and in military relevant environments.

2) Respondents are instructed to address the requirements in the Statement of Need (SON) but there are not really any requirements listed in the SON other than the AF requirement to improve its energy security posture through rapid assessment of energy and environmental technologies. Should respondents describe how they would address this need to establish a new mechanism to rapidly assess technologies? Are all of the possible research areas to be considered “requirements?”

The requirements described in the SON mentioned in the Program Information and Information Requested section of the RFI are referring to the possible research ideas discussed in the SON.

Specifically possible research ideas regarding AF installations, industrial process energy, manned and unmanned aviation systems, expeditionary energy technology, and advanced ground support technologies.

The contractor shall perform aviation focused research and demonstrations in propulsion, aerodynamics, tactics/procedures, controls, and structures to improve aviation fuel efficiency.

Fuel efficiency may be realized as cost savings or indirectly as enhanced mission capabilities such as time on station/loiter improvements, range and endurance extensions, maintenance improvements and savings, cargo capabilities, and ground operation enhancements. Systems which may be investigated to achieve fuel efficiency include, but are not limited to, 1) Propulsion – improve technology in alternative fuels, legacy engine improvements, and new engines. 2) Aerodynamics – improve military application of drag reducing devices (vortex generators, winglets, coatings, external component redesign for aerodynamic efficiency), and future efficient platform design concepts. 3) Tactics/Procedures – improve efficiency of taxiing, improve cargo loading operations, cost index flying, efficient mission planning software, fuel tracking software and databases, and aircraft simulator training. 4) Controls – improve Flight Control Software suites, control surface modifications, and new control methods. 5) Structures – improve aircraft structures through lightweight material substitutions with form-fit-function replacements, structures optimization for weight savings, lightweight cargo components, landing gear improvements, and new structural materials. Fuel efficiencies obtained by aviation focused research may not always be realized as cost savings and may often lead to enhanced mission capabilities instead. Mission capability improvements which are related to fuel efficiencies and are also typically achieved through aviation research may include 1) Time on Station/Loiter -improvements in the amount of time an aircraft can loiter over an area. 2) Range - improvements in the overall distance an aircraft can fly. 3) Endurance - improvements in the overall time an aircraft can fly. 4) Maintenance - reductions in maintenance required for aircraft and components, improvements in aircraft availability, and reduction in aircraft sustainment costs. 5) Cargo – improvements in cargo carrying capacity and cargo loading procedures. 6) Ground Operations – improvements in aircraft taxiing, fueling, and ground support equipment. Specific activities related to aviation focused research may include: research, design, prototyping, product demonstration, reporting, studies, modeling and simulation, business case analyses, meetings, and travel to support the objective of obtaining fuel efficiencies and improved mission capabilities.

Industrial Process Energy. The contractor shall perform research in advanced technologies that improve process energy usage in the Air Force. Process energy– to optimize the use of energy in maintenance depots, research laboratories, and test centers for activities including maintenance, manufacturing, testing, and computing. Technologies should consider incorporation into cyber secure energy management systems. Specific activities may include energy efficiency improvements, parts/aircraft coating process improvement, turbine blade optimization, heat treatment energy improvement, laser energy improvement, climatic chamber improvement, wind tunnels energy, environmentally controlled testing energy chamber production quality improvements, improved reliability, clean energy incorporation, energy load prioritization, dispersed energy storage resiliency, waste heat recovery, plasma coating process energy improvement, modeling of energy conservation measures, the use of open architecture control systems, and device-level demand response capabilities.

Expeditionary Energy. The contractor shall perform research in alternative innovative energy power generation, fuel and water solutions at remote and austere locations, improved and innovative expeditionary systems and components for increased energy efficiency, miniaturization and rapidly deployable power generation and capabilities, and environmental.

Specific activities may include: 1) alternative energy, fuel and water solutions- conduct research, development, test and evaluate (RDT&E) on new and innovative systems and/or component technologies that reduce AF/DOD’s energy footprint through improving its expeditionary water and energy resource capabilities and reducing solid waste and health vectors. This can include improving its maturity, energy sustainability, transportability, and operations suitable for operating AF and DOD bases, encampments, and specialized personnel teams conducting their world-wide mission irrespective of its mobility or logistical tail. 2) conduct RDT&E to improve and qualify critical expeditionary system and component for increased energy efficiency- this can include, but not limited to: energy storage system techniques, designs and chemistries for world-wide functional operations (e.g., quick re-charge, improved storage density, long but robust discharge cycles, lightweight, improved operational lifecycle) and airworthiness regulations regarding new and innovative energy systems, designs and components that mature the system and reduce operational or its lifecycle energy consumption. 3) miniaturized and rapidly deployable systems and capabilities- conduct RDT&E on systems, components and assembly leading to new capabilities to rapidly deploy and dis-assemble stealthy ground power generation systems or capabilities using existing transportation methods worldwide with limited reach-back or logistical footprint. Miniaturize and optimize AF warrior functionality capability through energy optimization and improved operational capabilities. 4) Environmental- this includes, but not limited to: performing RDT&E technology demonstrations, tests and evaluations to address and qualify material and process alternatives improving, addressing, or resolving AF and DOD weapon system lifecycle weapon system environmental protection or occupational health and safety policy and regulatory challenges.

Installation Energy. The contractor shall perform installation, facility, or building focused research in alternative energy generation technologies; energy storage technologies; novel infrastructure improvements and concepts; energy efficiency and demand response technologies (for buildings, data centers, etc.); advanced modeling, monitoring, controls, and communications; and the integration of multiple energy systems. Systems which may be investigated include: 1) Alternative energy generation technologies – to improve the on-site energy generation capability of AF missions and installations. 2)Energy storage technologies – to provide power conditioning, uninterruptible power, and additional capabilities including demand charge reduction, time of use management, frequency regulation, and the energy storage capacity for AF missions and installations to achieve high on-site alternative energy penetration. 3) Novel infrastructure improvements and concepts – to improve the reliability and resiliency of power distribution infrastructure for AF missions and installations. 4) Energy efficiency and demand response technologies (for buildings, data centers, etc.) – to reduce overall energy consumption and to optimize and control the timing and duration of energy consumption at AF missions and installations. 5) Advanced modeling, monitoring, controls, and communications – to collect, analyze, understand, plan, and act on energy generation, distribution, and usage data throughout AF missions and installations. 5)The integration of multiple energy systems – to provide holistic energy system capabilities to AF missions and installations through the addition of components to, and the integration of disparate systems that may have been installed as stand-alone solutions.

Ground Support. The contractor shall perform research in Aerospace Ground Equipment (AGE), Aerospace Ground Vehicles (AGV), and Mission Support Vehicles. Systems which may be investigated include: 1) AGE- to increase energy efficiencies, improve capabilities, reduce energy costs, and minimize logistic burdens to enhance operational agility. 2) AEV- to increase energy efficiencies, improve capabilities, reduce energy costs, and minimize logistic burdens to enhance operational agility. 3) mission support vehicles- to increase energy efficiencies, improve capabilities, reduce energy costs, and minimize logistic burdens to enhance operational agility.

Specific activities may include technology development, field instrumentation and measurement studies and analysis, sub scale and prototype demonstration, and field demonstration.

Respondents should describe how they may tackle the various research areas across the different working groups described in the SON.

3) Is the AF seeking a single vendor who can offer new research programs for each and every area listed in the SON?

APTO is looking for vendors who can offer alternative solutions for as many areas listed in the SON as they are able to.

4) What scale of effort is anticipated for this new program?

The scale of effort is $49 million over 5 years.