Microgrid RFP-Final 12-07-2021.pdf

Maritime Administration Maritime Microgrid Pilot/Demonstration Project

FEDERAL AWARDING AGENCY NAME:

FUNDING OPPORTUNITY TITLE:

Maritime Microgrid Pilot/Demonstration Project

ANNOUNCEMENT TYPE: Initial Announcement: 693JF722R000004

ASSISTANCE LISTINGS NUMBER(S):

The Maritime Administration, Office of Environment is issuing this request for proposals (RFP) for projects that demonstrate microgrids.

A. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

Action: The Maritime Administration (MARAD), Maritime Environmental and Technical Assistance (META) Program, is issuing this request for proposals (RFP) for projects that demonstrate the use of microgrids for marine terminal operations. For purposes of the demonstration, the microgrid should: (1) be powered by energy sources that would reduce overall criteria pollutant and carbon emissions at the port and (2) be designed to operate independently of the local power grid to provide an uninterrupted power supply. MARAD is not issuing this request for case studies. Any project funded out of this RFP must be a demonstrable microgrid project at a port or terminal.

Background: Over the past several years, the META Program has partnered with government agencies, industry, and academia to investigate, test, and demonstrate the use of alternative fuels and technologies to reduce air emissions from vessels, ports, and marine terminal operations.

Recently, MARAD has begun to explore broader decarbonization efforts within the maritime sector that could support multiple-use operations at the vessel/terminal nexus. This RFP builds on previous efforts and is designed to gather feasibility and operational data for microgrid demonstration/pilot projects that use non-conventional or alternative energy sources to decrease air emissions from vessel/port operations.

B. FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION

Proposal Details: MARAD will provide cost share funding through a cooperative agreement(s) for one or more projects that demonstrate a microgrid application for a port or terminal operation.

The MARAD cost share will not exceed 50% of the total project cost. Collaborative partnerships with other entities such as industry, ports/terminals, maritime organizations, and state or local governments are highly encouraged. This announcement is an expression of interest only and does not commit MARAD to make any award. The total amount of funding under the RFP will be up to $1,500,000.

For the purposes of this RFP, a microgrid is a local energy grid, within the port or terminal facility, that can disconnect, or is disconnected from the traditional power grid and operate autonomously, using an alternative energy source. In addition, alternative energy sources would include but are not limited to hybrid or battery electric systems; fuel cells; wind power; solar power; waterpower;

and fuels such as hydrogen, ammonia, methanol, biofuels, etc. This RFP is not aimed at basic research and development or experimental technology, although existing components can be combined in novel approaches to form the system.

MARAD is specifically seeking to provide cost share funding through a cooperative agreement(s) for one or more projects that demonstrate a microgrid application for a port or terminal operations and offer the potential for advancement and improvement of energy efficiency/emissions reductions. The MARAD cost share will not exceed 50% of the total project cost. Collaborative partnerships with other entities such as industry, ports, maritime organizations, and state or local governments are highly encouraged. Partners should be identified in the proposal along with their role, responsibilities, and contribution to the project.

Proposals must provide sufficient, verifiable, and detailed data that describes the:

1. Port/terminal operation(s) that the microgrid will support;

2. Information on the microgrid technology including the type of technology to be demonstrated, design & operational characteristics, expected durability and reliability of the system, and how it will be integrated into existing port operations;

3. Energy source(s) for the microgrid including refueling requirements/characteristics, as applicable (or if batteries are proposed, the battery charging system);

4. Proposed reduction in criteria pollutants and/or carbon emissions; and

5. Proposed metrics to measure system efficacy (pre- and post-installation)

For the purposes of this RFP, a Microgrid is a local energy grid, within the port or terminal facility, that can disconnect, or is disconnected from the traditional power grid and operate autonomously, using an alternative energy source. In addition, alternative energy sources would include but are not limited to hybrid or battery electric systems; fuel cells; wind power; solar power; waterpower;

and fuels such as hydrogen, ammonia, methanol, biofuels, etc. This RFP is not aimed at basic research and development or experimental technology, although existing components can be combined in novel approaches to form the system.

MARAD understands there are various tradeoffs that need to be considered for this type of demonstration project such as cost and availability of technologies and fuels, as well as application and operational constraints. Therefore, other power storage options, such as using off-peak grid power to store energy for use in port applications that yield an overall reduction in emissions, are acceptable for this proposal. Overall, it is important that the energy source used for the microgrid should result in a quantitative reduction in criteria pollutants and carbon emissions.

Upon completion of the demonstration, the awardee is required to provide a detailed report of the project that describes the technology, the application of the technology, energy efficiency or emission reductions verification, cost/benefits, considerations of alternatives (if applicable), general power management system design considerations for this application, and lessons learned.

The report will be publicly available and posted to the META webpage.

Projects must be able to be completed within a three-year timeline.

MARAD reserves the right to fund, some, or none of the proposals received under this RFP.

MARAD provides no funding for reimbursement of proposal development costs. Technical and cost proposals (or any other material) submitted in response to this RFP will not be returned. It is the policy of MARAD to treat all proposals submitted under this RFP as sensitive competitive information and to disclose their contents only for the purposes of evaluation.

C. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

Review and Selection Process:

The proposals will be evaluated against the following criteria:

1) Commercial availability of technology.

2) The application of the proposed microgrid system in support of port or terminal operations.

3) Operational characteristics (power rating, refueling requirements, maintenance requirements, etc.) of alternative energy source(s) and microgrid.

4) The applicant’s capabilities, related experience, facilities, techniques or unique combinations of these that are integral factors for achieving the proposal objectives.

5) Scope and extent of partnerships including the ability to cost share.

6) Proposed reduction in criteria pollutants and/or carbon emissions.

Proposals are limited to 10 pages and must be received within sixty (60) days of the publication of this notice.

1. Eligible Applicants. MARAD is seeking to provide cost share funding through cooperative agreement(s) for one or more projects that demonstrate a microgrid application for a port or terminal operation and offer the potential for advancement and improvement of energy efficiency/emissions reductions.

2. Cost Sharing or Matching. Cost sharing is required. MARAD will not fund more than 50% of the total cost of the project. Proposals must include a detailed cost sharing analysis that shows how Federal funds will be used for the project. Please see Section D.2 for information on proposal requirements.

3. Systems for Award Management (SAM) Requirements. MARAD will not make an award to an applicant until the applicant has complied with all applicable unique entity identifier and SAM requirements and if an applicant has not fully complied with the requirements by the time MARAD is ready to make an award, MARAD may determine that the applicant is not qualified to receive an award and use that determination as a basis for making an award to another applicant. Please see Section D.3 for information on SAM requirements. MARAD will not make an award to any applicant with an exclusion in SAM.

D. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

1. Address to Request Application Package. This RFP contains all the information needed to submit a proposal and be considered for award. No specific application form or other materials need to be obtained from MARAD.

2. Content and Form of Application.

Proposals must include a detailed description of the project that provides:

1. Port/terminal operation(s) that the microgrid will support;

2. Information on the microgrid technology including the type of technology to be demonstrated, design & operational characteristics, expected durability and reliability of the system, and how it will be integrated into existing port operations;

3. Energy source(s) for the microgrid including refueling requirements/characteristics, as applicable (or if batteries are proposed, the battery charging system);

4. Proposed reduction in criteria pollutants and/or carbon emissions; and

5. Proposed metrics to measure system efficacy (pre- and post-installation)

Awards will only be made to proposals that can be completed (including report) within a three-year timeline.

Proposals are limited to 10 pages and must be received within sixty (60) days of the publication of this notice.

3. Unique Entity Identifier and System for Award Management (SAM).

Each applicant is required to:] (a) be registered in SAM before submitting its application; (b) provide a valid unique entity identifier in its applicant; and (c) continue to maintain an active SAM registration with current information at all times during which it has an active Federal award or an application or plan under consideration by a Federal awarding agency. MARAD will not make an award to an applicant until the applicant has complied with all applicable unique entity identifier and SAM requirements and if an applicant has not fully complied with the requirements by the time MARAD is ready to make an award, MARAD may determine that the applicant is not qualified to receive an award and use that determination as a basis for making an award to another applicant.

4. Submission Dates and Times.

The deadline for proposal submission is 2:00 PM EST on the closing date listed for this RFP on Sams.gov Please submit proposals in PDF format attached to and email. Send proposals to Donald E. Coonan Contract Specialist at don.coonan@dot.gov. Do not send paper copies, or other media of the proposal via post office or delivery service. Proposals received by MARAD after the deadline will not be considered for award. An email will be deemed “received” by MARAD on the date and time the email was “sent” to the email address in Section D.7, below, as determined by MARAD’s servers.

5. Intergovernmental Review.

This funding opportunity is not subject to Executive Order 12372, “Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs.”

6. Funding Restrictions.

Applicants are advised to review 2 C.F.R. Part 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards as supplemented by 2 C.F.R. Part 1201 for cost principles used to determine allowable costs of work performed under Federal awards.

7. Other Submission Requirements.

Proposals must be submitted by the deadline set forth in Section D.4 above by electronic mail to Donald E. Coonan at don.coonan@dot.gov Please include the Funding Opportunity Number and Title in the Subject Line.

E. APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION

1. Review and Selection Process.

MARAD has set-up an internal review team to evaluate all proposals that are submitted under this announcement. All eligible proposals will be evaluated within 3 weeks after the closing date. If mailto:don.coonan@dot.gov the review team has any questions on an individual proposal, it will notify the applicant for clarification.

The proposals will be evaluated against the following criteria:

• Commercial availability of technology.

• The application of the proposed microgrid system in support of port or terminal operations.

• Operational characteristics (power rating, refueling requirements, maintenance requirements, etc.) of alternative energy source(s) and microgrid.

• The applicant’s capabilities, related experience, facilities, techniques or unique

• Combinations of these that are integral factors for achieving the proposal objectives.

• Scope and extent of partnerships including the ability to cost share.

• Proposed reduction in criteria pollutants and/or carbon emissions.

Proposals are limited to 10 pages and must be received within sixty (60) days of the publication of this notice.

F. FEDERAL AWARD ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION

1. Federal Award Notices.

The successful applicant(s) will be notified by MARAD’s Office of Acquisition via telephone;

however; the telephone call is not the actual award or the authorization to begin performance. All awards will be made by a cooperative agreement signed by MARAD’s Agreement/Grants Officer.

After an award, has been made a MARAD representative from the Office of Environment will notify the awardee to set-up a kick-off meeting for the project.

Unsuccessful applicants will be notified via email.

2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements.

Applicants are advised to review 2. C.F.R. Part 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Costs Principles and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards as supplemented by 2 C.F.R. Part 1201, for applicable administrative and national policy requirements. For a copy of the general terms and conditions of the Federal award made under this RFP, please contact Donald E. Coonan don.coonan@dot.gov Federal awards made under RFP may include additional terms that are specific to the project, including without limitation awardee information, project description, funding details and appropriate data rights clauses.

3. Reporting.

Applicants are advised to review 2 C.F.R. Part 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Costs Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards, as supplemented by 2 C.F.R. Part 1201, for applicable reporting requirements. Federal awards made under this RFP may include additional reporting requirements that are appropriate for the specific project to be funded by

MARAD.

G. FEDERAL AWARDING AGENCY CONTACT

For any questions relating to the technical or programmatic aspects of this RFP, please contact Vasileios Tzelepis, Marine Engineer, Vasileios.tzelepis@dot.gov.

For any questions about the administration of this funding opportunity and any awards, please contact Donald E. Coonan at don.coonan@dot.gov

H. OTHER INFORMATION

Applicants must identify all proprietary information in its submission. MARAD is not obligated to make any Federal award as a result of this RFP.

mailto:Vasileios