Request for Information - Net-Zero Emissions.docx

Request for Information (RFI)

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Office of Marine and Aviation Operations (OMAO) Platform and Infrastructure Acquisition Division (PIAD) Eastern Acquisition Division (EAD)

Net-Zero Options for NOAA Fleet Acquisitions

North American Industry Classification Code (NAICS Code):

Product Service Code: 3990 - MISCELLANEOUS MATERIALS HANDLING EQUIPMENT NAICS Code: 336611 - Ship Building and Repairing

Product Service Code: 91 - FUELS, LUBRICANTS, OILS, WAXES NAICS Code: 324110 - Petroleum Refineries

Product Service Code: R - SUPPORT SVCS (PROF, ADMIN, MGMT) NAICS Code: 541690 - Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services

Product Service Code: R499 - SUPPORT- PROFESSIONAL: OTHER NAICS Code: 541990 - All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services

Product Service Code: 1920 - FISHING VESSELS NAICS Code: 336611 – Ship Building and Repairing

Place of Performance:

United States of America Disclaimer This announcement constitutes a Request for Information (RFI) only, as defined in FAR 15.201(e), for the purpose of determining market capability of sources or obtaining information. It does not constitute a Request for Proposals (RFP), a Request for Quotation (RFQ), or an indication that the Government will contract for any of the items and/or services discussed in this notice. Any formal solicitation that may subsequently be issued will be announced separately through the Government-wide Point of Entry (GPE) SAM.gov. Submission of a response to this RFI is entirely voluntary. The voluntary submission of a response to this RFI shall not obligate NOAA to pay or entitle the submitter of information to claim any direct or indirect costs or charges or any other remuneration whatsoever.

All information received will be safeguarded from unauthorized disclosure. Please do not submit any proprietary or classified information.

Purpose The purpose of this RFI is to obtain information and provide options for NOAA’s next ship class to support the goal of operating a NZE fleet of research vessels by 2050.

As the nation’s lead agency in the application and operation of oceanographic, atmospheric, and climate sciences, NOAA has a responsibility to be a leader in the mitigation of climate impacts of its operations. The marine vessels that currently support NOAA’s research, exploration, and mapping missions are also significant sources of carbon emissions. NOAA sees a path to harness modern and future innovations to transform its fleet by utilizing multiple approaches to increase our current and future efficiency, as decarbonization pathways grow in availability and opportunity. By 2050, NOAA-operated vessels and small boats will achieve NZE while also enabling a dramatic enhancement in ocean observations, fisheries science, and marine research.

Achieving this ambitious goal will require harnessing the information from this RFI. NOAA seeks information on the feasibility and costs associated with designing a vessel that can be NZE compliant at delivery or modified at a later date be NZE compliant when technology and fuels are more readily available. To that end, information from industry (energy suppliers, propulsion system vendors, design agents, shipyards, and others involved in the green energy space) regarding the state of the technology, availability of technology, fuels, and associated infrastructure to support a NZE fleet today in the lead-up to 2050 is requested.

Introduction NOAA is an agency that enriches life through science. Our reach goes from the surface of the sun to the depths of the ocean floor as we work to keep citizens informed of the changing environment around them.

From daily weather forecasts to severe storm warnings and climate monitoring to fisheries management, coastal restoration and supporting marine commerce, NOAA’s products and services support economic vitality and affect more than one-third of America’s gross domestic product. NOAA’s dedicated scientists use cutting-edge research and high-tech instrumentation to provide citizens, planners, emergency managers and other decision-makers with reliable information they need when they need it.

NOAA’s roots date back to 1807, when the Nation’s first scientific agency, the Survey of the Coast, was established. Since then, NOAA has evolved to meet the needs of a changing country. NOAA maintains a presence in every state and has emerged as an international leader on scientific and environmental matters.

NOAA’S MISSION

Science, Service, and Stewardship.

To understand and predict changes in climate, weather, oceans, and coasts, To share that knowledge and information with others, and To conserve and manage coastal and marine ecosystems and resources.

Background

The PIAD provides comprehensive technical, programmatic guidance in an array of areas, including technical support and engineering services to NOAA. The division is responsible for directing acquisitions, including major systems acquisition as well as keeping abreast of the ever-changing ship, aircraft, avionics, electronics, and sonar technology. PIAD also directs research vessel acquisition programs, develops upgrade and modernization plans, and works with other NMAO divisions and NOAA line office counterparts to identify system Following the NOAA Fleet Plan: Building NOAA’s 21st Century Fleet, PIAD is starting the lengthy process to procure fisheries research vessels referred to here as the “Class C”. The primary mission of Class C is the Assessment & Management of Living Marine Resources. The secondary mission is Charting and Surveying.

Class C vessels will be the first of NOAA’s new builds that will achieve the NZE fleet from the program’s inception. These ships will supplement the current fleet of Fishery Survey Vessels (FSVs) and are generally a medium endurance vessel. Class C is in the requirements development phase. NOAA seeks information to support the exploration of the application of NZE solutions into Class C, as well as to inform potential future acquisitions and retrofit planning.

While the exact ship characteristics are undetermined at this time, for any information provided that is depending upon sizing and availability. The ship can be taken as generally having an electric propulsion motor with a rating of 2,000kW, range of 6,000 nautical miles at 12 knots, and a 21-day endurance.

Current NOAA homeports include: Pascagoula, MS; Newport, RI; Honolulu, HI; Kodiak and Ketchikan, AK; North Charleston, SC; and Newport, OR.

Ship Requirements and Characteristics Class C will have the capability to conduct near-shore and off-shore, shallow draft, limited range, trawl-based, at-sea data collection activities for Assessment and Management of Living Marine Resources including Protected Resources, Science and Management, Fisheries Science and Management, and Habitat Conservation and Restoration, as well as having a secondary mission of Coastal Science and Mapping.

Ship design will focus on capabilities for mid-water and bottom trawling, with size appropriate lab and sample sorting spaces and equipment.

The following are notional requirements for Class C, subject to change:

I. Structural Requirements

A. General

1. The Class C will be designed to meet or exceed ABS structural rules. This ship will utilize existing commercial design options and will focus on capabilities for pelagic and benthic trawling.

B. Propulsion

1. The propulsion configuration will be capable of continuous and unrestricted speed control. The propulsion system will be designed, installed, and tested as an integrated system. The components of the propulsion system will be designed to function continuously in the required modes of operation including the cyclical variations imposed by dynamic positioning. The propulsion system will include features for operation in rough weather.

C. Electrical

1. Ship service power systems will meet the requirements of Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Standard 45 and will utilize U.S. standard nominal voltage and frequency ratings.

II. Operational Characteristics

A. A dynamic positioning system will be provided to support ship operations. Thrusters will be provided to support dynamic positioning, docking, and undocking the ship.

B. Max Draft: 20 feet C. Transit Speed: Minimum 12 knots in calm seas, fully loaded.

D. Range: 6,000 Nautical Miles at transit speed.

E. Endurance: 21 days of continuous at-sea operation (24 hours per day).

F. The Class C will be mission capable up to Sea State 5.

G. The ship, subsystems, and installed equipment will have full capability within the ranges of temperature and humidity for the following operating areas: Pascagoula, MS; Newport, RI; Honolulu, HI; Ketchikan, AK; North Charleston, SC; and Newport OR.

III. Mission Deck Equipment

A. Fixed Crane(s)

1. Crane(s), knuckle boom or other will be provided that can reach the Working Deck areas, deploy and recover equipment overboard, load and offload boats, and other mission equipment.

B. Stern Frame

1. A stern frame will be provided that is capable of towing operations off the stern.

C. Winches: Trawl and Hydrographic

1. Hydrographic winch system will be provided to service Side Station handling and hydrographic mission packages.

2. Winch system operating in conjunction with the stern frame will be provided.

3. Trawl winches will be outfitted to support stern deck operations

4. New winches will be fitted with removable lebus shells grooved for a specified wire rope size. Winch systems will also have commonality among components to the maximum extent practicable for operating controls, power systems, and level wind systems to minimize the spare parts needed to maintain operations.

D. Side Station Handling System

1. Conductivity, Temperature, Depth Profiler (CTD) and other over the side operations will be conducted from a dedicated area protected from the weather with dedicated handling equipment.

E. Boat Handling

1. Class C will be capable of launching and recovering several different kinds of workboats, i.e., dive support boats, workboats, autonomous vehicles, remote operated vehicles, and a SOLAS approved Rescue Boat (including associated davit).

F. Pollution Control Systems

1. The ship will be capable of operating in all domestic waters in compliance with the requirements of Annex IV of MARPOL 73/78 and 33 CFR 159. The pollution control systems will comply with applicable federal, state, international, and regulatory body environmental regulations while retaining its full scientific capabilities. Pollution control systems will treat or destroy waste onboard without being dependent on shore facilities for waste offload.

G. Sewage System

1. Black and Gray water systems will accommodate the total complement to allow the ship to operate in No-Discharge Zones for a minimum of 10 days.

Information Sought Responses to the following requests for information are sought:

I. Technologies and System Design What are current and future technologies that will enable a ship with Class C requirements to achieve NZE, including engines and energy efficiency opportunities?

Please provide information about the technology offered to allow an assessment of its impact on the ship design including the size and weight of components, ancillary requirements such as cooling, and location requirements relative to the ship and other equipment. Sketches of the installation concept could also be helpful. Concept systems should be based on a notional propulsion motor rating of 2000kW and a range of 6000 nm at 12 knots. Please provide an estimate of the impact of any proposed current and future technologies on the reduction of GHG emissions relative to a traditional diesel-electric plant using MDO? (Please indicate whether the metrics used refer to “well to wake” or “tank to wake” emissions or both) What is the cost of proposed current and future technologies? (Information regarding acquisition costs, maintenance costs, or any additional cost associated.)

Please describe any additional infrastructure that will be required at NOAA’s ports to support the technology.

What is the current and future planned capability of engines to run on alternative fuels such as hydrogen, biodiesel, ammonia, and methanol?

What is the viability and complexity of any proposed current and future technologies for a Class C vessel given the requirements stated in this RFI? How long has the technology existed? Has it been used in applications similar or exceeding the scope of Class C? If possible, please include the name of the vessel as well as the installed power and range.

Please provide information on the expected impact of the system/fuels other non-GHG emissions such as Sulphur oxides (Sox), Nitrogen oxides (NOx) or Particular Matter (PM) and any additional mitigation measures that would be required for each type of fuel is also desired. Any advantages for the environment should also be specified.

What designs or technologies exist that would allow for cost- and time-efficient retrofit or improvements later in the ship’s service life if such technologies may not be available at the time of construction?

II. Fuels and Infrastructure Are there green/blue or reduced carbon fuels that are currently available, in the pipeline to be made available, or could easily be made available at NOAA’s ports of operation (listed in Background Section of RFI)? If so, what are the costs of these fuels? NOAA is interested in both zero carbon fuels such as liquid hydrogen and ammonia, and fuels that could be considered for NZE if the lifecycle of the fuel is considered such as green/blue biofuel and methanol and any others not mentioned here. If available, please provide information about the long-term availability/sustainability of these fuels as well as the service life of many of NOAA’s vessels has historically exceeded 40 years.

What modifications to a port facility would need to be made to accommodate these types of fuels?

In addition to vessel-specific, direct emissions reductions, what additional emissions reduction opportunities can be gained shoreside (e.g., ports) or through the supply chain (e.g., fabrication and materials)?

III. Measurement/Compliance Management Is there a planned national or international standard regarding certification or measurement of greenhouse gasses from ships considering the full lifecycle of the fuel source? i.e. how could NOAA certify that it is indeed providing NZE from a life cycle perspective?

What techniques, formulas, or other monitoring/validation is useful to set both an emissions baseline and progress towards net-zero?

IV. Vessel Construction Execution with NZE Technologies

What are the challenges or impacts (schedule and cost) to constructing a vessel with these technologies? Do these technologies add risk, and if so what are they?

Response Requirements Responses shall clearly mark any proprietary information that is contained within them. Responses shall not contain classified information. RFI responses should be submitted electronically in a pdf format to the point of contact in this notice.

Please include the following with your response:

1. The RFI number stated herein.

2. The company name, location of home facility, CAGE code, and DUNS number, as well as the telephone number, and mail and e-mail addresses of a point of contact having authority and knowledge to discuss the submission.

3. If/when the aforementioned requirement for "Net-Zero Options for NOAA Fleet Acquisitions" is formally solicited by the Government, would your company be interested in or are planning to provide a quote/proposal?

4. Description of ability to meet the requirements of this RFI.

5. Descriptive literature regarding capabilities and successful execution of similar efforts.

6. Suggestions for alternatives or deviations, based on current capabilities or previous experience. If known, respondents should identify impacts and additional resources required for proposed alternatives.

7. Scheduling Information: For planning purposes, vendors are requested to provide any anticipated constraints on the proposed solutions that would impact potential delivery times and/or the future retrofit or phased transitions to full NZE compliance, as applicable. Vendors should also provide information on any factors affecting feasibility, sustainability, and availability (e.g. availability that is dependent on which year the RFP is issued).

8. Pricing Information: For planning purposes, vendors are requested to provide Rough Order of Magnitude (ROM) pricing for the base vessel plus required provisions stated in section I-IV of this RFI It is recognized that there may be a variety of ship designs that can meet the required and desired capabilities listed in the RFI, with various tradeoffs for performance, ease of modification, cost, schedule, and other factors. Respondents are encouraged to offer a variety of solutions if available and don’t need to address all aspect of the RFI if not applicable to the respondent.

NOTE: If necessary and required based on responses to this RFI, the Government reserves the right to schedule vendor meetings and have discussions between vendor personnel and NOAA representatives regarding the capabilities of the vendor supplies/services being suggested. All vendor meetings will be authorized, approved, and conducted by the Contracting Officer to ensure they do not create a potential exclusive situation that gives competitive advantage or otherwise disadvantages participants in any potential future competition.

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