Request_for_Proposal_(RFP)_No._RFC-7-70309.pdf

National Renewable Energy Laboratory

Managed and Operated by the Alliance for Sustainable Energy, LLC Request for Proposals (RFP) Number RFC-7-70309

“Segmented Ultralight Morphing Rotor Demonstration Field Test Blade Set”

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

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: 8/21/17 Due Date: 9/22/17 Time Due: 4:00pm Mountain Time

Technical questions must be received in writing (via email) no later than 9/1/17

1. Solicitation Type Best Value Selection Firm Fixed Price

Submit offers to and request information from the NREL RFP Contact below

2. NREL RFP Contact Maurice Nelson, Subcontract Administrator National Renewable Energy Laboratory 15013 Denver West Parkway, MS: RSF030 Golden, CO 80401 Phone: (303) 384-7029

Email: maurice.nelson@nrel.gov

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

http://www.nrel.gov/business_opportunities/related_docs.html

3. Project description

As specified in the Appendix A, Statement of Work (Attachment 1) titled “Segmented Ultralight Morphing Rotor Demonstration Field Test Blade Set” dated 8/16/17.

mailto:maurice.nelson@nrel.gov

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.

It is the intent of NREL to award one (1) firm fixed price subcontract under this solicitation. The anticipated period of performance is twelve (12) months.

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 based on the best value combination of (a) evaluated qualitative merit and

(b) evaluated price (cost) of the offers submitted.

Best Value Selection is based on the premise that, if all offers are of approximately equal qualitative merit, 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 the 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) in this Request for Proposals serves as NREL’s baseline requirements that must be met by each offer.

The qualitative merit criteria establish what NREL considers the technical factors valuable 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 will be used to determine the technical value of the offer in meeting the objectives of the solicitation.

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

6.1 Technical Approach and Manufacturing Process Plan (70 %)

• Technical soundness and thoroughness of the preliminary manufacturing process plan similar to what is described in Section 4.2 of the SOW; (the preliminary plan will then be refined in the course of the subcontract period of performance).

• Demonstrates allocation of engineering time to review and evaluate NREL’s blade and hub-adapter design for manufacturing.

• Demonstrates understanding of the requirements involved in the manufacturing and handling of the gravo-aero-elastically scaled blades, of the necessary steps to complete the project, and expected results.

• Demonstrates economic and efficient approach to the tooling and hub-adapter fabrication.

• Demonstrates use of cost-cutting technology and efficient fabrication strategies to minimize overall costs.

• Identifies options and associated costs to satisfy SOW requirements.

• Technically sound organization of the necessary steps to guarantee defect free blade fabrication and shipment/delivery to the NWTC.

• Demonstrates material acceptance procedures, testing capabilities, QA/QC procedures.

• Demonstrates Computer Aided Design/Computer Aided Manufacture (CAD/ CAM) capability for generating all design and manufacturing drawings, procedures and quality requirements.

• Demonstrates capabilities in design and simulation computer codes including finite element analysis (FEA) and bolted connections with composite parts.

6.2 Experience (10%)

• Demonstrated design and manufacturing of custom fabricated, composite parts of 10 or more in size in the last two years.

• Demonstrated fabrication of molds, patterns, plugs in the last two years.

• Demonstrated wind turbine blade manufacturing experience.

• Demonstrated experience with bonding of large (10+ m) composite parts.

• Demonstrated mechanical load testing of composite parts.

• Demonstrated design and manufacturing of custom fabricated, steel parts with bolted connections.

6.3 Availability and Project Commitment (20%)

• Able to demonstrate available time and team resources to provide all elements of design, drawing, manufacturing, documentation, and shipment of the blade set to the National Wind Technology Center (NWTC).

• Clearly identifies cost options available to the project.

• Preference will be given to offerors with demonstrated on-time, on-budget project management, who can meet or beat the schedule, who have demonstrated continued support to projects facing unexpected difficulties.

7. Price (cost) evaluation for Best Value Selection

After evaluation of the qualitative merit criteria, the following price (cost) evaluation will be used to determine the best value of the offer in meeting the objectives of the solicitation.

The combined qualitative merit value will be considered equally important to the price (cost).

8. Additional Factors for Evaluation

In addition to the qualitative merit criteria and price (cost) evaluation above, each offer will be evaluated using the following evaluation factor(s) to determine the competitive range and final negotiation rank order. These factors are not weighted.

8.1 In-kind engineering time contributions

8.2 Quality Management certification

8.3 Responsiveness and participation/involvement

8.4 EHS processes in place with cost-cutting technologies

8.5 Capability to perform Task 4.7 (Blade Proof Loading (Optional)) safely, economically, and timely. Note that for this task, a separate budget item must be specified and included in the proposal.

8.6 Experience with Structural Testing.

9. Evaluation process

NREL will evaluate offers in two general steps:

Step One—Initial Evaluation An initial evaluation will be performed to determine if all required information has been provided for an acceptable offer. Offerors may be contacted only for clarification purposes during the initial evaluation. Offerors shall be notified if their offer is determined unacceptable and the reasons for rejection will be provided. Unacceptable offers will be excluded from further consideration.

Step Two—Discussion, Selection, Negotiation, and Award All acceptable offers will be evaluated against the Statement of Work (Attachment 1) and the qualitative merit criteria listed above. Based on this evaluation, NREL has the option, depending on the specific circumstances of the offers received, to use one of the following methods of selection:

(a) make individual selection(s), conduct negotiations, and make an award(s);

(b) conduct parallel negotiations with all offerors and make award(s);

(c) conduct discussions with all offerors, select successful finalists, conduct parallel negotiations with successful finalists, and then make award(s);

(d) conduct discussions with all offerors, conduct parallel negotiations with the finalists, select successful finalist(s), and then make award(s);

(e) select successful finalists, conduct successive negotiations, and make successive selections and awards;

(f) make no award(s).

10. Proposal preparation information

a. The proposal must include a title page, including the RFP title and number, name of your organization and principal investigator (with postal address, telephone and fax numbers, and email address). The title should be succinct and capture the essence of your offer.

b. Formatting instructions

- 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.

- Copies must be double sided.

- Technical proposals and cost proposal must be in separate sections

Each proposal must be submitted in an original hard copy and to be delivered to NREL via USPS, UPS, FedEx or an official carrier by 4:00pm MST on 9/22/17. A PDF file of the proposal shall also be sent to maurice.nelson@nrel.gov by the deadline date of 4:00pm MST on 9/22/17. The emailed submission must include RFP Number RFC-7-70309 and the project title “Segmented Ultralight Morphing Rotor Demonstration Field Test Blade Set” in the subject line.

The electronic version of proposal shall be in PDF format and shall be identical to the original hard copy, including all the required components as described in paragraphs c through i below.

The proposal receipt date and time are based on the receipt of the original hard copy and not the email submission. Hand delivered proposals will not be accepted.

mailto:maurice.nelson@nrel.gov

c. A technical proposal in an original hard copy directed toward meeting the requirements of NREL’s Statement of Work (Attachment 1) [and qualitative merit criteria (see item 6 above)]. The technical proposal shall be organized in the following sections:

1. Technical Approach and Preliminary Manufacturing Process Plan (5 pages max)

2. Experience (3 pages max)

3. Availability and Project Commitment (2 pages max) Do not include any internet addresses (URLs) that provide information necessary to review the proposal; information not provided in hard copy will not be considered.

Note: A Preliminary Manufacturing Process Plan shall include, but is not limited to, the following items:

• Receive Material and Acceptance QA

• Tooling Fabrication Steps o Male plug/ blade pattern fabrication if applicable (steps & materials used) o Fabrication of the molds (steps & materials used) o Assembly tooling fabrications (steps & materials used)

• Blade Fabrication Steps o Low and high pressure shell (steps & QA/QC methods used, e.g. ply install, bag install, vacuum check, vacuum infusion, curing, bag removal, demolding) o Shear webs lamination (steps & QA/QC methods used) o Bonding of shear webs to low pressure shell (steps & QA/QC methods used) o Bonding of high and low pressure shell (steps & QA/QC methods used) o Reinforcement cloth (steps & QA/QC methods used) o Root fastener hole preparation (as needed) (steps & QA/QC methods used) o Fastener installation (steps & QA/QC methods used) o Surface preparation, finishing, and coating (steps & QA/QC methods used) o Balancing (steps & QA/QC methods used) o Final QA/QC o Proof load test (if applicable) o Transportation (packaging, shipment frames, and protection steps taken for the blades transport, transportation strategy)

• Adapter Fabrication Steps and QA/QC o Design evaluation o Casting/machining/etc.

o QA/QC o Coating o Hardware/fastener selection and procurement o Tensioning/torqueing specifications

d. A completed “Price/Cost Proposal” form in an original copy shall be submitted with the offer (see NREL website below). An individual offeror’s price (cost) proposal standard format can be used if the data included is substantially the same as the NREL form. The offeror’s price (cost) and delivery terms must be valid for 90 days from the date of the offer.

The price (cost) proposal should include support documentation for all categories of the proposed price (cost). The price (cost) proposal should separate price (cost) for lower-tier subcontract(s) and include support documentation for all categories of the proposed lower-tier subcontract(s) price (cost). (see price (Cost) proposal preparation instructions at the NREL website below).

The minimum number of blades to be fabricated is two (2) in order to mount them on a two-bladed wind turbine; additional blades (up to 2 extra blades) could be used for structural and modal testing on a test-stand mounted on the ground, and as spares. NREL intends to award a subcontract procuring a total of 3 blades, with the cost of each additional blade (blade 3 and

4) to be given as separate items.

e. A completed Deliverable Summary Table (Attachment 3). If you propose any interim deliverables, please provide specific information as to the interim deliverable title, due date, and any proposed payment associated with the interim deliverable.

f. A completed “Representations and Certifications” form in an original (see NREL website below).

g. EITHER the “Organizational Conflicts of Interest Representation Statement” OR the “Organizational Conflicts of Interest Disclosure Statement” (see NREL website below), as applicable.

h. A cover letter including a summary statement indicating acceptance of the proposed

Statement of Work or any change with the reason(s) (Attachment 1) shall be included with the proposal. The cover letter should also include whether the Offeror is accepting or proposes a change/exception (with reason) to the subcontract schedule (Attachment 2) and the standard terms and conditions and/or the intellectual property terms and conditions in the appendices. The offeror will explain any proposed change/exception with respect to the subcontract schedule and terms and conditions. Any proposed change/exception must contain sufficient amplification and justification to permit evaluation. Such proposed changes/exceptions will not, of themselves, automatically cause an offer to be termed unacceptable. However, a large number of proposed changes/exception or one or more significant exceptions not providing any obvious benefit to the NREL or the Department of Energy may result in rejection of such offer as unacceptable.

i. This solicitation does not commit NREL to pay costs incurred in the preparation and submission of a proposal in response to this RFP.

11. Solicitation Provisions—full text provided

a. Late submissions, modifications, and withdrawals of offers

Offers, or modifications to them, received from qualified organizations after the latest date specified for receipt may be considered if received prior to award, and NREL determines that there is a potential price (cost), technical, or other advantage, as compared to the other offers received. However, depending on the circumstances surrounding the late submission or modification, NREL may consider a late offer to be an indication of the offeror’s performance capabilities, resulting in downgrading of the offer in the technical evaluation process. Offers may be withdrawn by written notice received at any time before award.

Offers may be withdrawn in person by an offeror or an authorized representative, if the representative’s identity is made known and the representative signs a receipt for the offer before award.

b. Restrictions on disclosure and use of data

Offerors who include in their proposals data that they do not want disclosed to the public for any purpose or used by the government or NREL, except for evaluation purposes shall—

1. Mark the title page with the following legend:

“This offer includes data that shall not be disclosed outside the government or NREL and shall not be used or disclosed—in whole or in part—for any purpose other than to evaluate this offer. If, however, a subcontract is awarded to this offeror as a result of—or in connection with—the submission of this data, the government or NREL shall have the right to duplicate, use, or disclose the data to the extent provided in the resulting subcontract. This restriction does not limit the government or NREL’s right to use information contained in this data if obtained from another source without restriction. The data subject to this restriction are contained on pages [insert page and line numbers or other identification of pages] of this offer”; and

2. Mark each page of data it wishes to restrict with the following legend:

“Use or disclosure of data contained on this page is subject to the restriction on the title page of this offer.”

c. Notice of right to receive patent waiver (derived from DEAR 952.227-84) and technical data requirements.

Offerors (and their prospective lower-tier subcontractors) in accordance with applicable statutes and Department of Energy Acquisition Regulations, (derived from DEAR 952.227-

84) have the right to request a waiver of all or any part of the rights of the United States in inventions conceived or first actually reduced to practice in performance of the subcontract that may be awarded as a result of this solicitation, in advance of or within thirty (30) days after the effective date of subcontracting. Even where such advance waiver is not requested or the request is denied, the subcontractor will have a continuing right during the subcontract to request a waiver of the rights of the United States in identified, individual inventions.

Domestic small business firms, educational institutions, and domestic nonprofit organizations normally will receive the clause: Patent Rights - Retention by the Subcontractor, which permits the offeror to retain title to subject inventions, except in subcontracts involving exceptional circumstances or intelligence activities. Therefore, domestic small business firms, educational institutions, and domestic nonprofit organizations normally need not request a waiver.

If an offeror’s proposal includes a lower-tier subcontract to another organization, that lower-tier organization's business type will determine the applicable intellectual property provisions that will apply to the lower-tier subcontract. Note that a lower-tier subcontractor may apply for a patent waiver under the same conditions as the offeror.

Under a research, development, and demonstration project, the Department of Energy and NREL are unable to ascertain, prior to receipt of offers or performance of the project, their actual needs for technical data. It is believed that the requirements contained herein are the basic needs of the Department of Energy and NREL. However, if the offeror indicates in its proposal that proprietary data will be used or withheld under its proposed effort, the Department of Energy and NREL reserve the right to negotiate appropriate rights to the proprietary data. The appropriate rights may include "Limited Rights in Proprietary Data" and/or "Subcontractor Licensing."

d. Disclaimer

NEITHER THE UNITED STATES; NOR THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY; NOR

ALLIANCE FOR SUSTAINABLE ENERGY, LLC; NOR ANY OF THEIR

CONTRACTORS, SUBCONTRACTORS, OR THEIR EMPLOYEES MAKE ANY

WARRANTY, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, OR ASSUME ANY LEGAL LIABILITY OR

RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ACCURACY, COMPLETENESS, OR USEFULNESS FOR

ANY PURPOSE OF ANY OF THE TECHNICAL INFORMATION OR DATA

ATTACHED OR OTHERWISE PROVIDED HEREIN AS REFERENCE MATERIAL.

e. Solicitation disputes

The General Accountability Office and the Department of Energy do not accept or rule on disputes for solicitations for Requests for Proposals issued by Management and Operating Contractors for the Department of Energy (operators of Department of Energy National Laboratories). Should an offeror have any concerns regarding the NREL solicitation process or selection determination, the offeror may contact Mark Barela, Advocate for Commercial Practices, at (303) 384-7559. NREL will address each concern received from an offeror on an individual basis.

f. Small Business (Lower-Tier) Subcontracting Plan (derived from FAR 52.219-9)

The following requirement does not apply to small business offerors.

Proposals submitted in response to this solicitation shall include a lower-tier subcontracting plan that separately addresses lower-tier subcontracting with small business, small disadvantaged business, and women-owned small business concerns. If the offeror is submitting an individual subcontract plan, the plan must separately address lower-tier subcontracting with small business, small disadvantaged business, and women-owned small business concerns, with a separate part for the basic subcontract and separate parts for each option (if any). The plan shall be included in and made a part of the resultant subcontract. The lower-tier subcontracting plan shall be negotiated within the time specified by the NREL subcontract administrator. Failure to submit and negotiate a lower-tier subcontracting plan shall make the offeror ineligible for award of a subcontract. (see NREL website)

12. This solicitation incorporates one or more solicitation provisions by reference with the same force and effect as if they were given in full text. The following documents can be downloaded from the NREL general access website at:

http://www.nrel.gov/workingwithus/forms.html https://www.nrel.gov/workingwithus/standard-terms.html

If requested, the NREL RFP Contact (see item 2) will make full text available upon the request.

▪ NREL Standard Terms and Conditions:

- Appendix B-2 dated 12/15/16

▪ NREL Intellectual Property Provisions:

- Appendix C-1 dated 3/26/12 (Large Business, State and Local Government, or Foreign Organizations); or

- Appendix C-2 dated 3/26/12; (Domestic Small Business, Educational Institutions, and other Nonprofit Organizations) as applicable

▪ NREL Standard Terms and Conditions for Subcontracts in Excess of $700,000.00

- Appendix D dated 12/15/16 (as applicable)

▪ Small Business Lower-Tier Subcontracting Plan

- Appendix F, Small Business Lower-Tier Subcontracting Plan (as applicable) http://www.nrel.gov/workingwithus/forms.html https://www.nrel.gov/workingwithus/standard-terms.html

▪ NREL Representations and Certifications for Subcontracts/Purchase Orders

▪ NREL Price/Cost Proposal Form and Instructions

▪ NREL Conflicts of Interest Forms; complete EITHER the "Organizational Conflicts of Interest Statement" if no conflicts of interest are anticipated and no disclosures are necessary OR the "Organizational Conflicts of Interest Disclosure Statement," if you are aware of a potential conflict of interest, as applicable. If submitting the "Organizational Conflicts of Interest Disclosure Statement," complete the form by including details on the potential conflict.

13. Summary of Attachments

Attachment 1 – Statement of Work, dated 8/17/17

- Attachment A: Blade Specifications

- Attachment B: Adapters and Hardware

- Attachment C: Ultimate Limit State Load Cases

- Attachment D: Proof Load Testing

Attachment 2 – Sample Subcontract (Pro-forma) Schedule: Firm Fixed Price Attachment 3 – Deliverable Summary Table

14. NAICS Code and Small Business Size Standard

a. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) for this solicitation are 221115, 333611, and 541330.

b. The small business size standard for 221115 – Wind Electric Power Generation is 250 or fewer employees.

The small business size standard for 333611 – Turbine and Turbine Generator Set Unit

Manufacturing is 1,500 or fewer employees.

The small business size standard for 541330 – Engineering Services is $15,000,000.00 in annual receipts. (Annual receipts of a concern means the annual average gross revenue for the last three fiscal years.)

15. Notice Regarding NREL Payments to Subcontractors

It is NREL’s standard practice to make all payments to domestic subcontractors via electronic (ACH) payments or to international subcontractors via wire transfers. Any Offeror receiving notification of an award under this solicitation must complete and submit a “Request for ACH/Wire Banking Information” form to the applicable NREL Subcontract Administrator.

Payments to subcontractors will be deposited directly into the subcontractor’s designated bank account in accordance with the banking account/wire transfer information provided on the form by an authorized company representative. An electronic (PDF) copy of the form can be found at:

http://www.nrel.gov/business_opportunities/related_docs.html.

Submit offers to and request information from the NREL RFP Contact below