RFI - EMAPS laboratory planning_BDL_26Jun20_AW_BD.docx

Sources Sought (SS) – 20-128847 National Renewable Energy Laboratory Design-Build Programming for Energy Materials and Processing at Scale (EMAPS) Laboratory Building

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) campus in Golden, Colorado is owned by the Department of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE). NREL is preparing to release a competitive solicitation for our EMAPS laboratory planning. NREL anticipates the following schedule:

· Technical questions due July 10, 2020

· NREL’s responses to questions due July 17, 2020

· Sources Sought submission due July 24, 2020 Objective The objective of this document is to solicit responses that will assist in finding interested and qualified sources for receiving a Request for Qualification (RFQ) and eventual Request for Proposal (RFP) to perform laboratory planning and program services. All parties that indicate interest will receive the solicitation. Additional sources and may be added to the list of organizations to receive the solicitation.

To address the critical need to develop a circular economy, a multi-disciplinary research capability in process integration that draws on bench scale innovations from multiple institutions and transforms them into integrated and scalable “hybrid technology processes” is needed to ready DOE innovations for commercial development. NREL is currently seeking a partner to assist in distilling research needs into a planning/programming document for this building. The range of magnitude for the entire project is estimated to be between $50 million and $165 million, of which the planning/laboratory programming component is expected to be roughly $500,000.00~$1M.

Requirements The organization shall be capable of providing Design-Build Programming Support Services necessary for the design and construction of the EMAPS building; a large new laboratory facility planned for NREL’s South Table Mountain Campus. The planning/laboratory programming services we are currently seeking are necessary to define the project requirements, develop the architectural program, generate performance specifications, and substantiation criteria to support issuing a RFP for design and construction of the facility.

Desired Vendor Characteristics NREL is seeking a subcontractor that meets the following criteria:

1. Availability – Vendors should be able to provide the requested programming and performance specifications support during the project definition phase from August 2020 through March 2021, and competition support during the Request for Proposal Phase anticipated in the summer of 2021.

2. Location - Vendors need to be able to effectively perform the requested functions using teleconferencing, although occasional site visits may be beneficial. Proximity to the NREL campus is not required but knowledge of local codes and standards is beneficial.

3. Services - Vendors should be capable of providing the following:

a. Architectural Programming: methodology is open to the subcontractor but in general the whole building design approach or equivalent is expected:

i. Research Project

ii. Establish goals and objectives

iii. Gather relevant information

iv. Identify strategies

v. Determine quantitative requirements

vi. Summarize the program

vii. Identify relevant codes and standards

b. Performance Specifications and Substantiation Criteria

i. Performance specifications for applicable assemblies following Construction Specifications Institute Uniformat 2010 at Level 3.

ii. Substantiation requirements for important performance characteristics embedded with performance specifications.

iii. Incorporation of Department of Energy requirements for environmental, health, safety, and quality in performance requirements.

iv. Incorporation of Department of Energy requirements for “High Performance Sustainable Buildings” with extensive NREL assistance.

c. Competition Assistance

i. Assistance in responding to questions related to the programming, performance specifications, and substantiation criteria during the Request for Proposal phase.

ii. Participation along with NREL representatives in oral interviews with short-listed design-build teams responding to the RFP for design and construction of the facility.

Note: The subcontractor awarded the programming of the EMAPS laboratory will be excluded from competing for the award of the design-build construction of the EMAPS building.

THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL. This request represents a market research effort. During this Sources Sought period, NREL will not schedule demonstrations. Any costs associated with the development of a response to this request will not be reimbursed by NREL and submission does not guarantee or otherwise promise inclusion in any forthcoming RFP.

The responses to this Sources Sought should be submitted as either an Adobe Acrobat PDF document or a Microsoft Word document and provided as an attachment to an email. Attachments should contain the name of the company/organization providing the responses. Questions and responses to this Sources will be accepted on or before noon, July 24, 2020 and are to be sent via email to Abigail Watson (Abigail.Watson@nrel.gov).

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