SourcesSought-Curve_tracer.pdf

Document Type: Sources Sought Notice

Solicitation Number: SB1341-15-RQ-0247

Wireless PV Curve Tracer

Contracting Office Address

Department of Commerce, National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), Acquisition Management Division, 100 Bureau Drive, Building 301, Room B129, Mail Stop 1640, Gaithersburg, MD, 20899-1640

The National Institute of Standards & Technology (NIST) seeks information on commercial vendors that are capable of providing an Wireless PV Curve Tracer. The requested wireless PV curve tracer system shall consist of 96 individual module I-V curve tracers that will connect between modules in the NIST ground mount PV array outside building 216. There shall be one tracer in each of the 96 series strings that will measure the full current-voltage curve of the connected PV module as well as the string current that module is in. The tracers’ minimal power requirements shall be sourced from the connected module, and the data transmitted wirelessly to a gateway connected to the NIST network.

The system must meet the following requirements:

Ninety-six (96) individual I-V curve tracers.

Tracers connect between modules in a string using existing MC4 connectors.

Tracers draw power exclusively from connected module or string.

Tracers include battery backup with at least a one week capacity.

Tracers communicate wirelessly to a gateway 300 ft away when located behind a module.

Gateway connects to a local area network via Ethernet and can be configured for Wi-Fi.

Data acquisition is local to the gateway, on a LAN connected Windows 7 computer, or on a network device accessible by a Windows 7 computer. No cloud services may be used.

Tracer ratings:

Current (module): 15 A Voltage (module): 45 V Power (module): 350 W Voltage (string): 600 V (from ground) One (1) Hz continual sample frequency for string current and module voltage.

Programmable sample frequency for module curves, at least one per minute.

1 % measurement accuracy.

Operating temperature of -25 °C to 75 °C.

Includes on-site installation and setup.

NIST is seeking responses from all responsible sources, including large, and small businesses. Small businesses are defined under the associated NAICS code for this effort, 334419, as those domestic sources having 500 employees or less. Please include your company’s size classification and socio-economic status in any response to this notice.

Companies able to provide such supplies are requested to email a detailed response describing their abilities to robert.cowins@nist.gov no later than the response date for this sources sought notice. Interested parties must have a US presence, as any maintenance will likely have to be on NIST’s campus. The response should include achievable specifications and any other information relevant to your product or capabilities. Also, the following information is requested to be provided as part of the response to this sources sought notice: 1. Name of the company that manufactures the system components for which specifications are provided. 2. Name of company(ies) that are authorized to sell the system components, their addresses, and a point of contact for the company (name, phone number, fax number and email address). 3. Indication of number of days, after receipt of order that is typical for delivery of such systems. 4. Indication of whether each instrument for which specifications are sent to robert.cowins@nist.gov are currently on one or more GSA Federal Supply Schedule contracts and, if so, the GSA FSS contract number(s). 5. Any other relevant information that is not listed above which the Government should consider in developing its minimum specifications and finalizing its market research.

Points of Contact:

Robert Cowins, Contract Specialist, Phone (301)975-8335, Email:

Robert.cowins@nist.gov Keith Bubar, Contracting Officer, Phone

(301) 975-8802, Email: keith.bubar@nist.gov mailto:Robert.cowins@nist.gov