SS-2024020826.pdf

Sources Sought Notice No. SS-2024020826

“High Amperage (1500 VDC, 6kA) DC Bus Bar” June 12, 2024

Background:

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) is a national laboratory owned by the U.S.

Department of Energy (DOE). NREL is the only federal laboratory dedicated to research, development, commercialization, and deployment of renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies. NREL is managed and operated for DOE’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy by The Alliance for Sustainable Energy (Alliance), the “M&O Contractor”.

NREL intends to provide DOE and industry with critical RD&D capabilities to accelerate and scale aggressive decarbonization goals for various sector such as steel, cement, transportation (on-and off-road) etc.

Objective:

The objective of this Sources Sought is to identify potential subcontracting companies that are qualified and capable of meeting the project objectives. The project objective, at a high level, is to provide a High Amperage (1500 VDC, 6kA) DC Bus Bar Solution.

The bus bar solution will be an integral part of hydrogen research infrastructure and demonstrate system integration, energy storage, grid services, and renewable hydrogen production. The goal is to power a testbed to test electrolyzer stacks of up to 6 MW single stack, up to six stacks of 1 MW each, or various combinations in between.

Project Details:

In the event a solicitation is released, NREL is seeking information from sources that may be capable of providing a solution that meets or exceeds the following minimum capabilities:

• NREL is looking for a set of DC bus bars to independently power three electrolyzer bays each at 3 MW. The power source with be multiple independently operated rectifiers.

Please complete the following table.

1 CORE Capabilities

1.1 Min DC voltage: 1,500 Vdc

1.2 Min DC current per bus bar: 6,000 A

1.3

Equipment will be located in a classification 1, division 2 hazardous location with potential for hydrogen gas buildup and explosion. Therefore, as per NFPA 70 NEC

501.10 (B)(1)(2), busway must be "enclosed gasketed".

1.4 Allow for parallelization of the conductors for a single service of 12,000 A.

1.5

Length: 50 feet. Modular construction, so smaller pieces can be moved individually and full length can be assembled in place.

1.6

Terminals of each conductor must allow space for 17+ lugs (6000 A) or 8+ lugs (3000 A) for both the positive and negative leg.

Alternatively, supplier may supply flexible cable capable of carrying the same DC amperage at each end of the bus bar, minimum 10 feet.

1.7 Allow for intermediate tapping points along the 50 foot run.

2 Preferred Capabilities

2.1 OSHA approved Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory (NRTL) approval

2.2 Provide DC switches to allow for independent de-energization of each bus bar.

2.3 Fully encased conductors, i.e. no exposed energized components.

2.4 Allow for grouping of multiple conductors into the same encasement

2.5 Allow for fireproof, class 1 div 2 rated wall penetrations.

2.6

If 2.5 is possible, the outdoor section of the bus bars must allow for the following environmental conditions:

a. Survival ambient temperature: -300C to +400C

b. Operating ambient temperature: -100C to +400C

c. Outdoor rated, preferably NEMA 4 or NEMA 4X enclosure.

d. Humidity: full-range, Arvada Colorado

e. 6,040 feet above sea level

f. 115 miles per hour ultimate wind speed

g. Dusty conditions

h. Lightning strikes

Small-Business Requirements: Sufficient, qualified responses to this SSN will determine if a total small business set aside is appropriate for a resultant RFP. The NAICS code applicable to this SSN is 335931.

The following links are being provided for convenience:

• https://www.sba.gov/document/support--table-size-standards

• https://www.sba.gov/size-standards

Anticipated Lead/Delivery Time: The Alliance program anticipates the lead/delivery time to be December 2024.

https://www.sba.gov/document/support--table-size-standards https://www.sba.gov/size-standards

Submission Requirements:

For companies interested in competing for the “High Amperage (1500 VDC, 6kA) DC Bus Bar” RFP, please submit the following to Jessica Roe at ASP.Responses@nrel.gov with this subject line: “SS-2024020826”, “your company name”” on or before 5:00 p.m. (MST), 6/21/2024. Your submission response is limited to 2-5 pages:

1. Company Name, Address, and Company URL (include bona-fide location as stated above).

2. Point of Contact Information (Email, Direct Phone Number).

3. Company’s Capability Statement that provides a narrative of the Offeror’s expertise with projects of similar scope, size, and complexity

4. Respondents must address the “Project Details” as stated above to be considered in a potential resultant RFP.

5. Rough Order of Magnitude Estimate (ROM Estimate).

6. Estimated Lead Times ARO.

Disclaimer: Responding to this request identifies your company as an interested candidate only.

Your submittal is not in response to a Request for Proposals (RFP). This is an SSN, not a Request for Proposal. Verbal replies will not be accepted. All inquiries must be in writing via email. Project related questions will not be entertained at this point in the procurement process. This document represents a market research effort. 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. In the event a solicitation results from this SSN, NREL reserves the right to set aside in total or in part any resultant award. No award will be made to any subcontractor/vendor that is not registered or in the process of registering with the System for Award Management (SAM). Please visit the SAM website at https://sam.gov/content/entity-registration for instructions on how to register.

If a solicitation is conducted and an award is resulting, a SAM registration is required to be active at time of award.

mailto:ASP.Responses@nrel.gov https://sam.gov/content/entity-registration https://sam.gov/content/entity-registration