SS-2025023586 Cellular Network Technologies.pdf

Sources Sought Notice No. 2025023586

“Cellular Network Technologies” January 10, 2025

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 is seeking qualified service providers to maintain, repair and upgrade its current cellular network technology solutions within its existing facilities, construct new cellular network systems in existing and future facilities and consult on new cellular network technology projects and solutions. These cellular network systems will support both operational and research purposes.

Objective:

The objective of this Sources Sought is to identify potential companies that are qualified and capable of meeting the project objectives. The project objective, at a high level, is to provide consultation, installation, support, monitoring, and maintenance related to NREL cellular Distributed Antenna Systems (DAS) and public safety Bi-Direction Antenna (BDA) systems as well as other future private cellular networking solutions.

Project Details:

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

NREL currently utilizes cellular Distributed Antenna System (DAS) and public safety Bi- Directional Amplifier (BDA) systems at its Golden campus. Seven buildings on the campus have various amounts of DAS infrastructure to support commercial 4G services. The cellular services are provided by Verizon Wireless (2 Sectors x 3 Carriers), AT&T (2 Sectors x 3 Carriers), and T-Mobile (3 Sectors x 2 Carriers). All carrier radios are Multiple input multiple output (MIMO) capable. Concurrent with the commercial 4g services are public safety services, which are allowed to share the coverage antenna passive infrastructure, but not the active equipment or pathways. The buildings on NREL’s campuses into which cellular and public safety services have been installed include: Research Support Facility (RSF), Energy Systems Integration Facility (ESIF), Science and Technology Facility (S&TF), Solar Energy Research Facility (SERF), Field Test Laboratory Building (FTLB), Research and Innovation

Laboratory (RAIL), and Integrated Biorefinery Research Facility (IBRF), which occupy approximately 1.2 m sqft.

Some potential projects that will be executed under this request are:

• Maintenance, Monitoring, Repair and Dispatch services of existing DAS/BDA system at South Table Mountain campus.

• Expansion of current cellular DAS system at the South Table Mountain campus to broadcast AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile 5G.

• Expansion of the current cellular DAS system at the South Table Mountain campus as deemed necessary.

• Expansion of current BDA system to new buildings being constructed at the South

Table Mountain campus as needed and as required by 2021 International Fire Code Section 510.

• Extension or revision of current cellular DAS and BDA system in existing buildings being remodeled at the South Table Mountain campus.

• Installation of new cellular DAS systems where deemed necessary.

• Installation of new BDA systems at other NREL facilities where needed and as required by 2021 International Fire Code Section 510.

• Liaison between NREL and Wireless Service Providers, Original Equipment

Manufacturers, and local Authorities Having Jurisdiction (AHJ).

• Consultation on and installation of new Private Cellular Networks (PCN), especially

5G PCNs, for other research and operational purposes on various NREL campuses.

• Consultation and support of NRELs GPS services.

Request Details:

The Alliance intends to competitively solicit for cellular network technology solutions a Task Ordering Agreement (TOA), dependent on the volume of qualified responses received.

Step 1 - Sourcing (SSN): Parties that meet the minimum criteria outlined herein are encouraged to submit their capabilities statements. Submitted capabilities statements that meet the Alliance’s stated criteria will be considered for inclusion in the source list to receive notice of the planned RFP. The Alliance reserves the right to add additional sources to the source list at its discretion.

Step 2: Qualifying (RFP): Once the source list is compiled (the Alliance reserves the right to add additional sources to the source list at its discretion), the Alliance will send each qualified source the solicitation document Request for Proposals (RFP). Sources will then be asked to submit in accordance with that formal solicitation document. The Alliance will then evaluate the submitted qualifications against the selection criteria.

Historical Order of Magnitude: The historical usage for these supplies and services has averaged approximately $275,000 per year for the past 5 years.

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 238210.

The following links are being provided for convenience:

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

• https://www.sba.gov/size-standards

Period of Performance: This project is anticipated to have a base period of performance totaling twelve (12) months or 365 days, plus four one-year option periods totaling twelve (12) months or 365 days. The total Period of Performance, if all options are exercised, shall not exceed sixty (60) months.

Location of Work to be Performed: Offerors shall be able to demonstrate their capability to perform in these locations:

National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) South Table Mountain Campus (STM)

15013 Denver West Parkway Golden, CO 80401

NREL's Flatirons Campus Laboratories and Offices

National Renewable Energy Laboratory 19001 W. 119th Avenue

Arvada, CO 80007

Denver West Building 16 1607 Cole Boulevard

Golden Warehouse

16201 Table Mountain Parkway Golden, CO 80403

STEP

15445 South Golden Road

NREL's Alaska Campus 955 Draanjik Drive

Fairbanks, AK 99775

Submission Requirements:

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

For companies interested in competing for the “Cellular Network Technologies” RFP, please submit the following to Chris Sloneker at ASP.Responses@NREL.gov on or before 5:00 p.m.

(MST), 01/31/2025. Your submission response is limited to less than 10 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 as identified below:

Equipment/Services Capability: Alliance is seeking a subcontractor that has demonstrated success with similar projects, has experience with federally funded projects, is knowledgeable with challenging schedules on project delivery, and is well versed and skilled in effectively integrating with all project team stakeholders. In addition, Alliance is seeking a subcontractor that has experience working with major wireless service providers such as Verizon, ATT, and T-Mobile and familiar with working on construction related activities at government facilities.

Please complete the following table:

Cellular Network Technology Capabilities Experience:

Yes/No

Years Experience

(if applicable)

Describe Experience

1.1 Consultation on private cellular network (PCN) solutions.

1.2 Installation of private cellular networks (PCN).

1.3 Consultation on future DAS/BDA solutions.

1.4 Installation of future DAS/BDA systems.

1.5 Maintenance of existing and future DAS/BDA systems and other PCN systems.

1.6 Monitoring of existing and future DAS/BDA systems and other PCN systems.

1.7 Dispatch and Repair of existing and future DAS/BDA and other PCN systems.

1.8

Liaison between NREL and Wireless Service Providers, Original Equipment Manufacturers, and local Authorities Having Jurisdiction

(AHJ).

1.9 Experience working on federally funded projects at government facilities.

4. Respondents must address the “Request Details” as stated above to be considered in a potential resultant RFP mailto:ASP.Responses@NREL.gov

5. Rough Order of Magnitude Estimate (ROM Estimate) Total anticipated TOA over the maximum of 5 years $5,000,000.00. Individual Task orders will be issued and funded under the Master Task Order Agreement Ceiling and Period of Performance.

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.

https://sam.gov/content/entity-registration https://sam.gov/content/entity-registration