STEP 3kW EMD RFI FINAL_W909MY21R0008.pdf

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION

Small Tactical Electric Power 3-Kilowatt Tactical Power Source

(STEP 3kW TPS)

General Information 1

Document Type Request for Information (RFI)

Request for Information Number W909MY-21-R-0008

Posted Date 02/05/2021

Response Date 02/26/2021

Classification Code Unclassified

NAICS Code 335312 Motor and Generator Manufacturing

Disclaimer: This RFI does NOT constitute a Request for Proposal and is not to be construed as a 5 commitment, implied or otherwise, by the Government that a procurement action will be issued. 6

Response to this notice is not a request to be added to a bidders list or to receive a copy of a 7 solicitation. No entitlement to payment of direct or indirect costs or charges by the Government 8 will arise as a result of the submission of the requested information. No reimbursement will be 9 made for any costs associated with providing information in response to this announcement and 10 any follow up information requests. Responses to this RFI may be considered in the future 11 determination of an appropriate acquisition strategy for the program. The Government may not 12 respond to any specific questions or comments submitted in response to this RFI or information 13 provided as a result of this request. Responses shall not include classified or proprietary 14 material or information with classified, “Proprietary”, “Confidential”, or other markings 15 limiting distribution. Any information submitted by respondents as a result of this notice is 16 strictly voluntary. Companies are advised that Product Director Small Expeditionary Power 17

Sources (PD SEPS) is supported by Government support contractors who will review 18 information submitted in response to this RFI for the purpose of providing technical advice to 19 the Government. Companies which submit Submission Forms in response to this RFI will be 20 deemed to have waived any objection to the Government's use of support contractors to review 21 their Submission Forms. The Government support contractors work under a contractual 22 nondisclosure agreement which requires them to safeguard controlled technical information. 23

The contractor may not use, reproduce, modify or release controlled technical information 24 without consent of the owner. 25

Introduction 27

Army Contracting Command – Aberdeen Proving Grounds, Belvoir is releasing this Request for 28

Information (RFI) on behalf of the Project Manager (PM) Expeditionary Energy and Sustainment 29

Systems (E2S2), specifically PD SEPS. The information provided will be used for market 30 research only and used to assess the capability of vendors. The Government is not obligated to 31 release a future solicitation. Interested respondents shall refer to the details of their response to 32 this RFI as, “Request for Written Responses, Cover Page, Business Questions, and Vendor 33

Survey Questions”. 34

Scope 36

In support of its small tactical power modernization program, PD SEPS is interested in 37 understanding industry’s capability to design and manufacture, in accordance with (IAW) design 38 criteria below, a new generator set rated at 3-kilowatts (3kW) or greater, but less than 5kW 39 alternating current (AC) power. Information is requested in the form of brief product 40 descriptions, including the effort required for the design and testing of such systems. 41

The power system is envisioned to consist of a single power source capable of producing 3kW or 42 more, but less than 5kW, 120 volts alternating current (VAC) single phase (1Ph) at 60 hertz (Hz) 43

2-wire. The power source will be re-connectable to 120/240 VAC 1Ph 60 Hz 3-wire. The weight 44 of the power source should be no more than 308 lbs. and use no more than 0.35 gallons JP-8 per 45 hour at rated load, but a lighter and more fuel efficient power source is desired. An external 46 frequency converter connected to the power source is also envisioned to allow for a connection at 47

400 Hz with the same re-connect ability as the power source. An external, direct current (DC) 48 power supply connected to the power source is also envisioned to allow for a connection at 28 49 volts direct current (VDC). An objective design would be to have an all in one power source that 50 provides DC and AC power and where the AC voltage frequency is capable of 50, 60, and 400 51

Hz. Power quality is intended to be Utility Class 2C. 52

REQUEST FOR WRITTEN RESPONSES 53

A Virtual Industry Day is currently planned for April 21, 2021, but the Government may forego 54 the Virtual Industry Day if it feels responses meet the objectives of this RFI. A Microsoft Teams 55 invite may be sent to company Points of Contacts who respond to this request. Microsoft Teams 56 is the primary virtual meeting place for PM E2S2 and PD SEPS. 57

Interested vendors may submit responses with their .pdf document as an attachment via email to 58

Tifphany Cantey at tifphany.n.cantey.civ@mail.mil and cc Darbye Rivera at 59 darbye.t.rivera.civ@mail.mil no later than 26 February 2021, 12:00pm Eastern Time Zone, 60 for consideration. Subject line must read RFI/STEP 3kW TPS-[Company Name]. Example: 61

RFI/STEP 3kW TPS-ABC Inc. 62

Responses to technical questions are limited to 6 pages, 12-point font, sans-serif, one-inch 63 margins. The cover page and responses to Business questions do not count against your page 64 count. 65

All communications shall be submitted in writing to tifphany.n.cantey.civ@mail.mil only. 66

Contractors shall not contact any Government personnel regarding this RFI other than the 67 individual designated above. Contacting any Government personnel other than the individual 68 designated above may result in an organizational conflict of interest (OCI) and may result in a 69 contractor being excluded from the solicitation, competition and consideration for award. 70

Cover Page of RFI response should include the following: 71

1. Business Name 73

2. Business Size 74

3. Point of Contact Name 75

4. Business Address 76

5. Phone Number 77

6. Email Address 78

7. Cage Code 79

8. Registered NAICS Code 80

The following questions are business questions: 82

1. Does your company consider the product as described to be a commercial product as 84 defined by the Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) 2.101? If yes, why? 85

2. Type of Small Business, if applicable (e.g., Woman-Owned, Service Disabled Veteran 87

Owned, 8(a), HubZone) 88

3. Please provide current and prior multiple award Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity 90

(IDIQ) service contracts (if any) with no more than three (3) Corporate Experiences performed 91 in the last five (5) years in which the contractor (serving as prime contractor) provided or 92 currently provides services similar in size, complexity, scope, and contract value to the stated 93 requirements described in this RFI. Please ensure each of the Corporate Experience references 94 provided reflect similarity in size, scope, and complexity to the stated requirements under 95

“Scope” and “Design Criteria”. 96

Please identify the following: 97

1) Total Contract Value at Award 99

2) Total Funded or Executed Value 100

3) Contract Type (e.g. CPAF, FFP, T&M etc.) 101

4) Client Department or Agency 102

5) Project Description (please demonstrate how the work performed relates to the 103 requirements identified in this RFI) 104

6) Percentage of Services subcontracted 105

7) Percentage of services subcontracted to Small Business 106

4. Please provide any comments, questions or concerns you have as they relate to the design 108 criteria listed below. 109

IAW the “STEP 3KW TPS Design Criteria” below, the following vendor survey questions 111 must be answered within this RFI. Responses received after the suspense date and time are 112 unlikely to be reviewed. 113

1. Describe your technical approach to meeting the government’s technical requirements to 115 design and manufacture (IAW Scope and STEP 3kW TPS Design Criteria for this RFI), a new 116 generator set rated at 3-kilowatts (3kW) or greater, but less than 5kW AC power. 117

Response: 118

2. Provide a rough order of magnitude cost estimate for both initial research and 119 development as well as full-rate production of the items described in the “Small Tactical Electric 120

Power 3Kilowatt Tactical Power Source Design Criteria” document. For estimating purposes, 121 assume 10 initial prototypes and a production rate of ~2,000 generator sets per year, on a 122 potential 10-year period of performance. 123

Response: 124

3. Describe below your management techniques, and capabilities in place to meet potential 125 production rates. Describe your parts inventory management. Describe your ability to order and 126 control all parts and materials. 127

Response: 128

Management Techniques and Capabilities: 129

Parts Inventory Management: 130

Ability to order and control all parts and materials: 131

4. Describe your capability for supporting packaging and preservation, handling, storage, 132 and transportation. 133

Response: 134

5. Describe your facility and infrastructure to support receipt, inspection, production, and 135 final assembly. 136

Response: 137

6. Describe your configuration management process and experience developing, tracking, 138 monitoring, and retaining history to a technical data package baseline. 139

Response: 140

7. Estimate the length of time from receipt of contract to delivery of prototypes. The 141 government currently envisions this to be about a 2 year development prior to beginning testing 142 of the prototypes. Please comment on whether that is sufficient or more or less time is required. 143

Response: 144

8. Estimate the length of time from receipt of contract to delivery to establishment of 145 production line and providing first production model to the Government. 146

Response: 147

9. Provide recent examples of past performance as a prime contractor; demonstrated 148 capability to deliver products managing cost, schedule, and performance. 149

Response: 150

10. PD SEPS assumes responding vendors can successfully meet the majority of the design 151 criteria provided, therefore please identify which design criteria’s you cannot meet at this time. 152

Assume any criteria marked “(T)” or unmarked are threshold requirements. Assume any criteria 153 marked “(O)” are objective requirements. Please indicate what amount of time you would 154 currently need for different technology and industry maturation processes to take place before 155 you could meet the design criteria. Multiple answers may be provided to indicate the time 156 needed to meet only threshold requirements as well as to meet some or all objective 157 requirements. 158

Response: 159

11. The Government is also investigating the aspects of hybrid technologies that will 160 interface and integrate into the operation of the STEP 3kW system. 1) Please indicate if your 161 company operates within this industrial base technology. 2) If your company does not currently 162 operate within the Hybrid capability space, please indicate this in your response. 3) If your 163 company does operate within the Hybrid capability space, please indicate what capabilities your 164 company may have in reference to this technology, and identify how your capabilities could be 165 integrated and/or interfaced with the new STEP 3kW system or any potential less than 5kW 166 generator system. 167

Response: 168

12. Are there any tradeoffs you are willing to accept from the Government in return for 169 unlimited data rights for any proprietary component designs regarding this requirement (e.g. 170 longer production period of performance, specific quantities provided by Government etc.)? If 171 not for Unlimited Data Rights, are there any tradeoffs you are willing to accept for Government 172

Purpose Rights? 173

Response: 174

STEP 3KW TPS 176

DESIGN CRITERIA 177

1.1.1 Power Requirements 178

Power related requirements are as follows: 179

The power sources shall be capable of producing 3 kW continuously, at 0.8 lagging power factor, 180 up to 1,000 feet above sea level, with an allowable 10% de-rated power at 4,000 feet above sea 181 level. AC Power quality and performance shall meet or exceed MIL-STD-1332, Utility Class 182

2C, standards. 183

Power output and connections shall be: 184

a. 120VAC 1PH 60Hz 2-wire, re-connectable to 120/240 VAC 1PH 3-wire (T) 185

b. 28VDC integral to the AC power source (O) or an external DC power supply (T) 186

c. 120VAC 1PH 400Hz 2-wire, re-connectable to 120/240 VAC 1PH 3-wire integral to the 187

AC power source (O) or an external frequency converter (T) 188

d. All in one power source selectable to 28VDC/120VAC 1PH 50/60/400Hz 2-wire, 189 reconnectable to 120/240 VAC 1PH 3-wire (O) 190

1.1.2 Redundant Operation 191

The power source shall have parallel operation capabilities with manual and automatic load 192 transfer capabilities to allow for redundant or increased power operation. The power system 193 shall provide the capability to automatically transfer load from one power source to another 194 power source without producing a voltage or frequency transient. Once loads have been 195 transferred, the unloaded power source shall be capable of shutdown and complete isolation for 196 basic maintenance operations. 197

1.1.3 Remote Start Capability 198

The power source shall have the ability to start and begin outputting power with no operator 199 interaction when a defined signal is received from an external source. This shall include the 200 ability to separately receive an “engine/system start” and a “close circuit interrupter” signal as 201 well as the ability to communicate back to the originating source that each of those operations 202 have completed and that the source is ready for a load to be applied. 203

1.1.4 Hardware Interfaces 204

The power source shall utilize a single output connector which will allow load cables to be 205 securely attached. Each connector shall be sized for the full available set or applicable 206 supply/converter power. The connectors shall be protected by a circuit interrupter and shall have 207 the capability to be remotely controlled (open/close/status) and shall be operational in 2-wire or 208

3-wire configurations. The exact connector will be specified by the Government at a later date. 209

The power source shall provide at least two (2) black, weather and tamper resistant, 20 amp (A), 210

125 volt, duplex (two outlets per receptacle), NEMA 5-20R receptacles meeting the requirements 211 of UL 498. Each duplex receptacle shall provide ground fault protection by a resettable, class A 212

GFCI, integral or otherwise, meeting the requirements of UL 943. Each duplex receptacle shall 213 have a dedicated circuit interrupter sized for the power delivered and shall have the capability to 214 be remotely controlled (open/close/status). Each duplex receptacle shall be operational in 2-wire 215 or 3-wire configurations. 216

The power source shall accept 28VDC power from an external source (vehicle) to charge any 217 batteries within or to start the power source. The power source shall have the ability to be pull 218 started. 219

The power source shall have the ability to be grounded to earth. The power source shall operate 220 with a floating neutral and a bonded neutral. 221

1.1.5 Physical Interfaces 222

Each power source shall be skid mounted with acoustic housing and maintenance access doors 223

(T). Standard Material Handling Equipment (MHE) interfaces, to include forklift pockets and 224 lifting rings, shall be incorporated into the design (T). The power source shall meet MIL-225

STD209 lift and tie down requirements (T). The power source shall conform to a rectangular 226 formfactor to allow multiple systems to stack and nest (O). 227

The power source shall be offered with a kit providing the ability for the power source to be 228 moved by one person without lifting. 229

1.1.6 Digital Communications 230

The power source shall transfer data to and accept commands from a hybrid augmentation 231 system, including starting without user intervention when commanded by the hybrid 232 augmentation system. 233

Digital communication shall use Tactical Microgrid Standard (TMS) protocol. Draft TMS 234 documentation is available upon request. 235

Reported or polled data shall include: 236

• Remotely Assert/De-Assert o Power Source 237

On/Off o Emergency Stop Activation o 238

Battleshort Activation o Power Source 239

Output Contactor Open/Close o Switch 240 between 2-wire Mode and 3-wire Mode (O) o 241

Parallel Mode On/Off (O) 242

• Remotely Read Status / Faults o Power 243

Source Ready o Power Source Output 244

Contactor Status o Emergency Stop 245

Activated o Battleshort Activated o 246

Operating Temperature o Output Power 247

Level o Output Voltage 248 o Output Current o Any fault/warning which may interrupt system power or has 249 activated, such as: 250

Over Frequency 251

Under Frequency 252

Over Voltage 253

Under Voltage 254

Overload 255

Short Circuit 256

Over-Temperature 257

Battery Fault 258

Low Fuel o 2-wire Mode Active o 3-wire Mode Active o 259

Parallel Mode Active o Fuel Level (O) o Oil Pressure (O) o Oil Temperature 260

(O) 261 o Prognostic Data (O) 262

1.1.7 System Safety and Environmental Protection 264

Power system shall minimize the potential for personal injury or negative environmental impact 265 in accordance with MIL-HDBK-454 and MIL-STD-882. 266

1.1.8 Electromagnetic Interference 267

The power system EMI and susceptibility characteristics shall comply with the requirements of 268

MIL-STD-461 for conducted emissions (CE102), conducted susceptibility (CS101, CS114, 269

CS115 and CS116), radiated emissions (RE102), and radiated susceptibility (RS103). A standoff 270 distance of 5 meters is allowed. 271

The power system shall have the ability to survive an electromagnetic pulse. 272

1.1.9 Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) Survivability 273

The power system shall operate after CBRN contamination and decontamination. It shall also 274 maintain its functionality to allow the mission to continue. 275

1.1.10 Fuel Types, Runtime Duration and Fuel Sources 276

The power system shall utilize JP8, F-24, and diesel fuel oils. 277

The power system shall be capable of 4 hours of run-time (T) and 6 hours of run-time (O) at 60% 278 to 80% rated power using only on-board fuel while on a 15° incline with the worst case side 279 elevated. The power system shall have the capability to automatically be re-fueled from an 280 auxiliary fuel source while in operation. 281

The power system shall not consume more than 0.35 gal of fuel per hour at rated load. 282

1.1.11 Audio Noise 283

Audio noise sound-pressure levels (SPL) emanating from the power system shall not exceed 72 284 dBA at 7 meters from the perimeter of the set at 1.2 meters above the ground. In addition, audio 285 noise SPL emanating from the set shall not exceed 85 dBA at the operator's station, with the 286 control panel doors open if used, defined to be a 0.7 meter hemisphere radiating outward from 287 any point on the plane defined by the front of the control panel. These requirements shall apply 288 under all operating conditions specified herein with the set operating at all loads from no load up 289 to and including rated load. 290

1.1.12 Environmental (Humidity and Operational Temperature) 292

The power system shall be operable, and meet all specification requirements, during and after 293 exposure to all possible relative humidity, with ambient temperatures ranging from -25°F to 294

120°F at sea level and up to 8,000 feet. The power source output de-rating of no more than 10% 295 at 4,000 feet 95°F, 23.3% at 8,000 feet 95°F, and no more than 1% for each 10°F above 107°F. 296

External frequency converter and DC power supply are expected to operate with a de-rated 297 genset and operate up to 10,000 feet 95°F. The power system is expected to start and operate in 298 less than 5 min from -25°F to 120°F. 299

1.1.13 Environmental (Humidity and Storage Temperature) 300

The power system shall be operable and show no degradation to performance after storage at any 301 possible humidity, in a salt fog environment, or in cold temperatures down to –60°F. 302

1.1.14 Environmental (Incline) 303

The power system shall be operable and meet all specification requirements while emplaced on 304 an incline of up to 15° in any direction from level. 305

1.1.15 Environmental (Sand) 306

The power system shall be operable and meet all specification requirements during and after 307 exposure to windblown sand and dust particle concentration of up to 1,400 milligrams per cubic 308 meter (mg/m³); particle sizes shall range from less than 74 micrometers in diameter to 1,000 309 micrometers with the bulk of the particles ranging in size from 74 to 350 micrometers. 310

1.1.16 Environmental (Rain Intrusion) 311

The power system shall be operable and meet all specification requirements during and after 312 exposure to rainfall of 5 inches of rain per hour impinging on the set at angles from the vertical 313 up to 45 degrees. 314

1.1.17 Environmental (Wind) 315

The power system shall be operable and meet all specification requirements during and after 316 exposure to a steady wind speed of 73 feet per second (ft/s) and gusts up to 95 ft/s at a height of 317

10 feet above ground level. 318

1.1.18 Environmental (Ice/Freezing Rain) 319

The power system shall be operable and meet all specification requirements during and after 320 exposure to accumulations of ice glaze, freezing rain and hoarfrost of up to 0.5 inch and up to a 321 specific gravity of 0.9. 322

1.1.19 Environmental (Salt Fog) 323

The power system shall be operable and meet all specification requirements during and after 324 exposure to a 5% salt laden air and spray atmosphere (normally encountered in amphibious 325 operations) for up to 120 days. 326

1.1.20 Manpower 327

The power system Line Replacement Units (LRUs) must be removable and capable of being 328 installed by no more than 2 people. 329

1.1.21 Maintenance (Preventive and Corrective) 330

Corrective maintenance shall not require special tools and equipment. The median time to repair 331 for unscheduled field level repairs must not exceed 1.0 hour. The maximum time to repair for 332

90% of unscheduled field level repairs must not exceed 2.0 hours. The field level maintenance 333 ratio must not exceed 0.028 maintenance man-hours per operating hour. This does not include 334 operator maintenance time. 335

Operator-level Preventive Maintenance, Checks and Services (PMCS) shall take no more than 336

15-minutes. Scheduled maintenance services, e.g., changing the lubricating oil (if required); and 337 replacing or cleaning fuel, air and oil filters without tools shall take no more than 20-minutes (T). 338

1.1.22 Economic Useful Life 339

The power system design and manufacture shall support a 17 year economic useful life. 340

1.1.23 Reliability and Maintainability 341

The power system Mean Time Between Failure (MTBF) shall not be less than 687 hours. 342

1.1.24 Prognostics 343

It is an objective requirement to have built-in prognostics sensor capability coupled with onboard 344 assessment and recommended action software. 345

1.1.25 Calibration 346

The power system shall not require field calibration to regulate power output. 347

1.1.26 Software Updates 348

The power system shall be field updatable by unit level maintainer. 349

1.1.27 Transportability (Carrier Types) 350

The power source shall meet the transportability requirements listed in MIL-STD-1366. 351