Energy Systems Integration Facility (ESIF) Fuel Cell

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), under the Department of Energy Office of Science, is seeking a turn-key Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) fuel cell system to replace and upgrade an existing 120 kW fuel cell capability at the Energy Systems Integration Facility (ESIF). The procurement requires a commercially available fuel cell generator solution with a power output of 200-250 kW, expandable to 500 kW, that utilizes stored hydrogen and supplies electrical power to the ESIF Research Electrical Distribution Bus, with optional combined heat and power capabilities. Key contract requirements include Black Start capability, DC-coupled battery integration, a scalable modular design, a cooling system, OSHA-approved Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory (NRTL) certification, and a minimum one-year warranty with stack replacements after 10,000 operating hours. The solicitation will be evaluated using a Lowest Price, Technically Acceptable selection methodology, with technical acceptability assessed first, followed by price evaluation. Technical questions were due by November 13, 2025, and the original quote deadline of December 1, 2025, was extended to December 10, 2025, at 5 PM Mountain Time via Amendment 1 issued on November 25, 2025.

This solicitation has no set-aside designations and does not identify any incumbent contractors. The contract award value and budget range are not specified in the solicitation documents. The procurement specifies a preferred maximum delivery timeline of 18 months from award, with an outdoor installation footprint of 15'6" by 40' and hydrogen consumption under 18 kg/hour. The fuel cell system must operate in ambient temperatures ranging from -30°C to 40°C with a desired plant life of 10 years. The place of performance is Evergreen, Colorado, 80401, and offerors must provide U.S.-based field support and on-site commissioning support as part of the turn-key solution. The NAICS code 335999 (All Other Miscellaneous Electrical Equipment and Component Manufacturing) applies, with a small business size standard of 600 employees.