This is a Request for Information (RFI) ONLY! This is not a request for proposal, but a survey to locate potential sources and for planning purposes. No further information is available from the Contracts Division. This synopsis/RFI does not constitute an Invitation for Bids, Request for Proposals, or a Request for Quotations, and is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government to issue an order or otherwise pay for the information solicited. The Government is not responsible for any cost incurred in furnishing this information. All information received in response to this notice that is marked "Proprietary" will be handled accordingly. Responses shall not include any classified material. Responses received to this notice will not be returned. No reimbursement will be made for any costs to provide information in response to this announcement or any follow-up information requests. Information contained herein is based on the best information available at the time for publication, is subject to revision, and is not binding upon the Government. Availability of any future formal solicitation will be announced under a separate Federal Business Opportunities announcement. Objective To collect information from knowledgeable sources such as recommendations, technical approach and/or brief component or system descriptions in accordance with the specifications below. This notice is for informational purposes only. Specifications GENERAL BACKGROUND The Army Research Laboratory (ARL) is interested in technology to demonstrate the ability of mobile compact superconducting magnetic energy storage (SMES) or a SMES combined with another technology as part of a military microgrid to provide load leveling and store a meaningful amount of energy for 10's of minutes to multiple hours and discharge the energy in support of a Contingency Operating Base (COB). Information is requested in the form of recommendations, technical approach, and/or brief component or system description. The remote locations of COBs create significant challenges for logistics support of combat operations. These COBs are currently heavily dependent on large, long-distance truck convoys whose cargo is dominated by bottled water and liquid fuel. With the vast majority of electrical power provided by generators operating on liquid fuel, the more power needed the more fuel required. Some studies estimate 30% of the liquid fuel delivered is used in generators to provide electrical power. Convoy routes through unsecured areas are frequently hazardous, and transport is always expensive. The delivered cost of fuel can easily total ten to twenty times its original purchase price. The Department of Defense (DoD) is in the process of initiating dramatic steps toward rapidly improving the energy self-sufficiency of COBs. Development of military microgrids will be one of the emerging strategies to improve fuel efficiency for energy utilization and to reduce the logistics burden in the battlefield. These microgrids may benefit from the use of a SMES or SMES combined with another technology for load leveling and energy storage due to the intrinsic advantages of SMES technology of high energy density and high rate of discharge and recharge. SPECIFIC INFORMATION OF INTEREST Electric power at COBs is presently provided by motor generator sets of various sizes ranging from 2kW to 100kW. These generators can be fueled with either diesel or JP-8, a common military logistics fuel. The JP-8 is delivered via tanker truck over long distances. Generators frequently must operate at suboptimal capacity, resulting in wasted fuel consumption because they are not correctly matched to the load or the load varies over time. The variation in the load can cause sags in the voltage potentially leading to the inopportune shut down of certain equipment. In industry and commercial power applications, SMES technology has been used as an effective load leveling technology. The Government is interested in demonstrating if the SMES or SMES combined with another technology can provide both load leveling and energy storage. In addition to load leveling, it is envisioned during times of excess generator capacity, the excess power can be stored in a SMES or SMES combined with another technology (for example, batteries) for use when more power is required. For example, power demands are high during the day but low at night. Generators are generally never shut off due to the difficulty of restarting or the need for some power. During the night, while the power needs are low, the generators can run at an optimal level and the excess energy stored in the SMES or SMES combined with another technology. Given this SMES or SMES combined with another technology is for tactical applications, solutions must be mobile and compact. Technologies, information, and questions of interest include: 1. SMES available for testing immediately or in the near future. 2. SMES combined with another technology available for testing immediately or in the near future. 3. Discuss SMES hybrid technologies versus an independent SMES and energy storage unit. 4. Discuss technical issues concerning why a SMES has not been used for long term energy storage? 5. Describe the fundamental limitations and development issues associated with SMES for use as a long term energy storage device. 6. Discuss technical issues, if any, related to fast discharge and recharge of the SMES. 7. Compare energy storage of other technologies to that of SMES. 8. What load leveling issues occur in military microgrids? 9. For load leveling function, will a SMES have better performance than other techniques? 10. Is a SMES the best option to meet both load leveling and energy storage requirement, or are other technologies needed to achieve these goals? 11. What is the appropriate testing of SMES or SMES combined with another technology in a tactical microgrid to demonstrate utility for load leveling and energy storage? 12. Provide information about existing military microgrids appropriately sized for a contingency operating base or otherwise. 13. Provide information about microgrid simulator software/testbed. 14. Provide information about electronics (power and control) for interfacing SMES to military microgrid. Responses All interested parties should notify this office in writing via email within the posted date. Responses shall include: (1) To what extent each of the specifications can be met. Include your type of business (i.e. commercial, academia) and whether your organization is large or small based on the 500 employee size standard that accompanies NAICS code 335911 (2) Past experience/ performance through the description of completed projects. CONTENT AND FORMAT OF PRODUCT DESCRIPTIONS: The electronic copy of responses is to be in Microsoft Word 2003, Microsoft Word 2007 or Adobe Acrobat 9 compatible format using a size 10 to 12 point font with one inch margins. Following a review of the responses received, ARL may elect to request additional information, or schedule one-on-one meetings with some respondents to gain additional information. A submission should include: 1. A cover page labeled with the heading "SMES for Tactical Microgrids",including the submitters name and affiliation and address, technical point of contact, telephone number, and e-mail address. 2. No more than four pages that may include: a) Narrative describing how the approach could enhance the energy storage of a contingency base per the above technologies, information, and questions of interest. b) Technical description of currently available or soon available devices or systems including dimensions, weight, inputs and outputs. c) If you are responding with the help of other organizations or business partners, please identify these organizations and partners. Responses to this sources sought synopsis are due no later than 11:59 PM eastern standard time 22 Nov 2011. Submissions should be emailed to
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