59--Notice of Intent to Sole Source for a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS)

The United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Engineering Research and Development Center - Construction Engineering Research Laboratory (ERDC-CERL) intends to make a sole source award to Enervault Corporation upon the basis of the authority provided in 10 U.S.C. 2304(c)(1) as implemented by FAR 6.302-1, Only One Responsible Source and No Other Supplies or Services will Satisfy Agency Requirements. ERDC-CERL intends to purchase one (1) 30 kW-140 kW-hr Battery Energy Storage System (BESS), which utilizes a novel Redox Flow Battery system that decouples energy storage and energy conversion technology for contingency base operations. The Government requires a system that meets the following safety, deployability, and temperature operating range specifications: 1.Safety: Electrolyte presents only minor health or toxilogical risks with a National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) of 3,0,0 or less and a pH greater than 0.1 with minimal risk of producing toxic off gases during operation. 2.Deployability: hazardous materials classification does not fall under miscellaneous dangerous goods (Class 9) and can be transported as a dry powder. 3.Temperature Operating Range: -20 to 50 C Based on market research, the BESS developed and manufactured by Enervault Corporation is the only supply that satisfies all of the Government's requirements. The BESS is the only system that currently uses an iron/chromium electrolyte, which is the only known chemistry currently available to meet the Government's safety requirement. The BESS contains parts, which are patented by Enervault Corporation, to mitigate energy capacity degradation caused by hydrogen gas formation and to meet temperature operating range requirements. Based on Enervault Corporation's patents and the proprietary chemical processes used, they are the only responsible source that is found to be capable of satisfying agency requirements. This Notice of Intent is not a request for competitive quotations; however interested parties may identify their interests and capability to respond to this requirement. Any interested party that believes they can fulfill this requirement should submit a capability statement to be reviewed. Please provide responses to this notice no later than 16 April 2014 at 12:00 PM CST. All responses should be sent by e-mail to [email protected]. NOTE: Telephone responses will not be accepted. A determination by the Government not to compete the contract based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Information received will be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement.