OpportunityTitle: Request for Information (RFI) DE-FOA-0001555: Hydrogen Technology Showcase and Training (HyTeST) Facility
Description: DESCRIPTION: The Department of Energy&#8217;s (DOE) Fuel Cell Technologies Office (FCTO) seeks feedback from stakeholders regarding the construction and benefits of a National Hydrogen Technology Showcase and Training station (HyTeST). The station would serve as a tool for research and development, testing, safety training, and outreach for community and commercial early adopters, including station developers, owners, code officials, first responders, operators, investors, and insurers. BACKGROUND: FCTO is a key component of the DOE&#8217;s Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) portfolio. EERE seeks to provide clean, affordable, and reliable energy from diverse domestic resources, along with benefits of increased energy security, reduced criteria pollutants, and reduced greenhouse gas emissions. Light-duty vehicles and fueling components are a major emphasis of FCTO&#8217;s Research, Development and Demonstration (RD&amp;D) portfolio. Since 2004, FCTO&#8217;s National Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle Learning Demonstration project and subsequent Technology Validation efforts have deployed and collected data on over 220 fuel cell vehicles and more than 30 hydrogen fueling stations. With independent data from over 6 million miles of driving and over 80,000 kg of hydrogen dispensed, FCTO is obtaining important information to help identify key areas for further research and development, and FCTO has identified specific challenges with hydrogen infrastructure and fueling station components. PURPOSE: The purpose of this RFI is to seek input from stakeholders on a potential model hydrogen station, and in particular what features, trainings, technologies, etc. should be present to maximize use and utility of the station. In this RFI we seek feedback on the proposal for the first phase of HyTeST station, as well as subsequent phases. The input will help DOE prioritize features and activities at the demonstration station, to best serve stakeholders&#8217; needs. The HyTeST station will include infrastructure for compression, storage, and dispensing (CSD) of gaseous hydrogen at 700 bar to achieve standardized refueling protocols (SAE J2601 T40), and it will also be used for research, development, and demonstration of gaseous and liquid hydrogen technologies through collaborative projects to enable reliable, low-cost hydrogen fueling station components and systems. The HyTeST station will be located at Sandia National Laboratories&#8217; Livermore Valley Open Campus (LVOC) to enable partnership between the national laboratories and energy innovators. The HyTeST station will complement the existing hydrogen refueling facility at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) in Colorado. Partners will be able to showcase their technology as part of training or testing activities as well as through community outreach and education to potential station providers. However, neither DOE, the labs, nor HyTEST may be used to endorse or publicize specific companies or approaches. HyTEST is also not meant to serve as a nationally recognized certification laboratory or to certify components or technologies. Sandia and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratories will work closely with NRELand Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) in developing and implementing the scope and activities of HyTeST. DOE is also seeking information from potential partners who can contribute to the station by providing equipment, time, and/or funding. Strong stakeholder interest and commitment is required before DOE invests in the HyTeST station. This is solely a request for information and not a Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA). EERE is not accepting applications. DISCLAIMER AND IMPORTANT NOTES: Any information obtained as a result of this RFI is intended to be used by the Government on a non-attribution basis for planning and strategy development; this RFI does not constitute a formal solicitation for proposals or abstracts. Your response to this notice will be treated as information only. EERE will review and consider all responses in its formulation of program strategies for the identified materials of interest that are the subject of this request. EERE will not provide reimbursement for costs incurred in responding to this RFI. Respondents are advised that EERE is under no obligation to acknowledge receipt of the information received or provide feedback to respondents with respect to any information submitted under this RFI. Responses to this RFI do not bind EERE to any further actions related to this topic. PROPRIETARY INFORMATION: Because information received in response to this RFI may be used to structure future programs and FOAs and/or otherwise be made available to the public, respondents are strongly advised to NOT include any information in their responses that might be considered business sensitive, proprietary, or otherwise confidential. If, however, a respondent chooses to submit business sensitive, proprietary, or otherwise confidential information, it must be clearly and conspicuously marked as such in the response. This is a Request for Information (RFI) only. EERE will not pay for information provided under this RFI and no project will be supported as a result of this RFI. This RFI is not accepting applications for financial assistance or financial incentives. EERE may or may not issue a Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) based on consideration of the input received from this RFI. The full RFI is posted on the EERE eXCHANGE website at https://eere-exchange.energy.gov.
GrantorContactEmailDescription: FY16FCTONeedsandStrategies@ee.doe.gov
GrantorContactText: Stephanie D. Sites &lt;br/&gt;FY16FCTONeedsandStrategies@ee.doe.gov&lt;br/&gt;
CloseDateExplanation: Responses to this RFI must be submitted electronically to FY16FCTONeedsandStrategies@ee.doe.gov no later than 5:00pm (EDT) on July 22, 2016. Only electronic responses will be accepted.