Originally posted here on January 17, 2017; modified March 15, 2017

The U. S. Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) intends to release requests for proposals (RFPs) during the third quarter of fiscal year (FY) 2017 (by April 30, 2017).

The topics will include Component Improvements and System Optimization, Manufacturing Process Improvements, Prototype Testing, Certification Testing, and Type Certification.

The U. S. Department of Energy’s Wind Energy Technologies Office sponsors a multifaceted distributed wind energy research portfolio to help the U.S. wind industry develop competitive, high-performance technology for domestic and global energy markets. Program objectives include increasing the number of certified small and midsize wind systems and reducing the levelized cost of energy of distributed wind systems to be competitive with other sources of distributed generation and retail electricity rates. In support of these objectives, NREL has executed subcontracts under the Distributed Wind – Competitiveness Improvement Project (CIP) that are intended to target these program objectives and increase the competitiveness of small and midsize wind turbine manufacturers active in the U.S. market and abroad.

In 2013, a competitive solicitation titled “Distributed Wind Turbine Competitiveness Improvement Project – Turbine Testing” included the opportunity for Prototype Testing. For reference,the link to this previous solicitation is https://www.fbo.gov/spg/DOE/NREL/NR/RFC-3-23530/listing.html 

The most recent competitive solicitations for Component Improvements and Overall System Optimization and Manufacturing Process Upgrades were released in December 2014 (FY15). Links to these previous solicitations are provided below for reference.

Solicitation #RFC-5-52012 titled “Distributed Wind Turbine Competitiveness Improvement Project – Component Improvements and Overall System Optimization” https://www.fbo.gov/spg/DOE/NREL/NR/RFC-5-52012/listing.html

Solicitation #RFC-5-52013 titled “Distributed Wind Turbine Competitiveness Improvement Project – Manufacturing Process Upgrades” https://www.fbo.gov/spg/DOE/NREL/NR/RFC-5-52013/listing.html

More recently, competitive solicitations for Certification Testing (where the turbine size will be capped at <200m2 rotor swept area) and Type Certification (for turbines with rotor swept areas >200m2 and <1000m2 ) were released by NREL in early FY16; links to the solicitations are provided below for reference.

Solicitation # RFC-6-52074 titled: “Distributed Wind Turbine Competitiveness Improvement Project – Certification Testing (<200m2 RSA)” https://www.fbo.gov/spg/DOE/NREL/NR/RFC-6-52074/listing.html

Solicitation # RFC-6-52076 titled: “Distributed Wind Turbine Competitiveness Improvement Project – Type Certification (>200m2 and <1000m2 RSA)” https://www.fbo.gov/spg/DOE/NREL/NR/RFC-6-52076/listing.html

No assumption should be made regarding the specific requirements for any future competitive solicitations based on the past solicitations provided. The proposed RFPs planned for FY17 will again include cost share requirements. Offerors will need to demonstrate active engagement in the U.S. market, have links to the U.S. supply chain, demonstrate strong team skills and capabilities, and provide detailed financial information.

To be placed on a list to receive the RFPs when they are released, please contact Procurement Office Subcontract Administrator Maurice Nelson at maurice.nelson@nrel.gov.