USACE Grant: Developing a Microgrid Living Laboratory for Resilient Energy Solutions

Section I: Funding Opportunity Description

Background: There is a critical need for modular, local, and resilient energy solutions, or microgrids, for organizations operating in austere environments and areas affected by natural disaster. Current practices run these locations on diesel fuel, which incurs high cost and forces large transportation efforts for resupply. The development of integrated microgrids to provide power offers a vital solution.

Brief Description of Anticipated Work: The objective of this project is to collaborate with a CESU partner to develop a facility to research, analyze and test new methods of providing resilient energy, integrating food and water systems that improve the effectiveness of the entire energy system. This facility will essentially consist of an open space where newly emerging microgrid technologies can be set up for testing and demonstrations. The intent is for any infrastructure associated to be temporary or modular. The primary component of the facility will be the necessary equipment to supply and monitor electrical loads. This facility will be referred to as the microgrid living laboratory and the intent is that once established the CESU partner, the government and any member of the microgrid industry that has technology to test will be able to access the laboratory.

To accomplish these program level objectives, a microgrid living laboratory will be developed at an optimally situated site, with a minimum of 20 acres available to develop, as a collaboration between the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and CESU partner. A microgrid living laboratory focuses on real-world solutions to the energy sustainability and energy security problems found in ecosystems world-wide. Examples of modular, portable energy systems to be developed on the site include: energy-efficient, Structurally-Insulated Panel (SIP) huts; a solar array; energy storage; and power generation equipment. Integrated microgrids will give the opportunity to study energy systems as a part of a microgrid living laboratory, accelerating energy research by de-risking and testing techniques before deploying them in the field.

 ERDC-CERL will combine research performed at the CESU partner’s land with existing research from ERDC Forward Operating Base Laboratory (EFOB-L) and Contingency Basing Integration Training and Evaluation Center (CBITEC) to increase safety and energy resiliency throughout the Army by developing and demonstrating a microgrid living laboratory from a new perspective in a strategic location that is located in an area where there are climate difference and other such variables. Data comparisons of tested technologies will be made to ensure that there is consistency across the locations. EFOB-L and CBITEC are located in the midwestern portion of the United States so a location on the west coast is ideal. 

The objectives specific to the CESU partner institution are as follows:

    a. Provide technical oversight and lead the development of the microgrid living laboratory as described above in order to manage federal resources effectively.

    b. Design a data collection plan for any technology to be tested at the site that is scalable for the industry as a whole, as well as meets DoD requirements,   so all data collected can be integrated with existing and future data in order to provide usable knowledge to support informed decision making.

    c. Provide guidance on infrastructure constructed at the site to ensure they are compatible with infrastructure currently deployed and tested by the industry as a whole, as well as within Army testbeds, in order to create and maintain effective partnerships among federal agencies and universities.

Public Benefit: The public will benefit from a microgrid living laboratory by the increase of solutions on new and upcoming technologies within the field of energy security. The data found through this study will have direct correlation with technologies that can be used in humanitarian support as well as providing energy security to public locations in austere environments. The results of this study will also drive decisions made during natural disaster relief by providing viable renewable and resilient energy solutions. The microgrid living laboratory will also drive the development of renewable energy enabling technologies, which provides an opportunity for collaboration across industry, Academia and the DoD.

Section II: Award Information

Responses to this Request for Statements of Interest will be used to identify potential investigators for studies to be sponsored by the Engineer Research and Development Center to develop a microgrid living laboratory on the minimum of a 20-acre plot of land in west coast region of the United States. The estimated level of funding for FY22 is approximately $3,000,000, to be executed within 12 months after award. Additional funds for this effort are not anticipated at this time.

Government Involvement: The government will provide guidance on developing a microgrid living laboratory, provide the insight to design a sustainable infrastructure, and provide guidance on power generation plans. Also, the government will provide a data collection plan that is scalable and consistent with current data collection within the DoD.

Section III: Eligibility Information

a. Eligible Applicants – This opportunity is restricted to non-federal partners of the Californian and Desert Southwest Cooperative Ecosystems Studies Units (CESU).

b. Cost Sharing – This action will be 100% funded by USACE.

Section IV: Application and Submission Information – Two Phase Process

Phase I: Submission of a Statement of Interest/Qualifications: Please provide the following via e-mail attachment to: CERL-CT-Quotes@usace.army.mil (Maximum length: 2 pages, single-spaced 12 pt. font).

1. Name, Organization and Contact Information

2. Brief Statement of Qualifications (including):

• Biographical Sketch,
• Relevant past projects and clients with brief descriptions of these projects,
• Staff, faculty or students available to work on this project and their areas of expertise,
• Any brief description of capabilities to successfully complete the project you may wish to add (e.g. equipment, laboratory facilities, greenhouse facilities, field facilities, etc.). This must include addressing the need for a minimum of 20 acres of land.

Note: A proposed budget is NOT requested at this time.

Phase I responses shall be submitted NO LATER THAN noon CST on 12 November 2021. The administrative point of contact is Andrea Thomas, CERL-CT-Quotes@usace.army.mil

 Based on a review of the Statements of Interest received, an investigator or investigators will be invited to move to Phase II which is to prepare a full study proposal. Statements will be evaluated based on the investigator’s specific experience and capabilities in areas related to the study requirements.

Phase II: Submission of a complete application package to include a full technical proposal including budget, if invited.

1. Address to Request Application Package: The complete funding opportunity announcement, application forms, and instructions are available for download at Grants.gov.

          The administrative point of contact is Andrea Thomas, CERL-CT-Quotes@usace.army.mil

2.Content and Form of Application Submission: All mandatory forms and any applicable optional forms must be completed in accordance with the instructions on the forms and the additional instructions below. 

1. SF 424 R&R – Application for Federal Assistance
2. Full Technical Proposal – Discussion of the nature and scope of the research and technical approach. Additional information on prior work in this area, descriptions of available equipment, data and facilities, and resumes of personnel who will be participating in this effort should also be included.
3. Cost Proposal/Budget – Clear, concise, and accurate cost proposals reflect the offeror’s financial plan for accomplishing the effort contained in the technical proposal. As part of its cost proposal, the offeror shall submit cost element breakdowns in sufficient detail so that a reasonableness determination can be made. The SF 424 Research & Related Budget Form can be used as a guide. The cost breakdown should include the following, if applicable:

1. Direct Labor: Direct labor should be detailed by level of effort (i.e. numbers of hours, etc.) of each labor category and the applicable labor rate. The source of labor rates shall be identified and verified. If rates are estimated, please provide the historical based used and clearly identify all escalation applied to derive the proposed rates.
2. Fringe Benefit Rates: The source of fringe benefit rate shall be identified and verified.
3. Travel: Travel costs must include a purpose and breakdown per trip to include destination, number of travelers, and duration.
4. Materials/Equipment: List all material/equipment items by type and kind with associated costs and advise if the costs are based on vendor quotes and/or engineering estimates; provide copies of vendor quotes and/or catalog pricing data.
5. Subrecipient costs: Submit all subrecipient proposals and analyses. Provide the method of selection used to determine the subrecipient.
6. Tuition: Provide details and verification for any tuition amounts proposed.
7. Indirect Costs: Currently the negotiated indirect rate for awards through the CESU is 17.5%.
8. Any other proposed costs: The source should be identified and verified.

3.Application package shall be submitted NO LATER THAN noon CST on 30 November 2021. 

 4.Submission Instructions: Applications may be submitted by e-mail or via Grants.gov, however e-mail submissions are preferred. Choose ONE of the following submission methods:          

1. EMAIL: Format all documents to print on Letter (8 ½ x 11”) paper. E-mail proposal to CERL-CT-Quotes@usace.army.mil with the Funding Opportunity Number clearly identified, preferably in the email subject line.

b. Grants.gov: https://www.grants.gov/: Applicants are not required to submit proposals through Grants.gov. However, if applications are submitted      via the internet, applicants are responsible for ensuring that their Grants.gov proposal submission is received in its entirety. All applicants choosing          to use Grants.gov to submit proposals must be registered and have and account with Grants.gov. It may take up to three weeks to complete Grants.gov registration. For more information on registration, go to  https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants.html.

Section V: Application Review Information

1. Peer or Scientific Review Criteria: In accordance with DoDGARs 22.315(c), an impartial peer review will be conducted. Subject to funding availability, all proposals will be reviewed using the criteria listed below (technical and cost/price). All proposals will be evaluated under the following two criteria which are of descending importance.

   a. Technical (items i. and ii. are of equal importance):

    i. Technical merits of proposed R&D.

                         ii. Potential relationship of proposed R&D to DoD missions.

         b. Cost/Price: Overall realism of the proposed costs will be evaluated.

2. Review and Selection Process

    a. Categories: Based on the Peer or Scientific Review, proposals will be categorized as Selectable or Not Selectable (see definitions below). The         selection of the source for award will be based on the Peer or Scientific Review, as well as importance to agency programs and funding availability.

i. Selectable: Proposals are recommended for acceptance if sufficient funding is available.

ii.   Not Selectable: Even if sufficient funding existed, the proposal should not be funded.

Note: The Government reserves the right to award some, all, or none of proposals. When the Government elects to award only a part of a               proposal, the selected part may be categorized as Selectable, though the proposal as a whole may not merit such a categorization.

b. No other criteria will be used.

c. Prior to award of a potentially successful offer, the Grants Officer will make a determination regarding price reasonableness.

Section VI: Award Administration Information       

1. Award Notices: Written notice of award will be given in conjunction with issuance of a cooperative agreement signed by a Grants Officer. The cooperative agreement will contain the effective date of the agreement, the period of performance, funding information, and all terms and conditions. The recipient is required to sign and return the document before work under the agreement commences. Work described in this announcement SHALL NOT begin without prior authorization from a Grants Officer.

2.Administrative Requirements: The cooperative agreement issued as a result of this announcement is subject to the administrative requirements in 2 CFR Subtitle A; 2 CFR Subtitle B, Ch. XI, Part 1103; and 32 CFR Subchapter C, except Parts 32 and 33.

3.Reporting: See 2 CFR Sections 200.327 for financial reporting requirements, 200.328 for performance reporting requirements, and 200.329 for real property reporting requirements.