Maritime Energy Conservation or Efficiency Pilot Demonstration

The Maritime Administration, Office of Environment is issuing this request for proposals (RFP) for projects that demonstrate shipboard energy conservation or efficiency measures.

Background: Over the past several years, the Maritime Administration (MARAD) has been partnering with government agencies, industry, and academia on efforts to reduce vessel and port emissions, as well as efforts to support the use of alternative fuel and energy sources. Currently, MARAD would like to focus on exploring and supporting proposals focused on shipboard energy efficiency and conservation.

This RFP is specifically seeking to provide cost share funding through a cooperative agreement(s) for one or more proposals that offer the potential for advancement and improvement of energy efficiency for marine vessel operations. The MARAD cost share will not exceed 50% of the total project cost.  Collaborative partnerships with other entities such as industry, ports, maritime organizations, and state or local governments are highly encouraged.  This announcement is an expression of interest only and does not commit MARAD to make any award. The total amount of funding under the RFP will be up to $400,000.

Proposals must demonstrate an energy conservation or efficiency technology and provide sufficient, verifiable, and detailed data to demonstrate that fact. The proposal should describe the integration of the technology for ship specific applications that address flexibility and adoptability, in addition to any specific training required for operating personnel in the use of the technology. 

Specific areas of interest include:

Power Management – Integration and management of power generated onboard vessels. For example, generated by several different sources, such as diesel generators, power take-off units, or shaft alternators. Another possibility is power generated by hybrid power sources, such as wind turbine, solar panels, fuel cells, hi-power battery, etc.

• Alternative Energy – Shipboard storage and application of energy, such as battery, flywheel, etc.

• Power Quality (SPQ) -  Shipboard power quality improvements.

• Shipboard Systems –  Improved design and operation of individual shipboard systems, such as HVAC, and waste heat recovery.

• Propulsion Systems – Improved design and operation of shipboard propulsion systems.

   

  MARAD reserves the right to fund, some, or none of the proposals received under this RFP. MARAD provides no funding for reimbursement of proposal development costs. Technical and cost proposals (or any other material) submitted in response to this RFP will not be returned. It is the policy of MARAD to treat all proposals submitted under this RFP as sensitive competitive information and to disclose their contents only for the purposes of evaluation.

   

Review and Selection Process:  The proposals will be evaluated against the following criteria:

Overall scientific and technical merits of the proposal and responsiveness to the topic,

1. i.e., the degree of innovation, soundness of technical concept.

2. Awareness of the state of the art and understanding of the scope of the issues, significance and originality of the technical approach and effort needed to address the issues, and anticipated impact within the field.

3. The ability to complete projects within a three-year timeline.

4. The applicant’s capabilities, related experience, facilities, techniques or unique combinations of these which are integral factors for achieving the proposal objectives.

1. The qualifications, capabilities, and experience of the proposed Principal Investigator (PI), team leader and key personnel who are critical to achieving the proposal objectives.

2. Ability to, and extent of, cost share.

3. Partnerships.

    

   Proposals are limited to 10 pages and must be received within forty-five (45) of the publication of this notice.

   Response Requirements

Daniel Yuska at daniel.yuska@dot.gov (202) 366-0714