NIST Real Time Automation Controller (RTAC) - Notice of Intent

Notice of Intent to Sole Source

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) intends to negotiate on a sole-source basis with Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc.under the authority of 41 USC 3304(a)(1) for the following items:
 

• SEL-2488 Satellite-Synchronized Network Clock (part number: 2488PRAX1281BX23X)
• SEL-735 With Color Touchscreen (part number: 0735LX20943GXXXXXX16201DX)
• SEL-3555 RTAC (part number: 3555#KBG7)

Background Information and Basis for Sole Source

The Smart Grid Group is leading a NIST-wide program to advance smart grid development and deployment. NIST has a mandated role in smart grid development.  Under Title XIII, Section 1305 of the Energy Independence and Security Act (EISA) of 2007, the U. S. Department of Commerce, National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has “primary responsibility to coordinate the development of a framework that includes protocols and model standards for information management to achieve interoperability of Smart Grid (SG) devices and systems…”  This role provides a catalyst for a more timely deployment of a secure and reliable smart grid that upgrades the aging electrical power grid infrastructure.

The Smart Grid Group is collaborating with industry partners, including Duke Energy and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), on characterizing the uncertainty introduced to the distribution grid by the integration of Distributed Energy Resources (DER). This work is intended to advance understanding of grid dynamics. The major focus of the work is to develop and test DER control schemes for various grid topologies and operation scenarios. The central component for this work is a Real Time Automation Controller (RTAC). NIST requires the same hardware as our industry partners, which is a controller made by the Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories (SEL), to ensure replicability of the results from the control schemes.  Use of any other controller would jeopardize NIST's ability to replicate these results, in turn jeopardizing NIST's contributions to this collaboration.

General

The North American Classification System (NAICS) code for this acquisition is 335999 – All Other Miscellaneous Electrical Equipment and Component Manufacturing.  The small business size standard is 500 employees.

No solicitation package will be issued. This notice of intent is not a request for competitive quotations; however, responses received by the listed due date, will be considered by the Government.

A determination by the Government not to compete the proposed acquisition based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Information received will normally be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement.

Interested parties that believe they could satisfy the requirements listed above for NIST may clearly and unambiguously identify their capability to do so in writing on or before the response date for this notice. This notice of intent is not a solicitation. Any questions regarding this notice must be submitted in writing via email to Hing Pan Wong at hnw6@nist.gov. All responses to this notice of intent must be submitted so that they are received at hnw6@nist.gov no later than the aforementioned due date.