Project Planning Document Request for Proposals

Transcription

1 Project Planning Document Request for Proposals LIFT-Coatings Surface Finishing to Enable Design and Manufacturing with Lightweight Alloys Project Call Release Date: December 11, 2015 POC: Alan TAUB Chief Technology Officer, ALMMII Issued By: Lightweight Innovations for Tomorrow 1400 Rosa Parks Boulevard Detroit, Michigan

2 Table of Contents 1 Record of Change Summary Purpose Key Dates Submission Information Evaluation Criteria General Criteria Primary Criteria: Project Description Problem Background Technology Gap / Need Proposal Requirements Technical: Cost Share: Period of Performance Award Information Team Composition Webinar Questions and Answers... 5 i

3 1 Record of Change Version Date Sections Description Original 12/11/15 All V1 2 Summary 2.1 Purpose Lightweight Innovations for Tomorrow (LIFT) Project Calls seek to address research and development needs in lightweight metal processing technologies that align with the technical objectives of LIFT and its member organizations. This Project Planning Document (PPD) contains a description of a specific technology gap/need in US manufacturing capabilities within the Coatings technology pillar that LIFT industrial members and Research Partners identified during the Technology Portfolio Planning process. Basic information on the proposal process is included but specific, detailed instructions on the technical content, organization, format and submission process of the Technical Proposal and Project Cost Estimate (PCE) are contained in the Proposal Preparation Kit (PPK), at Key Dates Event Date Call for Proposals and Project Cost Estimates released December 11, 2015 First round of questions due December 22, 2015 Webinar/Conference call (questions addressed) January 6, 2016 Second round of questions due (responses to post to web) January 15, 2016 Proposal and Project Cost Estimate submission deadline January 29, 2016 Selection and request for modifications April 11, 2016 Modifications due date April 27, 2016 Anticipated project kickoff May Submission and Question Information Proposal submissions in response to this RFP are due electronically via website no later than 11:59 PM, Eastern Standard Time, January 29, 2016 to We recommend submitting early to avoid delays with heavy internet traffic. Questions can be submitted at Responses will be posted on the LIFT webpage for the RFP. Individuals interested in receiving updates related to this project call (e.g., PPD amendments, PPK amendments, Q&A postings, etc.) should submit their address on the LIFT Projects webpage. Additional information regarding LIFT can be found at 1

4 2.4 Evaluation Criteria General Criteria LIFT s mission is to scale up and transition to production, validated and innovative processes and technologies that will positively affect the manufacturing competitiveness of the United States. Successful proposals should clearly define your project team s approach to achieving the desired technical objectives including the business benefits and competitive advantages your team expects to deliver. Proposals that offer low-capital expenditure approaches that are a significant technical advancement over current state-of-the-art technologies and show a clear path for rapidly transitioning to production are highly desired. Individual technologies must meet the minimum requirements for at least MRL 1 4 at project initiation and final deliverables must meet the minimum requirements for MRL 7 by project completion. It is highly recommended that project teams identify target applications or components with applicability to at least two transportation sectors (land, sea, or air) Primary Criteria: The five (5) primary evaluation criteria and their point value are in Table 1. The PPK has specific and detailed information related to each criterion. Table 1 - Evaluation Criteria Evaluation Criteria Metric Points Available Technical merit How well does the team address the technology gaps, innovation, impact on market segment supply chain, and potential impact on US manufacturing in multiple sectors. Defined within Project Background, SOW and WBS sections 0-35 Points Program management including technology transition Workforce development and education Team qualifications Project management and organizational structure; methodology and approach to technology transition Plan for adapting technical results and capabilities, broad technology adoption strategy, applicability to one or more industries, technologies and student populations Well qualified staff with relevant experience, clear delineation of roles and responsibilities, team member capabilities relative to target 0-20 Points 0-15 Points 0-15 Points 1 Manufacturing Readiness Levels (MRLs): Manufacturing readiness criteria used to assess manufacturing risk, readiness, and producibility. MRLs provide a common understanding of the relative maturity, identification and mitigation of manufacturing risks associated with manufacturing technologies, products, and processes. Refer to the DoD MRL Deskbook for additional information. 2

5 Cost reasonableness & ability to start project quickly Total Points Possible technologies, technology transition experience Realistic cost estimates for proposed effort, minimum Cost Share met or exceeded (preferred), Cost Share value easily discernable and documented with Letters of Commitment (LOC) from team members, and minimal issues with Lift terms and conditions as described in PPK (including the university and SME member agreements) Reference PPK Points 100 Points 3 Project Description 3.1 Problem Background Robust surface finishing approaches are essential to realize the potential of design and manufacturing with lightweight alloys. However, fundamental understanding and optimization for newer chemistries is generally lacking and options for tailoring bath chemistries and/or exploring synergistic effects from using blends of different chemistries have not been fully developed. In the context of this request, surface finishing comprises degreasing, de-oxidation and surface conversion to make light weight alloy substrates and mixed-metal assemblies ready for adhesive bonding, organic coating or both. Conversion coatings are used on metals to increase corrosion resistance and to promote adhesion of subsequently applied organic coatings and adhesives. World-wide, environmental regulations are restricting use of key chemical agents: chromium, phosphate, nickel, cyanides and others. Alternative coating chemistries and processes have been identified and in some cases developed. However, industry acceptance has been slow to adopt many promising coating chemistries/technologies. The objective of this project is to advance the use of bench-scale demonstrated technologies for application to aluminum (Al), magnesium (Mg) and High Strength Steels (HSS) products and applications (e.g. reduced barriers for materials substitution, increasing use of Mg and Al in cell phone cases and other consumer products, chassis structures or other areas that require high strength Al alloys, Mg steering wheels and other non-structural car or airplane components). 3.2 Technology Gap / Need LIFT is seeking new and innovative technologies for Surface Finishing to Enable Design and Manufacturing with Lightweight Alloys. Of specific interest are technologies that are capable of performance qualification according to widely accepted industry and military standards, and will enable use of Al, Mg and their alloys in new application areas. Strongest consideration will be given to cost-effective, nearterm technology solutions that can integrate readily with high throughput manufacturing. The topics of interest are: 1. Drop-in environmentally-friendly replacements for degreasing, deoxidation and conversion coating 3

6 2. Self-healing surface finishes that store and release chemical corrosion inhibitors when coatings are damaged 3. Design, selection and application of coatings and surface treatments determined within rigorous model frameworks with demonstrated prognostic capabilities. The innovative technologies are expected to have higher performance and efficiency compared with the traditional technologies. Different routes such as exploring synergistic effects from combining different alternative chemistries or optimizing one alternative through a better understanding and coating characterization are accepted for this call. 3.3 Proposal Requirements Technical: LIFT has intentionally defined this topic broadly, to allow teams to propose innovative solutions. However, keep in mind that evaluations of all proposed technologies and / or solutions will be per the criteria outlined in Table 1 and described in detail the PPK. The proposal should provide a detailed and clear explanation of the problem(s) being solved, the required tasks to complete the work, technical milestones, benefits to your manufacturing organizations and steps taken to insure a high probability of transitioning project deliverable to production Cost Share: The Cost Proposal should define the Total Project Value (TPV) of the proposed work including sufficient documentation to define how the team will achieve their minimum 1:1 Cost Share requirement. This 1- to-1 Cost Share does not apply to the individual contributions of each team member but only to the project team as a whole. The aggregate cost share value for the project needs to meet or surpass the requested funding amount from LIFT. 4 Period of Performance The Period of Performance not to exceed 24 months. 5 Award Information LIFT anticipates awarding one or more projects under Project Call LIFT-Coatings of up to $2,500,000 TPV. This individual budget includes cost share commitments. This project requires a minimum 1-to-1 Cost Share in aggregate by each Offeror team. 6 Team Composition The proposing teams shall be led by industry. LIFT strongly encourages the participation of small businesses. LIFT members can apply but no preferences will be given. Regardless of the specific team composition, the proposed project must have meaningful participation from industry. 4

7 7 Webinar Questions and Answers LIFT will host an on-line Project Call webinar via GoToMeeting for all interested proposers for LIFT- Coatings on January 6, 2016 (monitor website for time) to answer questions and provide an overview of the proposal evaluation process that will begin once the proposal submission window closes on January 29, In addition, we will provide an overview of all the questions we have received and answered since the RFP release and take new questions from on-line participants. Attendees will also hear from LIFT leadership about our mission, vision, and goals, as well as how to do business with the Institute. Information on registering for the webinar is available at 5