Integrated Power and Thermal Management System Development | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1) What is AFRL seeking to fund under this opportunity?

AFRL (specifically AFRL/RZP at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base) is seeking to fund the development and demonstration of a subscale integrated power and thermal management system. The intent is to create a realistic, configurable test bed that AFRL can use to study integration challenges and transient behavior when the system is paired with a directed energy weapon (DEW) type load or other aircraft subsystems that demand very high peak power.

2) What is the main purpose of the subscale integrated power and thermal management test bed?

The main purpose is to enable AFRL to evaluate how power generation, conditioning, storage, and heat rejection can be coordinated in a flexible way under representative, fast-changing demand profiles. AFRL wants to examine real-world issues such as power quality, load transients, thermal bottlenecks, stability under changing demand, and electrical-thermal subsystem interactions when a DEW-like load is introduced.

3) What does "transient behavior" mean in the context of this program?

In this context, transient behavior refers to how the integrated power and thermal management system responds during rapid changes in load and operating conditions. The test bed is meant to help AFRL understand the system dynamics and integration challenges that show up when demand changes quickly, including the effects on both electrical performance and thermal management.

4) Is this effort focused on inventing new components, or integrating existing technology?

The program is intended to rely heavily on existing state-of-the-art hardware with minimal new development. Rather than creating entirely new components, the emphasis is on integrating available technology into a configurable system that can be assembled, instrumented, and operated at AFRL facilities.

5) What is the expected deliverable?

The deliverable is a subscale integrated power and thermal management system and associated test capability. The resulting test bed should be suitable for installation and use at AFRL facilities, supporting experiments on power and thermal integration issues under DEW-like or other high peak power demand scenarios.

6) Where will the test bed be used or installed?

Over time, the test bed is expected to be installed in AFRL's INVENT Simulation Integration Facility (ISIF). The intent is for it to support more operationally realistic evaluations of power and thermal management strategies for advanced DEW applications and energy optimized aircraft (EOA) concepts.

7) What kinds of experiments or evaluations is AFRL trying to enable?

The test bed is intended to let AFRL explore practical integration and performance issues, including power quality, response to load transients, thermal constraints, system stability under changing demand, and interactions between electrical and thermal subsystems when a DEW-like load profile is applied.

8) What is meant by a "DEW-like load" in this announcement?

Based on the description provided, a DEW-like load refers to a load that draws very high peak power and can impose fast-changing demand profiles on the power and thermal management system, similar to the demands associated with directed energy weapon operation.

9) What role is the contractor expected to play?

The contractor role centers on designing, building, and testing the subscale integrated power and thermal management system, while coordinating with AFRL researchers and on-site support contractors. The contractor is expected to work closely with AFRL personnel to ensure the test bed fits within the laboratory environment and supports the experiments AFRL intends to run.

10) Does AFRL expect collaboration during performance?

Yes. The award approach is described as collaborative by design, with contractors working closely with AFRL researchers and existing on-site support contractors in a government/industry/academia-style team. The funding instrument also signals ongoing government involvement rather than a hands-off arrangement.

11) What funding instrument will be used (grant vs. contract vs. cooperative agreement)?

The opportunity indicates the instrument is structured as a cooperative agreement and/or procurement contract. This indicates ongoing government involvement in the effort, consistent with the stated collaborative approach.

12) Is cost sharing required?

Yes. Cost sharing is encouraged and the opportunity explicitly lists a cost sharing or matching requirement. Applicants should be prepared to contribute resources as part of their proposed approach.

13) What types of cost share contributions are contemplated?

The description indicates applicants may contribute resources such as funding, in-kind support, equipment, labor, or similar contributions as part of the proposed approach.

14) How much funding is available under this opportunity?

The overall estimated total funding is about $4,755,000.

15) How many awards does AFRL expect to make?

The opportunity indicates an expectation of roughly one award, while also stating AFRL intends to make one or more awards. Based on the provided information, the planning baseline appears to be approximately one award.

16) What program or CFDA does this opportunity fall under?

The opportunity falls under the Air Force Defense Research Sciences Program with CFDA 12.800.

17) How is this opportunity categorized?

It is categorized under science and technology and other research and development.

18) Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is listed as unrestricted, meaning it is open to a wide range of entity types unless additional limitations are described in the full announcement.

19) When was the announcement posted and when did it close?

The announcement was posted on June 10, 2011, and the closing date was July 26, 2011.

20) What does it mean that the opportunity was archived?

The opportunity was later archived on August 25, 2011. Based on the administrative details provided, this indicates it is no longer an active, open posting.

21) Who is the point of contact for access issues or assistance?

The contracting officer contact provided is Sarah Chaffe, reachable at 937-255-5499.

22) Where is the sponsoring AFRL organization located?

The sponsoring AFRL organization identified is AFRL/RZP at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base.

23) What is meant by "subscale" in this context?

Based on the description provided, "subscale" indicates the system is not full aircraft scale, but is intended to be realistic enough to serve as an integration and transient-behavior test bed. The focus is on representative integration behavior rather than building a complete full-scale platform.

24) Why is the test bed described as "configurable" and "flexible"?

The effort emphasizes integrating existing hardware into a configurable system so AFRL can evaluate different control approaches and architectures under representative, fast-changing demand profiles. This flexibility supports comparative experimentation rather than a single fixed design.

25) What is AFRL ultimately trying to learn or de-risk with this effort?

AFRL is aiming to better understand integration challenges and system behavior under high peak power demands, including electrical and thermal interactions, stability and control issues during load transients, and practical constraints such as power quality and thermal bottlenecks. The longer-term goal is to support operationally realistic evaluations relevant to both DEW applications and energy optimized aircraft concepts.