REQUEST
FOR PROPOSALS
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
EFFICIENCY IN MANUFACTURING DESIGN COMPETITION:
FOREST PRODUCT INDUSTRY
CYCLE FOUR:
ENERGY CHALLENGE 2002:
ALL PAPER SAILBOARD COMPETITION
I. INTRODUCTION
A. Background
The Institute of Paper Science and Technology has developed a university design competition with an orientation to the Forest Products Industry. This university design competition is in direct alignment with DOE's interests in instilling in undergraduate education the concepts of developing energy efficient processes, minimizing waste, providing environmental benefits and in maintaining and enhancing the economic competitiveness of the U.S. forest products industry in a global environment. According to DOE's AGENDA 2020, required reading for this project, long term viability demands significant improvements in energy efficiency, technological innovation and development. In spite of the apparent success and tremendous progress of the paper industry, it has very significant challenges ahead in meeting the changing standards of society while remaining economically viable and globally competitive.The Industry's Vision for the Future, as taken from Agenda 2020, predicts that more energy efficient processes will evolve and an even larger amount of the industry's energy will be self generated based on biomass and waste materials, with excess energy marketed in the form of electricity and liquid fuels. Productivity will be substantially higher than today, and less costly processes will be developed leading to enhanced financial performance.
The primary focus of this competition will be projects which are aligned with the existing DOE Agenda 2020 program for the industry and the lines of research being established with the eleven colleges comprising the Pulp and Paper Education and Research Alliance (PPERA). The competition is an annual event with a cycle time of 9 months. The colleges participating in the design competition will execute their projects through their regularly scheduled industry, technology, design, physical science and/or related engineering courses. At the conclusion of the cycle, a Review Panel will critique the projects and the team winning the $15,000.00 first place award cash money will be determined according to previously determined criteria. Second place winnings will be $10,000.00 and third place, $5,000.00.
B. Purpose
The DOE Efficiency in Manufacturing Design Competition for the Forest Products Industry is intended to address three objectives: (1.) To promote energy efficient concepts in undergraduate and graduate education, (2.) To stimulate interest in the pulp and paper industrial processes for the express purpose of uncovering new core technologies in the area of manufacturing design efficiency, and (3.) To attract both industrial and media attention to this DOE sponsored design competition and to promote and encourage student interest in the industry.
C. Eligibility
All participants must be currently attending a college or university in the United States, and must have sophomore, junior, or senior student status, studying a math, science, engineering and/or chemistry related curriculum. Proof of enrollment from the University's Office of Registrar will be required upon acceptance into the Competition.
A. Proposal
All faculty and team members are required to read a copy of the DOE's AGENDA 2020 for background before writing and submitting their proposal. The design proposals must be written based on content of AGENDA 2020, and are not to exceed 5 pages in length. All proposals must address and contain the following components: (1) Project Organization, (2) Design and Engineering, (3) Component Development and Selection, (4) Safety Issues Addressed, (5) Energy Efficiency and Waste Minimization and (6) Team Qualifications. Proposals will be due at IPST postmarked no later than midnight September 15, 2001 and will be reviewed by a Review Committee. These proposals will be reviewed and ranked by the Review Committee's scoring technique. The scoring will be based upon the following items: (1) Technical Depth, Innovation, Components and Materials, 40%, (2) Organization and Project Planning, 25%, (3) Fundraising and Team Support, 10%, (4) Energy Efficiency and Waste Minimization, 15%, and (5) Safety, 10%.
B. Awards Announcement
During the week of October 1, 2001, a maximum of the top ten colleges (as ranked by the scoring technique) will be notified that they will receive start-up grants of $2,000 per school. These grants will be awarded in the name of the college department chair, or their designee, who will serve as the key contact between the Competition Office and the college for the duration of the project period. A maximum of ten schools will be awarded start-up grants to compete at the bench scale competition at Lake Lanier. These ten participating colleges will be encouraged to develop additional industry sponsorships to assist them in their project materials and funding needs.
C. Project Design/Competition Procedure
An All Paper Sailboard is the Competition's focus. The Challenge will be to construct the board for a Sailboard (windsurfer) using paper materials such as corrugated paperboard or linerboard. Commonly used paper chemicals may be utilized in finishing and bonding the board. Merit points will be awarded to teams who develop novel materials from wood fiber and/or who develop novel functional chemicals from wood that are then utilized in the construction of the sailboard.
1) Sailboard Performance
The board will be scored on such factors as gross weight, materials composition, board volume, compressive strength, bending stiffness, performance, aesthetics and novelty as judged by a professional windsurfer.
2) Race Details/Scoring Information
As the final segment of the competition, teams will race the sailboard. The sail, mast and rigging will be provided by the race committee at the Competition. The race will be a linear course, perpendicular to the wind, around two buoys spaced 400 meters apart. The race will be conducted in a series of heats with the winner of each heat proceeding to the final race.
NOTE: Detailed scoring formulas will be provided at the beginning of the Competition cycle. The final scoring formula follows:
Final Score = (Mid-Term Report) 10 + (Final Report) 20 + (Sailboard Design and Performance) 40 + (Race) 30
3) Project Details
3.1 Faculty supervising the teams are strongly encouraged to incorporate the project into a design class or other special problems class where students will receive credit for the effort.
3.2 Each team is strongly encouraged to establish a working partnership with a corporation or mentor from the pulp and paper industry. The industry partner agrees to supply the college team with modest quantities of materials, and to serve as coach and counselor with the team on the development of energy efficient processes, and environmentally acceptable methods, materials and by-product streams. Each team will have an industrial mentor, provided by the Competition Office. Teams are strongly encouraged, however, to solicit other sponsors and/or corporate mentors for additional support.
3.3 Each team will responsible for obtaining a published list of allowable chemicals from Pulp and Paper Buyer's Guide. Miller Freeman Publications: www.pponline.com.
3.4 A list of Competition Rules and Regulations will be supplied to each team member and faculty project advisor, via the website at www.ipst.edu/energy_challenge.)
3.5 All team participants are expected to read Agenda 2020, which will be provided by this office, all newsletters (The Challenger online), follow the website, and stay current on information disseminated throughout the Competition cycle. Teams will be held responsible for cooperating and complying with all requests distributed through the above stated media.
3.6 The race will be conducted on the appointed day, rain or shine at Lake Lanier, surburban Atlanta, Georgia.
3.7 All teams will be flown to the Competition at the expense of the Energy Challenge Office. Three team members and one faculty project advisor from each school will receive a per diem to cover hotel and food costs affiliated with the Competition.
A. Cover Letter (Letter of Transmittal)
Specify the name and full return address, including e-mail, physical address and phone numbers of the Faculty Project Advisor.
B. Submission of Statement of Intent Via Facsimile
Proposers who wish to participate must fax a brief Statement of Intent on or before August 30th, by 12:00 midnight. Fax all Statements to the following:
Energy Challenge Project Manager,
Energy Challenge 2002
Office of Academic Affairs
Institute of Paper Science and Technology
500 10th Street, NW
Atlanta, GA 30318
Fax no. 404-894-4778
e-mail: energy.challenge@ipst.gatech.edu
C. Submission of Proposals and Inquiries
Proposals and modifications thereof shall be enclosed in sealed envelopes and addressed to the office specified in the RFP. The envelopes shall show the name and address of the Proposer and the words Request for Proposals U.S. Department of Energy Efficiency In Manufacturing Design Competition: Forest Products Industry.
All technical and administrative inquiries concerning this document are to be addressed to the Manufacturing Design Competition Coordinator listed below. Proposals should be delivered in person or sent by registered or certified mail to:
Energy Challenge Project Manager
Energy Challenge 2002
Office of Academic Affairs
Institute of Paper Science and Technology
500 10th Street, NW
Atlanta, GA 30318
Telephone: 404-894-8277
D. Schedule of Events*
The following schedule of events or project time table is anticipated:
RFP's mailed out - June 8, 2001
Letters of Intent due at IPST - August 30, 2001
Proposals Deadline - September 15, 2001
Announcement of Award/$2000 Disbursement - October 5, 2001
Team Registration Materials due - October 19, 2001
Mid-Project Reports Due at IPST - December 7, 2001
Final Reports Due at IPST - March 4, 2002
Preliminary Review Period (for Review Committee) - March 11 - 22, 2002
Bench-Scale Judging and Final Evaluation - April 6, 2002
*DATES SUBJECT TO REVISION
E. Glossary of Terms
Core Project Team - The three principal members of the Project Team who will represent the Project Team during the Final Judging and who have been identified as the principal contributors to the Design Project effort.
PPERA - The Pulp and Paper Education and Research Alliance, an alliance between eleven colleges: Auburn University, Georgia Institute of Technology, Institute of Paper Science and Technology, Miami University, North Carolina State University, SUNY at Syracuse, University of Maine, University of Minnesota at St. Paul, University of Washington, University of Wisconsin at Stevens Point, and Western Michigan University.
Project Team - The largest unit having a working affiliation with the Design Project. It will consist of a key faculty advisor and students. Generally the students will be members of a regularly scheduled class or appropriate college organization with a professional affiliation, e.g. ACS, AIChE etc. The ideal project team will consist of a mix of sophomore, junior and senior students.
Review Committee - The committee of seven responsible for the all of the review phases of the Design Competition. It will be comprised of 2 industrial members, 2 DOE members and 3 IPST/faculty members.