140R8123Q0211_Sources_Sought_Synopsis_1.pdf

THIS IS A SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE ONLY. THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR

QUOTE. The Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) in Denver, Colorado and the Acquisition Operations Branch (AOB) are performing market research to determine if there is a sufficient number of qualified Small Businesses, (i.e., small, small disadvantaged, woman-owned, Hub Zone, serviced-disabled veteran-owned small business) to set aside a Firm Fixed Price Contract.

Reclamation will use responses to this notice to make the appropriate acquisition decision. The contemplated solicitation will be issued in accordance with FAR Part 13.

Reclamation has drill crews in four of the five regions, with some regions having multiple crews. These crews are in the field drilling nearly full-time all year round at projects across the western US. The soil samples obtained from these drilling programs are sent to Reclamation’s soil mechanics laboratory in Denver, Colorado for engineering characterization. This characterization includes using laboratory testing to determine strength and deformation properties of the soil to develop an understanding of how the soil will behave under a variety of loading conditions.

Laboratory testing procedures are intended to simulate field-scale boundary conditions of interest in a controlled environment to reduce uncertainty. This means that many of the field boundary conditions (size/shape, temperature, loading rate, etc.) are held constant and a few variables are evaluated. Accurate determination of the engineering characteristics is of key importance as they provide the fundamental underpinning of a larger model which may be used to estimate structural performance during a variety of loading conditions. One of the typical tests used to assess a soils ability to resist shear forces is the direct shear test. A direct shear test involves placing a soil specimen into two boxes separated by a small gap. A normal load is applied to the specimen to mimic in place ground pressure, and the boxes are pushed (sheared) apart such that shearing is localized to the gap between the boxes. Peak and residual shear and normal forces are measured, and engineering parameters can be determined.

The required size of soil testing equipment is defined by the largest particle in a soil sample;

the larger the particles in the soil (sand vs. gravel vs. cobbles vs. boulders) the larger the equipment required to test the soil, and the larger the sample of soil needed for the testing.

ASTM Standards define the minimum testing equipment size based on the maximum particle size contained in a soil sample. For direct shear testing, this follows a 10:1 ratio where the shear box needs to have a width greater than 10 times the maximum particle size.

In order to accurately test soil samples with gravel particles (up to approximately 1-inch particle size), a shear box on the order of 12-inches by 12-inches is required. Reclamation currently has a system that can perform these tests, but the equipment is unreliable, unserviceable, and requires replacement.

The goal of this acquisition is to purchase a new hydraulic, large soil direct shear machine to replace the existing machine. The system can be manual or computer controlled but must be hydraulic as pneumatic systems have been found to be unreliable on Reclamation’s house air system. The system must include sensors and data analysis software such that ASTM

D3080 “Standard Test Method for Direct Shear Test of Soils Under Consolidated Drained Conditions” can be performed “out of the box.”

The system should come with all of the components and software to be operable by Reclamation with minimal uptake time.

2.0 Scope

The scope of this work is to acquire a large soil direct shear testing machine that meets the requirements detailed in ASTM D3080. The system should use hydraulic actuators to apply shear and normal loads, with data acquired through a computer system.

3.0 Objectives

The objective of this contract is to acquire a hydraulic large soil direct shear machine with a shear box having minimum dimensions of 300mm by 300mm by 150mm, and capable of meeting ASTM D3080 “Standard Test Method for Direct Shear Test of Soils Under Consolidated Drained Conditions”. The system will be delivered to place to the Technical Service Center in Denver, Colorado. The system should be delivered to place with all required equipment and accessories to run the system “out of the box” and essentially be “plug and play.”

The system shall be provided by a supplier with extensive experience in manufacturing, commissioning, delivering, and providing on-going service for this type of system.

4.0 Tasks

The contractor must provide a hydraulic (pneumatic is not an acceptable replacement) soil direct shear test system that meets ASTM D0380 “Standard Test Method for Direct Shear Test of Soils Under Consolidated Drained Conditions”

The system must be capable of (at a minimum):

1. Variable velocity from 0.00001 to 11.00000 mm/min (within +/- 1%)

2. Maximum horizontal force of 100 kN

3. Maximum vertical force of 100 kN

4. Max. shear cycles of 10 (forward and reverse)

5. Maximum travel of 75mm

6. Soil box dimensions of 300 mm by 300 mm by 150 mm tall

7. Automated stop of the test after a preset horizontal force or displacement or after a preset time (from 1 min to 7 days)

8. Automatic test management

9. Application of axial force using instantaneous or linear ramp functions

10. Independent data recording for consolidation and failure

The test system must also include (at a minimum):

1. Mono-chromatic large digital display (240x128 pixels)

2. High accuracy stepper motor with 1/10.000 resolution

3. Ability to apply a vertical load of 100 kN using closed loop hydraulics

4. Ability to acquire data during consolidation phase (vertical pressure and displacement) and shear stage (horizontal force and displacement, axial force and displacement)

5. Recording modes including linear, exponential, polynomial vs. time and for pre-set intervals of horizontal force or displacement

6. Ability to record 1000 lines of data

7. Ability to store different test set ups to 100 blocks

8. Stainless steel soil box

9. Consolidation analysis software

10. Direct and residual shear analysis software

11. Ability to use 110V/60Hz/1ph power

The system shall be “plug and play” and usable out of the box. No additional modifications prior to production level work should be required. The system shall be provided with up-to-date equipment calibration documentation and shall be manufactured with all new parts.

The system shall include at least a one-year warranty provided by the supplier. The system and training must be provided by a supplier who can demonstrate successful construction, commissioning, and sale of at least 5 similar systems worldwide. Supplier must have qualified service technicians available for any ongoing support, maintenance, and repair.

All interested contractors, including small businesses and other than small businesses, who can supply the equipment listed above shall respond with information describing their interest, capabilities statements, and indicate which small business category for which they qualify (if applicable). The due date for responses to this Sources Sought Notice is at 5:00 pm Eastern Standard Time (EST) on Friday, July 21, 2023. Email responses are required. Please email your responses to Contracting Officer Edward Bradford at ebradford@usbr.gov.

The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) 334519 – Other Measuring and Controlling Device Manufacturing, which contains a size standard of 600 number of employees, is applicable to this acquisition. Interested firms are reminded that in accordance with FAR 4.12, prospective contractors shall complete electronic annual representations and certifications and in conjunction with FAR 4.11, are required to be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) at the time an offer or quotation is submitted.