Attachment 1 - Sections B C L and M 12-27-22.pdf

ATTACHMENT 1

RFQ 9531BM23Q0005-0001 - Attachment 1– Pipe Documentation for Marathon Pipeline, LLC Hazardous Liquids dated 12/27/2022 Release Page 1 of 14

SECTION B – SUPPLIES OR SERVICES AND PRICES

1.0 SERVICES

The contractor shall provide all supervision, personnel, equipment, and other items or services necessary to perform pipe documentation services for a hazardous liquids release for the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).

2.0 PRICES OF SERVICES UNDER THE CONTRACT

The NTSB anticipates awarding one (1) firm-fixed-type contract as provided in Section B for 60 days after contract award. The contractor shall furnish all necessary supplies (excluding government furnished property) to provide the services as set forth in Section C – Statement of Work (SOW).

Services shall be performed at the contractor’s facility or an additional facility if required and as approved by the NTSB.

For evaluation purposes, the contractor shall provide fully burdened firm-fixed-prices to perform the Task Areas in Tables #1 #2, #3 and #4 below. The contractor shall add the total price of each Task Area and submit the total estimated contract value in Table #4.

Table #1

TASK AREA 1

Document the As-Received Condition of the Pipe Pieces

Item Number Description Unit of Issue Unit Price Total Price

1 SOW Task Area 1 – Parts a - e JOB

Table #2

TASK AREA 2

Preliminary Pipe Cleaning

Item Number Description Unit of

1 SOW Task Area 2 – Parts a - b JOB

Table #3

TASK AREA 3

Documentation of Pipe Piece A and Pipe Piece B

Item Number Description Unit of

1 SOW Task Area 3 – Parts a - f JOB

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Table #4

TASK AREA 4

Documentation of Pipe Piece C

Item Number Description Unit of

1 SOW Task Area 4 – Parts a - g JOB

TABLE #5

TOTAL PRICES OF TASK AREAS 1 – 4

Description Total Price

Task Area 1 $____________________________

Task Area 2 $____________________________

Task Area 3 $____________________________

Task Area 4 $____________________________

Total Contract Value $____________________________

[END OF SECTION]

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SECTION C - STATEMENT OF WORK

1.0 BACKGROUND

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is an independent Federal agency charged by Congress with investigating every civil aviation accident in the United States and significant accidents involving other modes of transportation – railroad, highway, marine and pipeline – and issuing safety recommendations aimed at preventing future accidents.

The NTSB requires technical services to document the condition of the pipeline and the characterization of the pipeline material in support of an ongoing accident investigation.

2.0 SCOPE OF WORK

On March 11, 2022, Woodpat pipeline, a 22-inch-diameter hazardous liquids pipeline operated by Marathon Pipe Line, LLC (Marathon), ruptured in Edwardsville, Illinois near St. Louis, Missouri.

The rupture resulted in the release of about 3,900 barrels of crude oil, some of which entered Cahokia Creek, a tributary of the Mississippi River.

The Woodpat pipeline was constructed in 1949 and purchased by Marathon in 1968. The pipeline pressure immediately before the rupture was about 479 psig which was under the maximum operating pressure of 881 psig. At the time of the incident, a routine batch movement of heavy, sour crude oil was underway. The batch movement was progressing as expected before the rupture, and no evidence was found to indicate any outside parties were near the rupture site at the time of the accident.

While on scene, NTSB investigators observed complete circumferential separation at a girth weld at the rupture origin. The NTSB retained both sides of the fractured girth weld and an adjacent girth weld as evidence for laboratory testing. The NTSB has a requirement for a laboratory to document the condition of the pipe pieces.

Additional background is available here: PLD22FR002.aspx (ntsb.gov)

Description of the pipeline pieces for evaluation:

1. Pipe details (as reported by the operator):

a. Pipe material: API-5L-X46 steel

b. Size: 22-inch diameter, 0.344-inch thick wall

c. Vintage: 1949

d. Coating: Coat tar with asbestos. The contractor shall verify this as part of the examination.

e. Pipe long seam: Electric flash weld. The contractor shall verify this as part of the examination.

2. Evidence inventory:

a. Pipe Piece A (upstream with girth weld fracture): 5 foot long, 22-inch diameter with fractured girth weld on one end, saw-cut on other end (mates with Pipe Piece B).

b. Pipe Piece B (downstream with girth weld fracture): 5 foot long, 22-inch diameter with fractured girth weld on one end, saw-cut on other end (mates with Pipe Piece A).

c. Pipe Piece C (adjacent exemplar pipe piece with intact girth weld): 5 foot long, 22-inch https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/Pages/PLD22FR002.aspx

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Services shall be provided within the Task Areas described below:

1. Task Area 1 – Document the as-received condition of the pipe pieces:

a. In preparation for photodocumentation, ensure that the top dead center (TDC) location and flow direction of the oil are clearly marked and visible. The general orientation of the pipe relative to compass direction (such as north and south ends) typically are marked at the cut ends of the pipe. If needed, re-trace the markings with a marker to make them visible in the photographs.

b. Document the as-received condition of the pipe pieces, using a ruler or scale marker in all images taken.

c. Digital camera images of the side view of the pipe pieces at 90° intervals from TDC.

d. Digital camera images of the overall fracture faces of Pipe Pieces A and B.

e. Note any shipping damage or issues with details of damage type and location, using close digital photographs if appropriate.

2. Task Area 2 – Preliminary pipe cleaning:

a. Clean the outside diameter (OD) and inside diameter (ID) of the pipe pieces of oil residue on the interior and exterior surfaces, using hand cleaning methods and suitable cleaning agent (NTSB approved), dry as needed to prevent additional rust formation.

b. Under the supervision of a metallurgical fractographer, clean the girth weld fracture surfaces on Pipe Pieces A and B using an aqueous solution of Alconox with a soft bristle brush, rinsing with fresh water and drying immediately with pressurized air nozzle and an evaporant such as ethyl alcohol.

3. Task Area 3 – Documentation of Pipe Piece A and Pipe Piece B (similar work to be conducted on each pipe piece):

a. Detailed documentation of the as-received Pipe Piece A and Pipe Piece B (as-cleaned)

i. Identify the TDC and mark along the long direction on the pipe exterior.

ii. Identify the long seam location in degrees from TDC and mark along the long direction on the pipe exterior.

iii. Digital camera images of the side view of the pipe pieces at 90° intervals from TDC, using a ruler or scale marker in each image.

iv. Digital camera images detailing damage and location, use close digital photographs if appropriate.

v. Digital camera images detailing any coating damage.

vi. Digital camera images showing close views of the girth weld fracture surface in 360° montage format with identification of TDC and long seam reference points.

b. Coating evaluation

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i. Survey the coating thickness on the pipe pieces in accordance with SSPC- PA2 and ASTM D7091.

ii. Conduct a holiday test on the coating in accordance with NACE RP0188, SP0188, SP0274 and document the holiday locations.

iii. Determine the composition of the pipe coating.

iv. Measure pipe thickness circumferentially at 10° increments 2 inches adjacent to the fractured girth weld; accurate and precise to 0.002 inch.

c. Fractured girth weld documentation

i. Identify the girth weld fracture origin region and photodocument by digital macrophotography, using a ruler or scale marker in each image. Document the location of the origin in degrees from TDC. If a weld defect or weld repair is identified at the origin, document and make any key dimensional measurements.

ii. Manually remove a 3-inch width of coating from the fractured girth weld region around the circumference and inspect the weld deposit for defects using an AWS certified inspector with API 1104 endorsement. The method for removing the coating shall be selected so as not to cause mechanical damage, such as gouging.

iii. Photodocument by digital macrophotography the weld deposits adjacent to the fracture origin region and identify any visual defects or anomalies, using a ruler or scale marker in each image, using an AWS certified inspector with API 1104 endorsement.

iv. Measure the circumference and roundness of the pipe at the fractured girth weld end and at the sawcut end.

v. HOLD POINT—The following steps require additional NTSB approval before proceeding:

vi. Cut out a sample from the fractured girth weld end of the pipe that contains the fracture origin region. The sample shall be approximately 2 inch in the longitudinal direction and 2 inch in the circumferential direction centered at the fracture origin. Cutting shall be by mechanical method (do not use plasma or oxy-acetylene torch cut methods). If other cutting methods are under consideration, refer to technical point of contact before making the cuts.

vii. Precision clean the sample in a suitable solvent or Alconox solution under ultrasonic agitation immediately before microscopic documentation (see Task Area 3 c viii and ix).

viii. Document the origin region using a suitable digital microscope with 3D imaging capability, provide photomacrographs at appropriate overall and detail magnifications, using a ruler or scale marker in each image.

ix. Document the origin region using a suitable scanning electron microscope, provide fractographs at appropriate overall and detail magnifications to identify the fracture mode.

x. Repeat Task Area 3 c viii and ix after cleaning the sample in Evaporust with ultrasonic agitation to remove corrosion product.

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d. Metallographic examination

i. Prepare (mount, polish, and etch) metallographic cross sections at the following locations and document with overall and detail brightfield photomicrographs (in accordance with ASTM E3 and E407):

a. Cross-section through the fracture origin, sufficiently long enough to examine adjacent base material microstructure. Samples from Pipe Pieces A and B should be cross sectioned through the same axial location relative to TDC so that an evaluation of pipe misalignment may be documented.

b. Cross-section through any fractured girth weld anomalies (if any, at NTSB direction).

c. Cross-section through an intact representative long seam weld taken from the sawcut end of the pipe piece.

ii. Measure 2D microindentation hardness map using HV500 indenter of a cross section through the fractured girth weld and base metal.

iii. Measure 2D microindentation hardness map using HV500 indenter of a cross section through the long seam weld and base metal.

e. Mechanical testing

i. Conduct uniaxial tensile tests per API 5L and ASTM A370 (except as modified by this document) using 1.5-inch gage width plate-type specimens:

a. Transverse, three replicates

b. Longitudinal, three replicates

c. Across the long seam weld, three replicates

ii. Both halves of each tensile test specimen shall be serialized in a manner that they can be linked to a specific stress strain curve.

iii. Charpy V-notch testing: full transition curves (3 replicates each at 6 temperatures)

a. Pipe body (notch aligned with the axial direction)

b. Pipe body (notch aligned with the circumferential direction)

c. Across the long seam weld

d. Across the long seam weld heat affected zone (HAZ)

iv. Results of all mechanical tests shall be compared to API 5L specification at the time of manufacturing.

f. Chemical analysis of pipe body

i. Chemical analysis of the pipe body, identify all elements greater than 0.01% by weight by ICP-MS per ASTM A751, and by ASTM E1019 for carbon and sulfur.

ii. Chemical analysis of the fractured girth weld filler/deposit, identify all elements greater than 0.01% by weight by ICP-MS per ASTM A751, and by ASTM E1019 for carbon and sulfur.

iii. Report results compared to API 5L specification at the time of manufacturing

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4. Task Area 4 – Documentation of Pipe Piece C—Comprising Pipe Length 1, Pipe Length 2, and a girth weld at the midpoint of the weldment:

a. Detailed documentation of the as-received Pipe Piece C (as-cleaned)

i. Identify the TDC and mark along the long direction on the pipe exterior, label pipe Length 1 and pipe Length 2 on the exterior.

ii. Identify the long seam locations for Length 1 and Length 2 in degrees from TDC and mark along the long direction on the pipe exterior.

iii. Digital camera images of the side view of the pipe piece at 90° intervals from TDC.

iv. Digital camera images detailing damage and location, use close digital photographs if appropriate.

v. Digital camera images detailing any coating damage.

b. Coating evaluation

i. No coating work to be performed on Pipe Piece C.

c. Girth weld radiographic inspection

i. Inspect the full circumference of the girth weld by radiographic method in accordance with API 1104 using an ASNT Level III inspector certified in radiography.

ii. Identify the location of any defects in the weld and mark them on the external girth weld on the pipe surface.

iii. Provide digital images of the radiographs with dimensional reference to the TDC and long seam locations. The location and types of defects shall be included in the inspection report with any key dimensions indicated.

d. Girth weld documentation

i. Manually remove 2 inches of coating from each side of the girth weld around the circumference and inspect the weld deposit/reinforcement/cap for defects using an AWS certified inspector with API 1104 endorsement.

ii. Photodocument by digital macrophotography the weld deposit/reinforcement/cap and identify any visual defects or anomalies using an AWS certified inspector with API 1104 endorsement.

e. Girth weld metallographic examination

i. Prepare (mount, polish, and etch) metallographic cross sections (in accordance with ASTM E3) through the girth weld with 1 inch of pipe base metal on each side and document with overall and detail brightfield photomicrographs:

a. Representative girth weld

b. Grith welds demonstrating typical defects (as needed)

ii. Using representative girth weld sample, measure 2D microindentation hardness map using HV500 indenter of a cross section through the girth weld, heat affected zone and base metal. Overlay the false-color hardness map directly over the etched microstructure image.

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f. Mechanical testing (Length 1 and Length 2)

i. Conduct uniaxial tensile tests per API 5L and ASTM A370 (except as modified by this document) using 1.5-inch gage width plate-type specimens:

a. Transverse, three replicates

b. Longitudinal, three replicates

c. Across the long seam weld, three replicates

ii. Both halves of each tensile test specimen shall be serialized in a manner that they can be linked to a specific stress strain curve.

g. Chemical analysis of pipe body

i. Chemical analysis of the pipe body (Length 1 and Length 2), identify all elements greater than 0.01% by weight by ICP-MS per ASTM A751, and by ASTM E1019 for carbon and sulfur.

ii. Chemical analysis of the girth weld filler/deposit/reinforcement/cap, identify all elements greater than 0.01% by weight by ICP-MS per ASTM A751, and by ASTM E1019 for carbon and sulfur.

iii. Report results compared to API 5L specification at the time of manufacturing.

3.0 MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

1. Personnel: The offeror shall use only fully trained, experienced, and technically proficient personnel to perform work under this contract. Personnel assigned by the offeror to perform the work under this contract must possess requisite technical qualifications to perform the described tasks (resume required for personnel assigned and their respective role). Girth weld visual inspections shall be conducted using an AWS certified inspector with API 1104 endorsement. Girth weld radiography shall be conducted using an ASNT Level III inspector in radiography.

4.0 OTHER GENERAL REQUIREMENTS

1. Examination parameters: The offeror shall be able to accommodate a group of up to 5 representatives for 1 to 3 days to witness the overall documentation and the documentation of the girth weld fracture surfaces on Pipe Piece A and Pipe Piece B.

2. Evidence storage: All evidence shall be returned to the NTSB after testing is completed. From receipt to return, the pipe evidence shall be stored in facility with the temperature controlled from 60° F to 80° F and humidity up to 40% RH. The evidence shall be held for up to two years, with the storage charge billed on a monthly basis.

3. Other requirements:

Note 1: All image documentation shall include a suitable reference scale and methods such as plain backdrops shall be employed to minimize distracting backgrounds.

Note 2: All digital image files shall be provided to NTSB at the completion of the work. They will be organized in a manner that readily identifies each testing block.

All digital camera images shall be taken under adequate and suitable lighting using a

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20-megapixel minimum DSLR camera with a high quality JPEG setting, 300 DPI minimum, 24-bit RGB minimum.

Note 3: There is a hold point indicated in the test protocol, where NTSB will need to be contacted before work progresses.

Note 4: All circumferential measurements will be made in degrees from an axial datum at the top dead center (TDC) location. All axial measurements shall be made relative to the girth weld with the pipe flow direction orientated from left to right from the TDC viewpoint

Note 5: A full report is not required. Digital data files organized by task and subtask are required.

5.0 PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE

Within two weeks after contract award, the NTSB and the offeror will coordinate a date upon which NTSB ship the evidence and a date for the preliminary group exam (with up to 5 representatives).

The period of performance shall extend for up to 60 calendar days from the date of award. All contract deliverables must be submitted to the NTSB no later than 60 calendar days from date of award.

6.0 PLACE OF PERFORMANCE

The contractor’s laboratory facilities.

7.0 CONTRACT TYPE

All work to perform Tasks 1-4 under this contract shall be firm fixed-price. Travel costs, if needed, will be funded as a not-to-exceed line item and will be reimbursed in accordance Federal Travel Regulations (FTR) currently in effect. . Receipts are required with the submission of invoices for all travel, lodging, parking, and related expenses. Additional information may be found at www.gsa.gov/ftr.

8.0 INVOICES

The Contractor shall bill for 100% of the contract value for Tasks 1-4 and submit all travel receipts for reimbursement upon completion of the project. See the Invoice clause included in the contract for additional instructions on the proper submission of invoices.

9.0 POINTS OF CONTACT

Technical Points of Contact:

To be provided after award

National Transportation Safety Board Office of Research and Engineering, Materials Laboratory Division (RE-30) Telephone: 202-XXX-XXXX Email: xxxx.xxxx@ntsb.gov http://www.gsa.gov/ftr

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Contracting Officer:

Bryan J. Moy National Transportation Safety Board Acquisition Division (CFO-30) Telephone: 202-314-6282 Email: bryan.moy@ntsb.gov

C-10 NON-DISCLOSURE AGREEMENT

All contractor personnel shall execute a NTSB Non-Disclosure Agreement within seven (7) calendar days of contract award. Provisions subject to non-disclosure to protect information shall remain in effect two (2) years from termination or expiration of the contract.

mailto:bryan.moy@ntsb.gov

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SECTION L – QUOTATION INSTRUCTIONS

1.0 GENERAL INFORMATION

The NTSB solicits your quotation for pipe documentation services for a hazardous liquids release as described in the SOW. This Request for Quotations (RFQ) will result in the award of one (1) firm-fixed price contract with a performance period of 60 days from the date of award through full and open competition. Contractors are encouraged to be innovative and resourceful in developing their approach to accomplishing the objectives stated in the SOW. As such, they may propose teaming/subcontracting arrangements to fulfill the solicitation requirements, with the provision that the Contractor holds responsibility as the prime contractor for performance of this contract.

2.0 NOTICE AND INSTRUCTIONS TO CONTRACTORS

The contractor is required to meet all the requirements of the RFQ, including but not limited to instructions, conditions/notices, and requirements in the SOW. The quotation should address each factor(s) and/or sub-factor(s) as described below. A quotation that fails to address the essential requirements of this RFQ or is unrealistic in terms of technical content, schedule commitment, or price will be deemed to have an inherent lack of technical competence or indicative of a failure to comprehend the requirements, or the complexity and risks associated with the requirements.

Stating that your company meets the requirements of the solicitation is not sufficient. The Government may reject any quotation that is so lacking in competence or in understanding the requirements that without a major reformation of the quotation it is not adequate for evaluation purposes. Alternate/conditional quotations may result in a quotation being rejected as non-responsive.

In responding to this RFQ, the contractor shall submit a quotation in two (2) separate parts:

Technical Merit and Price.

3.0 PART I TECHNICAL MERIT

Technical Merit shall include the following sections:

1. Technical Merit This section describes the contractor’s overall understanding of the requirements, including the soundness, appropriateness, and reasonableness of the overall approach to performing the required services. This portion of the quotation includes the following sub-factors:

a. Sub-factor 1 – Contractor Qualifications: The contractor shall submit its company qualifications and accreditations to perform all the requirements in the SOW.

b. Sub-factor 2 – Resumes of Key Personnel: The contractor must effectively demonstrate the knowledge, understanding, and technical ability to successfully perform the requirements of the SOW through proposed Key Personnel qualifications and relevant experience. At a minimum, resumes shall be submitted for the Project Manager (PM), fractographer, AWS certified inspector, and ASNT Level III inspector. Each resume shall indicate educational background, recent experience, and specific knowledge and technical accomplishments required by each task in the SOW.

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Certify that the information on each key personnel submitted is true and complete, and that the individuals named are available for assignment the date the contract is effective. For all key personnel who are not currently members of the contractor’s staff, an original letter of commitment and agreement to serve as planned is required to be submitted with your quotation. The letter must cite this solicitation number.

A resume does not meet this requirement.

There is no limit on the number of pages for Part I – Technical Merit.

4.0 PART III PRICE

2. Price Price shall include the following section: The contractor shall submit its firm-fixed-prices to perform each Task Area of the SOW to provide pipe documentation services for a hazardous liquids release in accordance with Section B 2.0 Prices of Services Under the Contract, of the

RFQ.

There is no limit on the number of pages for Part III - Price.

5.0 SUBMISSION OF QUOTATIONS AND QUESTIONS

Your quotation must be received no later than 4:00 p.m., Eastern Time (ET), on January 6, 2023. LATE QUOTATIONS MAY NOT BE CONSIDERED in accordance with FAR provision 52.212-1, Instructions to Offerors—Commercial Products and Commercial Services.

Quotations must be submitted, via e-mail, to Bryan J. Moy at: bryan.moy@ntsb.gov

The maximum file size of a contractor email, including attachments, which the NTSB server can accept is 35 Megabytes (MB). If the contractor’s quotation package exceeds 15MB it should be sent in separate emails.

All questions regarding this RFQ shall be directed to Bryan J. Moy via email at the email address listed above. All questions must be received by 4:00 p.m. ET on December 26, 2022.

6.0 ELECTRONIC DISSEMNATION OF RFQ DOCUMENTS

Access to this combined synopsis/solicitation and amendments shall be posted on the Contracting Opportunities website of the System for Award Management: www.sam.gov. Amendments to the combined synopsis/solicitation shall be publicized in the same manner as the initial synopsis/solicitation. All Contractors are cautioned that it is your responsibility to frequently check back to the website to ensure that you have received all issued amendments.

mailto:bryan.moy@ntsb.gov http://www.sam.gov/

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SECTION M – EVALUATION FACTORS FOR AWARD

1.0 EVALUATION OF QUOTATIONS

The Government may award one (1) labor-hours contract to the contractor whose quotation that conforms to the RFQ, will be most advantageous to the Government, price and other non-price factors considered, such that it provides the best value to the Government. Best value is defined as the procurement process that results in the most advantageous acquisition decision for the Government that is performed through an integrated assessment and trade-off analysis between price and non-price factors.

The Government reserves the right to reject any or all quotations if such action is in the public interest. Under a best value procurement, the NTSB may reasonably determine that the superior solution/approach merits a higher price and, therefore, represents the best value to the Government or the NTSB may reasonably determine that the contractor with other than the highest rating in non-price factors is the best value. The Government may waive informalities and minor irregularities in quotations. The Government reserves the right to award without discussions. The contractor is cautioned that they must submit a best offer with the initial quotation.

2.0 EVALUATION OF FACTORS

The following factors and sub-factors will be evaluated by the Government:

QUOTATION PART # FACTORS and

SUB-FACTORS TITLE

I 2 Technical Merit 2a Contractor Qualifications 2b Resumes of Key Personnel II 3 Past Performance III 4 Price

Technical Merit is evaluated adjectively. The Contractor Qualifications sub-factor is more important than the Resumes of Key Personnel sub-factor. However, contractor must obtain at least an acceptable rating in each sub-factor to be considered for award. The Government will evaluate the factor and sub-factors under Technical Merit based on the contractor’s capability and approach to meeting the requirement as stated in the SOW. The contractor is cautioned that despite the relative weight of the non-price factors or sub factors, quotations that receive an unacceptable rating in Part I may be deemed ineligible for award.

Within Technical Merit, the Contractor Qualifications sub-factor is more important than the Resumes of Key Personnel sub-factor. All evaluation factors other than price, when combined, are significantly more important than price. However, as quotations become more equal in non-price factors, price becomes more important.

Price is not rated adjectively. Price will be evaluated but not scored. The Government will evaluate offers for award purposes by adding the total prices of each Task Area in Section B 2.0 Prices of Services Under the Contract.

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Pricing will be evaluated to determine whether the proposed pricing is realistic for the services being purchased; reflects a clear understanding of the requirements and is consistent with the approach described in the Contractor’s technical quotation. As part of its price evaluation, the Government specifically reserves the right to evaluate the risk associated with any pricing schemes.

Prices will be evaluated to determine the reasonableness of the Contractor’s quotation. Evaluation may include analysis to determine the Contractor’s comprehension of the solicitation requirements, as well as, the validity of the Contractor’s approach. A price that is found to be unreasonably high or unrealistically low in relation to the proposed solution may result in the quotation receiving a lower rating or the Contractor’s quotation may be rejected if the pricing poses an unacceptable risk to the Government.