032-A RFQ (Amendment 02) attachment QA.docx

Questions and Answers NIST Solicitation No. AMD-TC-RQ-22-02016 Microscale Combustion Calorimeter (MCC)

1. The solicitation states the following Specification: “1. Pyrolyzer Temperature Range: 25C to 1000C (accuracy, +/-0.5K).”

Question: Can you clarify the required accuracy of the type K thermocouples?

Answer: This requirement in the amended specifications document is revised as follows:

Pyrolyzer Temperature Range: 25C to 1000C (accuracy, +/-0.5K). Needs to be in compliance with the ASTM D7309-21b, specifically [Sections/Numbers] 7.5, 7.7, which state:

7.5 Temperature controller, capable of executing a temperature program that changes the specimen chamber temperature between ambient and 1123 K at a rate that is constant to within 5% of the nominal value in the range 0.2-2 K/s.

7.7 A temperature sensor, to provide an indication of the specimen temperature to 0.5K

2. The solicitation states the following Specification: “4e. O2 sensor requirements: System includes two oxygen sensors (hi and low sensitivity) and both flow and measurement control to allow the MCC to run tests using with either sensor in separate experiments. Specifically, both an electrochemical sensor (standard) and a paramagnetic O2 sensor must be installed, calibrated, and monitored and recorded by data acquisition system and a physical or electronic control (e.g., solenoid or valve) must be installed to be able to switch the instrument to run using only one of these sensors (i.e., flow path should).”

Question: Can you clarify the compliance of this technical requirement with ASTM D7309?

Answer: The instrument described in the Specifications document must meet all of the specifications in the ASTM standard referenced in the RFQ and shall be capable of achieving additional capabilities as described in this specification. Additional references are provided to publications in the RFQ that detail how these additional capabilities may be incorporated.

3. The solicitation states the following Specification: “5. Contains ability to incorporate, control, and record measurements from additional/replacement paramagnetic gas sensors (O2, CO, CO2). ” Question: Can you clarify the compliance of this technical requirement with ASTM D7309?

Answer: The instrument described in the Specifications document must meet all of the specifications in the ASTM standard referenced in the RFQ and shall be capable of achieving additional capabilities as described in this specification. Additional references are provided to publications in the RFQ that detail how these additional capabilities may be incorporated.

4. The solicitation states the following Specification: “6c. Must perform heat release rate (HRR) calculations that account for volume changes in measured gas flow due to combustion stoichiometry (i.e., account for CO2 production and its impacts on flow meter reading). ” Question: Can you clarify the compliance of this technical requirement with ASTM D7309-21b?

Answer: The instrument described in the Specifications document must meet all of the specifications in the ASTM standard referenced in the RFQ and shall be capable of achieving additional capabilities as described in this specification. Additional references are provided to publications in the RFQ that detail how these additional capabilities may be incorporated.

5. The solicitation states the following Specification: “7b. O2 baseline correction determined as per [doi: 10.1520/JTE20160651].”

Question: Can you clarify the O2 baseline correction as determine per the referenced publication?

Answer: This requirement in the amended specifications document is revised as follows:

7b. O2 baseline correction determined as per [doi: 10.1520/JTE20160651]. Analysis software included with this instrument must allow for, within 30 days of installation, the calculation of a baseline correction to HRR measurements that includes both the effects of combustion gases codified in [ASTM D7309-19] (and subsequent versions of this document) and the temperature-dependent (thermal/physically based) baseline reported in [DOT/FAA/TC-12/53; Revision 1].

All other terms and provisions remain unchanged.