AMND 1 - Requirements_rvsd.pdf

Statement of Requirements Heating Microscope Dilatometer

A. Background

The Production Systems Group (PSG) in the Engineering Laboratory (EL) at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) conducts measurement science research for metals-based additive manufacturing. This includes a project on model validation with benchmarking experiments to verify the accuracy of models used in additive manufacturing. NIST owns and operates a commercial metal binder jetting machine. The binder jetting process is a sinter-based method that involves part shrinkage and distortion from the printed green part to the final, dense part. During sintering, the part shrinks and distorts, which can be measured in-situ using a heating microscope or dilatometer. In-situ measurements of part shrinkage and distortion via a heating microscope/dilatometer may be used for calibration, benchmarking, and advancing simulations and modeling of this process.

B. Purpose /Objectives The purpose of this requirement is to obtain a heating microscope, inclusive of delivery, installation and training, capable of in-situ measurements of the shape change of metal binder jetting additively manufactured parts during the sintering process.

C. Scope The Contractor shall deliver (1) one, fully operational heating microscope (2) rigging, assembly, and installation by a trained technician (3) testing and validation of system operation (4) training of NIST personnel on programming and safe operation of the system. All are inclusive of FOB Destination delivery, installation, warranty and training, and option line items.

D. Technical Requirements The Contractor shall provide a heating microscope that meets all technical specifications identified below. All items must be new. Used or remanufactured equipment will not be considered for award. Experimental, prototype, or custom items will not be considered.

Minimum Specifications:

1. Camera. The heating microscope must have a camera and backlighting for silhouette (i.e., shadow graph) measurements. The camera must have the following performance specifications:

o 5 mega pixel.

o 10 frames per second.

o Field of view 15 mm x 15 mm.

2. Furnace. A furnace is necessary for sintering. The furnace must have the following performance:

o Maximum temperature of at least 1400°C.

o Maximum heating rate of at least 20°C/min and minimum heating rate of 1°C/min.

o Capable of inert atmosphere. A gas control system is not required. However, the furnace must accommodate the user pulling vacuum and backfilling with inert gas (e.g., argon) with typical auxiliary equipment for this purpose that will be supplied by the user. The furnace must have seals that maintain the user established low oxygen environment (less than or equal to 0.1 vol.

% oxygen).

o Furnace must include thermocouple(s) for temperature measurement with resolution of 0.2 °C or greater over the temperature range from room temperature to the furnace’s maximum temperature.

o The furnace must be PC controlled and allow for programming multiple ramps and holds for the temperature-time profile.

3. Software. The microscope must include software that performs image analysis and exports raw and processed data, with the following specifications:

o Records synchronized temperature, time, and camera images.

o Conduct image segmentation to differentiation the part from the surrounding atmosphere and stage/holder.

o Capable of registering and analyzing multiple objects/samples in the same experiment.

o Export raw images and segmented images.

o Calculate and export change in part area, time, and temperature in a tabulated or text file.

4. Thermal management. The instrument must include thermal management to maintain the distance between the camera and sample, such as active cooling. The apparatus or optical bench positioning the camera and furnace must maintain ±1°C from the start to end of experiments.

5. Sample size. The instrument must accommodate and measure a single sample of at least 10 mm x 10 mm x 10 mm.

6. The Contractor shall provide instructions or restrictions regarding debinding in the heating microscope which will allow the user to prevent damage to the equipment.

E. Period of performance/Lead Time

Lead time: Delivery, installation and training shall occur within 6 months after award.

F. Delivery terms Delivery shall be F.O.B Destination and shall occur within 5 months After Receipt of an Order (ARO).

FOB Destination means: The contractor shall pack and mark the shipment in conformance with carrier requirements, deliver the shipment in good order and condition to the point of delivery specified in the purchase order, be responsible for any loss of and/or damage to the goods occurring before receipt and acceptance of the shipment by the consignee at the delivery point specified in the purchase order; and pay all charges to the specified point of delivery.

Delivery shall be made to the NIST Shipping and Receiving address identified below. The delivery will then be directed to the equipment’s final destination, also identified below.

NIST Shipping & Receiving 100 Bureau Drive Building 301 Gaithersburg, MD 20899-0001

NIST Final Equipment Destination:

The National Institute of Standards and Technology 100 Bureau Drive, Building 304, Room 124

Gaithersburg, MD 20899-1640

G. Installation & Training Requirements The system shall be installed by the Contractor and meet contract specifications within the period of performance. Installation, at a minimum, shall include uncrating/unpackaging of all equipment, rigging, set-up and hook-up of the system, demonstration of all specifications, and removal of trash. Onsite installation and demonstration shall be done at NIST, (Gaithersburg, MD- Building 304 Room 124).

The contractor shall conduct training session for up to 5 (five) users at NIST. The training shall provide a thorough demonstration of all system/solution functions, maintenance, data administration, and basic troubleshooting.

The training must be completed at NIST Monday – Friday during the operating hours of 8 am to 5 pm no later than 5 days after installation. The contractor may perform training immediately after installation, including demonstration of specifications, as long as the training is scheduled in mutual agreement between the contractor and the NIST Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR).

H. Inspection, Acceptance & Testing Criteria In addition to the inspection and acceptance terms articulated in 52.212-4, the Government reserves the right to perform such performance tests and evaluations as defined below to verify specified system performance. Such tests and evaluations, if performed, shall be conducted within the environment that the system is to be operated. The Contractor has the right to be present during the tests and evaluations, if performed, at the Contractor’s expense.

NIST may choose at its discretion to forego this part of acceptance testing.

A visual inspection of the equipment will be performed by the NIST COR to identify surface defects or any form of indication that any equipment was damaged during transport to NIST. The Government shall have sole discretion to require repair or replacement of damaged and/or nonconforming supplies at no cost to the Government. The Government at any time prior to acceptance shall reject the equipment due to defects and/or nonconformance. The vendor is responsible for latent defects discovered any time after final inspection.

However, the extent of its liability shall be prorated over the useful life of the equipment.

Ownership of the equipment shall transfer to NIST upon acceptance by the Government.

The Government will test, inspect, and accept or reject the equipment within 10 (ten) days of the receipt of the equipment unless otherwise indicated above. The Government reserves the right to conduct quality assurance testing to confirm that a given instrument(s) meets the manufacturer’s and/or the Government’s performance specifications. It is anticipated that the equipment will meet all manufacturer’s specifications and/or the Government’s performance specifications identified in the most recent operations and maintenance manual for each piece of equipment and/or in this document.

I. WARRANTY

The contractor shall warranty the entire system in accordance with the manufacturer’s or contractor’s commercial practices, for a minimum period of 1 year after installation. Warranty shall be in accordance with terms in FAR 52.212-4 and shall commence upon acceptance of the system by the Government.

J. Payment Schedule

Advance payment is not authorized. The Contractor must invoice in arrears according to the payment schedule.

The Contractor shall be paid, in accordance with Net 30-day payment terms, upon receipt and acceptance of a proper invoice, in accordance with the following schedule:

1. 100% after installation and acceptance by the COR of fully installed system, AND

2. After the successful completion of the testing requirements set forth in this document under section set forth in this document, AND

3. After successful demonstration by the instrumentation that it performs IAW the technical requirements set forth in this document AND

4. After receiving an invoice submitted properly, IAW the purchase order terms and conditions.

NOTE: Partial shipments and partial invoices will not be accepted, unless otherwise requested and accepted by the Contracting Officer prior to award offer. Proposed payment schedules shall be submitted with vendor’s response to the RFQ for consideration.

RISK ASSESSMENT

The contractor will not need access to a system that processes non-public or sensitive DOC information. All work to be performed under this contract is considered to be Non-IT - No Risk.

TRAVEL

The contractor will not be reimbursed for any travel cost. Any travel cost incurred by the contractor shall be included in the firm fixed price quoted for this requirement.

K. Miscellaneous information

Safety: The Contractor employee must be responsible for knowing and complying with all installation safety prevention regulations. Such regulations include, but are not limited to, general safety, fire prevention, and waste disposal.

Security: NIST is a restricted campus. An identification badge is required for access for entry into buildings and is shown to the armed Security Police when entering the campus.

Regular Business Hours. Regular business hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm Eastern Time, excluding Federal holidays and NIST closures.

Identification Badges: Contractor employees must comply with NIST identification and access requirements. Each

Contractor employee must wear a visible identification badge provided by the NIST Security Office.

Vehicle Registration: All Contractor employees must register their vehicles with the NIST Security Office to gain access to the campus. A valid driver’s license, Government-furnished civilian ID, proof of insurance and current registration must be presented to the NIST Security Office, at which time a NIST vehicle pass will be issued. The pass must be displayed on the vehicle in accordance with NIST Security Office instructions.