B-2 RFQ attachment - Performance Work Statment.pdf

Statement of Work: Research Plan for the Study of Pre-Northridge Earthquake Weak Panel Zones and Welded Column Splices with PJP Groove Welds

TITLE: Research Plan for the Study of Pre-Northridge Earthquake Weak Panel Zones and Welded Column Splices with PJP Groove Welds Requesting Lab/Division/Group: EL/731/05 General Statement of Need

The Earthquake Engineering Group (EEG) in the Engineering Laboratory (EL) at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) conducts experimental and analytical research on the seismic performance of the built environment to support NIST’s role in the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP). This acquisition of services is required so that EEG can develop and support a nationally-applicable research plan that incorporates stakeholder needs and encompasses the entire scope of work required to address the issues in a systematic process.

The Contractor shall develop a comprehensive, concise long-range program plan to research the seismic behavior of pre-Northridge earthquake weak panel zones and welded column splices in steel frames. The research plan will outline a systematic process with balanced, applicable projects that NIST can fund in the future. This plan represents the first effort required to provide nationally accepted guidelines for seismically evaluating and retrofitting these two components. Retrofitting these components, when required by evaluation, will improve the seismic performance of the building during an earthquake to support the role the building plays in enhancing the resilience of the community it serves.

Background The 1994 Northridge Earthquake was a magnitude 6.7 earthquake that occurred on January 17, 1994 in the San Fernando Valley region of Los Angeles County in southern California. The earthquake had a duration of approximately 10–20 seconds, and its peak ground acceleration was the highest ever instrumentally recorded in an urban area in North America. After the earthquake, Congress appropriated $13 million in emergency supplemental funding through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to support research on the performance of steel moment frames.

Steel moment frame design and construction practice prior to the 1994 Northridge Earthquake (1985- 1994 era) tended to result in (1) panel zones that could yield before the adjacent beams, referred to as weak panel zones, and (2) some column splices constructed with partial joint penetration (PJP) groove welds. Welding requirements used during this era were not as stringent as modern requirements that were developed as a result of critical weld fractures that occurred during the Northridge Earthquake.

Weld fracture in these existing structural components can result in undesirable behavior of the framing system during a seismic event. Panel zones that yield before the adjacent beams (if the beams yield at all) can result in excessive shear deformation within the panel zone triggering column flange bending at the corners of the panel zone producing high strains in the welds connecting the beam flange to the column flange. This weld has been shown to fracture in this case, but no measures have been developed to evaluate the parameters that contribute to fracture nor retrofit options. Further, similar issues with weld material and construction practices that put beam-to-column connections at risk in the Northridge earthquake (summarized in FEMA 350 series (FEMA 2000)) also put PJP welded column splices at risk for weld fracture. There is currently no guidance available on assessing these type of column splices, and engineers consequently apply presumptively conservative and often costly retrofits to this component. Neither of these components have been comprehensively investigated nor have associated modeling guidance and applicable seismic performance metrics been developed.

Objective This project will convene a group of steel and welding experts experienced in seismic design and construction to develop a comprehensive research plan. The plan shall include a combination of full-scale experiments and high-end analyses to develop an understanding of the seismic behavior of (1) pre-Northridge earthquake weak panel zone assemblies and (2) column splices constructed with PJP groove welds. Proposed high-end analysis tasks shall be used to develop analytical models to replicate the tests and provide a testbed for conducting a parametric study to evaluate additional assemblies within the bounds of the tested assemblies. Tasks in the plan shall be outlined so that the result is the development of new, state-of-the-art criteria for modeling and assessment of pre-Northridge earthquake weak panel zone assemblies and welded column splices with PJP groove welds. Ultimately, the developed criteria will focus on incorporation into ASCE/SEI 41, and AISC 341 if applicable, and also provide guidance on retrofit solutions.

Scope/General Requirements The Contractor shall lead a team to develop a comprehensive, concise long-range program plan to research the seismic behavior of (1) pre-Northridge Earthquake weak panel zones and (2) welded column splices with PJP groove welds. The plan shall include the following, in no particular order:

• A detailed description of the consequences of failure of the individual components and the scope of the issues, including a discussion about the state-of-practice regarding retrofit strategies for each component.

• A detailed overview of the seismic design and assessment provisions as well as construction practices for these two components used in southern and northern California (SC and NC, respectively), the Pacific Northwest (PNW), and the Central and Eastern U.S. (CEUS) starting 10-years prior to the Northridge Earthquake until today.

• A comprehensive literature review of peer-reviewed data covering these two components.

• A systematic and balanced set of research activities that use full-scale testing and high-end analyses to address the fundamental mechanics of weld and base metal fracture applicable to the time period, the seismic behavior of representative full-scale models of these components based on applicable loading protocols, and a lump-sum cost estimate of each activity. Research activities shall build upon each other, concentrating on component-level performance and progressing to system-level performance.

Tasks/Specific Requirements

Task Number or Reference

Description Format Quantity Due Date

1 Develop Project Team Written 1 30 days from award

2 Develop Project Work Plan Written 1 60 days from award

3 Conduct Literature Review Written 1 180 days from award

4 Develop Program Plan Written 1 540 days from award

Performance Requirement Summary (for Performance Work Statement)

Desired Output Required Service Performance Standard

Monitoring Method

Project Team Develop Project Team Meets Essential Elements/Salient Characteristics

COR/TPOC review

Project Work Plan Develop Project Work Plan

Meets Essential Elements/Salient Characteristics

COR/TPOC review

Literature Review Conduct Literature Review

Meets Essential Elements/Salient Characteristics

COR/TPOC review

Project Plan Develop Program Plan

Meets Essential Elements/Salient Characteristics

COR/TPOC review

Task 1 – Develop Project Team

The Contractor shall assemble a Project Team consisting of individuals that fully meet the salient characteristics described in this section. The Contractor shall appoint a Project Technical Director (PTD) who shall have overall responsibility for the project technical development. The PTD shall be a licensed Structural Engineer practicing in California. In addition, the PTD shall be involved with the development of seismic code provisions for the American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC) and American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE). The PTD shall also be duly qualified based on experience with the development of the FEMA 350 series (FEMA 2000).

The Contractor shall also appoint a Project Technical Committee (PTC) composed of the PTD as chair and five “primary” additional eminently qualified academic and practicing experts with significant experience in full-scale testing and professional seismic design of steel components. The team shall also include two “secondary” members that are subject matter experts to the primary team members, and they should not be required to participate in the development of the final research plan.

The PTC shall include the following members:

• Primary: The current chair of ASCE/SEI 41 committee or their designee.

• Primary: Two researchers from academia, not from the same geographic region or organization.

• Primary: Two practicing licensed Structural Engineers, not from the same geographic region or organization.

• Secondary: The current manager of Engineering Services for Lincoln Electric or their designee.

• Secondary: The current president of the American Institute of Steel Construction or their designee.

The PTD selection shall be made in consultation with the NIST COR. Selection of the remaining PTC members shall be made in consultation with the NIST COR and PTD. The NIST COR will also be a member of the PTC.

The PTC shall be responsible for the technical quality and practical direction of the project, under the direction of the PTD. The PTC shall also be responsible for reviewing project deliverables, providing advice and consultation throughout the project, and serving as a liaison to the materials industries and code organizations. All project documents shall be approved by the PTC prior to distribution. Within 30 calendar days of purchase order award, the Contractor shall confirm the availability of the PTD and the remaining PTC members for this purchase order.

Task 2 – Develop Project Work Plan

The Contractor shall develop a Project Work Plan that fully meets the essential elements described in this section. Within 45 calendar days of purchase order award, the Contractor shall confer with the NIST COR to review the Contractor’s technical proposal and develop an outline for the investigation of necessary information. Based on this conference and the requirements of this purchase order, the Contractor shall develop a Project Work Plan (PWP) that fulfills the following elements:

• Outlines the overall project performance strategy.

• Estimates Contractor resource requirements for task completion.

• Provides details of all milestones required for project completion.

• Ensures the PWP is fully compliant and consistent with stakeholder needs, specifically documented through interaction with the American Institute of Steel Construction and American Society of Civil Engineers.

The PWP outline shall specifically include a planned strategy for interaction with appropriate national model building code and standard organizations that ensures that the recommended research studies that are developed are consistent with stakeholder needs. At a minimum, interaction with the American Institute of Steel Construction and American Society of Civil Engineers shall be included. Within 60 calendar days of purchase order award, the Contractor shall submit a draft PWP to the NIST COR for review.

Task 3 – Conduct Literature Review

The PTC shall perform an extensive literature review that meets the essential elements described herein. Specifically, the literature review will consist of current and past standards of practice, available research information from peer-reviewed data, funded investigations, and industry or jurisdictional guidelines for steel construction. For each source of information, the PTC shall write a one-page summary that outlines the source of information and briefly describes relevant data. All summaries shall be produced in a common format that is approved by the NIST COR. The PTC shall compile these summaries in a form that is suitable for publication in the final Program Plan as an appendix.

This appendix shall serve as the basis for developing the needed experimental and analytical research activities, recommendations for practical application of their results, and directions for the development of evaluation guidance. The Contractor shall submit a draft of this appendix to the NIST COR for review no later than 180 calendar days following purchase order award. Review submittal shall be in Microsoft Word format and have line numbers clearly identified, with the first line of every page starting at unity (1).

Task 4 – Develop Program Plan

The Contractor shall use the literature review conducted in task 3 to produce a Program Plan that outlines the needed full-scale experimental and analytical research activities that will culminate in nationally-accepted guidance for assessing and retrofitting pre-Northridge Earthquake weak panel zones and welded column splices with PJP groove welds. The PTC shall synthesize model building code and standards requirements, leading practitioner-recognized techniques, and state-of-the art research results, to produce clear and concise experimental, analytical, and design-based recommended activities. The Contractor shall submit a draft of this document to the NIST COR for review no later than 540 calendar days following task award. Review submittal shall be in Word format and have line numbers clearly identified, with the first line of every page starting at unity (1). After receipt of NIST COR review comments, the Contractor shall prepare the final print-ready Program Plan and submit to the NIST COR in PDF format within 60 days.

Quality Assurance Surveillance Monitoring The Government shall use the monitoring methods cited to determine whether the performance standards have been met. If the contractor has not met the minimum requirements, it may be asked to develop a corrective action plan to show how and by what date it intends to bring performance up to the required levels.

At the end of each quarter (starting at October 1), the Government will prepare a report via email for the government representative responsible for overall monitoring of performance summarizing the overall results of the quality assurance surveillance of the contractor’s performance. This report, which includes the contractor’s submitted quarterly report, will become part of the QA documentation. It will enable the government to demonstrate whether the contractor is meeting the stated objectives and/or performance standards, including cost/technical/scheduling objectives.

Delivery Deliverable Schedule

Deliverable Description Quantity/Media Date Required

1 [Task 1] The Contractor shall submit to the NIST COR the planned Project Technical Director and Project Technical Committee members no later

1 / written 20 days from award than 20 days after award of this requirement.

2 [Task 1] The Contractor shall submit to the NIST COR confirmation of the Project Director and Technical Committee members within 30 calendar days of purchase order award.

1 / written 30 days from award

3 [Task 2] The Contractor shall submit to the NIST COR a draft Project Work Plan (PWP) within 60 calendar days of purchase order award. Following this submittal, the NIST COR will provide review comments. The Contractor shall submit a final PWP within 15 calendar days of receiving the NIST review comments.

1 / written 60 days from award

4 [Task 3] The Contractor shall submit the draft appendix to the NIST COR within 180 calendar days of purchase order award.

Following this submittal, the NIST COR will provide review comments.

1 / written 180 days from award

5 [Task 4] The Contractor shall submit the draft Program Plan to the NIST COR within 540 calendar days of purchase order award. Following this submittal, the NIST COR will provide review comments. Following NIST COR review of the draft Program Plan and receipt of NIST review comments, the Contractor shall submit a final Program Plan within 60 calendar days of receiving the NIST COR comments.

1 / written 540 days from award

Reporting Requirements The Contractor shall be required to provide written progress reports on a quarterly basis (first quarter starts October 1), in addition to the Deliverables cited above. The Contractor shall submit the progress report within fifteen business days after the quarter ends. The progress report shall cover all contract-related activity, including, but not limited to, accomplishments, problems encountered, problem resolution, and any unresolved problems during the reporting period. Progress reports shall be submitted electronically via Email to the COR and CO whom will be identified at the time of contract award.

Contract Type The type of contract anticipated to be awarded as a result of this requirement and any solicitation released shall be a Firm-Fixed-Price type of Purchase Order contract.

Government-Furnished Property, Material, Equipment, or Information (GFP, GFM, GFE, or GFI) All property, data and information provided by the Government in the performance of this task remains the property of the Government and shall be surrendered to the government upon completion or termination of this requirement. Likewise, all deliverables generated under this requirement remain the property of the Government. No Government-furnished property, data, or other information is involved in this purchase order.

Security This work for this purchase order does not involve confidential or proprietary data. The certification and accreditation requirements of Clause 1352.239-73 do not apply and a security accreditation package is not required.

Media Inquiries: The Contractor shall not respond to any media inquiries. Any inquiries from the media shall be immediately relayed to the NIST COR and/or Contracting Officer (CO). There shall be no interviews, comments, or any other response without the knowledge and approval of the NIST

COR.

Travel There shall be no travel required for any work supporting this purchase order, nor will any Contractor travel cost be reimbursed by the Government.

Special Material Requirements There are no Special Material Requirements for any work supporting this purchase order.

Other Unique Requirements The Project Work Plan (PWP) shall include all desired virtual meetings. When project meetings are conducted, the NIST COR reserves the latitude to invite other participants to them.

As a minimum, the following Virtual Project Meetings shall be conducted as part of the PWP:

1. The Contractor shall host and conduct a kick-off meeting within 30 days of approval by the NIST COR of the Project Technical Committee.

2. The Contractor shall host and conduct a progress review meeting 30 days prior to the submission deadline for the draft literature review.

3. The Contractor shall host and conduct a progress review meeting 30 days prior to the submission deadline for the draft Program Plan.

Place of Performance The Place of Performance shall be at the Contractor’s work site/place of business. All work supporting this purchase order shall be performed virtually and will use online video conferencing tools as required.

Period of Performance The Period of Performance shall be 24 months from the effective date of contract. All work supporting this purchase order shall be completed within 24 months of purchase order contract award.

Key Personnel The required key personnel individual is identified below. The Contractor shall submit resume(s) of all proposed staff.

1. Project Manager (PM)

The Clause at 1352.237-75 Key personnel (Apr 2010) will be incorporated by reference in any resulting solicitation or contract.