B01 - Request for Information Rotating Assembly.docx

Request for Information

Solicitation Number: W519TC-25-Q-1224

Date: 20 November 2024

Product: 18 PUMM Explosives Mixer

NAICS Code: 333248 All Other Industrial Machinery Manufacturing

PSC: 3690 - SPECIALIZED AMMUNITION AND ORDNANCE MACHINERY AND RELATED EQUIPMENT

Distribution Statement A: Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.

The purpose of this Request for Information (RFI) is to seek out qualified vendors to provide B&P Littleford, Model 18 PUMM Vertical High-Shear Explosives Mixers to produce explosive e fill for bomb production This announcement is in support of market research performed by the Army Contracting Command – Rock Island to determine interest and capability to provide the supply described within this RFI. This RFI is for information purposes only and is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government to procure any supplies, or for the Government to pay for the information received. No reimbursement will be made for any costs associated with providing information in response to this RFI or any follow-up information request. Consequently, no solicitation is being issued at this time. Therefore, no award will be made as a result of providing this information.

Currently, McAlester Army Ammunition Plant (MCAAP) has a proposed requirement for B&P Littleford, Model 18 PUMM Vertical High-Shear Explosives Mixers to produce explosive fill for bomb production. It is anticipated that subsequent procurement will be a purchase order and deliveries will be on a FOB Destination basis. The product provided shall be in accordance with the stated specifications:

Contractor to provide one each (ea.) explosive mixer in accordance with the following requirements.

Explosive mixers must be two blade, dual-planetary, vertical mixer capable of multiple bowl mixing, Baker-Perkins Model 18 PUMM, with the following features and capabilities:

A. General Requirements

1. New mixer MUST be capable of accepting existing MCAAP 600 gallon Baker-Perkins Model 18 PUMM mixing bowls.

2. Volumetric Capacity

3. Power Capability

4. Fittings and connections: All connections and fittings (bolts, tube fittings, pipe fttings, etc.) should be U.S. customary or standard units (inch).

B. Major Mechanical Components

C. Drive System

1. Main Drive Motor. The electric motor must be suitable for Class I, Group D and Class II, Groups E, F, and G hazards with a T3 temperature rating. Motor must be rated for 480V, 60 cycle, and 3 phase operation.

2. Drive Train. Motor output must be thru a V-belt drive to a right-angle reduce directly coupled to the mixer input shaft.

3. Guards. All moving drive components must be guarded as required by OSHA.

4. Controls. Contractor to provide electrical wiring diagram showing recommended connections to various electrical switches, the main drive motor and the hydraulic system.

D. Housings

1) Two (2) 10-inch diameter V-band type flanged closure process feed ports.

2) One (1) 8-inch diameter V-band type flanged closure process feed ports.

3) One (1) 6-inch diameter V-band type flanged closure process feed ports.

4) Four (4) 3-inch diameter V-band type flanged closure process feed ports.

5) Four (4) 6-inch diameter rupture disc ports

6) One (1) 3-inch diameter vacuum connection with a 150 lb. ASA flange in the rear of the mixer.

7) One (1) Camera port connection.

E. Sealing System

1. Two lip seals must be provided to seal between the rotating and stationary housings to prevent lubricant from entering the process area or explosive material from entering the bearing area.

2. The mixing blades to be equipped with standard non-liquid seals.

3. Magnetically held grease sumps to be provided on each blade axle to serve as an additional means to prevent lubricant contamination of explosive materials being mixed. The sumps must be capable of being lowered for inspection and cleaning without the use of tools.

4. Spare seal kits: A minimum of two (2) kits of replacement seals shall be provided.

F. Mixing Blades

2. The top surface of each blade is to be chamfered to prevent material from collecting on the top web when the bowl is lowered. The bottom of the blades are to be chamfered to provide optimum mixing between the blades and the bowl bottom and to prevent compacting of explosive material when the bowl is raised.

4. The surfaces of the mixing blades that come into contact with explosive materials being mixed must be polished to a 23 micro-inch or better finish. The blade body surface must be free of crevices, cracks, or other harmful imperfections.

5. Blade deflection at the tip must be limited to less than 0.100 inches when full load torques are applied.

6. Design of the gear train and alignment of the mixing blades must ensure that the entire surface of the bowl wall and bottom are swept in a substantially non-repeating pattern.

G. Machine Finishes

1. Interior surfaces that make contact with the explosive material being mixed must be polished to a 23 micro-inches or better finish. Weld areas or casting surfaces must be free from crevices, cracks, or other harmful imperfections. Copies of the final inspection reports must be forwarded to the customer.

2. Exterior machines surfaces must be 125 RMS or better.

3. Exterior surfaces of the mixer shall be epoxy painted with at least one coat of primer and two finish coats.

H. Control Package

1. Rockwell PlantPAX Distributed Control System

a. reference drawing 801613X22 (B&P Littleford 2022) for TDP to include: power distribution drawings, bill of materials, enclosure(s), schematics, I/O list, ethernet communications topography and instrumentation diagrams.

b. PLC program to be provided by MCAAP

c. HMI program to be provided by MCAAP

d. The local HMI should be display and interface only and should not require a separate license from the primary control system.

4. Vacuum/Pressure Switch. A vacuum/pressure switch shall be supplied to sense vacuum or pressure within the mix area.

5. Blade Sensor Indicator. A blade position indicator assembly is to be mounted on the drive system and thru a series of timing gears and belts a spider gear is to be synchronized to the orientation of the outside blade. This will allow the operator to stop the mixer at any time and predict the orientation of the outside blade with respect to the mixer bowl wall.

6. Quick Drop Bowl Lowering System. The mixer shall be equipped with a quick drop hydraulic system. The quick drop feature shall be triggered by fire protection system or other signal and shall allow the mixing bowl to drop rapidly 10-12 inches to relieve pressure and minimize equipment damage.

I. Mixing Bowl

3. Mixer Bowl Seal Flanges. The top flange of the mixer bowl to be designed to mate with the mixer by compressing a shaped elastomer gasket sealing against the top surface of the bowl flange as well as two (2) O-rings sealing against the inside diameter of the mixer bowl. The flange is to be further designed to seal against the bowl cover assembly with a V-band type closure.

4. Bowl Positioning and Handling System. The mixing bowl must include two (2) trunnions positioned at 3 and 9 o’clock and are located above the center of gravity of mixing bowl. The mixing bowl support arm must contain the precision alignment holes which match pins on the slide lift blocks on each side of the mixer. The mixing bowl support arm on the new mixer must be compatible with the existing MCAAP owned Baker-Perkins Model 18 PUMM vertical mixers.

5. Thermocouple. The mixing bowl is to be equipped with a single thermocouple assembly. This assembly will be mounted in the front left quadrant near the bottom of the bowl. The thermocouple assembly is to include an iron-constantan thermocouple with a male connecter plug and a removable protective shield.

6. Bowl Casters and Carriage. The mixing bowl is to be supported by an undercarriage that consists of four (4) casters. Caster spacing to be the same as the existing MCAAP owned Baker-Perkins 18 PUMM mixing bowls. The casters are to be grooved to run against “V” rails for alignment. Casters are to be non-sparking electro-conductive 90o V-rail type. Approximately 10.2 inches must be provided from the bottom of the casters to the point of attachment for MCAAP’s discharge valve.

7. Bowl Casters Drive System. The design will allow for the use of only one air supply line connected to the bowl. This airline will power an air drive motor that will be provided on the mixing bowl to allow for easy movement of the bowl in and out of the mixer.

8. Bowl Connections. Three (3) 1.5-inch American Standard pipe tap connections are to be provided. One (1) in the upper right front bowl side wall as jacket inlet; one (1) in the lower right front as a jacket outlet; and the third at the lower left front as a jacket drain.

J. Field Service and Support

1. On-site Support

a. The Vendor shall provide start-up field service and support during equipment installation and final commissioning. Services to include installation supervision and verification, initial start-up and test runs to ensure performance, and various training related to machine operation and maintenance.

K. Spare Parts Package

1. Spare Parts

a. The Vendor shall provide an OEM recommended spare parts package that includes common wear items, such as rupture discs, bearings and seals, along with other consumables, such as filters and gaskets, related to regular maintenance.

2. Applicable Codes, Standards and Specifications

a. The complete unit covered in this Requisition shall comply with the requirements of the Technical Specifications. Applicable Documents, together with all codes, standards, specifications and statutory regulations referenced therein.

b. Some project specifications are referenced to Industry Codes and Standards such as API, ANSI, ISO etc. Though the referenced versions may not be the latest ones, the Vendor shall ensure the complete unit covered in this Requisition fully complies with the latest version prevailing at the time of PO award.

3. Local Standards, Regulations and Laws

c. It shall be deemed that the Vendor is familiar with local standards, regulations and laws. The Vendor shall ensure the complete unit covered in this Requisition fully complies with the local standards, regulations and laws.

4. Clarifications and Deviations

a. The Vendor shall highlight the ambiguities in specification requirements which may be discovered in the Requisition documents and propose resolutions to the Purchaser, utilizing Purchaser’s Clarification & Deviation List.

M. Qualifications

1. The Vendor shall highlight the past experience with providing the same equipment for the same process. The vendor must demonstrate and provide the following information with the proposal to be qualified to bid on this project:

a. The manufacturer shall have a minimum of 10 years’ experience with the successful manufacture and installation of the type of mixers specified and shall provide references on a minimum of 10 units of that type that have been in service a minimum of 5 years. The manufacturer shall be prepared to supply references upon request. The manufacturer shall have a history of maintaining an extensive parts inventory for its vertical mixers.

b. The Supplier shall furnish services of a factory-trained Service Engineer, specifically trained on installation procedures and operation and maintenance requirements for the type of vertical mixer provided.

c. Provide complete Product Data including full details of controls, machine size, dimension and detail of mixer, piping, feed nozzles, discharge port, utility connections, adjustment devices, alignment devices and complete control description including schematics and wiring diagrams.

CLIN 0001 – One (1) B&P Littleford Model 18 PUMM Vertical Mixer w/Bowl and accessories

B&P Littlefield Model 18 PUMM Vertical Mixer w/mixing bowl – Y/N Bowl Position Indicator – Y/N Vacuum/Pressure Switch – Y/N Vacuum Piping – Y/N Quick Drop Bowl Lowering Feature – Y/N Bowl Bottom Discharge – Y/N Bowl Discharge Valve, Manual – Y/N Mixing Bowl Cover and Clamp – Y/N Bowl Pressure Plate – Y/N Mixing Bowl Air Drive – Y/N Blade Position Indication – Y/N Factory Acceptance Test – Y/N

CLIN 0002 – One (1) Spare mixing bowl for B&P Littleford Model 18 PUMM Vertical Mixer Spare Mixing Bowl – Y/N

c) CLIN 0003 – One (1) Spare Parts Package SPACER, NON-METALLIC (SYNTHANE), Qty 2

d) CLIN 0004 – Field Service and Support Field Service and Support – Y/N

Interested parties should provide the following information:

1. Statement of your firm’s intention to bid and how it intends to meet the requirements stated above.

2. CAGE Code, UEI, Tax ID, and Point of Contact Information.

3. Number of employees (for business size verification).

4. Type of Socioeconomic Business Class (Examples: Disadvantaged, Veteran Owned, HubZone, Women Owned, 8(a), ANC, NHO, etc.).

5. Company name and location (for qualification country status verification).

6. What are your specific skills that will ensure your capability to perform this requirement?

7. Does your firm use brokers, or authorized distributors to distribute your product, or is your firm willing to sell directly to the Government?

8. What method of shipment does your firm use? How long does shipment from your site to McAlester Army Ammunition Plant in McAlester, Oklahoma take?

9. Delivery/Hauling method (size of trucks and maximum tonnage per truck)?

10. What is your firm’s delivery capability? MCAAP accepts delivery on Monday through Thursday, 6 a.m. to 3 p.m., central time. Please take into consideration security and receiving requirements at MCAAP. All vendors are required to be vetted at least 3 days prior to deliveries being made and must be aware of MCAAP’s local receiving procedures. If you need further information, contact the POC listed in the posting.

11. Provide your firm’s market conditions, terms and conditions, and product warranty information.

12. If providing an equal or similar product as above please provide data sheet information on specifications of the equal product.

All of the above information must be submitted in detail with your submission under this RFI. If a solicitation is issued, it will be published electronically on the sam.gov website and it will be the responsibility of the contractors/interested parties to check regularly. Interested sources should send required information in single Adobe Acrobat (.pdf) with a page maximum limitation of 10 pages to: Army Contracting Command – Rock Island, ATTN: Adam Burgmeier, email address adam.c.burgmeier.civ@army.mil by 4:00 PM CST 11 December 2024.

Place of Contract Performance:

1 C Tree Road McAlester, Oklahoma 74501 United States