DF VI Furnace Upgrade.pdf

SOLE SOURCE or BRAND NAME JUSTIFICATION (FAR 13 Under the SAT)

1. DESCRIPTION OF THE SUPPLIES/SERVICES REQUIRED

The Advanced Engineered Composites Research Work Unit (RWU 4706) at the Forest Products Laboratory (FPL) requests upgraded safety features and functionality for their Vacuum Industries vacuum furnace system. This work is to include manufacture and installation of a cold trap in-line between the furnace chamber and the vacuum pumps to capture water and other volatiles prior to reaching the pumps, installation of new water flow sensors, installation of a nitrogen gas purge system to dilute hydrogen gas released during the heating process, installation of a work thermocouple port and required programming to use work thermocouples, and software upgrades to allow for multiple PID loops and digital trim controls to allow on the fly adjustment of heat output limits to give better temperature controls.

The Forest Service acquired the vacuum furnace system in 2019, to conduct research into lignin and biochar-based carbon foams. Prior to purchase by the Forest Service, the furnace had been used for industrial glass melting. The production of carbon foam from kraft lignin and biochar at high temperature produces hydrogen gas--a byproduct not normally produced by melting glass. A nitrogen line needs to be added, to dilute the hydrogen gas and minimize the risk of accidental combustion in the ventilation system.

The current water jacket system requires an operator to monitor mechanical water flow meters.

Upgrading to an automated sensor system would improve efficiency and safety. Integrating the water flow sensor into the control system would allow for automatic alarms to trigger, and save time if an emergency required the shutdown of the furnace during operation.

The process of melting glass is less sensitive to temperature variations, as long as a minimum threshold is maintained. The Vacuum Indistries furnace currently operates with only one Proportional-Integral-Derivative (PID) feedback loop. Multiple feedback loops need to be programmed to allow for more consistent operation at different temperature ranges; to facilitate more accurate research by FPL scientists.

RWU 4706 at FPL needs this work completed to continue their research into lignin/biochar-based carbon materials and do so in a safe manner. Without these upgrades, quality of finished product and research data will be negatively impacted.

2. JUSTIFICATION FOR SOLICITING FROM A SINGLE SOURCE or FOR A BRAND NAME

The furnace located at FPL was purchased used and in non-working condition in 2019. Pregl Services was awarded a contract at that time to refurbish the furnace and repair broken parts to get it into a bare-minimum condition of serviceability. This refurbishing included updating the human machine interface (HMI) to software which is proprietary to Pregl Services. Since the initial contract was completed, Pregl has been back twice for preventative maintenance and to assist in making PID (Proportional-Integral-Derivative) controller changes to help better control temperature.

The required upgrades involve integration with the existing furnace control software, which was written by Pregl Services. The custom software that controls the furnace's operations is proprietary to Pregl Services; and the Forest Service does not have the authority to grant source code access to outside companies.

3. EFFORTS TO OBTAIN COMPETITION

The following mandatory and non-mandatory sources listed on the customer market research documentation form were checked:

Existing inventory: The furnace is a unique piece of custom research equipment and not in existing inventory.

PPMS: Using the search terms “Vacuum Furnace” and “Vacuum Industries” yielded no results on PPMS when searched on 5/21/24.

Unicor: The schedule of services available from Unicor was browsed on 5/22/24, and none are applicable to the scope of this service contract. Unicor does not offer services on vacuum furnaces.

Ability One Services and Products: Using the search terms “Furnace” and “Vacuum

Industries” for Ability One Products, and the search terms “Furnace” and “Vacuum” for Ability One Services yielded no results on Ability One when searched on 5/22/24.

GSA Global Supply: Using the search terms “Furnace and Vacuum” and “Vacuum

Furnace” yielded no results on GSA Global Supply. Using the search term “Vacuum Industries” yielded 69 results on GSA Global Supply when searched on 5/22/24, but none were relevant to the scope of this project.

Exchanges with Industry/Vendors and Prior Purchase History: The Vacuum Industries vacuum furnace at the Forest Products Laboratory was inoperable when purchased used in 2019. Pregl Services was contracted to update the furnace and make it operable. Pregl Services is one of only a few companies in the United States that works on equipment such as this. In addition to the original contract to rebuild the furnace, they have been back two more times since for vacuum pump service and PID controller tuning. The human machine interface software that allows the operator to run the furnace is proprietary to Pregl Services and no one else should be considered qualified to make changes to the software. Due to the familiarity that Pregl Services has with our system and the proprietary nature of the software that needs upgrading, Pregl Services is the only contractor able to provide all contract requirements

4. STEPS TO PRECLUDE FUTURE SINGLE SOURCE (or BRAND NAME) AWARDS

Market research for any future upgrades to this furnace will consider the trade-offs of maintaining the existing control software, or replacement with alternative solutions.

5. CONTRACTING OFFICER’S DETERMINATION

I have determined, in accordance with FAR 13.106-1(b) that the circumstances of this contract action deem only a single source is available for the required services.

Requesting Office:

NAME Timothy Ketelboeter Title Engineering Technician/COR

Concur:

Brad Higley Contracting Officer