QA Doc.docx

C-103 NIOBIUM BILLETS QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

Q: We will be supplying the 7.5" dia x 1" long items from rolled plate rather than bar. Rolling is permitted according to the document Requirements Document for C-103 Billet Bulk Order dated Aug 6, 2020 paragraph 3.2 but all applicable specs listed are only for Bar products and not rolled sheet/plate. Since we would need to certify this to the sheet/plate specification ASTM B654 instead of the bar spec ASTM B655, can this spec ASTM B654 be added as an alternate spec for this 7.5" dia x 1" thick item? All mechanical and chemistry properties are the same in both specs (that we can meet) but ASTM B654 spec only has dimensional tolerances up to 0.375" thick max plates (Table 4). What dimensional tolerances would you like to have for the 7.5" dia x 1" pieces?

A: As noted in the question, the ASTM B654 spec only list dimensional tolerances up to 0.375" thick max plates. In lieu of a 7.5” dia. x 1” length bar a rolled plate that is 7.5” x 7.5” x 1” thick with a +0.25"/-0.0" tolerance on all three dimensions may be acceptable. The 1” thick plate is nonstandard plate thickness for ASTM B654 based on recent procurement experience on a different project, so vendor must provide verification of past performance producing such a part.

Q: The material specification ASTM B655 only has full requirements for bars up to 4" dia (See Table 4 of this spec). We can meet all of the chemistry and mechanical properties of Table 3. Since the dimensional tolerances of Table 4 only go up to 4" max, what dimensional tolerance should we hold for diameters above 4"?

A: For this solicitation, the diameter dimensional tolerance is +0.5"/-0.0" and the length dimensional tolerance is +1"/-0" as noted in Table 1 titled “Tunnel 9 – Niobium Alloy C-103 Billets” in Section 1 titled “Scope” in the Requirements Document for C-103 Billet Bulk Order.

Q: Due to equipment limitations, we can only supply the 6.5" dia and 5.5" dia items in lengths up to 6" max rather than 24" but will supply the total number of pieces to meet RFQ requirements (28 pcs of 6.5" dia x 6" and 60 pcs of 5.5" dia x 6" length). Is this acceptable to supply the shorter pieces?

A: It is not acceptable to supply shorter 6” length pieces. The length requirements for some of the end parts that will be made from these billets are greater than 6”, so we cannot accept 6” length billets in lieu of 24” length billets. Any submissions that do not conform to the stated specifications will not be evaluated.

Q: Is it acceptable to offer C-103 manufactured in China?

A: No. As stated in the solicitation, “Offerors should be aware that per DFARS 252.225-7030(a), the C-103 Billets should be manufactured in the United States or Canada.”

Q: Do the 5.5" and 6.5" diameter bars need to meet the full requirements of ASTM B655 Table 3 for the mechanical properties for the 24" full length bars in the annealed condition? Full Table 3 mechanical properties for these two large diameters cannot be provided in lengths of 24" which severely limits market availability and competition. These 24" lengths can be produced but mechanical properties can only be provided as "For Reference Only" with full chemistry being met.

In lieu of meeting the full requirements of ASTM B655 Table 3 (Mechanical Properties for Material, Annealed Condition) for the 5.5" diameter x 24” length bars and 6.5" diameter x 2” length bars, the manufacturer can provide mechanical properties as "For Reference Only", but must still provide full chemistry that meets ASTM B655 Table 1 (Chemical Requirements). Manufacturer must also provide chemistry and mechanical property data from previous manufacturing effort of bars that have similar diameters (5” to 7”) and lengths (18” to 30”) at the time of bid, if they cannot meet full requirements of ASTM B655 Table 3.