Sources Sought- FA9101-20-Q-0014-NAICS 332710.docx

SOURCES SOUGHT TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION

FA9101-20-Q-0014

DISCLAIMER:

THIS SOURCES SOUGHT IS FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY. THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR QUOTATION/PROPOSAL (RFQ/RFP). THIS SOURCES SOUGHT DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A SOLICITATION AND SHALL NOT BE CONSTRUED AS A COMMITMENT BY THE GOVERNMENT. RESPONSES IN ANY FORM ARE NOT OFFERS AND THE GOVERNMENT IS UNDER NO OBLIGATION TO AWARD A CONTRACT AS A RESULT OF THIS ANNOUNCEMENT. NO FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE TO PAY FOR PREPARATION OF RESPONSES TO THIS ANNOUNCEMENT. ANY INFORMATION SUBMITTED BY RESPONDENTS TO THIS TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION IS STRICTLY VOLUNTARY. THIS NOTICE SEEKS INFORMATION ON COMMERCIAL OFF THE SHELF ITEMS.

INTRODUCTION:

This sources sought is a request to gain more information on who can provide the specified specialized parts for Arnold’s Air Force Base.

The result of this market research will contribute to determining the method of procurement, if a requirement materializes. Based on the responses to this sources sought notice/market research this requirement may result in a single source acquisition, may be set-aside for small businesses (in full or in part), or may be procured through full and open competition. Telephone inquiries will not be accepted or acknowledged, and no feedback or evaluations will be provided to companies regarding submissions.

PROGRAM BACKGROUND:

These items are manufactured to support the arc heater for hypersonic testing at Arnold Air Force Base, TN.

REQUIRED CAPABILITIES & SPECIFICATIONS:

The items to be furnished are water-cooled segments 8 to 10 inches in diameter and 0.5 inch thick, fabricated of oxygen-free high conductivity (OFHC) copper. The segments will be specifically designed and fabricated to withstand the extreme environment imposed by the arc heating process. The segments are designed to survive heating rates of 4500 Btu/ft2-sec at gas pressures of 170 atm. The segments must also withstand 1,000 psi internal cooling water pressure without deformation. To achieve the performance requirements the OFHC copper discs are machined into spools with a specific cross-section machined in the bottom of the cavity to form the internal surface of the water passage. Special tooling will be required to fabricate the spool cavity because of the narrow and deep cross-section. Two OFHC copper filler blocks and two stainless steel water tubes are brazed into the spool cavity to form the water passage in the bottom of the spool cavity. The braze joint must be free of water leaks both external and into an air passage which is located in the segment filler block and spool side wall. Although machining of the segments is majority of the work, the vacuum furnace brazing process with a high temperature silver solder requires state-of-the-art knowledge and technique to accomplish. The brazing process is the most difficult step in the fabrication effort because of the near perfect braze joint required to prevent water leaks, side-wall deformation, and solder intrusion into the water passage. Vendor will be required to show and demonstrate a proven proficiency of other work similar to this magnitude and with these processes mentioned above.

ELIGIBILITY

The applicable NAICS code for this requirement is 332710- Machine Shops, with a Small Business Size Standard of 500 Employees.

SUBMISSION DETAILS

Interested businesses should submit a brief capabilities statement package (no more than ten 8.5 X 11 inch pages, font no smaller than 10 point) demonstrating ability to provide the products listed in this Technical Description. Documentation should be in bullet format. No phone or email solicitations with regards to the status of the RFQ will be accepted prior to its release. Your capabilities statement must provide evidence of being able to supply all items identified above.

Your response to this Sources Sought, including any capabilities statement, shall be electronically submitted to the Contract Specialist, Greggory Jones in either Microsoft Word or Portable Document Format (PDF), via email greggory.jones.4@us.af.mil no later than 5:00 p.m. CST on 14 February 2020 and reference this synopsis number in subject line of e-mail and on all enclosed documents. Information and materials submitted in response to this request WILL NOT be returned. DO NOT SUBMIT CLASSIFIED MATERIAL.

· After review of the above characteristics, if your organization has the potential ability/ capacity to provide the required products, please provide the following information:

1) The organization’s name, address, primary points of contact (POCs) and their email address, Web site address, telephone number, SAM Cage Code/ DUNS number, and type of ownership for the organization must be provided.

2) A tailored capability statement addressing the requirements of this notice, with appropriate documentation supporting claims of your firm’s capability to meet our technical requirements must be provided. If you are submitting a substitute item, you must provide technical detail sufficient for AEDC to determine if your proposed item(s) will meet our need.

3) What are the Minimum/Maximum quantities that can be ordered? Elaborate on the company’s overall capacity to meet this potential need.

4) Delivery time-frames are extremely important for this potential project. Please provide your company’s delivery lead-time.

5) Are there potential discounts for large quantity purchases?

Additionally, the submission should outline what vehicles can be utilized to obtain the items provided in this sources sought notice such as GSA (provide schedule), or any other existing contract vehicle.

All data received in response to this Sources Sought that is marked or designated as corporate or proprietary will be fully protected from any release outside the Government.