Request for Interest (RFI) - Powder Handling System.pdf

REQUEST FOR INTEREST

Request for Interest No.: RFI-25-025

Title: Metal Powder Handling System

Procurement Officer: Tess Klatt

Due Date: May 9, 2025

ORNL is considering Subcontracting for the items/services generally described below under a new agreement issued as a Firm Fixed Price. All Interested Parties are asked to provide a response to this Request for Interest (RFI) indicating the ability to meet each element of the technical criteria set forth in this document.

NOTE: All information provided will be used for planning purposes only and will not be considered an offer to perform work nor will any information be used external to ORNL and its client, The United States Department of Energy.

CONTACT INFORMATION

Provide the following prime potential Offeror information:

Company Name:

Address:

Contact Name:

Phone Number:

Email Address:

DUNS No.:

SAM.gov UEI No:

SUMMARY OF SCOPE

The agreement contemplated may include, but not necessarily be limited to, the following work:

UT-Battelle (UTB), operating contractor for Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), seeks supplier sources to enable equipping and making operational a post-atomization Powder Handling System (PHS) to support a new metal powder atomization facility currently being planned for installation at ORNL.

The scope of operations encompassed by the PHS include sieving, blending, product packaging and compaction of revert powder. All operations will be designed to maintain metal powder in an inert argon atmosphere with introduction of oxygen only for controlled passivation. Metal powder will be produced and collected in batches of approximately 100 Kg and transported between operations in Industrial Bulk Containers (IBC) of approximately 30 L volume. Product will be packaged and shipped in metal containers containing about 10 Kg of powder and certified for over-the-road transport. Sources sought include suppliers of components, sub-systems, design and integration services to create a fully functional PHS. Some subsystems may be acquired from other reliable suppliers, but the supplier assumes all responsibility for a functioning system. Onsite installation support/supervision should be included with the cooperation of ORNL staff.

The PHS will be contained within a hazardous occupancy category 3 (H-3) enclosure. A Dust Hazards Analysis (DHA) has been developed for the purpose of identifying and evaluating the hazards, assessing risks, and identifying the engineered and administrative controls necessary for the protection of the dust hazard associated with the storage, handling, and use of combustible metal powders. The DHA identifies all PHS components and defines facility engineering controls and will govern operations within the facility. A DHA is required by NFPA 484 (7.2.1) and NFPA 652 (7.1.1) to evaluate the fire, deflagration, reactivity, and explosion hazards and to provide recommendations to manage the hazards. Combustible metal dusts can present fire and explosion hazards under certain process conditions. The fire protection requirements applicable to the atomizer process are driven by 10 CFR 851, Worker Safety and Health Program, DOE Order 420.1C, Change 3, Facility Safety, and DOE Standard, DOE-STD-1066- 2016, Fire Protection, which provides acceptable methods for meeting the DOE Order requirements. In accordance with the DOE requirements, facilities must be constructed to meet the applicable codes and standards in effect when the design criteria are approved. The DHA will be provided upon the issuance of the request for proposals (RFP).

Location of the Work: Offeror’s facility with installation at ORNL

Period of Performance (estimated):

12-months from date of award desired installation is January 2026

Socio-Economic Set-Aside: TBD

Anticipated RFP NAICS Code: 332117 “Powder Metallurgy Part Manufacturing”

Size Standard for NAICS Code: 550 Employees

Classified Work is included:

Yes No

SURVEY OF ABILITIES

Interested Parties are asked to complete the following to indicate their ability to meet the technical criteria of this scope.

1. Commercial Data

A. Has the potential Offeror signed up and entered their information in the Ariba Supplier Portal?

Yes No

B. Has your company been debarred from working with the US Government in the last 5 years?

Yes No

Note: This response is subject to verification in SAM.gov.

2. Environment, Safety & Health

A. Has your company worked the previous three (3) years without a fatality or without receiving any willful or non-willful citations or fines from OSHA or other regulatory organizations?

Yes No

B. Has your company worked the previous three (3) years without receiving, or contributing to the receipt of, any citations, or fines for Price-Anderson Amendments Act (PAAA) or Worker Safety & Health enforcement non-compliances?

Yes No

C. Has your company worked the previous three (3) years without receiving, or contributing to the receipt of, any citations by a Federal or state agency for violations of an environmental regulatory requirement?

Yes No, were any fines or penalties levied? Yes No

3. Technical Criteria

A. Potential Offeror shall provide details on how they directly relevant experience in the following items:

• Implementation of a design and integration metal powder inert handling systems with sieving, blending, decanting and packaging.

NOTE: Suppliers which only have experience in pharma or food processing will NOT be considered.

• Experience in providing a customized system to meet the statement of work requirements.

• Understanding of NFPA and OSHA requirements for flammable powder.

• Experience performing work on a DOE site. If yes, please provide site location.

B. Potential Offeror shall provide verification of the following:

• Verification of Offeror’s intent to provide full engineering and integration of all sub-assemblies and deliver and install a full end-to-end system.

• Verification of Offeror’s intent to provide full engineering and support and deliver plans for a full end-to-end system.

• Verification of Offeror’s intent to provide particular sub-assembly components without integration.

C. Potential Offeror shall provide any documentation showing previous system expertise with regard to technical criteria.

4. Direct Relevant Experience Documentation:

Provide a reference list of example projects that demonstrate relevant project experience to support this scope of work. Interested parties are asked to include the following information (please provide additional narrative, capability statements, etc. as necessary to show relevant experience): Client Name, Address, Contact and Telephone Number; Work Description; Estimated Value; Work Location; Performance Dates

RESPONSE SUBMITTAL

Electronic response (e-mail w/ attachments) is the preferred method of response and is required by no later than May 9, 2025.

Address response along with any questions to: Tess Klatt, KlattTA@ornl.gov mailto:KlattTA@ornl.gov