RFP W15QKN-20-R-0144 - Evaluation Criteria.pdf

W15QKN-20-R-0144 Attrition Milling

Basis for Award

The Government plans to award a firm fixed price contract as a result of this Request for Proposal (RFP).

The evaluation of proposals shall be conducted utilizing the Lowest Priced Technically Acceptable (LPTA) evaluation approach, based on an evaluation of proposals in the areas of Technical and Price.

Under this evaluation approach, a proposal would not receive any additional credit for exceeding the established minimum defined requirements of technical acceptability.

Discussions: The Government intends to evaluate proposals and award the contract without discussions with the Offeror’s (except clarifications as described in FAR 15.306). Offerors are urged to ensure that their initial proposals are submitted with the most favorable terms in order to reflect their best possible potential. However, the Government reserves the right to conduct discussions and request proposal revisions if it is determined to be in the best interest of the Government.

Evaluation Factors:

(1) Technical

(2) Price

Evaluation Approach

Careful, complete and impartial consideration will be given to all proposals received pursuant to this RFP. A team of Government personnel will evaluate each proposal in the areas described below.

(1) Technical: The technical portion of the proposal will be rated Acceptable or Unacceptable based on the assessment of the stated minimum requirements below. In order for a proposal to be rated Acceptable, Offerors are required to provide a quantity of one (1) High Energy Attrition Milling System that meets all the minimum requirements the Statement of Work (SOW) to include the following:

Base - General Specifications:

• Horizontal rotary ball mill.

• Grinding chamber volume of 20 liters.

• Grinding chamber must have active recirculated cooling.

• Capable of running in inert-gas or vacuum.

• Working pressure range of grinding chamber between 10-4 mbar and 2 bar.

• Maximum system footprint of 14’ wide x 16’ deep x 18’ high (4.3 m x 5 m x 5.5 m).

• The equipment shall be Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory (NRTL) approved or Conformitè

Europëenne (CE) certified.

• Milling system must include a sound absorption enclosure.

• Milling system must be capable of running in an auto-batch configuration for increased production efficiency.

• System must come with a table lift for grinding unit with a capacity of 100 kg.

• System must come with a vacuum pump to vacuum and purge grinding chamber to a minimum pressure of 10-3 mbar.

AUTO-BATCH OPERATIONAL MODE

• System must have a series of valves and interlocks that are computer controlled to allow for automatic powder charging.

• System must have a series of valves and interlocks that are computer controlled to allow for gas-assisted discharging

POWER-TRAIN

• Minimum 22kW motor (3-phase, 4 line, 480V).

• Maximum drive shaft rotational speed 750 rpm.

GAS SYSTEM

• Must be capable of handling compressed inert gas.

• System must have a pressure relief valve in the grinding chamber.

• Discharging system must be assisted by carrier gas.

• System must be capable of operating in a vacuum (10-4 mbar maximum).

CONTROLS AND INSTRUMENTATION

• System must be controlled by a stand-alone, Windows-based PC

• Emergency override controls must be on grinding unit

• Human-machine-interface will primarily be on the stand-alone PC

• All process controls and variables must be operable from the computer

UTIILTY REQUIREMENTS:

• 480V, 3 Phase plus ground, 50-60 Hz service single point connection to system’s disconnecting device.

• Capable of connecting to compressed air at 80 to 100 psig.

HARDWARE

• Spare grinding chamber, rotor, and valve assemblies for grinding volume of 20 L liters for operation in auto-batch mode.

• Capable of operating in auto-batch mode with carrier-gas assisted discharge.

• Grinding chamber must have active recirculated cooling.

• Grinding chamber must have horizontal rotor.

• Capable of running in inert-gas or vacuum.

• Working pressure range of grinding chamber between 10-4 mbar and 2 bar.

• Grinding chamber, rotor, and valve assemblies for grinding volume of 8 liters for operation in manual mode.

• Grinding chamber must have active recirculated cooling.

• Grinding chamber must have horizontal rotor.

• Capable of running in inert-gas or vacuum.

• Working pressure range of grinding chamber between 10-4 mbar and 2 bar.

COOLING SYSTEMS

• Two (2) Julabo Presto W91 Chiller Systems or equivalent

• Closed looped recirculated chiller

• 480V, 3 Phase, 60 Hz

• Flow rate of 26-80 liter per minute

• Working temperature of -92 to +250°C

• Temperature stability of +/- 0.05 to 0.2 degree

• Cooling capacity: 20 kW at 0°C; 11 kW @ -20°C; 8 kW at -60°C; 0.5 kW at -90°C

• Heating capacity: 31 kW at 200°C; 29 kW at 100°C; 20 kW at 0°C

• Thermal fluid P90 Presto or equivalent. Bath fluid thermal capacity of -90 to +170°C

• Metal tubing, triple insulated with fittings to connect W91 chiller to grinding chamber.

Two (2) Industrial recirculating Chillers – secondary chiller to support W91 chiller or equivalent system.

• Closed looped recirculated chiller.

• 460 V, 3 Phase, 60 Hz.

• Working temperature of 0 to +25°C, or equivalent to support W91 chiller.

• Temperature stability of +/- 1.0 to 2.0 degree.

• Cooling capacity of 26 kW at 10°C (7.5 tons of refrigeration) or equivalent

• Thermal fluid P90 Presto or equivalent. Bath fluid thermal capacity of -90 to +170°C.

• Metal tubing, triple insulated or braided tubing with fittings to connect this industrial chiller to the W91 chiller.

OPTIONS: The following equipment and minimum technical specifications are for the options to purchase additional equipment within the period of performance (POP) of this contract if funding is available:

OPTION 1: COLLECT AND MONITOR SYSTEM PERFORMANCE FOR 20L GRINDING OPERATION IN

AUTO-BATCH OPERATION

• Capable of operating in auto-batch mode with carrier-gas assisted discharge.

• Pressure transducer to monitor Ar gas pressure.

• 3psi spring-loaded pressure relief valve for Ar gas pressure.

• Low pressure regulator for the argon cylinder (0 - 5psig).

• A check valve at the low-pressure regulator.

• A filter for the argon supply line (in case of backflow).

• A medium and fine particle filter up stream of the vacuum pump.

• Thermocouple vacuum transducer and readout for the vacuum system.

• Electronic combination gage that measures from vacuum to +15 psig.

OPTION 2: CRYOMILLING FOR 20L GRINDING OPERATION IN AUTO-BATCH OPERATION

• Capable of operating in auto-batch mode with carrier-gas assisted discharge.

• Chamber valve modification to include the addition of four heaters and two thermocouples to prevent the Teflon seals from becoming hard and leaking.

• 6 ungrounded type K thermocouples to monitor cryo temperature of grinding chamber and cartridge heaters for valve body and milling bearing housing.

• LabVIEW program to monitor Ar gas pressure, 6 type K thermocouples, and control liquid nitrogen

(LN2) solenoid valve to maintain proper cryomilling temperature control.

• Computer with control software.

• Two cryogenic transfer hoses with pressure relief valve

• Warning lights and audible alarms are programmed into the LabVIEW program to alert the user of Ar pressure, LN2 lower limit, and heater overheating conditions.

• LabVIEW program plots and log real time data for all thermocouples, Ar gas pressure and milling speed schedule.

• Electrical control box for heaters.

• Electrical control box for LabVIEW data acquisition and control.

OPTION 3: COLLECT AND MONITOR SYSTEM PERFORMANCE FOR 8L GRINDING OPERATION IN

MANUAL OPERATION

• Pressure transducer to monitor Ar gas pressure.

• 3psi spring-loaded pressure relief valve for Ar gas pressure.

• Low pressure regulator for the argon cylinder (0 - 5psig).

• A check valve at the low-pressure regulator.

• A filter for the argon supply line (in case of backflow).

• A medium and fine particle filter up stream of the vacuum pump.

• Thermocouple vacuum transducer and readout for the vacuum system.

• Electronic combination gage that measures from vacuum to +15 psig.

OPTION 4: CRYOMILLING FOR 8L GRINDING OPERATION IN MANUAL OPERATION

• Chamber valve modification to include the addition of four heaters and two thermocouples to prevent the Teflon seals from becoming hard and leaking.

• 6 ungrounded type K thermocouples to monitor cryo temperature of grinding chamber and cartridge heaters for valve body and milling bearing housing.

• LabVIEW program to monitor Ar gas pressure, 6 type K thermocouples, and control liquid nitrogen (LN2) solenoid valve to maintain proper Cryomilling temperature control.

• Computer with control software.

• Two cryogenic transfer hoses with pressure relief valve.

• Warning lights and audible alarms are programmed into the LabVIEW program to alert the user of Ar pressure, LN2 lower limit, and heater overheating conditions.

• LabVIEW program plots and log real time data for all thermocouples, Ar gas pressure and milling speed schedule.

• Electrical control box for heaters.

• Electrical control box for LabVIEW data acquisition and control.

Offerors shall address, in their proposal, the installation and training requirements of the attached SOW.

The period of performance, to include, delivery, and training shall be no more than twelve (12) months after contract award as described in the SOW.

The following adjectival rating will be utilized in the evaluation of Technical:

RATING DESCRIPTION

Acceptable Proposal clearly meets the minimum requirements of the solicitation

Unacceptable Proposal does not clearly meet the minimum requirements of the solicitation

(2) Price: The proposed price will be evaluated to determine whether or not it’s fair and reasonable in accordance with FAR 15.404(a)(2).

The Government will perform a price analysis in accordance with FAR 15.404-1 (b) utilizing the Total Evaluated Price calculated. However, if necessary by the Contracting Officer, a cost analysis may be performed per FAR 15.404-1(c).

A price analysis in accordance with FAR 15.404-1 (b) will be conducted on the total price for this contract. The total evaluated price is the total price proposed for this contract. A price reasonableness determination will be made on the total evaluated price which will be used in the tradeoff analysis.

Adequate competition is anticipated for this award. However, in the event that only one offer is received, the Government reserves the right to perform a cost analysis IA W FAR 15.404-1 (c). If the Government determines that adequate price competition was not obtained and/or if the total evaluated price cannot be deemed fair and reasonable, the Government reserves the right to request cost or pricing data and to evaluate such data utilizing the proposal analysis techniques delineated at FAR 15.404-1, as deemed appropriate. Therefore, in instances when only one offer is received and the quote is $2,000,000.00 or more, the Contracting Officer shall obtain Certified Cost or Pricing Data. Offers under $2,000,000.00 require cost or pricing data, but such cost or pricing data is not required to be certified by the offeror. Cost or Pricing Data or Other Than Certified Cost or Pricing Data shall be provided upon request IA W FAR 15.403. This information will be evaluated for magnitude and reasonableness and may be adjusted from a technical and cost perspective using cost analysis to determine the most probable cost to the Government. Offerors shall utilize a Microsoft Excel file format with formulas intact when submitting their Price/Cost quote [FAR 15.403-5(b)(l)].

If an Offeror proposes the use of Government property in its possession, the total evaluated price will be adjusted to include a rental equivalent factor for each item of such property calculated in accordance with FAR 52.245-9. This adjustment will apply for the use of Government property by the Offeror as well as any subcontractor thereto. The value of the proposed Government property will be evaluated for cost realism.

Unbalanced Pricing. The offeror's proposal will be evaluated for unbalanced pricing utilizing cost or price analysis techniques. The Government may determine that a proposal is unacceptable if the prices proposed are materially unbalanced. In accordance with FAR 15.404- 1 (g), a proposal may be rejected if the Contracting Officer determines that the lack of balance poses an unacceptable risk to the Government.

Price/Cost Inconsistencies. A proposal is presumed to represent an offeror's best effort to respond to the solicitation. Each initial proposal should contain the offeror's best terms for award of this contract. Any inconsistencies in performance or price should be explained in the proposal. Any significant inconsistencies, if unexplained, raise a fundamental issue of the offeror's understanding of the nature and scope of work required and its financial ability to perform the contract, and may be grounds for rejection of the proposal.