Addendum 1 To RFP A22-0840.pdf

Ames Laboratory RFP SC-22-0840 ADDENDUM NUMBER 1

ADDENDUM NUMBER 1

ADDENDUM DATE: 2/18/2022

PROJECT: RFP# A22-0840

PROPOSAL DUE DATE: 3/2/2022 at 5:00 PM

ADDENDUM ISSUED DATE: 2/18/2022

The information contained in this Addendum modifies, supplements, or replaces information contained in the Bidding Documents dated 1/31/2022 and is hereby made a part of the Contract Documents.

Acknowledge receipt of this Addendum in the proposal submitted.

Addendum consists of 3 pages.

ADDENDUM INDEX

GENERAL ITEMS 12 Questions and Answers ATTACHMENTS: None

GENERAL ITEMS:

Questions submitted and Answers Provided:

Question: Point 10: “award criteria”, as you indicate LPTA as selection criteria: Does this furnace needs to have a rapid cooling kit for gas quenching (fan + motor + heat exchanger) or a separate water cooling kit (water tank + chiller + cooling pumps)?

Answer: This is not required but can be included as an option in quote.

Question: The specification indicates that the furnace will be used for sintering air sensitive metal and magnet material samples. Can you please tell me if there will be a binder that will be outgassed during the process?

- If there is binder, can you please tell me what the binder agent is, approximately how much will be burned off, and its vaporization temperature and pressure?

Answer: No binder will be used or vaporized.

Question: Can you please tell me if you have required heat up and cool down rates?

- If yes, can you please provide the rate and starting and ending temperatures for the heat up portion of the cycle as well as for the cool down portion of the cycle?

- It would be great if you could send us your desired time and temperature profile for the sintering process.

Answer: We are not requiring any rates but would like the rates specified in proposal. A typical sintering schedule might be 1100-1300 C for 1-6 hours.

Question: The specification indicates that the furnace must achieve P < 1 x 10-5 torr. It also asks whether the chamber can be operated at temperature with Ar, N, or Ar+H2 gas. Can you please tell me what temperatures you would like to operate the furnace with Ar, N, or Ar+H2 gas and at what pressure(s)?

- That said would those gases (Ar, N, or Ar+H2 gas) be used to aid during the cooling portion of a cycle and/or is it beneficial to the sintering process to use those gases while maintaining an elevated temperature?

Answer: We do not have requirement for the temperatures and pressures for Ar, N, or Ar+H2 gas. Please specify temperatures and pressures these can be run at.

Question: In Appendix B, 1.4: Thermocouple for measurement of sample. Only in special cases can a thermocouple be placed to actually contact a part for temperature measurement. Since we don’t know how many parts, size, etc… can we assume that the thermocouple will be used to confirm a temperature adjacent to the parts/s, & not actually the part itself?

Answer: Any thermocouple should have the ability to measure temperature in close proximity to the sample.

Question: 3.7 Specify if chamber can be operated at temperature with Ar, N, or Ar+H2 gas.

What is the H2? Concentration in Ar? What is the expected working pressure with Ar/H2?

Answer: H2 concentration would be less than 10%. The expected working pressure is atmospheric pressure.

Question: 3.8 Specify maximum overpressure: Generally, 1,250 mbar. Do you require more?

Answer: We do not have a specification here.

Question: How do you envision the parts being ‘set’ in the furnace? One part at a time? Multiple parts?

Answer: We do not have a specification here. Multiple samples is a possibility.

Question: What is the maximum weight of the largest load (single, or multiple parts) that the furnace would see at any time?

Answer: Maximum weight of individual parts could be 2 kg. Multiple components would be 8 kg

Question: 4.1 Utility Requirements (ie… UL): We are CE compliant. If UL is required, can you define to what extent?

Answer: We do not have a requirement here but want what companies to specify relevant certifications.

Question: On Appendix B, Section 3.7. “Specify if chamber can be operated at temperature with Ar, N, or Ar+H2 gas”. Please specify the min and max percentage of Hydrogen in the Ar+H2 gas.

Answer: Max 10% H2.

Question: Please specify preference for refractory metal hot zone or graphite hot zone.

Answer: No preference.

ATTACHMENTS:

None

Issued 2/18/2022

ATTACHMENTS: