SOW_Solicitaion_Draft.docx

STATEMENT OF WORK

Extensional Rheometer

I. BACKGROUND INFORMATION

The National Institute of Standards and Technology’s (NIST) Materials Science and Engineering Division (MSED) is starting a program to measure the viscoelastic properties of inks. This program is supported by the Bureau of Engraving (BEP). The primary goal of the program is to determine extensional viscoelastic properties of the inks that correlate with printing performance.

NIST requires a system that includes the hardware and software to perform extensional rheology on the inks, which have a typical shear viscosity of 5 Pa s. NIST requires an extensional rheometer which works by the principle of elasto-capillary self-thinning. This system will provide MSED with the capability to determine the extensional rheological properties of a series of printing inks that are provided by BEP so that we can correlate with other properties, such as shear viscosity, and with performance.

II. SCOPE OF WORK

An extensional rheometer shall be a fully integrated hardware and software platform. The principle of the measurement is the elasto-capillary self-thinning of a filament of fluid. The extensional rheometer must function by these principles as described by Anna and McKinley in Journal of Rheology 45, 115 (2001); https://doi.org/10.1122/1.1332389. In this implementation, the fluid filament is created by sandwiching the fluid between two plates, and then pulling the plates apart to a prescribed distance at a prescribed velocity. The diameter of the filament is measured as a function of time. The integrated software takes this information and calculates the extensional viscosity as a function of strain.

The Contractor shall provide warranty service for one year with an option for a purchase of a second year warranty service. Service and maintenance shall include unlimited visits performed during regular business hours between 8:30 am and 5:00 pm Eastern Time, Monday through Friday except Federal Holidays in addition to scheduled preventive maintenance visits. Covered expenses shall include all parts (excluding consumable items), labor, travel, and per diem.

III. SPECIFICATIONS

The Contractor shall provide one (1) Extensional Rheometer that meets the following minimum technical requirements:

System Requirements:

· Shall make measurements by the principle of elasto-capillary self-thinning.

· Shall include upper and lower plates, of specified diameters which sandwich the fluid. The upper plate is motor controlled so that it can move to increase the separation of the plates at a prescribed velocity to its final distance.

· Shall be capable of imposing Hencky strains up to 10

· Shall be capable of imposing strain rates from 0.01 – 300 (1/s)

· Shall be capable of measurement of fluids with shear viscosities in the range of 10-1000000 mPas.

· Shall require sample volumes less than 0.2 ml

· Shall include a laser based micrometer system to measure the diameter of the filament as a function of time with a resolution of 10 micron and a measurement time of 10 ms.

· Shall include interchangeable pairs of upper and lower plates of the following diameters: 4mm, 6, mm and 8mm.

· Shall be temperature controlled from 0-80 °C.

· Shall include a data acquisition module capable of real-time acquisition of normal force, sample thickness and plate displacement.

· Shall include a software module that extracts extensional viscosity as a function of time from the acquired data following the principles in Journal of Rheology 45, 115 (2001).

· Shall include the capability for calibration.

· Software and hardware must be compatible with a user supplied Windows 7 computer.

· Shall include the capability to measure the normal force on the lower plate

· Shall include all needed power supplies

· Shall include a refrigerated bath circulator which functions over the temperature range of -10 to 100 °C, with a heating capacity of 1200 W. It shall utilize 120V AC power.

· The system shall include one (1) operations and maintenance manual covering proper operation, routine maintenance, and troubleshooting for the instrument and controlling software. The manual may be supplied in hard copy or electronic format (or both).

Installation:

The Contractor shall install the instrument in Building 224, Room A220, at NIST Gaithersburg, MD. Installation shall include, at a minimum, uncrating/unpacking of all equipment, set-up and hook-up of all equipment, start-up, demonstration of specifications, and removal of all trash. Instrument shall operate to manufacturer’s specifications upon installation. Installation shall take place during normal business hours, between 8:30 am and 5:00 pm Eastern Time, Monday through Friday except Federal Holidays, and shall be coordinated with the NIST Technical Point of Contact (TPOC). Installation shall occur within 105 days of award.

Training The contractor shall conduct one (1) training session, for approximately one (1) hour in duration for up to five (5) users at NIST. The training shall provide at a minimum, the basic use of the hardware and software, the software analysis package for parameter extraction and a thorough demonstration of all system/solution functions, maintenance, data administration, and basic troubleshooting. The training shall be completed at NIST immediately after installation/set-up and on-site measurements demonstrating that no damage or misalignment issues arose during transportation and installation. Training days are Monday – Friday between the hours of 8:30am and 5:00pm EST. Training location is 100 Bureau Drive Building 224, Room A220 Gaithersburg, MD 20899.

Warranty:

The Contractor shall provide a one-year warranty for the equipment. The warranty shall cover all parts, labor and travel. The warranty shall commence upon successful completion of delivery, installation, training and demonstration of all required specifications. The Contractor shall provide an option for a second-year warranty.

IV. SPECIFIC TASKS

The Contractor shall provide all support for equipment, administration, and technical execution of this contract. The Contractor shall be responsible for maintaining accurate records of maintenance and repair activities. The Contractor shall perform the following tasks in support of the scope of service and maintenance work listed in Section II of this Statement of Work (SOW).

System Enhancements The Contractor shall install or, if NIST technical personnel can install the upgrades without compromising system performance, shall make available for installation, all software upgrades for the purposes of instrument optimization not later than 60 days after any such upgrade is released.

If contractor installation is necessary to ensure proper performance, prior to completion of the installation, the Contractor shall test the equipment, review the equipment’s performance, and take whatever steps are necessary to ensure the equipment is functioning in accordance with the manufacturers’ specifications.

Service Calls The Contractor shall respond to an unlimited number of requests for service calls in the event of instrument failure which requires immediate repair. The contractor shall provide travel, labor, and any factory-certified parts that require replacement.

The Contractor shall respond to service calls during regular business hours only - Monday through Friday, between 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time with the exception of Federal Holidays. A service technician will provide onsite service at NIST, Gaithersburg, within a maximum 72-hour response time after the call is placed. No weekend service visits shall be required.

The Contractor shall obtain all parts required for all repairs and maintenance. The Contractor shall make a reasonable effort to secure parts within 24 hours after identifying the need for a replacement part for the covered equipment. If the parts are not able to be secured within 24hrs, NIST shall be notified and provided the cause.

All repairs shall result in the instruments meeting manufacturer’s specifications.

Any parts or components removed for replacement shall become the property of the Contractor unless otherwise agreed to by the parties. The Contractor shall remove the parts from the NIST campus at the time of the service call, or provide shipping instructions and return shipping information so that NIST may return the parts to the Contractor within three (3) days after the service visit is completed. The Contractor shall assume all charges and liability for all shipments.

The Contractor shall submit a service ticket to NIST technical point of contact prior to departure from NIST on any given service call for maintenance or repairs. The service ticket shall include the following:

a. Date and time of arrival to NIST.

b. Description of service performed.

c. Name and quantity of any parts that were repaired.

d. Name and quantity of any parts that were replaced.

e. Date and time of departure from NIST.

f. Diagnostic test results or narrative summary demonstrating that the instrument and/or accessories are meeting the performance standards.

g. Any comments or recommendations.

h. Signature of Contractor’s service person

i. Signature block for NIST personnel accepting the services rendered.

Service Conditions All service provided under this agreement shall be provided by trained personnel who are fluent in the operation of the covered equipment.

Service shall be rendered on-site at the NIST, Gaithersburg, MD campus unless otherwise agreed by the parties.

If a part needs to be repaired off-site, the Contractor shall be responsible for all packaging, shipping and transportation costs as well as liability for the shipment to and from NIST Gaithersburg. The Contractor shall be responsible for providing a “Return Authorization Number” or other information authorizing return of the shipment to their facility prior to the shipment.

The Contractor shall only employ tools, instruments, software, test apparatus, methodologies, techniques, and practices approved for use with the instrument by the manufacturer. The service protocols and instrument specifications shall be adhered to always.

Telephone Support The Contractor shall provide telephone support for the covered equipment during regular NIST business hours.

Telephone support shall include response to questions about operating practices, application use, and service issues that can be diagnosed and resolved over the telephone.

V. DELIVERABLES

VI. PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENT SUMMARY

The Contractor shall demonstrate that the extensional rheometer system meets all of the specifications listed in paragraph III, above.

VII. GENERAL INFORMATION

Safety: The Contractor employee shall be responsible for knowing and complying with NIST installation safety prevention regulations (http://www-i.nist.gov/mml/safety/policies/index.htm.) Such regulations include, but are not limited to, general safety, fire prevention, and waste disposal.

Vehicle Registration: All Contractor employees must register their vehicles with the NIST Security Office to gain access to the campus. A valid driver’s license, Government-furnished civilian ID, proof of insurance and current registration must be presented to the NIST Security Office, at which time a NIST vehicle pass will be issued. The pass shall be displayed in accordance with instructions from the Security Office. The Contractor employee shall follow NIST procedures for removal and turn-in of the vehicle pass upon termination of services under this contract.