SOW.pdf

STATEMENT OF WORK

TITLE: Critical evaluation of the next-generation materials with improved resilience for infrastructure applications.

I. BACKGROUND INFORMATION

The Infrastructure Materials Group (IMG) in the Materials and Structural Systems Division (MSSD) of the Engineering Laboratory at National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) studies the durability and service life of infrastructure materials (polymer, cement, concrete, engineered composites) for resilience infrastructure applications. A new generation of materials is being developed by industry and the research community to improve performance. Moreover, these materials are often complex mixtures and/or multi-layers systems which makes characterization more difficult. Consequently, a key research focus is to understand mechanical and rheological/viscoelastic properties of materials over a range of mechanical deformations (bending, tension, shear, compression, creep behavior) in different controlled environmental settings (temperature ramp/cycling, & frequency sweep, immersion in liquids, creep under loads, physical ageing, UV exposure).

Conventional test methods are often inadequate to fully characterize such complex systems, so IMG/MSSD requires support to adapt existing test methods or develop new approaches to evaluate these innovative material systems. This supports ongoing projects including (1) Pyrrhotite and 3D-Printing of Cementitious Materials in the “Engineered Materials for Resilient Infrastructure” program, (2) Fiber Reinforced Polymer (FRP) composite assemblies in “Earthquake Risk Reduction in Buildings and Infrastructure” program, and

(3) photovoltaic (PV) materials in the “Net Zero Energy Research” program.

II. SCOPE OF WORK

a. Objectives

The objective of this task order is to utilize experience and expertise to assist and identify relevant performance-based mechanical test methods and durability assessment tools to aid the ongoing research in IMG projects for various infrastructure materials (polymer, cement, concrete and composites).

b. General

The Contractor shall provide all support for project oversight, administration and technical execution of this task order.

c. Specific Tasks Required of the Contractor

This task order requires that the Contractor to complete ALL tasks related to provide advice and assistance for the measurement of mechanical properties before and after environmental exposure of various infrastructure materials studied in the Group’s durability Programs.

Task 1: Viscoelastic test methods for evaluating encapsulant materials used in Photovoltaic (PV) systems. A previous contract provided test methods for evaluating the back sheet materials used in PV systems. This current task will focus on encapsulant polymers such as polyolefins (PO) and ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA).

The properties and requirements for encapsulants are very different than those for the back sheet materials studied previously. Consequently, different evaluation methods and test conditions are needed. The mechanical properties of encapsulant are critical to the performance and durability of PV systems, and these properties depend on test time and temperature as well as the type of loading. Moreover, these materials can have a non-linear response so sophisticated test methods and data analysis tools are required. In addition, encapsulants must bond to other components of the PV system to be effective so adhesion is very important and needs to be evaluated both before and after exposure. This task will provide recommendations for test methods and protocols for evaluating both the properties and adhesive behavior of typical polymers used as encapsulants. In addition, assistance will be provided for the interpretation of the results in terms of the consequences for performance and durability is needed.

Task 1.1 The Contractor shall examine the Group’s capabilities for linear and non-linear viscoelastic testing of encapsulant polymers and conduct tests to validate the potential. Recommendations shall then be made with regard to the best test type and test method for characterizing the most common encapsulant polymers.

Task 1.2 The Contractor shall extend the study in Task 1.1 to consider adhesive behavior of the encapsulant polymers to other most common PV materials that the encapsulant must bond to. The type of loading that the encapsulant will see in PV applications will be considered in selecting the most appropriate test. Based on this, recommendations will be made

Task 2: Rheological characterization of pastes used in 3D printing of concrete materials. focused on characterization of new concrete formulations used for structures fabricated by conventional methods. A new project in the IMG Group is investigating fabrication of concrete structures by 3D printing. To facilitate printing, the starting material is a paste which must have significantly different properties than the materials used in conventional fabrication so new test methods and procedures are required. In this manufacturing method, the paste must have sufficient flow for the printing process but enough initial stiffness, so the structure retains its shape. The paste must then harden at a reasonable rate to form the final product. Consequently, evaluation of viscoelastic properties of the paste and how the properties change with time is critical. The pastes have non-linear properties, are usually thick, and contain particles which make standard rheological methods difficult. Consequently, new or modified methods are needed. Moreover, these methods need to be able to follow the properties as the pastes harden with time. The objective in this Task to explore possible methods and after conducting some preliminary experiments, make recommendations regarding the best method or methods.

Task 2.1 The Contractor shall utilize expertise in rheological measurements to determine what tests could be used or adapted to characters the paste systems used in the IMG program. The Contractor shall conduct preliminary experiments to assess and verify the potential. Based on the results the Contractor shall make recommendations.

Task 3: Training. The Group has two very sophisticated instruments for characterizing the rheology of materials. The instruments can conduct a variety of different tests over a wide range of temperatures and time scales (or frequencies). Although these instruments are very versatile and have great capabilities, this also makes them complicated to set up and run. Moreover, they can easily be damaged if run incorrectly. During the period covered by this contract, it is expected that a number of new researchers, guest workers or permanent staff, will need to use this instrumentation so detailed training is needed. This Task will provide this training.

Task 3.1 The Contractor shall conduct at least one training session with follow-up instruction for new NIST employees, guest scientists, and current employees who will be using the instruments. Training materials developed in previous contracts will be updated as needed.

Task 4: Monthly Progress Report

The Contractor shall provide a Monthly Progress Report that documents the following for the previous month: activities accomplished, deliverables completed, outstanding deliverables, any delays, reasons for delays, and recommendations that were brought to the attention of the NIST Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR).

III. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE

The period of performance for this requirement shall be 09/01/2024 to 2/28/2025.

IV. PLACE OF PERFORMANCE

The primary place of performance is the NIST campus in Gaithersburg, MD. The Contractor will have access to the laboratories where the 7 mechanical test devices and the NIST SPHERE are located. Any offsite work shall be coordinated with the COR prior to execution and incur no additional cost to the government.

V. Risk Level

The work is Low Risk.

VI. Contract Type

Firm Fixed Price

VII. GOVERNMENT FURNISHED PROPERTY

Upon the award of this requirement, NIST will provide the Contractor with an office, equipment, telephone, email, and internet access and NIST library access. The Contractor will have all scientific data of the Materials and Structural Systems Division that may be necessary for the completion of the requirement. All property, data, and information provided by the Government in the performance of this remains the property of the Government and shall be surrendered to the Government upon completion or termination of this requirement. Likewise, all deliverables generated under this requirement remain the property of the Government.

VIII. DELIVERABLES

The Contractor shall provide the deliverables included in the deliverables table below by the dates specified Completion Date

Deliverable Description Quantity/Media Completion Date

Task 1.1 Test method recommendations for characterizing encapsulant materials used in PV systems included in Monthly Progress Report.

Electronic file (MS Word) by email

Month 2 of contract

Task 1.2 Test method recommendations for adhesion tests encapsulant materials used in PV systems included in Monthly Progress Report.

Electronic file by email

Month 6 of contract

Task 2.1 Test method recommendations for characterizing pastes used on 3D printing of concrete included in Monthly Progress Report.

Electronic file by email

Month 4 of contract

Task 3.1 Training session completed and reported in Monthly Progress Report.

Training Session and Electronic file by email

Month 5 of contract

Task 4. Monthly Progress Report or Final Report at completion of contract

Electronic file by email

No later than the 10th day of each full month after the award

IX. PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENT SUMMARY

Required Service Desired Output Performance Standard

Monitoring Method

Expert consultation, advice, and assistance for the implementation of mechanical property test methods as a tool to characterize material and monitor aging of PV materials, concrete samples, and hybrid concrete materials. This includes training of Group staff and summer students on proper use of equipment.

Summary report will provide the basis for selection of test method, conduct of the tests, and analysis/interpretation of the results for mechanical measurements on fresh and aged samples of materials used in infrastructure and clean energy systems.

The reports will address each of the subtask goals, and this shall enable the selection of appropriate test methods, the acquisition of the required data, and the analysis of results that are required to understand behavior and form the basis for service life prediction models

Documentation will be reviewed by COR to ensure compliance with performance standards.

Standards for Acceptance of Deliverables

The COR will provide comments on each deliverable within 14 calendar days from receipt of a given deliverable. The Contractor shall make any needed changes to the reports within 14 calendar days from receipt of electronic or written comments from the COR. The COR will provide written notification when a deliverable is accepted.

X. TRAVEL

No travel is required.

XI. CONTRACTOR’S MINMUM QUALIFICATIONS

The Contractor’s key personnel shall have an education at the Ph.D. level, and at least 10 years’ experience in developing, implementing, and interpreting mechanical tests on polymers, polymer composites, and cementitious materials (a plus). This expertise includes rheology, non-linear viscoelasticity, and failure behavior (fracture mechanics). Expertise in durability and service life characterization for the materials used in infrastructure and clean energy systems is also required. Finally, the Contractor must have a strong background in building materials science and research. The experience and expertise shall be demonstrated by at least 10 years of activity in these areas and a strong record of publication in technical reports and peer-reviewed papers.