SOW FOR RFQ.pdf

Request for Quotation Number 1333ND20QNB640272

Statement of Work

BACKGROUND

Spark Plasma Sintering (SPS), also known as Direct Current Sintering (DCS) or the Field

Assisted Sintering Technique (FAST), is a sintering process in which a current (pulsed or

DC) directly passes through the graphite die, as well as the powder compact, resulting in

Joule heating. Near theoretical densities are achieved at temperatures which are hundreds of degrees lower than those required by conventional sintering techniques.

The high heating and cooling rates (up to 1000 K/min) lead to very fast (minutes) densification of a compact; therefore, SPS is highly effective in providing such dense samples for a variety of materials (oxides, semiconductors, functionally-graded materials, intermetallic compounds, ceramics, metal matrix composites and nanocrystalline materials, which are difficult to sinter by conventional methods) while ensuring minimum alteration of crystallite sizes and phase purity. Near theoretical density with crystallite size control is necessary to accurately measure a variety of physical and transport properties.

SPS will enable the National Institute for Standards and Technology (NIST) to fabricate high-density (> 95%) bulk compacts from powders for a wide range of complex materials as required for accurate transport property measurements, the preparation of targets of compositionally complex and commercially unavailable compounds for use in NIST’s combinatorial pulsed laser deposition system (to grow new and mission critical composition spread film samples), and the development of measurement science for understanding the fundamentals of the SPS technology for manufacturing of electro-ceramics.

This SPS system will significantly enhance NIST’s materials-processing infrastructure for preparing artifacts suitable for material-representative property measurements. It will also enhance NIST’s ability to deliver Reference Materials (RMs), Standard Reference

Materials (SRMs), and renewal SRMs at a lower cost and at a faster pace.

SPARK PLASMA SINTERING FURNACE SPECIFICATIONS

• To fit within the laboratory space, the maximum total instrument footprint shall be less or equal to 65 cm (25.6”) deep x 225 cm (88.6”) long (not including water chiller). The maximum total footprint of the water chiller shall be less than or equal to 98 cm (40.5”) x 108 cm (42.5”). Smaller footprint dimensions are preferred.

• To clear the laboratory ceiling, the instrument height shall not exceed 225 cm (88.6”).

• The total weight of the equipment (not including the water chiller) shall be less than or equal to 3600 lbs. The total weight of the water chiller shall be less than or equal to

900 lbs.

• The pressing force shall be ≥10 ton (≥100 kN).

• Position resolution for pressing rams shall be between and including 0.001 mm and 0.05 mm.

• The ram stroke shall be greater than or equal to 75 mm. Ram stroke in excess of 75 mm is preferred.

• The power supply for rapid heating and sintering shall be capable of both pulsed DC and continuous DC power output, with an electrical current output between 0 A and ≥ 4,000 A in both operating modes. Current output in excess of 4,000 A is preferred.

• The power supply shall produce square waveforms at electrical currents between 0 A and

≥ 4,000 A with programmable on/off times between and including 0 ms and 100ms.

• The maximum operating temperature shall be ≥ 2400 °C.

• The unit shall produce dense material compacts of between ≤ 0.5” to ≥ 2” in diameter.

• The sample chamber shall operate in vacuum, ≤ 10-3 Torr, ≤ 0.13 Pa, and inert gas atmosphere. Fittings and piping must be installed to backfill chamber with inert gas, such as helium, nitrogen, or argon.

• The Contractor shall provide accurate, less than or equal to 1% measurement accuracy, (0.01 x T, where T is the measured temperature), temperature measurement instrumentation, to include a combination of a thermocouple and an optical pyrometer that fully cover the operation temperature range 20 °C ≤ T ≤ 2400 °C, where T is the measured temperature.

• The optical pyrometer shall include an electronic movement and tracking system that allows the user to position and monitor the placement of the pyrometer measurement location.

• The Contractor shall provide a built-in visual computer interface for automated operation and sample monitoring during compaction; a touchscreen interface is required.

• The Contractor shall provide the capability and/or tooling to properly align the pressing rams for accurate operation and for safety.

• The system shall include a vacuum system to pump the chamber to a vacuum level of ≤ 10-3

Torr (≤ 0.13 Pa).

• The layout of the system shall have the vacuum placed to the side (when viewing the front) of the furnace chamber to enable the entire unit to be pushed back closer to a wall.

• The system shall include a backup city water kit (automatically enabled when the water chiller is not providing recirculated chilled water). The backup city water kit shall allow a flow rate of 10 gpm (38 lpm) with maximum inlet pressure of 45 psi.

• The chamber shall include internal illumination. LED based lighting is preferred.

• The Contractor shall include a refrigerated recirculated water-cooling system. The system shall be air-cooled and must maintain chilled water flow to the system and remove heat from the furnace components, providing a safe cooling water temperature for up to and including several hours of continuous powder compaction operation.

• The Contractor shall provide all necessary in-furnace sintering accessories and consumables for immediate use, to include, at a minimum, but not limited to: ram spacers;

sintering spacers; graphite foils, sheets, and felts as applicable; and multiple sets of die and punches, with a minimum quantity of 5 full sets (diameters to be decided at time of purchase by NIST Technical Point of Contact (TPOC).

• The Contractor shall leak test the furnace system prior to delivery, using a helium mass-spectrometer (≤ 1.0 x 10-8 atm. std. cc/second helium sensitivity). Test results shall be sent to the TPOC upon request.

DELAYED MANUFACTURING/DELAYED DELIVERY

NIST will be responsible for renovating the laboratory space relevant to power and water utilities, ventilation, and hooking up the primary SPS components based on instructions provided by the contractor. NIST is working with its internal colleagues to schedule the laboratory renovations, however, knows that renovations will not be completed until at least after award.

The Contractor shall delay manufacturing for a period of time that may be as short as one month from the date of award up to four months from the date of award. The TPOC will communicate with the Contractor regarding the status of the laboratory set-up and provide written notification to the Contractor when manufacturing should commence.

If the Contractor chooses to manufacture the equipment upon award, the Contractor shall be responsible for storing the equipment, at their sole expense, until such time that

NIST can accept delivery of the equipment.

Delivery, installation and training shall be completed not later than 180 days from the date the Government provides written notification to the Contractor that manufacturing can commence.

SET-UP & HOOK-UP OF EQUIPMENT

• The Contractor shall deliver the equipment to NIST’s dock. NIST is responsible for removing the equipment from truck and transporting to the laboratory space.

• The Contractor shall provide personnel that are fluent in the operation and function of the delivered equipment, to visit the NIST site, review all component hookups and power and water utility connections, set-up and hook up all equipment, perform field acceptance testing, troubleshoot any problems or issues, demonstrate all required specifications, demonstrate first time instrumentation operation, and perform ram alignment to ensure ram ends are parallel to each other.

TRAINING

The Contractor shall schedule and facilitate training for NIST personnel, on-site at NIST

Gaithersburg. The training shall provide a thorough demonstration of all equipment functions, equipment operation and basic troubleshooting. The training may be completed on-site at NIST immediately after set-up and hook up of equipment, Monday thru Friday 9am to 5pm except Federal Holidays.

Set-up and hook up of equipment and training shall be completed not later than 30 days after delivery.

WARRANTY

The Contractor shall provide at a minimum, a two-year warranty. All parts, labor and travel shall be included. Consumables shall not be included in the warranty. The

Contractor shall pay all shipping charges and assume all liability for the shipment of parts. The warranty shall commence upon successful completion of all required work and successful demonstration of all required specifications.

COMPLIANCE WITH NIST RULES AND REGULATIONS

While on the NIST campus, the Contractor’s representative(s) shall abide by all NIST rules and regulations. The Contractor shall provide all information necessary for the

TPOC to authorize entrance to the NIST campus in accordance with NIST Security Policy and

Procedures.