Statement of Need.pdf

Statement of Need / Required Specifications

Dynamic Mechanical Analyzer System with Forced Convection Oven Camera Viewer and Dielectric Analysis Accessory Kit

Background The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Engineering Laboratory (EL) Materials and Structural Systems Division (MSSD) studies the durability and service life of infrastructure materials (polymer, concrete, engineered composites) for resilience infrastructure applications. One of the key research focuses is to understand mechanical and rheological/viscoelastic properties of materials of various compositions, multi-components, multi-layers systems under a range of mechanical deformations (bending, tension, shear and compression) in different controlled environmental settings (temperature ramp/cycling,& frequency sweep, immersion in liquids).

The MSSD currently owns and operates an RSA-3 DMA that has been heavily used in many projects (polymeric composites & coatings, FRP composites, PV backsheet, roofing & pipe materials, electrical cable) and has exceed its effective service life.

MSSD now requires a compatible replacement DMA to accomplish milestones related to several ongoing project areas. A RSA-G2 DMA system replacement is needed to provide new, state-of-the-art mechanical measurement capabilities to NIST that are compatible with the research already begun using the proprietary RSA-3 DMA.

The MSSD will benefit from the use of this DMA system for various infrastructure materials (polymer, cement, concrete and composites) in the “Engineered Materials for Resilient Infrastructure” program for FRP composite assemblies in “Earthquake Risk Reduction in Buildings and Infrastructure” program, and for photovoltaic (PV) materials in the “Net Zero Energy Research” program.

Purpose The purpose of this acquisition is to procure a new RSA-G2 Dynamic Mechanical Analyzer (DMA) System with forced convection oven camera viewer and dielectric analysis accessory kit. The new DMA System will replace the aging RSA-3 DMA System currently in use. NIST will trade-in the existing DMA System via this procurement.

The new dynamic mechanical analyzer system shall be equipped with a high-performance drive motor and unique transducer technology and shall ensure MSSD will obtain precise DMA measurements, and accurate mechanical data through independent control of deformation and measurement of stress in various specimen geometries. The subject requirement shall also provide MSSD with the ability to characterize the complex mechanical and viscoelastic behavior of a wide variety of infrastructure materials systems under a range of mechanical deformations (bending, tension, shear and compression) in different controlled environmental settings (temperature ramp/cycling,& frequency sweep, immersion in liquids).

Description of Required Products The contractor shall provide a new RSA-G2 dynamic mechanical analyzer system which meets or exceeds the following minimum technical requirements and specifications:

The new DMA system must have high-speed electronics and data processing capability, the instrument must have the capabilities to apply a variety of deformation types over a wide range of temperatures and time-scales as detailed in the Functionality Requirements. The test methods and protocol must be compatible to the existing RSA- 3, so compatibility to previous results can be achieved. This shall allow the IMG group to characterize the complex mechanical and viscoelastic behavior of a wide variety of infrastructure materials in a controlled environmental setting

Main Primary Feature/functionality Requirements:

1. Must utilize the separate actuator and transducer to independently apply the deformation and measure the force, thus eliminating inertia effects from the actuator and provides superior amplitude and phase angle measurements.

Hardware component requirements:

- Actuator: must be a direct drive, DC servo-motor that applies strain, strain rate and stress.

• Oscillation amplitude range: 50nm to 1.5mm with 1nm resolution

• Frequency range: 1e-5 to 100Hz with 99.9% accuracy

- Transducer: must be force rebalance mechanism (non-compliant) to minimize the deformation of the transducer itself. Force range: 0.05 to 3500 grams (0.0005 to 35N) with 0.001-gram resolution.

- Stepper motor: A highly precise encoder must be used to measure the gap travel independently of the gap control mechanism.

• Linear velocity range: 0.0001 to 30 mm/sec with the minimum step of 10nm.

• Travel distance: > 150mm

2. Must include Dielectric analyzer accessory to provide a stand-alone Dielectric analyzer measurement, or simultaneous to mechanical measurement; and be able calculate these material parameters providing information about a material’s structure-property relationships and its performance characteristics.

3. Must include an immersion tool which is capable of performing immersion measurements in tensile, compression and bending scenarios with a wide range of temperature control (up to 175°C)

4. Must utilize a forced air convection oven with programmable heating / cooling rate must reach 60°C/min. A view window with built-in light must be standard with the oven to view the sample, and a camera must be available to monitor in real-time and capture sample images during the measurement. The image of the sample can be saved with the data for later replay and used for data validation.

- Temperature Control System required specification:

• Temperature range: -150 to 600°C with 0.1°C stability

• Temperature must be extendable to -150°C using liquid nitrogen or -100°C with a mechanical air chiller

5. Must have the capability to perform not only constant force / stress / strain, constant linear speed but also Hencky strain rate measurements. Constant force / stress / strain with temperature ramp must be available.

The following test modes and their combinations must be available and meet Axial force control (auto-tension) requirements:

• Oscillation: Frequency sweep, temperature sweep, time sweep, amplitude sweep, temperature ramp, multiwave (Time, temperature ramp and step), fast data sampling, cycle sweep

• Step (transient): creep recovery (constant stress), stress relaxation (step strain), Sine strain

• Others: constant force / stress, constant rate, Hencky strain rate, arbitrary wave, temperature ramp iso-force/stress, temperature ramp iso-strain

• Constant force/ Force tracking (keep the same ratio of static force over dynamic force)

• Programmed extension when modulus is below the setting value (using instrument measured thermal expansion coefficient or user supplied coefficient to continue axial direction movement)

• Precisely move the stage to compensate the thermal expansion for both geometry and sample.

6. The waveform & Lissajous of each data point must be displayed in real time and saved with each data point for data validation.

7. Must have a high-speed data acquisition capability up to 15000Hz (recording waveform @ 15000pts/sec which is used for correlation) in oscillation measurements and 8000Hz (8000 points/sec) in other measurements to provide enough data points for Large Amplitude Oscillation and Fourier Transform Rheology.

8. Must have the capability to conduct multiple frequency waves up to 15 frequencies (multiwave with user-defined amplitude and phase offset) and arbitrary wave (user-defined equations such as triangular, square and pulse shapes).

9. Higher harmonic analysis up to the 9th amplitude and phase must come standard with the operation software. A Fourier transformation Rheology software package must be included to further analyze non-linear Rheology data.

10. User must have the ability to regularly calibrate the force and phase angle.

Software requirements

Software specifications: The Instrument Operation and Analysis software must conform to the industry standard Microsoft Windows operating system. Software must be capable of multitasking and operating multiple instruments from a single workstation. Software must comply with the following:

• The PC must communicate via internet protocol with the Test instrument electronics.

• All raw data or instrument parameters must be accessible at any time.

• Software must also feature true 'cut-and-paste' functionality with common

Windows applications such as MSWord, MSExcel and PowerPoint. In addition, data export into MSExcel/ASCII and XML format must be a standard feature of the software.

• Data analysis options must include the following curve modeling or analysis /transformation functions:

Mathematical model: straight line, onset point, modulus crossover, first and second derivative, integration, Polynomial, exponential, sine/cosine, Fourier series, user defined.

Stress relaxation: Discrete and continuous relaxation spectrum Time-Temperature Superposition, with automatic horizontal and vertical shift.

Automatically generates master curves. After fitting with WLF or Arrhenius, curves can be generated for any temperature within the range tested. Shift parameters in the scalar database other than temperature can be chosen.

Shifting direction (horizontal, diagonal) can be set for the selected curves.

Time/Temp Superposition capability must be built into the software package and not a third-party program.

Warranty Requirements The Contractor shall provide, at a minimum, 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, and training.

Trade-In Equipment The Government has the following equipment available for trade-in credit:

1. RSA III Dynamic Mechanical Analyzer system

NIST will work with the Contractor to arrange the return of the traded-in equipment at the time of installation of the new RSA-G2 Dynamic Mechanical Analyzer System.

Delivery Requirements

Delivery shall be made F.O.B. Destination within 120 days after Contractor receipt of order to the National Institute of Standards and Technology at the address identified below.

National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) 100 Bureau Drive Building 301 Shipping & Receiving Gaithersburg, MD 20899-0001

FOB Destination means: The contractor shall pack and mark the shipment in conformance with carrier requirements, deliver the shipment in good order and condition to the point of delivery specified in the purchase order, be responsible for any loss of and/or damage to the goods occurring before receipt and acceptance of the shipment by the consignee at the delivery point specified in the purchase order; and pay all charges to the specified point of delivery.

Note: The NIST Gaithersburg, MD campus is a controlled-access facility and is also under limited access restrictions due to COVID-19. Deliveries are only accepted when arranged in advance. The Contractor shall request approval of delivery time with the NIST Technical Point of Contact (TPOC) in advance of shipment.

Contractor failure to confirm delivery method and procedures and to receive TPOC approval prior to shipment shall release the Government of any liability and may result in payment being withheld until the campus access restrictions have been lifted and the item can be received and physically inspected.

Other Considerations A trade-in of the current, Government-owned, RSA-3 that has been in use at NIST is applicable to this requirement. The RSA-3 is manufactured and previously purchased by TA Instruments.

Installation Requirements The Contractor shall provide installation for the DMA system to be scheduled on a mutually agreed upon time with the TPOC within 14 days after receipt and acceptance of delivery.

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.

Contractor access to the NIST campus shall be scheduled in advance with the COR and shall adhere to the COVID-19 mitigation guidelines that will be provided prior to accessing the NIST campus. Contractor staff will be escorted by NIST staff during installation.

Training Requirements The Contractor shall schedule and facilitate on-site training at NIST for one Government employee (following all NIST COVID-19 -prevention protocols). In addition, virtual training shall be provided to other Government staff at NIST via an online webcam. The training shall provide a thorough demonstration of all equipment functions, equipment operation, and basic troubleshooting. The on-site training may be completed at NIST immediately after installation, to be scheduled in accordance with the TPOC.

Inspection & Acceptance

NIST will inspect delivered products within ten (10) business days after delivery, installation, and training to ensure that they conform to the requirements identified in this Statement of Need. If all requirements are met and the equipment is operational, the product shall be accepted.

The Contractor has the right, at its expense, to be present during the inspection. The place of inspection and acceptance shall be: NIST, 100 Bureau Drive, Gaithersburg, MD 20899.

NIST Campus Security & Public Health Contractor personnel shall follow NIST Visitor and Contractor Protocols for Mitigating COVID-19 Exposure on NIST Campuses as identified at this link:

https://www.nist.gov/about-nist/visit/nist-visitor-and-contractor-protocols-mitigating-covid-19-exposure-nist-campuses

NIST is a restricted campus. The contractor shall provide the name and citizenship information of the delivery, installation, and training technician(s) to the NIST TPOC five business days prior to arrival at the NIST Gaithersburg campus. The TPOC will submit the name and citizenship information to the NIST Office of Security in order for the Contractor to enter the NIST Gaithersburg campus to perform delivery, installation, and training.

The Contractor is also responsible for providing appropriate identification at the NIST Security Office to obtain access to campus. Delivery trucks must arrive via Gate C. To access the campus separately from deliveries by car, the Contractor must register their vehicle(s) with the NIST Security Office upon arrival. A valid driver’s license or Government-furnished civilian ID, as well as proof of insurance and current vehicle registration must be presented to the NIST Security Office, at which time a NIST vehicle pass will be issued. The pass shall be displayed on the vehicle in accordance with NIST Security Office instructions. Valid identification, such as a driver’s license or passport, is required for access, for entry into buildings, and is shown to the armed Security Police when entering the NIST Gaithersburg campus.