Material Adjustment Factors for Carbon Fiber Repair

Solicitation Number:
31310019R0036
Notice Type:
Special Notice

Synopsis:

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) intends to award a non-competitive, cost reimbursement contract to Engineering Mechanics Corporation of Columbus for participation in the program entitled, "Material Adjustment Factors for Carbon Fiber Repair". The acquisition is conducted under the authority of Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 6.302-1. The designated North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code is 541690-Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services. The anticipated period of performance is two and one-half years.

Background

The American Society of Mechanical Engineer's Boiler and Pressure Vessel (ASME) Code is currently developing an ASME Code Case to use carbon fiber to repair ASME Code Class II and III piping at US Nuclear Power Plants. The ASME Code is developing requirements for the use of carbon fiber for the first time for use by the ASME Code for nuclear plant application. The current version of the draft code case is over 80 pages long, detailing in significant technical detail the requirements for material specification, qualification, design, fabrication, installation, evaluation and testing. The NRC expects relief requests to implement a carbon fiber repair within the next year. Additionally, the NRC will review the proposed ASME Code Case on carbon fiber repair for inclusion into the US Code of Federal Regulations

Objective

The objective of this acquisition is to provide the following confirmatory information which has been identified as necessary to support the review of future related relief requests and/or ASME Code Case(s). Confirmatory testing is needed related to Material Adjustment Factors at Operating Temperature and under Operating Environmental Conditions. Data is needed to confirm proposed material adjustment factors for strength and modulus (tension, flexure, overlap shear, lap shear). Data will be evaluated to determine the trend over time for samples exposed to specified environmental conditions (water, salt solution, and/or alkali solution).

Tasks

The contractor shall perform the required series of evaluation tests on a carbon fiber repaired mockup pipe and evaluate the effectiveness of the repair by loading the pipe to failure, both in internal pressure and external load. All test samples shall be fabricated in accordance with the applicable materials and fabrication procedures which will be used to fabricate the repaired mockup pipe. All testing shall be performed in general accordance with draft ASME Code Case N-871, "Internal Repair of Buried Class 2 & 3 Piping Using Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer Composites."

This notice is not to be considered a request for quotations, or a request for proposals. Request for copies of this solicitation will not be honored unless the respondent provides evidence showing their capability to perform the required services. Detailed capability statements must be submitted to Jeffrey Mitchell, Contracting Officer via e-mail at Jeffrey.Mitchell@nrc.gov no later than July 10, 2019 (i.e. 30 calendar days from the date this announcement was posted).

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