Sources Sought for a quantity of one (1) Spark Plasma Sintering System that includes tooling, delivery, installation and training.

Sources Sought Template:

(1) Action Code :     SOURCES SOUGHT

This is a Sources Sought Notice only. This is not a request for proposal, but a survey to locate potential sources.  This Sources Sought does not constitute an Invitation for Bids, Request for Proposals, or a Request for Quotations, and is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government to issue an order or otherwise pay for the information solicited, nor is it a guarantee of a forthcoming solicitation or contract. It is for market research purposes only. Respondents will not be notified of the results of the evaluation.

The purpose of this Sources Sought Notice is to gain knowledge of interest, capabilities, and qualifications of various members of industry, to include the Small Business Community: Small Business, Section 8(a), Historically Underutilized Business Zones (HUB-Zone), Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB), Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB), and Economically Disadvantaged Women-Owned Small Business (EDWOSB). The Government must ensure there is adequate competition among the potential pool of responsible contractors. Small business, Section 8(a), HUBZone, SDVOSB, WOSB, & EDWOSB businesses are highly encouraged to participate.

(2) Date:  10 July 2024

(3) Classification Code : 66         

(4) NAICS Code:  334516

(5) NAICS Size Standard: 1,000 employees

(6) Contracting Office Address:    2800 Powder Mill Road
Bldg. 601
Adelphi, Maryland 20783

(7) Subject:  Sources Sought for a quantity of one (1) Spark Plasma Sintering System that includes tooling, delivery, installation and training.

(8) Proposed Solicitation Number:  W911QX24Q0194

(9) Sources Sought Closing Response Date: 07/17/2024

(10) Contact Point: Contract Specialist, douglas.c.dennard.civ@army.mil

(11)

A. Objective:

To find sources that are qualified to meet the supplies/services as listed in section 11B. Note that the specific requirements in section C are subject to change prior to the release of any solicitation.

B. The Government requires a quantity of one (1) Spark Plasma Sintering System that includes tooling, delivery, installation and training that meets the following specifications.

• The contractor shall provide a sintering plasma system (SPS) with a minimum pressure of less than or equal to 0.3 Kilonewton (kN) allowing to press smaller diameter pellets and use a smaller amount of sample

• The contractor shall provide a SPS with a maximum pressure of at least 20 kN

• The contractor shall provide a SPS with a current of at least 1000 Amps.

• The contractor shall provide a SPS with a maximum temperature of at least 2000 Celsius (°C ) and ability to control temperature from 800-2000°C

• The contractor shall provide a SPS with a maximum pre-sintering process to heat powder in vacuum atmosphere and remove the adsorbed water through a degassing step.

• The contractor shall provide a SPS with a rapid cooling of greater than or equal to 50 °C / minute

• The contractor shall provide a SPS with a heating rate of at least 100 °C / minute

• The contractor shall provide a SPS with a power supply requirement maximum of 208 Volts Alternating Current (VAC)

• The contractor shall provide a system with a load of less than or equal to 150 pounds per square foot.

• The contractor shall provide a SPS that provides data acquisition of amperage, voltage, vacuum level and ram displacement.

• The contractor shall provide a SPS that includes installation and training to operate the system

• The contractor shall provide a SPS that includes a starter kit of graphite dies and rams.

• Delivery to DEVCOM Army Research Laboratory (ARL) 2800 Powder Mill Road Adelphi, MD 20783 no later than 8 months After Receipt of Order (ARO).  All shipping and installation costs to be included within quotation.

C. Responses:

All interested parties should notify this office in writing, mail, fax, or e-mail within the posted date.  Responses shall include:

1. To what extent each of the specifications can be met.

1.  Include your type of business (i.e. commercial, academia), whether your organization is classified as a large or small business based on the 1,000 employees standard that accompanies NAICS code 334516. If a small business, you must also list any small disadvantaged status you hold [HUBZone, 8(a), Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business (SDVOSB), Women Owned Small Business (WOSB), Economically Disadvantaged Women-Owned Small Business (EDWOSB), etc.].

1. Past experience/ performance through the description of completed projects.

(12) Responses to this sources sought are due no later than 11:59 AM eastern standard time 17 July 2024. Submissions should be emailed to Douglas Dennard, Contract Specialist, douglas.c.dennard.civ@army.mil or Acquisition Specialist, Alex Gilliam, alex.p.gilliam.ctr@army.mil.

Questions concerning this sources sought may be directed to Douglas Dennard, Contract Specialist, douglas.c.dennard.civ@army.mil or Acquisition Specialist, Alex Gilliam, alex.p.gilliam.ctr@army.mil.  Please be advised that .zip and .exe files cannot be accepted. 

(13) Place of Contract Performance:

Army Research Laboratory (ARL)

DEVCOM

2800 Powder Mill Road

Adelphi, MD 20783

(14) Estimated Delivery Timeframe or Period of Performance:

6-8 months After Receipt of Order (ARO).