Ultra Sonic Scanner

1)"How deep, along the Y or X, do the manipulators need to extend to reach all points on their worst curved part". Imagine attempting to TT half a sphere standing on end. This would require the manipulator to be at least as long as the radius of the sphere.

Answer: Some parts may have a 24" Radius or internal cavity which required TTU. That would require the manipulator to extend 24" past the center line of the center of the inspection envelope. This might be considered the worst case.

1. What is the current throughput required? .25" water column at 60" per second. Is this speed correct? 60 inches per second at what grid? Is this 60 inches per second performing full A-scan acquisition?

Answer: The water column from two sided TTU is .25" but the speed should not exceed 30" per second.
Indexing increment should be varialble in .005" steps up to what the Phased array step should be. As proposed by the bidder. Also 30" per second while performing pulse Echo.

2. Can you provide original drawings of the foundation? Will provide in Solicitation. Drawings of the foundation have not been provided.

Answer: The attachment "Scanner Floor Layout" is a drawing of the current foundation. We would like to retain the current foundation.

3. Who will remove the old machine? Government. The Steel structure can be reused if the contractor want feels it will save money. Please provide pictures of the bridge and turret.

Answer: In the attachment "Automated Ultrasonic Meeting Minutes and Answer" 26. Who will remove the old machine? Government. The Steel structure can be reused if the contractor wants or feels it will save money. If more pictures become available they will be posted in the future.

4. What are your standards for testing? Standards should be supplied prior to FAT.

Answer: The standards for testing will be proposed by the vender to meet proposed Quality test and evaluation plan by the vender. Multiple defects in solid laminates (down to best possible) as well as possible skin to honeycomb bond conditions. All to be proposed and provided by the vender and approved by the Government as stated in Par.7 a,b,c of purchase specification.

1. Does the 130dB "useful amplification" refer to the total receiver gain and pulser gain?

2. Or does the 130dB refer to the full dynamic range on a single A-scan (max signal divided by noise floor)?

Answer to both: As stated, the total useful transmitted signal shall be capable of transmitting 130 db which shall be accomplished with increased pulser power. 600 v. minimum, for TTU. Only to be used in cases of highly attenuative parts. This can be measured by pulse received from TTU. Normally not obtainable with a 500 v pulser.

Questions e-mailed to the Air Force:

1. Are Canadian nationals allowed to go on site for installation and training?

Answer: Due to the classification of work performed in this facility we have been told, only U.S Citizens are allowed into the area where this equipment will be installed. (Also, Reference questions from the industrial day.)

2. Have they considered keeping any of the mechanical system (X,Y,Z axes, etc) and just doing a motor back upgrade (Everything from the motor back i.e. wiring electronics and software)

Answer: The mechanical portion of this unit is the portion that is being replaced due to the fact it is 23 years old. We performed a software upgrade in 2004 and are now down often due to unsupportability of parts that wear out. We have decided after many Risk Analysis meetings that it is time to replace the unit with new, to carry us on into the future. We don't want a rebuild; we require new. (Also, refernce questions from the industrial day.)

The OO-ALC/PKESA, Hill AFB Utah, intends to solicit, negotiate, and award a Fixed Firm Price contract for Ultrasonic Scanning System (USS) to the responsible quoter whose proposal conforms to the solicitation, which will be most advantageous to the government. The Government reserves the right to not make an award at all.

The 309th Maintenance Support Group, 809th Maintenance Squadron, Advanced Composites NDI element is responsible for inspection services and is seeking to replace the current Ultrasonic Scanning System (USS). USS is a computer-controlled ultrasonic scanning system designed to inspection highly curved, composite and metallic parts, and assemblies. The USS can convert three-dimensional pulse-echo data to two-dimensional data which provides accurate location of anomalies in actual surface distance measurements, while providing reliable and repeatable inspections on critical structures with throughput needs to make inspection costs effective, while storing inspection data digitally for future reference, and providing a means to inspect parts which could not be inspected manually due to their configuration.

The Air Force Material Command, 309th Commodities Maintenance support Group, held an Industry Day(March 3, 2010) to kick-off the acquisition process and develop market research with clear and open communication with the industry for the Ultra Sonic Scanner. The 309th sought input from firms and all members of industry that concentrate in Ultra Sonic Scanner design, development, assembly, and applications to obtain an understanding of current systems and Technical Areas with regard to current usage of Testing Stations for use in acquisition process, evaluation, and contract administration, among others, in order to develop our acquisition strategy and Request for Proposal. The list of questions generated is attached.

CONTRACTORS MUST COMPLY WITH FAR 52.204-7 CENTRAL CONTRACTOR REGISTRATION AND DFARS 252.204-7004, ALTERNATE A. INTERESTED CONTRACTORS CAN ACCESS THE CLAUSES BY INTERNET URL: http://farsite.hill.af.mil. TO REGISTER WITH THE CCR, GO TO URL: http://www.ccr.gov/. ONLINE REPRESENTATIONS AND CERTIFICATIONS APPLICATION (ORCA) MUST BE COMPLETED. USE OF ONLINE REPRESENTATIONS AND CERTIFICATIONS APPLICATION (ORCA) BECAME MANDATORY 1 JANUARY 2005. CONTRACTORS CAN ACCESS ORCA BY INTERNET URL: http://www.orca.bpn.gov/.

All payments are to be paid via the Internet through the Wide Area Work Flow (WAWF) system. WAWF may be accessed at https://wawf.eb.mil. WAWF training may be accessed online at http://www.wawftraining.com. Payment information may be accessed using DFAS website at https://www.dfas.mil. Your purchase order/contract number or invoice will be required to inquire the status of your payment.