Electromechanical drill cable(UW-MAD)[20-0071]

The University of Wisconsin-Madison, through its Purchasing Services Department and on behalf of the Physical Science Laboratory's Wisconsin IceCube Particle Astrophysics Center (WIPAC), is seeking proposals for two electromechanical drill cables to be used at the IceCube Neutrino Observatory at the South Pole. The cables must be 3,200 meters in length (with a +5%, -0% tolerance) and meet rigorous technical specifications, including a minimum breaking strength of 25,000 pounds, a working load of 3,000 pounds with potential peak loads of 10,000 pounds, and the ability to operate in extreme temperatures ranging from -50C to 50C. The procurement requires cables with a 0.970-inch nominal diameter, 18-inch dynamic bend radius, and capability to withstand hydrostatic pressures up to 4,330 psi. Proposals will be evaluated on a 100-point scale, with points allocated across mandatory requirements (0 points), technical response (35 points), lead time (20 points), proposer experience (25 points), and cost proposal (20 points). The solicitation timeline includes several amendments, with the final deadline for proposal submissions set for May 26, 2020, at 2:00 PM CDT, and all proposals to be submitted electronically to bids@bussvc.wisc.edu with a maximum file size of 25MB.

The University indicates that Minority Business Enterprises, Woman-Owned Businesses, and Disabled Veteran-Owned Businesses may receive a 5% scoring preference during evaluation. No specific incumbent vendors are identified, and there are no explicit set-aside designations beyond the scoring preference. Proposals must include certification of no collusion, independent bid preparation, and confirmation that neither the vendor nor its principals are debarred or suspended from federal contracting. The desired delivery timeline is by the end of September 2020, with cables to be delivered to the Physical Sciences Laboratory in Stoughton, Wisconsin. Pricing shall be FOB Destination, with all delivery charges and risk of loss borne by the contractor, and the University qualifies for governmental and educational discounts. Payment terms are Net 30 days following acceptance and successful testing, and proposal prices and terms must remain firm for 60 days from the proposal date. While a specific budget range is not explicitly stated, the comprehensive technical requirements and specialized nature of the drill cables suggest a potentially significant procurement value commensurate with the technical complexity and specialized application.