Active

Contract Opportunity

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION:

This is a market research/request for information only (not a pre-solicitation notice pursuant to FAR Part 5). This Request for Information (RFI) is for planning/information purposes only and shall not be construed as a commitment or a promise of a contract by the Government. This is not a solicitation. This notice does not constitute a Request for Bid, Request for Quote or Request for Proposal, nor does it restrict the Government as to the ultimate acquisition approach. The Government will not reimburse respondents for any costs incurred in preparation of a response to this notice. Large and small businesses are encouraged to participate in this survey.

The purpose of this notice is to gain knowledge of potential qualified sources with the capability to provide commercially available solutions for Load Cells for Mechanical Testing at Sub-Zero Temperatures.

BACKGROUND

The U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC), Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory (CRREL), located in Hanover, NH, is conducting research on ice adhesion on various materials and surface coatings. One aspect of this research requires the ability to perform tensile, compression, and flexural mechanical testing.

With this RFI, we are seeking to understand the range of commercially available solutions in the marketplace on state-of-the-art load frames and load cells capable of operation inside low temperature environmental chambers between -20°C to 0°C with maximum forces of 50 kilonewtons. We are seeking information on load frame and load cells capable of interfacing with BlueHill® Universal testing software and which are fully interoperable with Interface 500N and 5kN load cells currently in-use at our facility. Information is also desired on systems that feature an integrated high frame rate (no less than 80 fps) camera that can be synchronized to load data.

Technical responses, and any data provided by vendors, will be reviewed by a panel of DOD subject matter experts. Submissions will be evaluated to understand the ability to address the requirements described below, projected performance, availability, and cost. Information on past work supporting DoD or US Government projects engaged in mechanical testing at cold temperatures is also desired (as available).

After review of all submissions, vendors for the technologies and methods best meeting our R&D needs may be invited to discuss their systems with the government. With careful safeguards on all proprietary rights, the information provided by developers will be used to advise the DoD on possible acquisition recommendations.

REQUIREMENTS

CRREL is interested in technical system information regarding currently available load frame systems that:

• Are capable of split operation such that the load frame and test configuration and components are housed entirely within the low temperature environmental chamber with electronic control systems and operator controls located outside of the sub-zero environment

• Are capable of maximum load forces of 50 kilonewtons with cross head travel distances of at least 1000 mm and verified displacement speed of at least 700 mm/min at -20°C

• Include flexural testing configuration for both 3- and 4-point bending, compression platen 150mm in diameter, and tensile wedge grips that accommodate samples between 1 to 10mm in thickness

• Includes 5kN and 50kN load cells with 25 pin connectors with appropriate circuitry for auto-recognition and self-calibration via BlueHill® Universal software

• Fully interoperable with modified Interface 500N and 5kN load cells currently in use which allow for auto-recognition and self-calibration through BlueHill® Universal software

• Includes camera capable of no less than 80 frames per second capture rate with ability to synchronize frames generated to load data

• Load frame must be capable of fitting through door access that is 7 feet tall by 6 feet wide.

DETAILS:

The associated North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code is 334519, which has a size standard of 500 employees.

This is not a request for competitive quotations and no award will be made from this RFI. No solicitation, specifications, or drawings are available currently; therefore, please do not request a copy of a solicitation. Submissions will be considered based on ability to meet the requirements, projected performance, and cost. After review of the submissions, vendors for the technologies and methods meeting the requirements may be invited to discuss their systems with the government for further evaluation and may be invited to participate in validation testing to support future acquisitions.

Vendors having the skills and capabilities necessary to provide the described requirements are invited to provide feedback. Responses to this notice shall be submitted NLT 12:00 PM CST, 3 April 2023 to william.a.mcfarland@usace.army.mil. All responses will be used to determine the appropriate acquisition strategy for a potential future acquisition.

Telephone responses will not be accepted.

Responses to this notice will not be considered as a response to any solicitation, a request to be added to a prospective offerors list, or to receive a copy of any solicitation. A determination by the Government not to solicit based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government.

Note: To be eligible for award of a Government contract, vendors must be actively registered in the System for Award Management (SAM), have no active exclusions, and complete the FAR and DFARS representations and certifications.

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