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The DLA-Aviation is issuing this sources sought synopsis as a means of conducting market research to identify parties having an interest in and the resources to support this requirement for one vertical heat treat vacuum furnace. Potential sources must provide turn-key machine with technical data, tooling and accessories, delivery, unloading and rigging, installation, testing and on-site operator, maintenance, electrical, and mechanical training. The result of this market research will contribute to determining the method of procurement.

THIS SOURCES SOUGHT IS FOR INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY. THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR QUOTE/PROPOSAL. IT DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A SOLICITATION AND SHALL NOT BE CONSTRUED AS A COMMITMENT BY THE GOVERNMENT. RESPONSES IN ANY FORM ARE NOT OFFERS AND THE GOVERNMENT IS UNDER NO OBLIGATION TO AWARD A CONTRACT AS A RESULT OF THIS ANNOUNCEMENT. NO FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE TO PAY FOR PREPARATION OF RESPONSES TO THIS ANNOUNCEMENT. ANY INFORMATION SUBMITTED BY RESPONDENTS TO THIS TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION IS STRICTLY VOLUNTARY.

Submission Instructions: Interested parties should submit a response to this Sources Sought Notice by April 24, 2023 NLT 04:00 pm EST. All responses under this Sources Sought Notice must be emailed to Ashley.Saunders@dla.mil. Responses should be not exceed ten (10) one-sided 8.5 x 10 inch pages with a font that is no smaller than 10 point as this is not a request for a proposal but only a request for submission of a vendor's capability to perform this requirement. Telephone inquiries will not be accepted or acknowledged, and no feedback or evaluations will be provided to companies regarding their submissions.

DLA Aviation intends to issue a request for proposal for one vertical heat treat vacuum furnace, including: tooling and accessories, delivery, unloading and rigging, installation, testing and on site operator, maintenance, electrical, and mechanical training. Interested parties may identify their interest and capability to respond to this requirement no later than the stated closing date/time.

Place of performance is Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma City

DLA Aviation is requesting industry input into the feasibility of the government’s requirements. In your response, please provide:

• Description of your company’s capabilities, based on the questions below


• Comments on the attached statement of work. Please identify on the attached statement of work if your company is capable of providing the requirement as written or propose an alternative solution.


• Please identify your company’s business size in terms of number of employees, and whether domestic or foreign for consideration of solicitation set-aside, and small business subcontracting requirements.


• Please identify your company’s manufacturer status: Manufacturer/Non-Manufacturing Source. If non-manufacturing source, please identify the manufacturer.


• Please identify whether your company will partner with subcontractors to complete this requirement.


• Please provide a basis of estimate to consider the total financial budget of this requirement. Estimates should capture the total procurement requirements, not solely the machine’s requirements.

Physical Characteristics:

• The attached purchase description outlines the physical characteristics of the machine to include:
  
  
  
  • Each machine must fit within the allowable floor plan of 27 feet x 25 feet x 26 feet (L x W x H)
    
    
    
    • This is the max floor space available between existing equipment.
    
    
    • Please identify the furnaces’ overall footprint and the ability of the furnace fit into the required workspace
    
    
    
    
  
  
  • Refer to paragraphs: 3.2 Size to 3.2.1 Footprint. Please comment on the draft purchase description of whether the current physical characteristics are achievable, or whether the Government should consider an alternative that is commercially available.
  
  
  
  

Functional Characteristics:

• TAFB requires the capability to achieve a minimum quench rate of 2-bar with Argon gas. The propulsion maintenance group (PMXG) cannot perform normal heat treat operations with a vacuum furnace that does not meet this minimum quench rate. TAFB utilizes Argon gas in multiple areas of the building and will only be using Argon with the vacuum furnace.

• Additional functional characteristics are outlined in the attached purchase description. Refer to paragraphs: 3.21 System Requirements, 3.22 Vacuum Chamber, 3.23 Hot Zone Requirements, and 3.24 Gas Quench System: Orbital Type. Please comment on the draft purchase description of whether the current functional characteristics are achievable, or whether the Government should consider an alternative that is commercially available.

Performance Characteristics:

• Identify the ability to meet or exceed the operating temperature range of 1000F-2300F. If necessary, can be separated into 2 different qualified operating ranges.
  
  
  
  • Must be capable of meeting a minimum operating temperature of 1000F-2150F at a class 2 +-10F or better.
  
  
  • Must be capable of meeting a minimum operating temperature of 2150F-2300F at a class 5 +-10F or better.
  
  
  
  

• Additional performance characteristics are outlined in the attached purchase description. Refer to paragraphs: 3.2.3 Furnace Process Requirements, 3.20.5 Temperature Uniformity, and 3.25 Thermocouples. Please comment on the draft purchase description of whether the current performance characteristics are achievable, or whether the Government should consider an alternative that is commercially available.

Additional scope requirements:

• Please review the additional scope requirements as follows:
  
  
  
  • Paragraph 3.27 Controls
  
  
  • Paragraph 3.28 Man-Machine Interface (MMI)
  
  
  • Paragraph 3.29 Software/Programming
  
  
  • Paragraph 3.30 Furnace Routines
  
  
  • Paragraph 3.31 Power Supply
  
  
  • Paragraph 3.32 Accessory Equipment
  
  
  • Paragraph 3.33 Installation
  
  
  • Paragraph 3.34 Program Requirements
  
  
  • Paragraph 3.35 Manuals
  
  
  • Paragraph 3.36 Training Requirements
  
  
  
  

• Acceptance testing is conducted at governments facility with the cited test procedures, as referenced in paragraph 4.0 Quality Assurance Inspection, 4.4 Performance Tests, and 4.5 Tests. Please comment on feasibility of tests along with your company’s ability to execute the test. Please provided feedback on the applicability and feasibility of the government directed test.

• Please comment on the draft purchase description of whether the current performance characteristics are achievable, or whether the Government should consider an alternative that is commercially available.

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