61 -- Solid-State Combination Circuit Breaker/Crowbar

SPAWAR Systems Center Pacific (SPAWAR SSC Pacific) intends to negotiate acommercial, sole-source, contract IAW FAR Part 13.5 for the development,production, and limited testing of a prototype circuit breaker/crowbar toDiversified Technologies, Bedford, MA 01730. Authority for other than full and open competition is 10 U.S.C. 2304 (c)(1) andFAR 6.302-1, Only one responsible source and no other supplies or services willsatisfy agency requirements The device is a solid-state combination circuit breaker/crowbar designed foroperation in the Fixed Submarine Broadcast System (FSBS) Very Low Frequency(VLF) and Low Frequency (LF) tube-type transmitters. SPAWAR SSC Pacific Code55320 supports the FSBS Transmitter VLF/LF In Service Engineering Agency(ISEA) at SPAWAR Systems Center Atlantic, Code 5.5.3.5 that is responsible fordesign changes to the FSBS transmitters. In the tube-type transmitters thereexists a protective device for the delicate and expensive tubes called acrowbar.When this crowbar circuit operates it places large electromagnetic stresses onthe power system supplying the transmitter and also produces a significantdrop in voltage during its operation. These factors have impeded past effortsto connect FSBS transmitter sites to the commercial power grid due to thenegative impact this circuit will have on the customers connected to thegrid.The advent of high power electronics has made it possible to dissipate thelarge amount of energy stored in the transmitter tube circuits. Additionally,it ispossible with these same high power electronics to supply the necessary powerto the transmitter tube circuits. Combining these two functions into one deviceallows a combination device of a crowbar and circuit breaker to be devised. A full literature and industry research was done to find sources that providecomponents such as those needed for this project. In the United States, onlyDiversified Technologies manufactures components capable of withstanding thevoltages and currents used in the FSBS VLF/LF Transmitters. Specifically, thisprototype requires a circuit breaker/crowbar capable of switching between 15kVand 400amps. This notice of intent is not a request for competitive proposals. Interestedparties may identify their interest and capability to respond to therequirementor submit proposals. Information received will normally be considered solelyforthe purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement. Adetermination by the Government to compete the proposed contract basedupon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of theGovernment. The applicable North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code is335999, and the size standard is 500 employees. The estimated value of theeffort is $150,000 (FFP). Questions concerning this sole source contract action may be directed toSpencer Sessions at contact@example.gov. Questions and/or responsesare due by COB 28 July 2010.