Request for Information (RFI) Vacuum Heat Sealer for Odor Barrier Bags 17 June 2011 INTRODUCTION: The DoD Combat Feeding Directorate is planning to conduct a research effort to procure, test and document the next generation Vacuum Heat Sealer (VHS) for Odor Barrier Bags (OBBs). The VHS system may replace the current heat sealer (Bosch Doboy HS-BII). The VHS research effort is planned to be conducted by the DoD Combat Feeding Directorate (CFD), Systems Equipment and Engineering Team (SEET). This announcement constitutes an RFI notice for planning purposes and is intended for the development of research efforts in support of the Natick Solider Research development and Engineering Command (NSRDEC) Combat Feeding Program. Responses to this RFI are optional. This is NOT a Request for Proposals. NO SOLICITATION DOCUMENTS EXIST AT THIS TIME. This RFI does not constitute a commitment, implied or otherwise, that NSRDEC will take procurement action in this matter. Neither NSRDEC nor the Government will be responsible for any cost incurred in furnishing this information. GENERAL BACKGROUND: The U.S. Navy is required to retain all plastic waste generated aboard ship for shore disposal according to the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships (APPS). The Navy's current management practices involve sealing the waste in a heavyweight plastic bag to form an odor barrier since most of the waste is food contaminated. These Odor Barrier Bags (OBBs) are currently sealed with the Bosch Doboy HS-BII Heat Sealer. The Doboy lacks the ability to make air-tight, vacuum seals as well as being labor-intensive and expensive. A need exists to develop a new method to achieve air-tight vacuum sealed OBB once filled with plastic waste. A cost effective, quick, and safe solution is being investigated through this RFI. Some of the goals include decreasing the storage footprint of plastic waste while increasing the safety, reliability, maintainability, reparability, and supportability of the OBB sealing system. OPERATIONAL CONCEPT: The VHS will be used aboard both submarines and surface ships. OBBs are provided on a roll and the individual bags are removed at the perforations provided on the bags. The sealing process typically takes place in the trash room or available passageways where the processed plastic waste is manually loaded into the OBB and then sealed. To minimize storage space, the OBB should be evacuated of excess air prior to being sealed. The process for sealing the OBBs should be independent of the user. Any sailor with minimal skill level needs to be able to make quality, air tight seals. The process for sealing bags should not be sensitive to contamination on the sealer surface that would prevent a quality seal from being made or clogging or fouling the sealer itself. SPECIFIC INFORMATION OF INTEREST: The VHS is expected to meet the majority of the current bag sealer performance requirements as well as some additional characteristics/capabilities as listed below: Power Requirement: 115V/60 Hz/single phase Rugged for use in a shipboard environment Able to produce consistent, air-tight, vacuum heat seals that are not dependant on the operators skill level Minimal warm-up time Compact, hand held and portable Bag Material: Multi-layer film consisting of nylon, ethylene vinyl alcohol (EVOH), and linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) Submarine OBB: o 10 mil (0.010 inch) thick film, 16 3/4-inches wide by 40-inches long Surface Ship OBB (two sizes) o 5 mil (0.005 inch) thick film, 24-inches wide by 27-inches long o 5 mil (0.005 inch) thick film, 36-inches wide by 50-inches long Cost similar to the current Doboy HS-BII heat sealer ($3000) CONTENT AND FORMAT OF ANSWERS AND TECHNOLOGY DESCRIPTIONS: The electronic copy of responses is to be in Adobe Acrobat 9, Microsoft Word 2003, or Microsoft Word 2007 compatible format. The Government is requesting responses from industry to the following questions: 1. Which companies are interested in this project and if a VHS is feasible and affordable using existing and mature technologies? 2. What does your company consider as the main technical, engineering and cost challenges and what are your initial thoughts/approaches to address those challenges? 3. What technologies will most likely be employed by your company's solution? 4. What do you anticipate the costs per unit will be with your proposed solution? NOTE: Please submit all pages as a single (.doc or .pdf) file. Name files in accordance with the following convention: "Company Name, Product Name" QUESTIONS AND POINTS OF CONTACT: Questions regarding this RFI shall be submitted in writing by e-mail to the following personnel: Lou Jamieson NSRDEC - Combat Feeding Directorate Systems Equipment and Engineering Team Code: RDNS-CFS 15 Kansas Street Natick, MA 01760 E-mail:
contact@example.gov SUBMISSION DATE AND ADDRESS: Electronic responses to this notice are requested to be emailed to one of the following appropriate e-mail addresses no later than COB EST, August 31, 2011. Earlier responses are encouraged. The subject line of the e-mail should follow the form "Vacuum Heat Sealer RFI: Company Name. NOTE: This RFI is issued for the purpose of determining market capability of sources and does not constitute an Invitation for Bid (IFB), a Request for Proposal (RFP), a Request for Quote (RFQ) or an indication that the Government will contract for any of the items and/or services contained in this notice. All information received in response to this notice that is marked Proprietary will be handled accordingly. Responses may not include classified material. Responses to this notice will not be returned. All of the responses will remain confidential. Availability of any formal solicitation will be announced under a separate Federal Business Opportunities (FedBizOpps) announcement.
