Deep Hole Drilling Residual Stress Measurements

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) proposes to award a sole source contract to VEQTER, Ltd for the acquisition of proprietary Deep Hole Drilling residual stress measurements of pressurizer surge and safety/relief nozzle-to-safe end dissimilar metal weld mockups. Deep Hole Drilling is a mechanical strain relief technique and the only semi invasive technique to measure the through-wall residual stresses. Acquisition of the Deep Hole Drilling technique will allow NRC to measure and validate using non-destructive, semi-invasive techniques the through-wall weld residual stresses that may develop at dissimilar metal butt welds from typical fabrication and potential primary water stress corrosion cracking mitigation that are significantly larger and more extensive than previously experienced in the industry. The only non-destructive or semi-destructive technique capable of obtaining full through wall residual stress measurements without imparting significant damage to the mock-ups for this thick of a component is the VEQTER Ltd proprietary Deep Hole Drilling technique. In addition, the Deep Hole Drilling measurements are the only weld residual stress measurement technique capable of producing information the NRC requires to impart a residual stress reversal in the nozzle-to-safe end dissimilar metal butt welds. The period of performance for this effort is 12 months. This noticed is prepared under the authority of FAR Parts 15 and 6.302-1. This notice of intent is not a request for competitive proposals and no solicitation package is available. However, firms that believe that they can provide services that fully meet the Government's requirements may submit substantiating documentation within 15 days after publication of this synopsis by emailing their capability statement to Neha.Dhir@NRC.GOV. Oral communications are not acceptable in response to this notice. Such documentation will be evaluated solely for the purpose of determining whether or not to conduct this procurement on a competitive basis. A determination by the Government not to conduct a competitive procurement, based upon responses to this notice, is solely within the discretion of the Government.