Dissimilar Metal Weld Facture

RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT SOURCES SOUGHT Title Development of Experimental Facture Mechanics Data for Complex Shaped Flaws in Dissimilar Metal Welds. This is a sources sought synopsis. This notice does not constitute a formal Request for Proposal (RFP), nor is the government obligated to issue an RFP. The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is conducting a market survey and analysis to determine the range of available contractors that exists and assess their capabilities to assist the NRC. The purpose of this announcement is to provide potential sources the opportunity to submit information regarding their capabilities to perform work for the NRC free of conflict of interest (COI). For information on NRC COI regulations, visit NRC Acquisition Regulation Subpart 2009.5 (www.nrc.gov/who-we-are/contracting/48cfr-ch20.html). All interested parties, including all categories of small businesses (small businesses, small disadvantaged businesses, 8(a) firms, women-owned small businesses, service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses, and HUBZone small businesses) are invited to submit a response. The capabilities package submitted by a vendor should demonstrate the firm's ability, capability, and responsibility to perform the principal components of work listed below. The package should also include past performance/experience regarding projects of similar scope listing the project title, general description, the dollar value of the contract, and name of the company, agency, or government entity for which the work was performed. Submission of additional materials such as glossy brochures or videos is discouraged. Responses are due no later than December 4, 2009. The Government will not reimburse respondents for any costs associated with submission of the requested information. Telephone inquiries or responses are not acceptable. Facsimile (301-492-3437) or email (Michele.Sharpe@nrc.gov) responses are acceptable or responses may be mailed to: U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Attn: Michele D. Sharpe, Division of Contracts, Mail Stop TWB-01-B10M, Washington, DC 20555. It is not NRC's intent to publicly disclose any vendor proprietary information obtained during this sources sought notice. To the full extent that it is protected pursuant to the FOIA and other laws and regulations, information identified by a Respondent as "proprietary" or "confidential" will be kept confidential; however, the Government requests that no proprietary or confidential business data be submitted in response to this sources sought notice. It is emphasized that this notice is for planning and information purposes only and is NOT to be construed as any commitment by the Government. Due to a variety of limitations, the NRC does not plan to entertain questions related to the substance of this sources sought notice. Pre-solicitation and/or pre-proposal conferences may be held, pending the level of interest. Responses should be submitted in MS Word and/or MS Excel format and include the following information: 1) Organization Name; 2) Organization web address; 3) A brief overview of your organization. 4) Primary contact name having authority and knowledge to discuss your sources sought responses with Government representatives; 5) Primary contact phone; 6) Primary contact e-mail; Brief Description of Requirement: The NRC's Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research (RES) is responsible for providing technical advice, technical tools and information for identifying and resolving safety issues, making regulatory decisions, and promulgating regulations and guidance. RES conducts independent experiments and analyses, develops technical bases for supporting realistic safety decisions by the agency, and prepares the agency for the future by evaluating safety issues involving current and new designs and technologies. NRC Standard Review Plan (SRP) 3.6.3 describes Leak-Before-Break (LBB) assessment methodologies that are acceptable to NRC. Specifically, it describes a deterministic assessment procedure that can be used to demonstrate compliance with the 10CFR50 Appendix A, General Design Requirement (GDC) 4 requirement that the primary system pressure piping exhibit an extremely low probability of rupture (xLPR). However, SRP 3.6.3 does not allow for assessment of piping system with active degradation mechanisms and it does not comprehensively address uncertainties. NRC seeks assistance in obtaining experimental data on the stability characteristics of complex-shaped flaws in dissimilar metal (DM) welds. These experimental results will be used to determine if the current analysis methodologies can be used to predict the load-carrying capacity of such pipe. The program manager, key personnel, and any other senior technical staff that will be performing work shall have expertise, experience, and/or education in the following key areas: a) Expertise in conducting large pipe fracture experiments with and without internal pressure; b) Expertise at selecting and implementing complex instrumentation for pipe fracture experiments; c) Expertise in mechanical properties testing and measurement techniques; d) Expertise in developing piping fracture mechanics codes; e) Expertise in finite element analyses; f) Detailed knowledge of DM weld fabrication methods; g) Detailed knowledge of past NRC nuclear pipe fracture mechanics programs; h) Knowledge of NRC regulatory process as it relates to DM weld cracking.