Intent to award sole source: Grain bin

This is a Notice of Proposed Contract Action Synopsis. There is no solicitation available at this time. Requests for a solicitation will receive no response. This Proposed Contract Action is published to notify potential sources that the Rocky Mountain Research Station intends to award a sole source firm-fixed price contract, on behalf of the USDA Forest Service, to Marion L. Jones., for the acquisition of items per PWS, specs, and attached rough draft layout, for the Fire Sciences Laboratory located in Missoula, MT. Performance Work Statement (PWS) for Laboratory Fire Research Background: The Forest Service is engaged in research into combustion of large woody forest fuels. Large logs and deep duff layer burn differently with and without ventilation, increasing consumption in flaming vs. smoldering in strong winds. To burn large sample materials (12 logs in an array about 10'x10) under specified air-flow conditions, a new facility is required that allows control over the air-flow to the sample. A commercially available grain bin was identified as well suited for this purpose. Normally, a grain bin derives its strength for wind and snow loading from the grain stored inside. For our purposes, we will have no inside storage, since the chamber will used for holding fuel samples for burning. Thus, the grain bin must be made of high-quality steel, with thickness allowing for strength without being filled with grain. Tasks: Deliver and construct grain bin at the site chosen by the Missoula Fire Sciences Laboratory as per specifications. Forest Service has already constructed a 50X50 concrete pad for the location. Specs: Basic dimensions of grain bin Diameter: 42 feet +/- 1 foot Peak height: 48 feet +/- 1 foot Eave height: 37 feet +/- 1 foot Bin grain capacity: 47,000 +/- 2,000 bushels Side wall sheets and roof sheets specifications Sheet material shall: be corrugated steel conform to ASTM A653, grade 40 or higher have minimum yield strength: 40,000 psi have minimum ultimate strength: 55,0000 psi have elongation: 16% or greater Sheets shall be galvanized or otherwise coated for corrosion inhibition in four season outdoor environments Fasteners specifications Bolts for fastening sheets shall: conform to SAE grade 8 or higher be galvanized or otherwise coated for corrosion inhibition in outdoor environment have a gasketed head to prevent moisture ingress Bolts for anchoring grain bin to concrete slab shall: conform to SAE Grade 5 or higher be heavy hex head have minimum nominal diameter of - inch have minimum length below the head: 8 inches be galvanized or otherwise coated for corrosion inhibition in outdoor environment be 42 +/- 5 in total number Side wall gauge schedule and specifications Design of side wall sheets and rings shall conform to industry best practices and applicable design standards Top ring shall be constructed from sheets of 13 gauge or thicker Bottom ring shall be constructed from sheets of 10 gauge or thicker Rings between top ring and bottom ring shall be constructed from sheets of 13 gauge or thicker sheet Sheets per ring: 14 +/- 1 sheets Total number of rings: 10 +/- 1 rings Roof specifications Design of roof shall conform to industry best practices and applicable design standards Grain bin roof shall: Be structured or un-structured Be constructed of sheets of 23 gauge or thicker Fill hole shall have inner diameter of 60 inches +/- 2 inches Roof shall have a minimum of one wind ring Roof shall have sealing gasket between top of top ring and underside of roof to limit water and outside air ingress Design grain loading Design grain loading calculations shall be carried out in accordance with ASAE.EP433. Design grain loading bulk density: 48 psf Snow loading Minimum allowable peak load for ground snow load of 30 psf: 5000 lbs. Minimum allowable peak load for ground snow load of 40 psf: 2000 lbs. Exterior staircase shall withstand loading caused by 40 psf snow sliding off roof and onto stair Wind loading Minimum design basic wind speed: 100 mph. Floor No floor required Doors One extra-large door of dimensions and location indicated by attached drawing One factory-standard person door of typical dimensions with location indicated by attached drawing All door frames shall be constructed from 16 gauge or thicker sheet metal All doors shall be constructed from 18 gauge or thicker sheet metal Air inlet vents Four air inlet vents of dimensions and locations indicated by attached drawing Roof access structures Exterior stairway in location indicated by attached drawing Walkway from top of exterior stairway to catwalk Catwalk around fill hole with railing Interior ladder to roof Heat shield and stack - to be designed with input from Missoula Fire Lab Personnel. Heat shield below roof and stack are desired. Heat shield shall be constructed from galvanized sheet metal of 23 gauge or thicker Stack shall be constructed from sheets of 16 gauge or thicker The proposed contract action is for the Government to solicit and negotiate with only one sole source under the authority of FAR 6.302. Interested persons may identify their interest and capability to respond to the requirement or submit proposals. This notice of intent is not a request for competitive proposals. A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed contract based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Information received will normally be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement. Date posted to betaSAM: 8/28/2020. Date posting will close: 9/10/2020 at 11:00 a.m. MT. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code is 238290. The desired start date is before the end of Sep 2020 and delivery date June 2021. The responses to this synopsis will be used to confirm that this is a sole source acquisition. This notice is not a Request for Proposals (RFP); it is a market research tool being utilized to determine the availability and adequacy of potential sources prior to awarding the contract. Any information submitted by respondents to this synopsis is strictly voluntary. The Government will not pay for any information that is submitted by respondents to this notice of proposed contract action. Contractors who believe they can provide the after-market items by the desired delivery date shall submit the ability in writing to Maritza Salgado, RMRS Acquisition Management, USDA Forest Service, 240 West Prospect Road, Fort Collins, CO 80526, or electronically to: maritza.salgado@usda.gov. Responses must be received no later than 11:00 a.m. MDT 9/10/2020. All documentation shall become the property of the Government. Firms responding must indicate the following information: Indicate the business size: small business or disadvantaged business, veteran owned small business or HUB Zone certified, and indicate the appropriate NAICS code. This synopsis neither constitutes a Request for Proposal, nor does it restrict the Government to a particular acquisition approach. This synopsis should not be construed as commitment by the Government for any purpose other than market research.