Plating Chamber-Top Plug

SOURCES SOUGHT: THIS IS NOT A NOTICE OF REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL BUT INFORMATION AND PLANNING PURPOSES ONLY! It does not constitute a solicitation and/or quote and is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government. The Request for Quotation (RFQ) number is FA2521-16-Q-B165 shall be used to reference any written responses to this source sought. Patrick Air Force Base anticipates a requirement that is being considered under a small business set-aside program. The North American Industry Classification Systems (NAICS) Code proposed 332813. The size standard for NAICS is 500 employees. GSA SIN/MAS 603 1 The requirement is to provide 1600 each Plating Chamber-Top Plugs for the electroplating of cells in order to accomplish the purification of Cd (cadmium) and Ag (argentum or - silver') to support the TLR mission. The purification involve the electroplating of these elements into Pt planchets - which creates a pure sample that has low self-attenuation coefficients in order to optimize data quality. Salient Characteristics: a.) A custom electroplating apparatus must consist of 4 primary components: a base into which a platinum planchet is placed; an a-ring which is placed on top of the platinum planchet; a tube body, which screws into the base and puts pressure on the a-ring to hold the planchet in place; and a cap, which fits inside the top of the tube body. b) The base: i) Must have a small recessed portion to fit the dimensions of existing platinum planchets (which are 0.08 mm X 22.35 mm), but does not meet or exceed the dimensions of stainless steel planchets used within the lab (which are 0.45 mm X 25.30 mm). This is so that the cell can appropriately fit the intended planchets, while not being confused with other bases used to electroplate other elements within the laboratory. ii) Must be able to accommodate the planchet while also having room to accommodate an appropriately-size a-ring such that the a-ring secures the planchet in place without excessively overlapping the surface of the planchet. This means that the interior bottom of the base must have a 1.280.inch inner diameter (to accommodate the a-ring), with a 0.935 inch diameter and 0.055 inch depth indent (to accommodate the planchet) centered in the middle of it. iii) Must have the following exterior dimensions: 1.500 inch diameter body which tapers in to a diameter of 1.373 inches at a height of 0.125 inches from the top and continues at that width for 0.875 inches {for a total of 1.000 inches) before tapering in farther to a 0.625 inch tall post at the bottom in order for the base to fit in existing custom electroplating apparatus racks. iv) Must have a 0.063 inch diameter hole must exist clean through the bottom of the base in the center, in order to allow access for removal of the planchet after electroplating. v) Must have a post attached to the bottom which is 0.188 inches in diameter and 0.500 inches long before flaring into a 0.250 inch diameter for 0.125 inches and has a knurled finish in order to allow a cathode lead to be securely and firmly attached to the base. vi) Must be made of stainless steel in order to afford resistance to the electrolysis conditions inside the cell, including harsh chemicals and electrical currents. vii) Must be threaded to match the threads on the body from the top of the opening down 0.633 inches into the top, to secure the two parts together. c) The body: i) Must have an inner diameter of 0.632 inches in order to keep the electroplating contained within the diameter of the platinum planchets, and to prevent the accidental electroplating of chemicals onto the stainless steel surfaces of the chamber. ii) Must have an outer dimension that tapers in to 0.878 inches for the bottom 0.094 inches in order to place appropriate pressure on the a-ring and create an appropriate seal and prevent electrolysis solution from leaking. iii) Must have a 1.250 inch maximum diameter with threading just above the bottom 0.094 inches that extends up 1.25 inches and is threaded to match the base, to secure the two parts together. iv) Must have a top opening with an inner diameter of 0.990 inches and a depth of 0.625 inches, which then tapers over the course of 0.179 inches to the inner dimension of 0.623 inches in order to accommodate the cap. v) Must have a total height of 3.000 inches to accommodate the existing platinum anode wires and keep them close enough to the sample to facilitate electroplating while not creating direct contact between the planchet and the wire, which would have a detrimental effect on the electroplating. vi) Must have a channel cut 0.750 inches from the top that is 0.031 inches deep and 0.125 inches tall in order to visually distinguish this electrolysis cell body from other electrolysis cell bodies used in the lab (which have different internal diameters, but appear the same externally). vii) Must be made of polycarbonate in order to afford the required chemical resistance, lack of electrical conductivity, and heat resistance needed to perform the electroplating. d) The cap is designed to be exactly identical to existing caps used for other electroplating processes in the lab, in order to prevent any confusion or potentially costly mishaps, thus they: i) Must be made of polycarbonate to afford the chemical resistance, lack of electrical conductivity, and heat resistance needed to perform the electroplating. ii) Must be 0.125 inches in diameter across to a depth of 0.75 inches then 0.98 inches across for the next 0.25 inches, then taper to a diameter of 0.23 inches over the course of 0.38 inches, in order to next appropriately into the body. iii) Must have an opening through the center that is 0.16 inches in diameter for the first 0.50 inches of depth and then 0.05 inches in diameter for the remaining 0.88 inches, to accommodate the platinum anode wire. iv) Must have a second opening drilled clear through the top off-centered from the first opening that is 0.19 inches in diameter, in order to facilitate the addition of chemicals using a pipette without disturbing the electrolysis cell, which is necessary in order to achieve the desired chemistry within the cell and create high-quality products. v) Must have a threaded 6-32 TPI hole bored perpendicular to the centered hole and 0.25 inches from the top in order to accommodate the addition of a stainless steel screw used to secure the platinum wire anode into the cap. e) The O-ring: i) Must have an inner diameter of 0.139 inches and an outer diameter of 0.609 inches in order to secure the planchet without obscuring the electroplating surface. ii) Must be made of Teflon to afford the chemical resistance, lack of electrical conductivity, and heat resistance needed to perform the electroplating, while still being pliable enough to allow slight compression to create an appropriate seal. What is the purpose of the item(s): The requirement is to provide electroplating cells in order to accomplish the purification of Cd and Ag to support the TLR mission. The final steps of these purifications involve the electroplating of these elements onto Pt planchets - which creates a pure sample that has low self-attenuation coefficients in order to optimize data quality. 45 CONS is interested in any size business that is capable of meeting this requirement. The government is also interested in all small businesses including (8(a), Historically Underutilized Business Zone, Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Businesses (SDVOSB), or, if applicable based on NAICS code, Economically disadvantaged women-owned small business (EDWOSB) Women Owned Small Businesses (WOSB) that are interested in performing this requirement. The government requests interested parties submit a brief description of their company's business size (i.e. annual revenues and employee size), business status (i.e., 8(a), Historically Underutilized Business Zone, or SDVOSB, WOSB, EDWOSB, or small business) anticipated teaming arrangements, and a description of similar services offered to the Government and to commercial customers. Any responses involving teaming agreements should delineate between the work that will be accomplished by the prime and the work accomplished by the teaming partners. The Government will use this information in determining its small business set-aside decision." As stipulated in FAR 15.201, responses to this notice are not considered offers and cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract. No solicitation exists; therefore, do not request a copy of the solicitation. The decision to solicit for a contract shall be solely within the Government's discretion. Any information submitted by respondents to this sources sought synopsis is voluntary. This sources sought notice is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government, nor will the Government reimburse any costs associated with the submission of information in response to this notice. Respondents will not be individually notified of the results of any government assessments. The Government's evaluation of the capability statements received will factor into whether any forthcoming solicitation will be conducted as a full and open competition or as a set-aside for small businesses, or any particular small business designation (e.g. SDVOSB, HUBZone, 8(a), WOSB, VOSB, etc.). Commodity Capabilities package: All interested firms shall submit a capabilities package that explicitly demonstrates company capabilities-indicating examples of commercial sales-and product specifications related to this effort. Also indicate if you are the manufacturer, or provide the name and size of the manufacturer of the product(s) you will be supplying. Respondents are further requested to indicate their status as a Foreign-owned/foreign-controlled firm and any contemplated us of foreign national employees on this effort. Include in your capabilities package your DUNS, Cage Code, System for Award Management expiration date, GSA contract number and expiration (if applicable), and any related specifications/drawings. Responses may be submitted electronically to the following e-mail address: contact@example.gov or contact@example.gov; by mail to 45 CONS/LGCB, Attn: FA2521-16-Q-B165,1201 Edward H. White II Street, Bldg. 423, Room N206, Patrick AFB, FL 32925-3238. RESPONSES ARE DUE NO LATER THAN 5 Aug 2016, 2:00pm, EST.