RECOVERY - NSFRL STRUCTURAL LOADING SYSTEM

RECOVERY - National Structural Fire Resistance Laboratory (NSFRL) Structural Loading System for fire research Notice Type: Sources Sought AMD-10-SS18 RECOVERY - Any award resulting from this Sources Sought Notice is anticipated to be funded by the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act of 2009. This is not a request for quotation information received will be used for market research purposes only. The National Institute of Standards & Technology (NIST) seeks information on commercial vendors that are capable of providing the National Structural Fire Resistance Laboratory (NSFRL) a Structural Loading System for fire research. This requirement is for the purchase of a reconfigurable, turnkey hydraulic loading system, capable of providing vertical load on the structure (to simulate dead and live loads) and horizontal loads (either to simulate structural reaction to localized deformation under fire loads, allow for lateral loading of the structure, or to stabilize a test structure). All loading is expected to be essentially static; a dynamic loading capability is not envisioned. The system shall be capable of controlling up to eight actuators and should be expandable should we find it necessary to increase the number of actuators at a later date. In addition, the system should include a pump capable of supplying eight actuators of the sizes specified below, service manifolds and check valves, hard piping and flexible hoses as needed to connect the loading system. The mechanical loading capability will need to be flexible to allow reconfiguration or relocation of actuators as needed depending on the test parameters. A minimum of four actuators located beneath a strong floor and a minimum of four actuators mounted on strong walls (two actuators per wall). The Offeror shall also consider and propose the most appropriate actuator type to be compatible with the strong floor and strong wall configuration and to allow for thermal protection for horizontal actuators. After results of this market research are obtained and analyzed and specifications are developed for National Structural Fire Resistance Laboratory Structural Loading System that can meet NIST's minimum requirements, NIST may conduct a competitive procurement and subsequently award a Purchase Order utilizing FAR 13.5. NIST has a need for Laboratory Structural Loading System that would meet the following requirements: (1) Hydraulic Actuators and Associated Equipment Vertical loading: The vertical actuators will be used to apply simulated dead and live loads to test structures. Loading will be static however, because the test structures will be exposed to high temperatures, NIST anticipates that test structures may undergo substantial deformation and as a result, fairly long stroke length will be required for the vertical actuators. (a) Requires: (1) eight (8) double-acting actuators capable of applying a 50 kip load in tension and compression; (2) two (2) double-acting actuators capable of applying a 100 kip load in tension and compression; and (3) two (2) double-acting actuators capable of applying a 200 kip load in tension and compression. The actuators shall have the capability for a maximum stroke of 30 inches. Compatible load cells for each actuator that will read both tensile and compressive loads throughout the full load range of the actuators. Each actuator shall also have the capability to provide displacement data to the control system (e.g., LVDT) throughout its entire stroke range. Each actuator to provide a servovalve of the appropriate size for the actuator. (b) Depending on the type of actuator supplied, provide swivel heads and bases or custom mount appropriately sized for each of the above actuators. If swivels are required, they shall have the capability for full 90 range of movement in one direction to accommodate deflections in the test articles transverse to the initial orientation of the actuator during structural fire testing. (2) Controller. Specify the controller to operate a minimum of eight hydraulic actuators as described above. The controller shall have the capability for loading profiles and rates to be programmed for each of the actuators used. The controller shall allow for load, displacement, and stroke control of the actuators and shall allow the operator to easily select the mode to be used for a particular test. The controller shall also be expandable such that the capability to control additional hydraulic actuators may be added if necessary to enhance the structural testing capability of the facility. (3) Hydraulic Pump. A hydraulic pump to power the test system of a sufficient capacity to operate a minimum of eight hydraulic actuators, as described above, simultaneously. For the purposes of selecting the proper pump capacity, assume all loading rates will be static. (4) Check Valves, Hydraulic Service Manifolds, Hard Piping and Flexible Lines. Recommend appropriate location for the hydraulic pump and given that location (rectangle size room) a system of hard piping, check valves, hydraulic service manifolds, and flexible hydraulic lines to serve a minimum of eight actuators as described above. Flexibility to allow for expansion of the number of vertical actuators and horizontal actuators should be paramount if area is chosen to expand the capabilities of the facility at a future date. Mechanical loading system shall be upgradeable (e.g., control system, pump) or replaceable as may be required without compromising the functionality of the system. Please include a description of these components and all necessary equipment in order to have a complete structural loading system. NIST is seeking responses from all responsible sources, including large, foreign, and small businesses. Small businesses are defined under the associated NAICS code for this effort, 334519, as those domestic sources having 500 employees or less. Please include your company's size classification in any response to this notice. Companies that manufacture Fire Resistant Structural Loading Systems are requested to email a detailed report describing their abilities to joann.moore@nist.gov with cc: Wanza.jonjo@nist.gov no later than the response date for this sources sought notice. The report should include achievable specifications and any other information relevant to your product or capabilities. Also, the following information is requested to be provided as part of the response to this sources sought notice: 1. Name of the company that manufactures the system for which specifications are provided. Whether specifications meet or exceed stated specs. 2. Name of company(ies) that are authorized to sell the system, their addresses, and a point of contact for the company (name, phone number, fax number and email address). 3. Indication of number of days, after receipt of order that is typical for delivery of such systems. 4. Indication of whether system for specifications sent to joann.moore@nist.gov is on one or more GSA Federal Supply Schedule contracts and, if so, the GSA FSS contract number(s). 5. Any other relevant information that is not listed above which the Government should consider in developing its minimum specifications and finalizing its market research. Contracting Office Address: 100 Bureau Drive, Building 301, Room B125, Mail Stop 1640 Gaithersburg, Maryland 20899-1640 Place of Performance: TBD United States Primary Point of Contact: JoAnn Moore Contractor, Senior Acquisition Specialist Joann.moore@nist.gov Phone: (301) 975-8335 Secondary Point of Contact: Wanza Jonjo, Contracting Officer Wanza.jonjo@nist.gov Phone: (301) 975-3978