Residential Flashover Prevention System Research

The Department of Homeland Security/Federal Emergency Management Agency/U.S. Fire Administration (DHS/FEMA/USFA) intends to negotiate and award a purchase order on a sole source basis (IAW FAR 6.302) with the Underwriters Laboratories/UL Firefighter Safety Research Institute located at 6200 Old Dobbin Lane, Suite 150, Columbia, MD 21045. The U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) was established by Public Law 93-498, the Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act of 1974, which called for the establishment of a National Fire Academy (NFA) to advance the professional development of fire service personnel and other people engaged in fire prevention and control activities; a technology program for the development, testing and evaluation of equipment for use by the nation's fire, rescue and civil defense services; the operation of a National Fire Data Center (NFDC) for the selection, analysis, publication and dissemination of information related to the prevention, occurrence, control and results of fires of all types; and to take all necessary steps to educate the public and overcome public indifference to fire and fire prevention. The objective of this project is to perform a feasibility analysis of a new concept and approach to design and potential use of certain fire prevention systems in residential applications nationwide. This work is the first phase of a project in which USFA seeks to purchase the initial research and report necessary for the development of a fire control system that can be inexpensively and easily retrofitted into existing homes. This research will be the foundation to development of new technology and equipment which will save firefighter lives where flashover conditions exist during residential fires. This work involves extensive literature review, technical analysis, and laboratory scale demonstrations to determine whether the concept has merit to warrant future development. The key deliverable of this phase is a technical report for the USFA that will be used to inform future decisions regarding ongoing development of improved technology via a life-saving flashover control system. The contractor will develop a technical report that will support ongoing phases of the technology development project and support the future adoption of the concepts developed as codes and standards. They will also perform outreach on the results of this study through the proprietary Underwriter Laboratories Firefighter Safety web site: https://ulfirefightersafety.org/ targeted for the fire service. The concepts of this research include: - The spread of a fire beyond the object or room of origin, and possibly even flashover after ~15 minutes of system operation, is explicitly accepted in the absence of other interventions, although avoidance of such is desirable. - It is expected that warm smoke will flow from the room of origin into connecting rooms. - A well-defined warm upper layer may not be present after system activation, which could obstruct the egress path, especially close to the fire. - Obstructions to water distribution from the nozzles should not be a factor that needs to be considered. It is desirable that the extensive rules in NFPA 13 et. seq. pertaining to obstructions and shadowing be completely eliminated. This work requires a thorough understanding of the physics of fire growth and spread (i.e., fire dynamics) in residential occupancies. Acceptable contractors must have extensive experience conducting full-scale testing of fires in residences as evidenced by publications in peer-reviewed or similar journals. Additionally, evidence of extensive experience with water mist fire suppression systems, and related fire control hardware is required. Potential contractors must also demonstrate an understanding of past residential construction methods and techniques. The Underwriters Laboratories (UL), a non-profit organization, is uniquely qualified due to the nature of this request dealing with this type of fire science. The UL has been deeply committed to improving the fire safety since its formation in 1894. For over a century, UL has developed over 150 fire safety standards, conducted fire safety testing, granted product certification and performed research programs. Their technical expertise, testing capabilities and portfolio of product certifications, together with their global reach, enables UL to be uniquely qualified. The scientists at the UL Firefighter Safety Research Institute (ULFSRI) are uniquely qualified to conduct research into the characteristics and nature of fires in residences. While several other researchers have worked on the characteristics of home fires, no one else has the extensive body of knowledge and understanding that the scientists at ULFSRI collectively possess. They have performed well over a hundred full-scale fire tests in residences and have developed an unparalleled understanding of the physics involved. Additionally, ULFSRI has extensive experience in fine water spray systems development and application, a critical component of the research required. The findings of this study will be included in the Underwriter Laboratories Firefighter Safety web site: https://ulfirefightersafety.org/ and will be accessible to all of the fire service. This section is specifically designed to support and provide information on fire science to the fire service. No other organization is capable of providing information in the area of fire science specifically targeted at this group of professionals. All of the information contained on the website is proprietary to the UL, Therefore UL is the only organization capable of performing the tasks to satisfy this requirement. The contractor must be able to demonstrate they possess the following: - A thorough understanding of the physics of fire growth and spread (i.e., fire dynamics) in residential occupancies. - Extensive experience conducting full-scale testing of fires in residences as evidenced by publications in peer-reviewed or similar journals. - Evidence of extensive experience with water mist fire suppression systems, and related fire control hardware is required. - An understanding of past residential construction methods and techniques. - Experience developing fire safety standards, conducting fire safety testing, ability to grant product certifications, and performing research programs. FEMA determined that UL is uniquely qualified to perform this work with their 100 years of fire research experience, their key research staff having extensive experience performing related firefighter operational safety research for the USFA supported by a team of pioneering experts and access to UL's extensive and proprietary informational and technical infrastructure. They have the knowledge, experience, personnel, and facilities required to perform this work. This purchase order will be awarded using simplified acquisition procedures in accordance with FAR Part 13. This notice is NOT a request for quotation (RFQ) for competitive quotes/proposals and no solicitation document exists for this requirement. However, parties interested in responding to this notice shall submit technical data sufficient to demonstrate they possess the capability/experience required to provide the services required. All capability statements received by the closing of this notification of this synopsis will be considered by the Government. A determination by the Government not to compete based on 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. Based on the above information, the only known organization which can provide technically acceptable services is UL. Submit capability statements (using PDF, MS Word, Excel attachments) to Cindy Adams, Contract Specialist at Cindy.Adams@fema.dhs.gov Statements are due by 4:00 p.m. EST on August 24, 2018. Primary Point of Contact: Cindy Adams Contracting Office Address: DHS/FEMA/NETC Building D 16825 South Seton Avenue Emmitsburg, MD 21727 Place of Performance: Emmitsburg, MD 21727 and Contractor's Facility Classification Code: B544, Special Studies/Analysis-Technology NAICS Code: 541990 - All Other Professional, Scientific & Technical Services