Rubber Compound

Synopsis: This Sources Sought Synopsis is in support of market research being conducted by the Naval Surface Warfare Center Carderock Division (NSCWCCD) to identify potential vendors and manufacturing sources that are qualified or are interested in becoming qualified to produce a custom blended natural-neoprene rubber compound in support of U.S. Navy Submarines. This Request for Information is the initiation of market research under Part 10 of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) and is NOT a Request for Proposals (RFP). The proposed North American Industry Classification Systems (NAICS) Code is 326229. NSWCCD requires 120,000 pounds of natural-neoprene rubber compound to support new construction and in-service engineering agent, during the fiscal year (FY) 2019 through 2023. The contractor shall be capable of furnishing all required labor, material, facilities and equipment to accomplish the delivery of material to the Government. It is estimated that delivery orders for this material would be awarded every four (4) months; three orders containing 8,000 pounds of material per FY. Requirements for each mixed batch: - Each mixed batch shall be segregated and assigned a batch identification number for quality assurance tracking purposes. - The contractor shall provide industry standard quality assurance certification data with each mixed batch. This quality assurance data shall include specific gravity, tensile, elongation, hardness, and oscillating disk rheometer data. - A maximum of 1,100 pounds of uncured sheeted rubber stock is to be packaged on each pallet. - A batch number is to be identified on palletized packaging of the uncured natural-neoprene rubber compound sheets. - Each mixed batch shall be supplied in sheet form. The release coating must be identified (usually talc or zinc stearate). - Each mixed batch shall be supplied with an appropriate safety data sheet (SDS) in the global harmonized format To become a qualified Vendor: The contractor will be required to complete first article testing (FAT) and acceptance of their candidate natural-neoprene rubber compound material formulation in order to qualify their material formulation(s) to the physical performance requirements shown in Table I. A suggested natural-neoprene rubber compound is shown in Table II. See Attachment 1_Rubber Compound Specifications. Dynamic performance of the material will be assessed and tested by the Government. Response Requirements: Responses to this RFI shall be submitted electronically to Yara.Zidan@navy.mil and Michael.Peduto@navy.mil no later than March 20, 2018 at 5:00PM ET. Please limit responses to this RFI to less than 25 pages, however, laboratory reports and certification documents do not count towards the 25 page limitation. Responses shall include: 1. Company name, website, and physical address, 2. Point of contact, phone number, and E-mail address, 3. Cage number (if applicable) and DUNS number. 4. Company size e.g. small business, large business, or small disadvantaged business 5. Company capability statement. This statement should include at minimum the following. a. Experience providing custom blended uncured rubber to the Maritime industry, U.S. Navy and foreign Navies; provide past performance information on contracts of similar size, scope, and complexity that were ongoing or completed within the last five years. b. Description of the proposed mixing equipment (internal batch mixer, etc) to be utilized in the manufacturing of the custom blended uncured natural-neoprene rubber compound supplied in sheet form. c. Description of the quality assurance laboratory equipment to be utilized for the monitoring and documenting the batch lot quality assurance data which shall include specific gravity, tensile strength, elongation, hardness, and oscillating disk rheometer data. d. Manufacturing capacity to provide 8,000 pounds of custom blended uncured natural-neoprene rubber compound material every 3-4 months.