SOLICITATION NOTICE
66 -- 9-AXIS AUTOMATED ULTRASONIC IMMERSION TEST SYSTEM
- Notice Date
- 3/8/2005
- Notice Type
- Solicitation Notice
- NAICS
- 334519
— Other Measuring and Controlling Device Manufacturing
- Contracting Office
- NASA/George C. Marshall Space Flight Center, Procurement Office, Marshall Space Flight Center, AL 35812
- ZIP Code
- 35812
- Solicitation Number
- NNM0502490Q
- Response Due
- 3/15/2005
- Archive Date
- 3/8/2006
- Description
- NASA/MSFC has a requirement for a 9-axis automated ultrasonic immersion test system with Amdata IntraSpect software, installation and training. The system includes: 1)Windows OS Desktop computer with 2.7GHz or better, DVD RW, 19" display, 256MB RAM or better, 10/100 Network Interface, 56K Modem, Full IntraSpect data acquisition and data analysis software licenses, configured to be compatible one-on-one with existing MSFC 4-axis catamaran scanner manufactured by Wesdyne Amdata; 2) Data Acquisition System (DAS) including one 2-channel UT board, 10/100 network interface, 9-axis motion control, main control enclosure with motor amplifiers; 3) 9-axis 48"x40"x36" immersion tank system, stainless steel tank, water filtration system, 9-axis gantry scanner, associated cabling, configured to be driven by Wesdyne AmData software and compatible with the existing 4-axis scanner. The acquisition includes installation to working order and training of 3 NASA employees on the use of the system. NASA/MSFC intends to purchase this system from Wesdyne Amdata, 20 International Drive, Windsor, CT 06095. This recommendation is made pursuant to FAR 6.302-1, which implements the authority for 10 U.S.C. 2304(c)(1) for acquisition of supplies or services from only one source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements. Competition is impractical for the following reasons: 1. The automated ultrasonic immersion system being acquired includes equipment and software manufactured by Amdata to perform ultrasonic scanning of material allowables panels, including metals and composites. It is imperative that this system, which is to be used in the laboratory, be compatible with an existing MSFC 4-axis catamaran scanner manufactured by Wesdyne Amdata, Inc., currently being used in the field to perform phased array scanning of metallic and composite cryotanks and feedlines. The allowables panels, typically flat panels which are easy to build and test, will be scanned utilizing the system being acquired to determine problems or areas of concern in the panels. The results of this laboratory scanning identify bad characteristics, such as excess resin, voids, and/or areas which are not uniform. These findings are then used to infer that characteristics of the process and parameters, etc., which were good in the laboratory setting, utilizing allowables panels, will also be good to scale up the process, if these same conditions and parameters (such as speed and heat) are used again to make the larger component. These "good" materials are then used in structures such as a cryotank used to hold cryogenic fuel for rockets. These allowable testing characteristics are then used for comparison with the inspection results in the field, for example of a cryotank made from the same material to determine whether the field item will be passed or rejected and eventually repaired. Utilizing this comparison and based on their findings, Non-Destructive Evaluation (NDE) engineers can more accurately assess problems and make recommendations to correct them and/or determine how to avoid these problems in the future. Without this comparison of data, MSFC NDE engineers can only determine problems in the field but will not have the comparison data to identify the exact problem. 2. To facilitate this, it is imperative that the software used to inspect the smaller, flat allowables panels be one-to-one compatible with the software used in the field inspection system. An automated ultrasonic immersion tank acquired from a different vendor could not provide this compatibility because the software from another vendor would not be readable with the field unit due to proprietary formats in the software. Statistical and feature extractions made on the field unit data results would not be compatible with another vendor's software due to proprietary routines and knowledge of scanning routines. Considerable engineering design and software development would be required of another company and it is unlikely they would be able to reproduce all of the tank characteristics and software characteristics that have to work together since this would require knowledge of Amdata proprietary data formats, data processing module design, and exact ultrasonic system features. The results would not be compatible with the data from the field unit and as a result, the fidelity of the field inspection of cryotanks would be severely crippled. The field inspection would still be able to determine the existence of gross flaws, but the ability to determine the consequence of various levels of damage would not be possible because of the lack of compatibility between the field system and the laboratory system. 3. Wesdyne Amdata is the manufacturer and they do not sell through distributors. The Government intends to acquire a commercial item using FAR Part 12. Interested organizations may submit their capabilities and qualifications to perform the effort in writing to the identified point of contact not later than 4:30 p.m. local time on March 15, 2005. Such capabilities/qualifications will be evaluated solely for the purpose of determining whether or not to conduct this procurement on a competitive basis. A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed effort on a full and open competition basis, based upon responses to this notice, is solely within the discretion of the government. Oral communications are not acceptable in response to this notice. All responsible sources may submit an offer which shall be considered by the agency. An Ombudsman has been appointed. See NASA Specific Note "B". Any referenced notes may be viewed at the following URLs linked below.
- Web Link
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- Record
- SN00765003-W 20050310/050308212852 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
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