SOURCES SOUGHT
A -- Development and Start-Up of the Plasma Ordnance Demilitarization System
- Notice Date
- 7/21/2009
- Notice Type
- Sources Sought
- Contracting Office
- Department of the Army, U. S. Army Materiel Command, US Army, Army Contracting Command, Joint Munitions and Lethality (JM&L) Contracting Center, US Army, Army Contracting Command, Joint Munitions and Lethality (JM&L) Contracting Center, Picatinny Arsenal, New Jersey 07806-5000
- ZIP Code
- 07806-5000
- Solicitation Number
- W15QKN-09-X-0129
- Response Due
- 8/5/2009
- Archive Date
- 9/4/2009
- Point of Contact
- John Swift, Contract Specialist, (973)724-4970<br />
- E-Mail Address
-
John Swift
(john.r.swift@us.army.mil)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- The United States Army Contracting Command, Joint Munitions and Lethality Contracting Center, on behalf of Product Manager Demilitarization (PM Demil), is conducting a market survey to identify potential sources that are capable of completing the research, development and proveout tasks on the Plasma Ordnance Demilitarization System (PODS), located at Hawthorne Army Depot (HWAD) in Hawthorne, NV, as well as preparing the PODS to the point of Low Rate Initial Production (LRIP), but will not actually include LRIP. PODS is a thermal treatment system that will be used for the demilitarization (destruction) of Military ordnance as a Closed Disposal Technology (CDT). PODS consists of a primary processing chamber followed by a series of interconnected pollution abatement equipment (PAE). Initial processing of ordnance occurs in the primary processing chamber (PPC), which is an enclosed, oxygen enriched reaction vessel heated by an internally mounted, Universal mode plasma arc torch. The torch, in addition to providing the heat to combust the ordnance, also melts co-fed soil and iron into a slag bath. Ordnance fed from the top of the PPC drops into the slag bath where it melts and combusts. Combustion gasses reach temperatures of up to 2,200 F and are continuously drawn off the PPC through the PAE train, which consists of an afterburner, a wet quench, a wet acid gas absorber, a wet high energy scrubber, a dry bag house, and a NOx catalytic reducer. Molten slag is periodically tapped into slag molds, cooled, and removed for disposal in a solid form. PODS is fully installed and has gone through extensive start-up testing with a variety of pyrotechnic ordnance (smoke, flare, and simulator). A number of tasks are required to complete the research, development and proveout of PODS to the point where it is ready to initiate LRIP, which is the first operation in a sustained full scale production mode. These tasks include resolution of remaining operability issues, optimization studies and improvements, a variety of operational testing (performance verification, environmental compliance), environmental and technical documentation support activities, and LRIP planning activities. Interested respondents should include information that provides evidence of experience in the following areas in a white paper format: 1.) Research, design, fabrication, start-up, developmental testing, troubleshooting, modification, and maintenance of plasma systems operating in an oxidizing environment for the purpose of demilitarization of a variety of fully assembled munitions containing various energetic fills (e.g., smoke, flare, simulator) at rates up to several hundred pounds per hour. 2.) Stationary hearth primary plasma chamber designs utilizing oxygen and water injection, and an oxidizing slag reaction medium. 3.) Experience and familiarity with operation, maintenance, design, and assembly of the Universal mode plasma torch and associated control system. 4.) Understanding of the creation and sustainment of a molten slag reaction medium using non-transferred and transferred torch operational modes for the processing of military ordnance with a variety of casing materials (e.g., aluminum, brass, copper, steel, stainless steel, plastic, cardboard) while maintaining proper slag chemistry (e.g., oxidation levels, silica and iron phase balance) and operating characteristics (e.g., leach resistance, viscosity, conductivity). 5.) Routine tapping and handling of molten slag including use of a burning bar bottom draw slag tap mechanism, slag containment and cooling to a solid form, and subsequent disposal. 6.) Operation and maintenance of start-of-the-art pollution abatement systems for low flow rate off gas comprising both wet and dry scrubbing systems for remediation of organics, NOx, particulate matter, volatilized metals, and acid gases. 7.) Resolution of high temperature (2,200F) off gas pipe plugging issues resulting from very high particulate loads generated by the processing of pyrotechnic munitions. 8.) Environmental compliance testing of incinerator systems in compliance with Clean Air Act and Nevada Division of Environmental Protection regulations, to include calibration drift, relative accuracy test audit, comprehensive performance testing, health risk assessment data collection, and Nevada State compliance testing. 9.) Technical documentation of plasma system operations to include operating and maintenance plans, design drawings, training plans, and start-up and shut-down checklists. 10.) Operational reviews and process analysis and evaluation to identify improvements to thermal treatment processes that increase system performance (e.g., reliability, throughput, operating cost). 11.) An awareness of the intricacies of operation and control of the PODS process, including troubleshooting issues, operating parameters, process chemistry, control interlocks, and operational issues. This market survey is for information and planning purposes only, and does not constitute a Request for Proposal (RFP). It is not to be construed as a commitment by the U.S. Government. No award will be made as a result of this market survey. All information is to be submitted at no cost or obligation to the Government. The Government reserves the right to reject, in whole or in part, any private sector input as a result of this market survey. The Government is not obligated to notify respondents of the results of this survey. Interested sources should submit their qualification data and requested information no later than 1700 hrs EST on 05 August 2009 by email to john.r.swift@us.army.mil. Interested sources may also submit their qualification data and requested information to JM&L Acquisition Center, ATTN: John R. Swift, Building 9, Picatinny Arsenal, New Jersey 07806-5000 no later than1700 hrs EST on 05 August 2009.
- Web Link
-
FBO.gov Permalink
(https://www.fbo.gov/spg/USA/USAMC/DAAE30/W15QKN-09-X-0129/listing.html)
- Record
- SN01882516-W 20090723/090722001410-3011771d5a9c9093cab36b1368b5edb2 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
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