SOURCES SOUGHT
A -- Structural Capacity of Alkali-Silica Reaction Nuclear Concrete Structures
- Notice Date
- 5/14/2013
- Notice Type
- Sources Sought
- NAICS
- 541712
— Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Biotechnology)
- Contracting Office
- Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Office of Administration, Division of Contracts, 11555 Rockville Pike, Rockville, Maryland, 20852-2738, United States
- ZIP Code
- 20852-2738
- Solicitation Number
- NRC-05-14-2013
- Archive Date
- 6/12/2013
- Point of Contact
- Sandra Nesmith,
- E-Mail Address
-
sandra.nesmith@nrc.gov
(sandra.nesmith@nrc.gov)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- THE U. S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION (NRC) is issuing this Sources Sought Synopsis as a means of conducting market research or as a market survey to determine the availability of potential qualified vendors with the technical capability to provide all management, supervision, administration, and labor for the Structural Capacity of Alkali-Silica Reaction (ASR) Nuclear Concrete Structures. Alkali-silica reaction (ASR) is a reaction which can occur over time in concrete between the highly alkaline cement paste and reactive non-crystalline (amorphous) silica, which is found in many common aggregates. This reaction causes the expansion of the altered aggregate by the formation of a swelling gel of Calcium Silicate Hydrate (CSH). This gel increases in volume with water and exerts an expansive pressure inside the material, which may cause spalling and loss of strength of the concrete. The time dependent static and dynamic structural capacity of the ASR affected concrete structure needs to be assessed for making licensing decisions with regards to the safety of ASR affected operating NPP's and for decisions and for the 20 year license renewal of NPP's. The NRC is seeking to identify firms capable of conducting technical support activities to develop the technical basis for NRC staff to evaluate the effects of ASR on the structural capacities of concrete structures as a function of time. The focus of the study shall be the assessment of the structural performance of ASR affected concrete structures subject to design basis static and dynamic loading and load combinations through its service life, including the period of extended operation for the 20-year license renewal period. Evaluation of the chemical degradation of the concrete structures (ASR) as a function of time (and associated concrete properties deterioration) must be an integral component of the structural assessment. Assessing the structural performance of the reinforced concrete element exhibiting distress due to ASR is an important component of a structural management plan. Furthermore, an aging management plan that includes a revised schedule for inspection and evaluation for affected concrete will require understanding the rate of the ASR degradation. The study should focus on developing the technical bases for estimating the current and future structural properties of the concrete structure, and techniques for detecting, identifying and monitoring of ASR affected structures. Specific activities concerning the technical support activities, priority and technical capabilities that will be provided to the NRC include: 1. Identifying and evaluating methods for managing the effects of ASR to maintain intended functionality of the concrete structures, 2. Identifying criteria to assess the state of the ASR with respect to structural performance, 3. Identifying and evaluating methods for determining the state and severity of the ASR degradation, and for predicting the rate at which the reaction is progressing, 4. Identifying the effects of ASR on the capacity of anchorages, 5. Identifying and evaluating methods for determining the impact of ASR on the mechanical properties of reinforced concrete as they relate to the static and dynamic performance, 6. Identifying parameters to be measured and the criteria to be used to determine when the ACI 349 code provisions and other related standards and codes may not be valid, 7. Identifying data needed to develop reliable numerical models for the formation of ASR and for evaluating the performance of ASR-affected concrete, 8. Quantifying the change in transport processes through ASR-affected concrete and identifying how it may affect other degradation mechanisms such as corrosion of the steel reinforcement, 9. Identifying standard test methods for new construction that may improve the effectiveness of reducing the likelihood of ASR for new structures, and 10. Developing numerical models of the static and dynamic performance of ASR affected concrete and models to predict ASR reaction in concrete structures, as a function of time. The NRC estimates that three or more principal engineers/scientists will be required to support this effort on a full time basis for 3 years. The principal engineers/scientists must have several years of experience in the design, construction, testing, inspection and aging management of concrete structures and cementitious materials behavior including testing, analyses, multiple component modeling of degradation processes, and service life prediction of concrete structures. The principal engineers/scientists must also have strong backgrounds in typical nuclear industry practices for maintenance, testing, codes and practices and familiarity with NRC licensing and inspection processes. The performing organization should have experimental facilities for large scale testing of concrete specimens, and a concrete materials laboratory for microstructural testing of cementitious samples, cements, aggregates and reinforcing steel. Services are to be provided to the NRC in Rockville, Maryland. The applicable North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code assigned to this procurement is 541712. THERE IS NO SOLICITATION AT THIS TIME. This request for sources and vendor information does not constitute a request for proposal; submission of any information in response to this market survey is purely voluntary; the Government assumes no financial responsibility for any costs incurred. REQUIRED CAPABILITIES: The NRC requires performing organizations to provide access to competencies, accrued knowledge, and highly specialized skills in the areas of, but not limited to: • Static and dynamic structural performance of nuclear or similar type concrete structures. • Cementitious materials performance including testing, analyses, synergistic degradation modeling, microstructural cementitious materials modeling, service life predictions of concrete structures. • Numerical modeling of microstructural behavior of cementitious materials and service life of degraded concrete structures. • Experimental facilities and equipment and the capability to design and apply new measurement techniques. The contractors should have in-depth knowledge in their technical area in order to identify and resolve issues. The purpose of this announcement is to provide potential sources the opportunity to submit information regarding their capabilities to perform work for the NRC free of conflict of interest (COI). For information on NRC COI regulations, visit NRC Acquisition Regulation Subpart 2009.5 (http://www.nrc.gov/about-nrc/contracting/48cfr-ch20.html). All interested parties, including all categories of small businesses (small businesses, small disadvantaged businesses, 8(a) firms, women-owned small businesses, service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses, and HUBZone small businesses) are invited to submit a response. The capabilities package submitted by a vendor should demonstrate the firm's ability, capability, and responsibility to perform the principal components of work listed below. The package should also include past performance/experience regarding projects of similar scope listing the project title, general description, the dollar value of the contract, and name of the company, agency, or government entity for which the work was performed. Organizations responding to this market survey should keep in mind that only focused and pertinent information is requested. If significant subcontracting or teaming is anticipated in order to deliver technical capability, organizations should address the administrative and management structure of such arrangements. Submission of additional materials such as glossy brochures or videos is discouraged. HOW TO RESPOND TO THIS SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE If your organization has the capability and capacity to perform, as a prime contractor, one or more of the services described in this notice, then please respond to this notice and provide written responses to the following information. Please do not include any proprietary or otherwise sensitive information in the response, and do not submit a proposal. Proposals submitted in response to this notice will not be considered. 1. Organization name, address, emails address, Web site address and telephone number. 2. What size is your organization with respect to NAICS code identified in this notice (i.e. "small" or "other than small")? If your organization is a small business under the aforementioned NAICS code, what type of small business (i.e. small disadvantaged business, woman-owned small business, economically disadvantaged woman-owned small business, veteran-owned small business, service-disabled veteran-owned small business, 8(a), or HUBZone small business? Specify all that apply. 3. Although no geographic restriction is anticipated, if responding organizations are located outside the Washington Metropolitan area (Maryland, Virginia, and the District of Columbia), indicate how the organization would coordinate with the NRC program office located in Rockville, Maryland to provide the support services. 4. Separately and distinctly describe which of the required capabilities listed above that your organization possesses and indicate your organization's role (prime contractor, first tier subcontractor, and/or supplier) in related contracts. Please also provide the contract number, contract type, customer name, address and point of contact phone number and email address, contract value, thorough description of supplies and services included in the scope of that contract, indication of how they differ from the required capabilities described in this notice, period of performance (for services) or delivery date (for products), and any other relevant information. 5. For Electronic and Information Technology (EIT) product offerings relevant to this requirement provide completed Voluntary Product Accessibility templates or other documentation that addresses compliance with the applicable standards (add website link) for those products. For any federal customers that your agency has provided information technology services within the required capabilities areas, indicate how your company complies with applicable Section 508 standards (see buyaccesible.gov). 6. For any federal customers that your agency has for the required capabilities, indicate how your company complies with applicable environmental laws and Federal regulations (See NRC's Green Purchasing Plan at: http://pbadupws.nrc.gov/docs/ML1219/ML12191A130.pdf). 7. Indicate whether your organization offers any of the required capabilities described in this notice on one or more of your company's own Federal Government contracts (i.e., GSA Federal Supply Schedule contract or Government wide Acquisition Contracts) that the NRC could order from and, if so, which services are offered. Also, provide the contract number(s) and indicate what is currently available for ordering from each of those contract(s). 8. Provide a standard, non-proprietary commercial price list or similar standard non-proprietary commercial pricing information for how your company sells, as a prime contractor, required capabilities described in this notice that your organization has experience providing. Also, indicate what is included in that pricing. 9. Is your organization currently performing or have in the past performed same or similar services as those listed above for any of the licensees regulated by the NRC? If so, which licensees? See http://www.nrc.gov/about-nrc/regulatory/licensing.html for more information on NRC licensing. 10. Has your organization previously faced organizational conflict of interest issues with NRC? If so, what were they and how were they mitigated or resolved? Interested organizations responding to this Sources Sought Synopsis are encouraged to structure capability statements in the order of the area of consideration noted above. All capability statements sent in response to this notice must be submitted electronically, via e-mail, to Sandra Nesmith, at sandra.nesmith@nrc.gov, in either MS Word or Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF), within 14 days from the date of publication of this notice. DISCLAIMER AND NOTES: Any organization responding to this notice should ensure that its response is complete and sufficiently detailed to allow the Government to determine the organization's potential capability and capacity to perform the subject work. Respondents are advised that the Government is under no obligation to acknowledge receipt of the information received or provide feedback to respondents with respect to any information submitted. After a review of the responses received, a pre-solicitation synopsis and solicitation may be published in Federal Business Opportunities. However, responses to this notice will not be considered adequate responses to a solicitation.
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