MODIFICATION
J -- AUTOCLAVE CONTROL SYSTEM REPAIR AND UPGRADE
- Notice Date
- 8/22/2013
- Notice Type
- Modification/Amendment
- NAICS
- 811310
— Commercial and Industrial Machinery and Equipment (except Automotive and Electronic) Repair and Maintenance
- Contracting Office
- NASA/George C. Marshall Space Flight Center, Procurement Office, Marshall SpaceFlight Center, AL 35812
- ZIP Code
- 35812
- Solicitation Number
- NNM13474185Q
- Response Due
- 9/13/2013
- Archive Date
- 8/22/2014
- Point of Contact
- Sonja D. White, Contract Specialist, Phone 256-544-1754, Fax 256-961-9604, Email sonja.d.white@nasa.gov - Artra C House, Contract Specialist, Phone 256-544-3507, Fax 256-544-6560, Email artra.c.house@nasa.gov
- E-Mail Address
-
Sonja D. White
(sonja.d.white@nasa.gov)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- Total Small Business
- Description
- THIS NOTICE CONSTITUTES AMENDMENT NO. 3 TO THE COMBINED SYNOPSIS/RFQ FOR AUTOCLAVE CONTROL SYSTEM REPAIR AND UPGRADE. Companies shall acknowledge all amendment(s) in their quote. This notice serves as the official amendment to subject synopsis/RFQ and a written amendment will not be issued. The purpose of this amendment is to post all of the answers generated from questions related to this solicitation and revisions to the Statement of Work and Terms and Conditions. The due date for receipt of offers is extended through 4:30 pm on September 13, 2013. Companies shall provide the information stated in the synopsis/RFQ posted on the NASA Acquisition Internet Service (NAIS) by 4:30 pm CDT on September 6, 2013. Documents related to this procurement are available over the Internet. These documents reside on a World Wide Web (WWW) server which may be accessed using a WWW browser application. The Internet site, or URL, for the NASA/MSFC Business Opportunities home page is http://prod.nais.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/eps/bizops.cgi?gr=D&pin=62 Question 1.Who is the incumbent? Answer Thermal Equipment Corporation built the autoclave and Tarrico installed the control system. Question 2.Upon review of the provided documents we will need additional information in order to properly prepare our quote. The Statement of Work listed on page 12 of the Terms and Conditions of Order does not completely describe the requirements for the upgrade. It states that the computer controllers shall be replaced and include hard-wired safety interlocks. The SOW also states to inspect and replace, repair or certify all process control valves and system components required to operate the Autoclave. It is our position that the format of this scope of work does not clearly define the requirements and will allow a large discrepancy in the systems offered by various venders. As it is clearly stated that the contract will be awarded to the lowest priced, technically acceptable bidder it will be impossible to provide a realistic control system and remain competitively priced. Answer A technical evaluation will be performed which will be considered along with bid pricing. Proposals should include detail information as to what exactly is included in the bid. Question a)Regarding the computer replacement; please confirm that this includes the computer, data acquisition system, Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) as well as the control panel. Answer We are looking for a working system and intend to leave it to the contractor to decide if the existing PLC is sufficient or should be replaced. A touch screen in the control panel is not functional so some control components will require replacing. Question b)If this is not a complete new control system please advise which components will be re-used. Answer The individual contractors bidding on this contract may submit options with bid pricing for each option dependent upon which components need to be replaced. Question c)Regarding the process control valves; this component of the scope of work could be very expensive and may not be required. TECs concept would be to perform a complete inspection and testing of the various components. TEC would then provide a quote for the most cost effective solution of repairing or replacing the individual components as required Answer Contractors are expected to replace any and all currently installed components which are operational but will not properly operate under the newly installed control system due to compatibility issues. Non functional components shall be identified by the contractor during the control system installation and the replacement of those components are outside the scope of this work. Bidders may include pricing options for the replacement of broken equipment. Question 3.We just checked the solicitation details and it indicates the answers to any questions wont be posted until July 11. This will be a bit too late, given it will be difficult to properly price this by the current due date of July 19, 2013. These questions address the key items which basically drive the entire proposal and costs. Please let me know if the questions can be answered earlier or if the due date can be extended. Answer The due date has been extended through September 13, 2013. Question 4. Judging by the images, there seems to be quite a bit unfinished work and modifications that have been done to this system. Kindly advise if a Job Walk can be permitted prior to bidding. Answer On-site was rescheduled for July 31st and August 1st. Question 5.The following are several questions along with our concern regarding this project. Please advise the reason for changing the control system that is already installed and has been running this autoclave for many years. Keep in mind the Taricco(tm) Corporation TCS(tm) Thermal Control System Software and the PLC components are still in production and are NOT Obsolete. Answer One of the touch screens was no longer functional. It was decided that due to the age and the advance in computer control systems that an upgrade would greatly improve the quality and operation of the autoclave while at the same time going through the entire system and ensuring that everything works properly. The system has been down for an extended period of time and training on the autoclave control system is also required. Question 6.We are concerned that through modifications to this system by unqualified venders, lack of operator and maintenance training has left MSFC with an autoclave system that is unsafe to operate. We also feel that Taricco(tm) Corporation can remedy these problems with the best Engineered solutions at the lowest cost. I strongly urge MSFC to discuss this matter with me prior to making a decision to further, and possibly unnecessary attempts to, alter this autoclave and its level of operation capabilities and safety. Answer No modifications to the original control system have been performed. Question 7.Safety controls, have the original safety components been damaged, removed, or altered? (i.e. Door Bolt Lock, person in clave switches, over temperature thermocouples, Electrical disconnects, etc.) Answer No known damage has occurred. Question 8.From the photos provided; it appears that the original control panel has been disassembled. Why? Answer Only one touch screen panel which was no longer functional has been removed. The panel is in a box by the autoclave. Question 9.Vacuum, Pressure, Pressure Vent and Cooling system Valves, Fixed Thermocouples, part Thermocouples, Transducers, and other sensors, what problems exist on these components? Any known issues? Answer There are no known issues. The plastic tubing has been replaced with stainless steel tubing. Question 10.The SOW mentions flow rates. Are there any issues with the existing cooling coil and its associated piping? Do you know what the flow rate is now? Answer There are no known issues. The flow rate is unknown. The autoclave has not been operated in several years. Question 11.Can you provide a copy of the 'Fiberite 977-3 Cure Cycle? Answer EM42 should provide this. Chad? Question 12.Are the blower motor and shaft temperatures monitored? Answer The blower motor temperature is monitored, but not the shaft temperature. Question 13. Is vacuum applied to parts always constant and whatever is available from the source or is there a need for variable vacuum to be controlled by the recipe? Answer The vacuum applied to the parts is controlled but the one vacuum pressure level is applied to all parts equally. Question 14.Please provide type and number of control outputs required. Answer The PLC is a Direct Logic 305 with a DL 350 cpu Analog Inputs 32 Analog Outputs 8 Thermocouple Inputs Type J 32 12V 250V AC Outputs 112 110V AC inputs 48 No digital connections Transducers are either 4 20 mA or 0 5V
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