66 -- FRONT LOADING, 25-TON HOT PRESS FURNACE

Notice Date

July 10, 2001

Contracting Office

NASA/Ames Research Center, JA:M/S 241-1, Moffett Field, CA 94035-1000

ZIP Code

94035-1000

Solicitation Number

RFQ2-38021-MXS

Response Due

July 25, 2001

Point of Contact

Marianne Shelley, Purchasing Agent, Phone (650) 604-4179, Fax (650) 604-4357, Email mshelley@mail.arc.nasa.gov -- Ronnee R. Gonzalez, Contracting Officer, Phone (650) 604-4386, Fax (650) 604-4357, Email rgonzalez@mail.arc.nasa.gov

E-Mail Address

Marianne Shelley (mshelley@mail.arc.nasa.gov)

Description

This notice is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items prepared in accordance with the format in FAR Subpart 12.6, as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation; quotes are being requested and a written solicitation will not be issued. This procurement is being conducted under the Simplified Acquisition Procedures (SAP). NASA Ames Research Center plans to purchase a 25-ton front loading hot press furnace system. This system will be used by the Thermal Protection Materials and Systems Branch in their research of high temperature materials. The system specifications have the following minimum requirements: I. Furnace General Description: (a) Front-loading furnace chamber. (b) Usable work zone: 4" diameter X 6" high. (c) Pressing Force: 25 tons. (d) Operating Temperature: 2200 degrees C. in vacuum, argon, helium, or nitrogen. (e) Working Vacuum Level: 10-6 Torr range. (f) Process Atmosphere: Vacuum, Argon, Nitrogen, Helium. II. Furnace Chamber Characteristics: (a) 304L Stainless Steel, double-walled, water-cooled. (b) Vertically mounted chamber. (c) Door opens fully. (d) All o-rings to be viton. (e) Chamber and Door exterior /interior electropolished Stainless Steel. (f) Chamber Ports to include: 2 each 1/4" I.D., gas inlet ports, 4" diameter vacuum port, one thermocouple port on top or bottom of chamber to allow thermocouple placement in die. (g) Two gas ported rotatable sight window with quartz lens with one of the ports shuttered. III. Heat Zone: (a) Tungsten mesh heating elements to surround heat zone. (b) Door half of element internally connected to eliminate door connected power cables. (c) Multiple-layer tungsten and molybdenum radiation heat shields to surround hot zone. (d) Openings for sight windows and control thermocouples in heat shields and element. (e) Power feed-throughs machined from solid copper (no water to vacuum joints). (f) Power feed-through protection covers. IV. Vacuum System: (a) 1600 l/sec Turbomolecular Pump resistant to high foreline pressures and with an inlet screen to prevent damage to vanes. (b) Appropriately sized and type of Leybold backing pump with mist arrestor. V. Process Gas System: (a) Backfill inlet gas valve. (b) Sweep flow inlet gas valve. (c) Mass flow controllers (Edwards 800 series) for argon, nitrogen, and helium. (d) Chamber exhaust valve with 1 psig relief valve. (e) 2 psig system relief valve. (f) Automated valving system for process gas, inlet, vent, rough vacuum, and turbo-pump. (g) Manual bypass of automated valving interlocks. (h) Plumbed with cleaned 1/4 inch stainless steel tubing and fittings. VI. Cooling System: (a) Master safety-flow switch on water-inlet manifold. Flow switch to protect furnace in the event of water supply failure. (b) Visual water flow meters for monitoring and interlocked on pressing ram cooling circuit and turbopump circuit. (c) Manual valves for flow adjustment of water circuits. VII. Controls and Instrumentation: (a) Free standing control cabinet. Instruments mounted on hinged standard 19" panels. (b) Engraved and color enhanced graphic control display. (c) Furnace controls are centralized on front of cabinet for easy operation. (d) Eurotherm Model 2704 controller programmer with "C" & "B" thermocouple inputs, one 4-20ma pyrometer input, one press system load cell input, one high vacuum ion gauge input, two pirani gauge inputs, up to 50 programs, 500 segments, Mod-buss communications and 16 program event outputs, iTools control software with remote computer control capability. The Eurotherm Model controller is the same controller that is on our existing hot press, and both presses will be operated by the same operator. To avoid operator confusion, for ease of maintenance, and to allow interchangeability, the Eurotherm Model 2704 is required. (e) Eurotherm Model 2216 Over-Temperature indicator -control (this model is required for the same reasons listed in (d) above. (f) Chell (Edwards) model 1605 Automatic Mass Flow controller (this model is required for the same reasons listed in (d) above. (g) Turbomolecular pump controller. (h) One (1) automatic thermocouple retraction device with "KF" quick disconnect flange. (i) One Mikron pyrometer, model M77S dual color with 1000-2500 degrees C. range. (This model must interface the Eurotherm controller for the same reasons as in (d) above). (j) One type "C" over temperature detection thermocouple, 1/8" diameter molybdenum sheathed by length as required is embedded in heat shields for safe indirect over-temperature limiting sensor when furnace heat zone is operating at maximum rated temperature. (k) A programmable logic controller for the vacuum system. (l) Vacuum gauges coupled directly to Eurotherm model 2704. Process set point and degas are handled by the 2704 controller. All necessary connecting cables are provided and power supplies for gauges are provided. (m) Over-temperature sensor and interlock for exterior of furnace chamber. (n) Two copies of Operating Instruction Manual and Maintenance/Replacement Part components manual, two complete sets of installation drawings, and a complete set of all Component Operating Manuals. VIII. Hydraulic Press System for 25 Ton operation: (a) 25 ton, four (4) rigid-post and platen load frame with threaded post for easy ram alignment. (b) Press system capable of 1 100 pounds control from 2,000 to 50,000 pounds of load. (c) Ram Displacement indicator for monitoring pressing ram position accuracy 1 0.001". (d) Hydraulic cylinder top mounted (2.5" ram, 6" stroke). (e) Hydraulic pump with self-contained reservoir. (f) Proportional pressure control valve for manual and programmed pressure control operation with appropriate valves, manifolds, and pressure gauge indicators. (g) Upper and lower water-cooled stainless steel cold rams (3" diameter). (h) Bellows ram seals for upper 6" travel and lower nominal. (i) 25 ton load cell with signal conditioner (signal to Eurotherm model 2704). IX. Utility Requirements: (a) 480 volts, 3 phase, 60 Hz. X. Vendor must provide onsite installation and training. The provisions and clauses in the RFQ are those in effect through FAC 97-27. The NAICS Code and the small business size standard for this procurement are 333994 and 500, respectively. The quoter shall state in their quotation their size status for this procurement. All qualified responsible business sources may submit a quotation which shall be considered by the agency. Delivery to ARC is required within 90 days ARO. Delivery shall be FOB Destination. The DPAS rating for this procurement is DO-C9. Quotations for the items(s) described above are due by July 25, 2001 and may be mailed or faxed to NASA Ames Research Center, Acquisition Branch for Aeronautics, M/S 227-4, Moffett Field, CA 94035-1000, Attn: Marianne Shelley, Fax: 650-604-4357; and include, solicitation number, FOB destination to this Center, proposed delivery schedule, discount/payment terms, warranty duration (if applicable), taxpayer identification number (TIN), identification of any special commercial terms, and be signed by an authorized company representative. Quoters are encouraged to use the Standard Form 1449, Solicitation/Contract/Order for Commercial Items form found at URL: http://procure.arc.nasa.gov/Acq/Forms/Index.html to submit a quotation. Quoters shall provide the information required by FAR 52.212-1. If the end product quoted is other than domestic end product as defined in the clause entitled "Buy American Act -- Supplies," the quoter shall so state and shall list the country of origin. The Representations and Certifications required by FAR 52.2l2-3 may be obtained via the internet at URL: http://ec.msfc.nasa.gov/msfc/pub/reps_certs/sats/ FAR 52.212-4 is applicable. FAR 52.212-5 is applicable and the following identified clauses are incorporated by reference. 52.222-3, 52.233-3, 52.222-19, 52.222-21, 52.222-26, 52.222-35, 52.222-36, 52.222-37, 52.225-3, 52.225-13, 52.232-33. The FAR may be obtained via the Internet at URL: http://www.arnet.gov/far/ The NFS may be obtained via the Internet at URL: http://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/procurement/regs/nfstoc.htm Questions regarding this acquisition must be submitted in writing no later than July 17, 2001. Selection and award will be in accordance with FAR 52.212-2 with the following evaluation factors: 1.) Technical Acceptability; 2.) Delivery; 3.) Past Performance, 4.) Cost. Technical acceptability will be determined by information submitted by the quoter providing a description in sufficient detail to show that the product quoted meets the Government's requirement. The requirements include: 1.) Ease of use, maintenance, and support; and, 2.) Quoters must provide two (2) references of previous orders for the item quoted. Quoters must provide copies of the provision at 52.212-3, Offeror Representation and Certifications -- Commercial Items with their quote. See above for where to obtain copies of the form via the Internet. An ombudsman has been appointed -- See NASA Specific Note "B". Prospective quoters shall notify this office of their intent to submit a quotation. It is the quoter's responsibility to monitor the following Internet site for the release of amendments (if any): http://nais.msfc.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/EPS/bizops.cgi?gr=C&pin=21 Potential quoters will be responsible for downloading their own copy of this combination synopsis/solicitation and amendments (if any). Any referenced notes can be viewed at the following URL: http://genesis.gsfc.nasa.gov/nasanote.html

Web Link

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Record

Loren Data Corp. 20010712/66SOL014.HTM (D-191 SN50R447)