Description
NOTICE OF INTENT TO SOLE SOURCE. The National Institutes for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), Pittsburgh Research Laboratory requires remote installation of a cement-based mine seal at NIOSH's Lake Lynn experimental mine. When underground access to a mine fire area is impossible or too dangerous, then airtight mine seals are built, in the area of the fire, either in-mine or remotely through vertical boreholes. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) is conducting research on improving the technology to remotely construct mine seals. The effort outlined herein involves the remote installation of a mine seal. The project work site is at the NIOSH's Lake Lynn Laboratory located off PA State Route 857, southwest of Fairchance, Fayette County, PA (about 60 miles southeast of Pittsburgh, PA, and 10 miles northeast of Morgantown, WV). The mine seals will be installed remotely through a borehole that has been drilled and completed into a cross-cut between the B and C drifts of the underground mine. The borehole has been completed to the mine opening with 6-in diameter casing and is about 200 ft deep. The borehole intercepts the mine workings in a cross-cut that is approximately 19 ft wide and 40 ft long. The mine floor slopes to the southwest on the order of 1.13 percent gradient. A second borehole, located about 30 ft away, is available for viewing the mine seal installation through use of a downhole video camera. Because the schedule of in-mine work and weather conditions at the Lake Lynn Laboratory play such an important role in determining the exact timing of work, construction of the seal may be delayed until spring of 2006. The proposed work for the installation of each of the seals will be completed over a two (2) month time period in three phases as follows. Phase 1 – Development of a Project Plan - This work will be conducted over a one (1) month time period and will involve identification of the material to be used in the construction of the mine seal, development of a plan of work, and a material injection schedule. This plan will be jointly developed between NIOSH and the Contractor. Phase 2 - Construction of a Remote Mine Seal – Upon receipt of notification to proceed, the Contractor will implement the plan developed in concert with NIOSH in Phase 1. Work under Phase 2 will involve construction of mine seal No. 1 as follows over a 1-2 day time period. The Contractor will construct the mine seals remotely through the injection borehole. The installation of mine seal No. 1 will be made with direct visual and voice contact with those working in the underground mine environment. NIOSH will provide access for the contractor using NIOSH-owned video equipment and mine telephones. Underground access for direct viewing will also be provided for the Contractor. Seal construction will proceed until roof-to-floor and rib-to-rib closure has been achieved or it is deemed by that the material cannot fill the mine opening. The Contractor will ensure seal material consistency throughout the construction process and will continuously monitor material flow, material density, pressure and flow progress. Once the installation of mine seal No. 1 is complete, the Contractor will meet with NIOSH personnel to review the process and to develop a plan for the installation of mine seal No. 2 (NIOSH will concurrently initiate the process for removal of mine seal No. 1). The plan for mine seal No. 2 will follow the process outlined in Phase 1. It is understood that the material mix, delivery system or injection schedule for the second mine seal may be modified to remedy any problems identified during construction of the first mine seal. The second seal will be constructed without direct voice communication with those observing the process in the mine (note, viewing of the construction process will be available of the injection borehole site from a NIOSH monitor that will be connected to a video camera installed in the monitoring borehole located 30 ft away). Seal construction will proceed until roof-to-floor and rib-to-rib closure has been achieved or it is deemed by that the material cannot fill the mine opening. The Contractor will ensure seal material consistency throughout the construction process and will continuously monitor material flow, material density, pressure and flow progress. It is estimated that as much as 220 yd3 of material may be needed to fill construct each mine seal and fill the underground cross-cut area. Phase 3 - Development of a Summary Report - Once the mine seals have been constructed, the Contractor will generate a report for NIOSH describing the approach, construction process used including material injection rates, recorded pressures, volume of material used, copies of field charts and treatment reports, etc. The contractor will also identify problems encountered and suggestions, if any, for improving the mine seal construction process. This work will be completed over a one month period. The material mix, delivery system or injecton schedule for the second mine seal may be modified to remedy problems identified during construction of the first mine seal. At present, Halliburton is the only company known to commercially provide a high-rate, bulk cement-based material injection process for remote mine seal construction in active underground coal mines. This process has been exclusively used by mine operators to remotely construct mine seals for mine fire suppression in underground coal mines. Unfortunately, the mine seals that have been constructed using this process have not completely closed the mine opening and therefore did not seal the mine as designed. NIOSH is conducting ongoing research to evaluate and improve the technology to remotely construct mine seals. NIOSH is therefore interested in evaluating the Halliburton seal construction process and the resultant mine seal at their Lake Lynn Experimental Mine. Organizations that believe they can provide a seal construction process comparable to the one identified above are encouraged to identify themselves to the Contracting Officer within 15 days from the posting date of this notice. Interested parties shall provide documentation which demonstrates that they have the expertise and capabilities necessary to meet the stated requirements. Please forward capabilities and supporting information to: Brenda L. Goodwin., Reference: #2005-Q-02293, DHHS, PHS, CDC, NIOSH, ALOSH, 1095 Willowdale Road, Morgantown, WV 26505. A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed action based on responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Information received will solely be used for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement. If no affirmative responses are received within 15 days, award will be made to Halliburton in Charleston, West Virginia under the authority of FAR 6.302-1. All information received will be considered by the Government.