This is a Sources Sought Synopsis. This synopsis neither constitutes a Request for Proposal, nor does it restrict the Government from an ultimate acquisition approach. This synopsis should not be construed as a commitment by the Government for any purpose. Requests for solicitation will not receive a response. All information is to be submitted at no cost or obligation to the U.S. Government. The U.S. Government reserves the right to reject, in whole or in part, any input as a result of this market survey. The U.S. Government is not obligated to notify respondents of the results of this survey. If a formal solicitation is generated at a later date, a solicitation notice will be published. No award will be made as a result of this market survey. The Indian Head Division Naval Surface Warfare Center is seeking potential sources, pricing and scheduling for the design, manufacture and installation/training of a pelletizing system. The system will be used in Indian Head Division's pilot scale propellant processing facility. The system shall continuously extrude, pelletize and collect propellant grains from a 4-in vertical press. The press discharge is approximately 50-inches above the ground. The ram rate is typically operated between 0.5-in/min to 1.0-in/min. The average density of the propellant is 1.5-g/cc. The available footprint for the pelletizing system is seven feet wide by fourteen feet long. The equipment shall comply with Hazardous Location Class I, Division 1 Groups C & D and Class II, Division 1 Groups E, F and G. The following utilities are provided at the building; electric 110V & 220V, potable and non-potable water, air pressure up to 90psi. Since the operating facility is used for multiple programs the system shall be capable of being installed and removed easily e.g. casters, leveling feet. The pelletizing system shall be operated remotely from another building. It shall be integrated with the existing Allen Bradley SLC500. Due to safety requirements no personnel are allowed in the operating building while the press is running. The system shall be capable of stopping operations and resuming them safely after shutdown. The system shall be designed for ease of cleaning and disassembly. Only sanitary or pharmaceutical grade connections will be allowed. The die should be capable of handling pressures of up to 9,000-psig (that is 3,000-psig hydraulic). The typical hydraulic pressure during normal extrusion operations is between 1,800 and 2,000-psig. The die should be designed such that no stagnation of material occurs inside the die. The manufacturer shall supply the 3-D drawings of the die to Indian Head Division. Engineering procedures for assembling, disassembling, cleaning and operating the system should also be included as well as system oversight during an inert extrusion run. The system should be capable of producing and handling pellets between 0.015 and 0.050-in in diameter. The die should be designed so that multiple diameter die inserts could be used for different geometry requirements. The system should also be capable of collecting the pellets for post processing operations such as screening and drying. If water is used for transporting grains the system should be capable of reusing the water in a closed system. The force applied between the cutter blades and the die face should be adjustable and known. All interested sources shall provide a summary of their company's capabilities including organization name, address, calibration processes, inspection capability, personnel, and past experience. It is also required to provide a point of contact, phone number, fax number, e-mail address, business size, taxpayer identification number, DUNS number, and CAGE Code. All responding sources must email their response submissions no later than February 15, 2010 to: 1) Indian Head Division, Naval Surface Warfare Center Christopher Gonzalez, P.E.Patterson Pilot Plant Offices3032 Strauss AveSuite 101, B863Indian Head MD
[email protected] fax 2) Indian Head Division, Naval Surface Warfare CenterAttn: Ruth D. Adams, Contracting Officer4072 North Jackson Road, Bldg. 1558 Indian Head, MD
[email protected] Large files need to be compressed using WinZip (http://www.winzip.com).