Description
Special Notice: This is neither a request for formal Request for Proposals (RFP) or quotes. The Government will not reimburse any costs associated with the development and submission of materials in response to this request. There is no solicitation available at this time. However, should such a requirement materialize, no basis for claims against NRL shall arise as a result of a response to this Sources Sought notice or NRL's use of such information as either part of our evaluation process or in developing specifications for any subsequent requirement. Objective: Hidden or undetected corrosion and erosion of shipboard piping systems-severe pitting and wall thinning-results in the implementation of damage control procedures while underway (temporary repairs) and/or full repair/replacement of this piping once pierside. These repairs (temporary or full) may limit operations and, possibly, ship capabilities. Further, they are both time consuming and costly. Once detected, the repair process of the failure is not trivial. It requires shutting down the piping zone in which the repair needs to be completed, locking out of the piping system from use, removing, and then replacing, installation/lagging, installing, if necessary, a temporary repair if underway, and finally cutting out and replacing the damaged piping. This is further exasperated in that current inspection methodologies are also complicated requiring removal, and replacement of, insulation/lagging and a certified ultrasonic assessor. In addition, these inspections can only be executed pierside and are impacted by the limited number of qualified assessors, who are also responsible for ship hull and SUBSAFE inspections within the Fleet. To advance the current state of piping repair within the Fleet, the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) seeks to identify, and to assess, technologies for repairing detected damage within the interior of the piping system without the removal of any insulation/lagging. The objective is to repair, with the future to inspect as well, Copper Nickel systems having pipe diameters between 2 to 6 inches, with the focus on the smallest diameter. In addition, the desire is for the repair approach to operate along significant runs, thereby reducing the amount of impact on the piping system for entry and exit of the unit. Further, this repair unit must be retrievable from the piping system, if there is a failure, without the need to further break down, or cut into, the system. Finally, the initial thought would be that the repair needs to be as long term as possible and possibly consist of a metallic spray or cladding technique, but the RFI is not limited to those options if other technologies are deemed viable (maturity and applicability). The overarching objective would be to stress technology that can be operated by both industrial shore-side capabilities and sailors, if necessary at sea. Technologies do not have to be presently at such a readiness level for shipboard implementation but have an identifiable realistic path. Submission Format: The NRL asks that interested parties, at a minimum, supply the following information: a) Name of Company and Point of Contact (POC); b) Telephone Number, Fax Number, Address and e-mail address of POC; c) Business Size and number of employees; d) Type of Set Aside (if applicable); e) Capabilities statement and relevant experience in the focus area above. Submissions shall be provided in electronic format only Primary Place of Contractor Performance: Contractor's facility Assumptions: Please provide a list of assumptions, if any, which were considered in formulating the response.