SOURCES SOUGHT
A -- WOOD CHIPPER SAFETY SYSTEM
- Notice Date
- 1/27/2004
- Notice Type
- Sources Sought
- Contracting Office
- Department of Health and Human Services, Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Acquisition and Assistance Field Branch (Morgantown), 1095 Willowdale Road, Morgantown, WV, 26505
- ZIP Code
- 26505
- Solicitation Number
- Reference-Number-RFI-2004-SR-00002
- Response Due
- 3/4/2004
- Archive Date
- 3/25/2004
- Point of Contact
- Brenda Goodwin, Contract Specialist, Phone (304)285-5882, Fax (304)285-6083, - Rex Wolfe, Jr., Contract Specialist, Phone (304)285-5883, Fax (304)285-6083,
- E-Mail Address
-
bcg1@cdc.gov, rsw1@cdc.gov
- Description
- The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) is seeking to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to work with a wood chipper manufacturer to design, test, and evaluate the marketability of the Wood Chipper Safety System that NIOSH has previously designed and tested. The goal of this project is to improve the safety of operators of wood chippers by bringing the Wood Chipper Safety System into the marketplace. This announcement is a business opportunity in that the partner selected will share expertise with NIOSH researchers toward making the Wood Chipper Safety System a profitable safety product. Present wood chipper safety systems are limited because the position of the safety bar is not reachable from inside the feed chute, making it nearly impossible for an operator to active it if caught inside the feed chute. There is currently no form of passive protection, such as the Wood Chipper Safety System, available for protecting operators from fatal injury if caught inside the feed chute. The Wood Chipper Safety System developed by NIOSH constantly monitors the capacitive charge inside the feed chute. The sensing electrode is configured so that it is not affected by the normal passing of wood through the feed chute. If an operator enters the feed chute, the capacitance changes and is sensed by the control circuitry. If the capacitance increases to a predetermined level, indicating the possibility that the operator?s hand is in the feed chute, the control circuit will produce a warning signal. If the level is high enough, indicating the operator?s body is in the feed chute, the control circuit will produce a shutoff signal to immediately stop the feed mechanism. Simulated lab based testing has been conducted by NIOSH using a simulated feed chute. The results of these tests show that the Wood Chipper Safety System is a viable device that could be used to help prevent deaths due to operators being caught inside a wood chipper?s feed chute. The control circuitry has been updated based on the lab testing. Candidate companies, which appear to provide the most promise of meeting the requirements listed below, may be evaluated by their capability to complete the research and development needed to bring the Wood Chipper Safety System into commercial production. This announcement does not obligate NIOSH to sign an MOU with any presented company. NIOSH reserves the right to establish a partnership based on engineering analysis/evaluation capabilities found under this announcement or other searches, if determined to be in the best interest of the government. Wood Chipper Safety System Commercialization Capabilities Parameters: (Companies should try to meet as many of these requirements as possible, but highly innovative solutions without testing are not discouraged from presentation or response.) (A) Providing significant intellectual, engineering, and technical expertise in manufacturing the Wood Chipper Safety System. This would include defining the cost and usability needs of the wood chipper market. Also, assistance will be given in setting realistic product cost objectives and providing suggestions on how the Wood Chipper Safety System can achieve product cost goals - Required; (B) Providing a wood chipper for the Wood Chipper Safety System integration, testing, and evaluation - Required; (C) Fabricating prototypes for testing and evaluation - Required; (D) Providing expertise to NIOSH in designing and conducting field evaluations - Required; (E) Reviewing test results and recommending design modifications; and (F) Reviewing testing methods and recommending appropriate, new testing criteria; NIOSH is seeking an innovative partner to address these major areas. A company that is qualified and currently is producing wood chippers is highly desired. However, past testing and design of the Wood Chipper Safety System is not required. If prior testing has been performed, the test information and results should be provided. Interested parties responding to this request should provide detailed information regarding capabilities, test results, and cost data. Presentation material may consist of literature, electronic presentation, or video. (Samples and data provided to the government as part of this solicitation will not be returned to vendors following the completion of this project.) Vendors may be offered the opportunity to meet with representatives of the project team following a review of all submitted data. Data and/or product samples must be delivered to NIOSH within two weeks (10 business days) of the closing of this announcement. Although every effort will be made to consider all information received, the government will not be obligated to evaluate information received after the two week period. Vendors should note any proprietary data as such. If any data is to be excluded from exchange with any of the project participants, a statement of that fact shall be included with the statement of propriety. Presentations from interested vendors are optional but encouraged. The government has identified March 24th and 25th, 2004 for the presentations to be conducted. The Government reserves the right to identify an alternate meeting date if those identified are not viable for one or more interested vendors. Please send literature to and coordinate with: John Powers, Project Officer, CDC/NIOSH, MS/G800, 1095 Willowdale Road, Morgantown, WV 26505, Phone: (304) 285-6219, Fax: (304) 285-6047, Email: jop5@cdc.gov. (Please include 3 copies.)
- Record
- SN00510599-W 20040129/040127211758 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
FedBizOpps.gov Link to This Notice
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