SOURCES SOUGHT
A -- Shaft Life Investments
- Notice Date
- 7/28/2011
- Notice Type
- Sources Sought
- NAICS
- 541712
— Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Biotechnology)
- Contracting Office
- Department of the Navy, Office of Naval Research, Naval Research Laboratory, 4555 Overlook Ave. S.W., Washington, District of Columbia, 20375
- ZIP Code
- 20375
- Solicitation Number
- NRL-11-LG02
- Point of Contact
- Lauren A. Gooding, Phone: 2027673003
- E-Mail Address
-
lauren.gooding@nrl.navy.mil
(lauren.gooding@nrl.navy.mil)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- Reference Number NRL-11-LG02, issued 07/28/2011, entitled Shaft Life Advancements, is a Request for Information (RFI) issued by the Naval Research Laboratory for information and planning purposes only. No awards will be made from the responses to this announcement. The responses to this RFI will be considered in the planning and definition of Maintenance Free Ship Technologies programs. This is not a commitment to fund any effort submitted in response to this request. The Government will not reimburse any costs associated with the development and submission of materials in response to this request. The main propulsion shaft is a critical component of a Navy ship; mobility is a key mission profile requirement. The operation of a rotating shaft that must penetrate the ship's hull presents some unique engineering challenges. The hull penetration point must be sealed with a complex mechanical device that allows for rotation while, at the same time, prevents the ingress of sea water. The shaft must be supported by a complex system of multiple bearings that minimize friction and provide physical support. The shaft must be high strength to transmit rotational torque from the engines to the propeller. The shaft must operate in sea water, which is a highly corrosive environment. Propulsion shafts represent a single point of failure; even on multiple shaft ships, all shafts are needed for full power and maneuverability. The removal and inspection of the main propulsion shaft requires drydocking of the ship. This maintenance requirement is the primary driver in the establishment of the ten year drydock periodicity. Drydocking takes the ship out of service for the duration of the maintenance availability. From the standpoint of cost and operational availability of the ship, the extension of the drydock interval is desirable. The purpose of this RFI is to identify component or process technologies that will eliminate corrosion and wear related degradation of shaft system components. Additionally, there is interest in monitoring and inspecting technologies that reduce the need to remove the shaft for verification of component integrity. Recent and ongoing Navy efforts have identified several targeted areas for improvement in shaft materials, design, and management practices. These include: -Elimination of crevice corrosion and corrosion fatigue between the shaft and the shaft sleeve; -Elimination of general and galvanic corrosion of shaft system components through material selection and/or redesign of component configurations; -Development of monitoring and inspection technologies which allow the condition of shaft components to be assessed without drydocking the ship and removing the shaft; -Development of a method to control the corrosion dynamics directly through some form of cathodic protection applied at the shaft to shaft sleeve interface. Additionally, developing technological advances in bearing and shaft sleeve materials along with developing a better understanding of the tribological parameters and constraints of seawater lubricated marine bearings is one of the key parameters for the Shaft Life Advancement program. NRL is interested in white papers that address both the corrosion aspects of the shaft to shaft sleeve interface and enhanced tribology factors for the shaft sleeve to bearing interface as delineated above. Collaboration and teaming between groups is encouraged to achieve the technical goals and manufacturing capability. In concert with consideration of new technology and designs, the Navy has established goals which will also govern the development options. While Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 4 or 5 systems are not necessary, the development plans have been established with the intent of making prototype technologies available for testing purposes during the Fiscal Year 2012. An Industry Day will be held on Tuesday October 13, 2011 to provide additional information and discussion on this topic. Details and registration information may be found at https://secure.onr.navy.mil/events/regdetail.asp?cid=791. Attendance is voluntary and not required to respond to this RFI. Registration is required to attend the Industry Day. Time will be allowed during the industry day for potential offerors to interface with other interested commercial and academic parties. Time will be allowed during the industry day for one-on-one discussions with Navy technical representatives. Submissions This RFI is for planning purposes only and shall not be construed as a Request for Proposal (RFP) or as an obligation on the part of NRL to acquire any product or services. The NRL does not intend to award a contract based on this RFI or otherwise pay for the information requested. Submission of a response to this RFI is voluntary. The voluntary submission of a response to this RFI shall not obligate the NRL to pay or entitle the submitter to any compensation. All information and data received in response to this RFI marked or designated as corporate or proprietary information will be protected as such. Technology maturity and manufacturing capability shall be included. Each source should also provide a two (2) page maximum resume or curriculum vitae for the Principal Investigator. Responses shall be transmitted by email to lauren.gooding@nrl.navy.mil in either Microsoft Word or pdf format. All responses shall be received on or before 14 November 2011, 12 Noon, Eastern Time. If paper copies are sent, they must be received at 4555 Overlook Ave. SW, Washington, DC 20375-5320, Attn: Lauren Gooding, Code 3220.LG. The package should be marked with the RFI number, due date and time. The U.S. Postal Service continues to irradiate letters, flats, Express and Priority Mail with stamps for postage and other packages with stamps for postage destined to government agencies in the ZIP Code ranges 202 through 205. Due to potential delays in receiving mail, offerors are encouraged to use alternatives to the mail when submitting proposals. Other business opportunities for NRL are available at our website http://heron.nrl.navy.mil/contracts/rfplist.htm.
- Web Link
-
FBO.gov Permalink
(https://www.fbo.gov/spg/DON/ONR/N00173/NRL-11-LG02/listing.html)
- Place of Performance
- Address: Naval Research Laboratory, 4555 Overlook Ave. S.W., Washington, District of Columbia, 20375, United States
- Zip Code: 20375
- Zip Code: 20375
- Record
- SN02514518-W 20110730/110729000058-bbe96ff551344d0df2dc74182165b9da (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
FedBizOpps Link to This Notice
(may not be valid after Archive Date)
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