SOURCES SOUGHT
A -- Processing Trial of Stretch Film Containing Expandable Microspheres and Polyisobutylene
- Notice Date
- 5/10/2013
- Notice Type
- Sources Sought
- NAICS
- 541712
— Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Biotechnology)
- Contracting Office
- ACC-APG - Natick (SPS), ATTN: AMSRD-ACC-N, Natick Contracting Division (R and BaseOPS), Building 1, Kansas Street, Natick, MA 01760-5011
- ZIP Code
- 01760-5011
- Solicitation Number
- W911QY-13-Q-CFD1
- Response Due
- 5/24/2013
- Archive Date
- 7/9/2013
- Point of Contact
- Darlene Rideout, (508) 233-6134
- E-Mail Address
-
ACC-APG - Natick (SPS)
(darlene.l.rideout.civ@mail.mil)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- A. Background The U.S. Military has a continual need to reduce the amount and overall weight of packaging waste generated in the field. Millions of operational rations are consumed each year, generating thousands of tons of packaging waste. Due to the enormous handling and disposal costs, the military needs ration packaging and packing materials such as stretch wrap for unit loads that reduce logistical burden, reduce dependence on petroleum-based plastics packaging, and eliminate negative impact on the environment. Combat ration packaging systems, which include stretch wrap used for pallet loads of Meals, Ready-to Eat (MRE ), must meet high performance and operational requirements in order to safely transport and preserve high-quality food items for the Warfighter. These performance requirements include surviving rough handling, extreme weather conditions, and a three-year shelf life at 80 F. Although current ration packaging materials and systems provide adequate protection for ration survival and shelf life, there are potentially more efficient, environmentally-friendly, lightweight, lower density, and cost effective alternative technologies available that could reduce the amount of packaging or raw material used, reduce transportation and disposal costs, and ultimately reduce military solid waste. A current U.S. Army Natick Soldier Research, Development and Engineering Center (NSRDEC) project is investigating sustainable technologies and environmentally-friendly alternatives for secondary and unit load ration packaging systems, which include pallet stretch wraps and/or tunnel bags with decreased volume or density or that contain biodegradable and/or bio-based polymers. As part of this project, a novel expandable polymeric microsphere technology as a stretch film component is being investigated by NSRDEC for potential pallet wrap applications. Advantages of this novel technology may include reduced fossil-fuel based plastics use, solid waste, film density, and weight. This concept is to introduce free volume into the stretch film thereby displacing polymer. Expandable polymeric microspheres consist of isopentane gas encapsulated in a polyacrylonitrile polymer shell. The thin plastic shell softens when heated and isopentane gas expansion causes the microsphere to expand. Expansion results in the decrease in density from 1000 to 3 kg/m. Expanded microspheres can deform or compress, and elastically can recover without rupture. Previous studies at NSRDEC investigated cast and blown film extrusion of polyolefins such as high density polyethylene, polypropylene, and low density/linear low density polyethylene (LDPE/LLDPE) blends with microsphere loading levels ranging from 0.5 percent to 5 percent in monolayer and multilayer extruded films for other ration components in the MRE. NSRDEC also conducted processing trials and testing of microspheres-loaded stretch film prototypes, which contained two grades of microspheres at two different loading levels in the stretch film. The trials were conducted on a commercial blown stretch film production line, where four different multilayer stretch film prototypes containing expandable microspheres were produced as well as control stretch films that did not contain microspheres. The microspheres were added to the core layer only in order to minimize expansion through the surface of the film. Examination of the processed films by optical microscopy showed that the microspheres were intact and had expanded 3-5 times in diameter. B. Requirements This proposed effort is focused on stretch wrap prototypes containing polymeric expandable microspheres, with the goal to reduce the amount and volume of plastic in the film. This effort will support the US Army, as well as the US Navy Waste Afloat Protects the Sea (WRAPS) program involving research efforts by the NSRDEC to decrease the amount of plastic waste on board naval vessels. The NSRDEC is looking to run multi-layer, blown stretch film using a common formula that is typically applied to the contractor's products, and then incorporate expandable microspheres into the film to determine how the microspheres affect the stretch properties of the film and what level of density/weight reduction we are observing in the final product. As noted in the above section, NSRDEC conducted a similar initial trial in 2012. The objective of this second trial is to modify and improve the cling layer of the stretch film containing the microspheres. The NSRDEC is seeking interested vendors to: (a) complete small-scale, experimental blown film processing trials to incorporate two grades of expandable microspheres technology into standard LLDPE-based stretch film that are used for wrapping 40 quote mark L x 48 quote mark W pallet loads of US military combat rations, and, (b) conduct subsequent testing typical for stretch film of the control (unfilled) base stretch film and of each of four different microspheres-loaded stretch film prototypes (reference Table 2 below). This effort will build upon the previous experience outlined above that NSRDEC has in working with microspheres in flexible polymeric films and stretch films. NSRDEC's goal is that all prototypes possess good cling/tack, strength, and puncture properties in order to be able to survive any rough handling experienced during transportation and storage of ration pallet loads in the military supply chain. 1. Period of Performance This overall effort should be completed within three months, including testing. The film processing trial should be conducted within one month of contract award, followed by a series of testing of the four different microsphere-loaded prototypes and control stretch film. 2. Processing The stretch film incorporating microspheres must be processed at low enough temperatures so that the microspheres do not burst or degrade. Control of expansion is needed to ensure that all the microspheres are contained within the stretch film. The two different types of microsphere masterbatches to be used in this trial are shown in Table 1, which is provided as attachment 1 to this sources sought synopses. The melt temperature of all materials containing microspheres should not exceed the maximum melt temperatures specified in Table 1, which is provided as attachment 1 to this sources sought synopses. Temperatures exceeding these values will cause the microspheres to turn yellow and degrade. Manufacturing of this material must be producible with the use of the migratory cling agent polyisobutene (PiB) in an amount that will facilitate appropriate cling in the final microsphere-based stretch film prototypes. Cling properties must be tested three days after film processing to allow enough time for the PiB to migrate to the surface of the film. The five different samples to be produced during the trial are shown in Table 2, which is provided as attachment 1 to this sources sought synopses. Two different microsphere loading levels will be trialed as specified by NSRDEC, for example, 0.25 percent and 0.50 percent by weight. 3. Deliverables NSRDEC will be the owner of all finished products from this production trial. Deliverables for this effort will include two rolls of stretch film for each of the five sample types shown in Table 2, which is provided as attachment 1 to this sources sought synopses, including the control film with no microspheres. Each roll must be at least 1000 feet in length per sample type. A total of 10 rolls of stretch film will be produced from the trial. One roll of each sample type will be shipped to NSRDEC (5 rolls total). One roll of each sample type will stay with the contractor for testing (5 rolls total), with any extra film being shipped to NSRDEC following completion of the contractor's testing. The stretch film must be commercially supplied to NSRDEC in specified roll sizes and film thicknesses as listed in Table 3, which is provided as attachment 1 to this sources sought synopses. In addition, all stretch film produced during the trial must be able to be applied to pallet loads manually or using automatic commercial stretch wrap equipment, and the control (unfilled) base stretch film must have good clarity and transparency. 4. Testing of Prototypes The proposed contractor will also be responsible for conducting standard ASTM laboratory tests typical for stretch film on the four different prototypes and the control film (for reference), to include: tensile (ultimate PSI and elongation percentage per ASTM D882), 50 percent and 100 percent modulus (PSI, per ASTM D882), Elmendorf tear (GM, D1922), cling - unstretched and stretched (GM, ASTM D4649), puncture resistance/impact (dart drop F50 per ASTM D1709), optics- percent haze (ASTM D1003), gloss- 45 degree (percent), and C.O.F. Kinetic - unstretched and stretched (ASTM D1894). In addition, the contractor should record observations regarding what happens after the stretch film goes through the pre-stretcher, for example, to determine if the internal voids work well or if they develop into defects and/or change the optics of the film. Sources Sought Notice: interested respondents with the experience and capability to perform the effort specified above are encouraged to respond to this notice. This is NOT a request for quotes but parties interested in responding are encouraged to furnish in writing, no more than a 3 page (not including cover page) synopsis of their capability to accomplish the described work effort and indicate their experience (1) in processing blown stretch film and (2) in working with PiB (as described in the sources sought), and they must be capable of (3) meeting the film and roll dimensions specified and (4) meeting the POP timeframe for the work. Candidates responding to this notice must also provide complete contact information (telephone, address, email address), as well as business size. Please also include information regarding any prior experience with US Government contracts. The North American Industry Classification Systems (NAICS) for this is notice is 541712, Other Research and Development in Physical Engineering, and Life Sciences (Except Biotechnology) with a size standard of 500 employees. For any anticipated subcontractors, provide an estimate of the percentage of subcontractor efforts anticipated. The Government will retain comments and information received in response to this notice. Proprietary information should be identified as Company Proprietary. Any information provided to the U.S. Government in response to this sources sought notice is for planning purposes only. Responses to this notice are not offers and cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract. It is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government nor will the Government pay for any information solicited. No solicitation document exists nor is a solicitation guaranteed to be issued as a result of this notice. All written responses to this notice must be received by close of business on 24 May 2013. Capability briefings will not be permitted. Please address responses to this notice to Lauri Kline at lauri.r.kline.civ@mail.mil.
- Web Link
-
FBO.gov Permalink
(https://www.fbo.gov/notices/2e0bfeab384189e9fe2c7ace148b807e)
- Place of Performance
- Address: ACC-APG - Natick (SPS) ATTN: AMSRD-ACC-N, Natick Contracting Division (R and BaseOPS), Building 1, Kansas Street Natick MA
- Zip Code: 01760-5011
- Zip Code: 01760-5011
- Record
- SN03059010-W 20130512/130510234715-2e0bfeab384189e9fe2c7ace148b807e (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
FedBizOpps Link to This Notice
(may not be valid after Archive Date)
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