SOURCES SOUGHT
A -- Next Generation Closed Circuit Mine Escape Respirators (CCMER)
- Notice Date
- 1/12/2015
- Notice Type
- Sources Sought
- NAICS
- 541712
— Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Biotechnology)
- Contracting Office
- Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Acquisition and Assistance Field Branch (Pittsburgh), Post Office Box 18070, Cochrans Mill Road, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 15236-0070
- ZIP Code
- 15236-0070
- Solicitation Number
- HHS-CDC-NIOSH(DM)-SBSS-15-001
- Archive Date
- 1/27/2015
- Point of Contact
- Diane J Meeder, Phone: (412)386-4412
- E-Mail Address
-
DMeeder@cdc.gov
(DMeeder@cdc.gov)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- This is a Small Business Sources Sought notice. This is NOT a solicitation for proposals, proposal abstracts, or quotations. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), is seeking information on a potential requirement for "Next Generation Closed Circuit Mine Escape Respirators (CCMER)." The purpose of this notice is to obtain information regarding: (1) the availability and capability of qualified small business sources; (2) whether they are small businesses; HUBZone small businesses; service-disabled, veteran-owned small businesses; 8(a) small businesses; veteran-owned small businesses; woman-owned small businesses; or small disadvantaged businesses; and (3) their size classification relative to the NAICS code 541712 for the potential acquisition. Responses to the information requested will assist the Government in determining the appropriate acquisition method, including whether a set-aside is possible. An organization that is not considered a small business under the applicable NAICS code should not submit a response to this notice. Draft Statement of Work: 1. INTRODUCTION The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), Office of Mine Safety and Health Research (OMSHR) leads the development of self-escape apparatus to provide breathing gas to mining personnel operating in various capacities underground in environments containing hazardous gas components; in the event of an emergency. This Request for Proposals is for the development and manufacture of NIOSH certified Next Generation Closed Circuit Mine Escape Respirators (CCMER) that could be used for surviving and escaping from a mine following an emergency that renders the mine atmosphere irrespirable. Two types of self-escape apparatus are currently being developed by NIOSH-OMSHR through contracts with other government agencies and industry. These efforts would yield prototypes capable of providing up to one hour of breathable gas to an escaping miner during an emergency. One development project would result in a backpack style self-escape apparatus prototype termed Backpack SCSR (BSCSR) and another would result in a vest style self-escape apparatus prototype termed Closed-Circuit Escape Vest (CCEV). Both are closed-circuit (rebreather) designs using gaseous oxygen from gas cylinders and Lithium Hydroxide (LiOH) CO2 absorbent sheets manufactured by Micropore Inc. The BSCSR has a mechanical oxygen control and the CCEV has an electronic oxygen control. Both units are to be designed according to the performance guidelines outlined in Part 84 of Title 42 Code of Federal Regulations (42 CFR Part 84) including Sub-part O NIOSH standard. In separate development efforts, components for this type of self-escape breathing apparatus, namely Docking & Switch-Over Valves (DSOVs), Hood/Masks (HMCs) and Very High Pressure Cylinders (VHPC) were developed through previous funded contracts with NIOSH-OMSHR. The DSOVs were developed to enable connection of two breathing apparatus (either two CCERs, also known as SCSRs or an SCSR to an Open Circuit Self Contained Breathing Apparatus, also known as SCBA) to allow a seamless transfer to breathing from one device to the other. Hoods with inner masks are expected to be easier to use than current SCSRs fitted with a mouthpiece, allowing natural breathing through the nose and mouth as opposed to breathing only through the mouth. They further eliminate the need to fit nose clips and goggles, thus simplifying the donning process. Hoods and masks also allow speech diaphragms to be incorporated, enabling the wearer to communicate verbally during escape, which is not possible in current SCSR designs. Very high pressure carbon composite oxygen cylinders allow a smaller and lighter oxygen supply container in an SCSR. Prototypes are now available to be integrated and tested on functional breathing apparatus. Outputs from these development projects would form the basis for the Dockable Self-Contained (Closed Circuit) Self-Escape Respirators with Hoods (CCMER). 2. NEXT GENERATION CLOSED CIRCUIT MINE ESCAPE RESPIRATORS (CCMER) CCMERs need to be designed so that they could be worn comfortably and continuously by miners during their daily work routine and function as an escape breathing apparatus in the event of an emergency. The proposed CCMER should be designed and manufactured as a closed-circuit oxygen rebreather, whereby the user breathes the same gas in a closed loop similar to the current developments underway by NIOSH-OMSHR e.g. backpack and vest style SCSRs. Exhaled carbon dioxide (CO2) is to be absorbed by a scrubber system and oxygen addition is according to the user's needs. The oxygen addition may either be manually or electronically controlled. The successful CCMER design must be certified to 42CFR84 standards including Sub-part O for mine use and must meet MSHA 30CFR75 and 30CFR18 permissibility regulations for use in underground mines. The design/s must be jointly certified by both NIOSH and MSHA. The capacity of the units should be cap 2 and 3 as defined in sub-part O to meet mining requirements. The CCMER must incorporate docking & switch-over valves (DSOV) for seamless transfer from one breathing device to another and hood with inner masks & speech diaphragm (HMC) for ease of donning, use and communication ability. Due consideration should be given in the design to result in a small package which can either be donned separately, or integrated into a miner's ensemble. Due to the necessity of its regular use by the miner while underground, the CCMER can be designed to incorporate many of the tool-holders/pockets/ attachment points currently utilized by miners in their day-to-day work environment. Features such as mini-gauges for determining oxygen cylinder pressure and indicators for the CO2 scrubber monitoring during routine maintenance/inspection should be incorporated. A quick-connect oxygen supply line would be is needed to provide recharging of the oxygen cylinder. As the CCMER is to be continually worn by the miner while underground, and readily accessible for deployment when needed, and it must be designed with human factors considerations. Two versions of the CCMER are possible: 2.1. CCMER - V (Vest Style DSCSR) The CCMER - V may be based on the CCEV and need to incorporate a DSOV and HMC. It must be certified to 42CFR84 standards including Sub-part O for mine use and must meet MSHA 30CFR75 and 30CFR18 permissibility regulations. 2.2. CCMER - B (Backpack Style DSCSR) The CCMER - B may be based on the BSCSR and need to incorporate a DSOV and HMC. It must be certified to 42CFR84 standards including Sub-part O and must meet MSHA 30CFR75 and 30CFR18 permissibility regulations. Contractor is responsible for gaining certification from the respective approval bodies for the final saleable production CCMER 3. PROTOTYPES UNDER DEVELOPMENT 3.1. Backpack SCSR (BSCSR) Prototype The miner's backpack SCSR is comprised of an ergonomically designed harness system with the backpack SCSR module positioned in the area of the small of the back. The backpack SCSR is designed as a closed-circuit rebreather using a mechanical controlled oxygen delivery system to maintain the required oxygen level in the breathing loop. The belt portion of the harness has features found on a miner's belt. 3.2. Closed-Circuit Escape Vest (CCEV) Prototype The miner's CCEV design is a fully closed-circuit rebreather that integrates the CO2 scrubber into a conformal shape inside a vest form. It uses an oxygen sensor for monitoring the loop oxygen level and an electronic oxygen control system, whereby oxygen is added automatically into the breathing loop via an electro-mechanical solenoid valve at a rate that matches the metabolic consumption of the wearer. A miner's belt is an integral part of the CCEV. 1. DELIVERABLES No. Deliverable Hardware, Software and Documentation for CCMER Scope of Work Milestone Milestones completed 1. Technical report containing a record of progress and status of the project. N/A Monthly 2. Project Plan in the form of a Gantt chart expanding upon the tasks described in the Scope of Work. N/A Within 30days of signing contract 3. Completion and acceptance of Report on the Design Approach Study 1.8. 1. 4. Completion and acceptance of Report and Concept Drawings of Designs for the CCMER and complete Design Review I 2.6 & 2.7 2. 5. Completion and acceptance of Report on the results obtained from CCMER Concept Demonstrators and complete Design Review II 3.7 & 3.8 3. 6. Completion and acceptance of Report on the results obtained from CCMER Prototypes and Design Review III 4.7 & 4.8 4. 7. Final Design Review after completion and certification of CCMER 5.8 5. 8. Delivery of Technical Data Package on CCMERs 6.1 6. 9. Delivery of ten (10) new certified CCMERs of each design. 6.2 6. 10. Completion and acceptance of Final Report on CCMERs 6.3 6. Anticipated period of performance. Twenty-four (24) months. Capability statement /information sought. Respondents who believe that they possess the expertise and experience to meet the government's needs as described above are invited to submit technical and management capabilities addressing those requirements. These may include but are not limited to: (a) staff expertise, including their availability, experience, and formal and other training; (b) current in-house capability and capacity to perform the work; (c) prior completed projects of similar nature; (d) corporate experience and management capability; and (e) examples of prior completed Government contracts, references, and other related information. Respondent must indicate in your capability statement: - Organization name, - Address, - DUNS number, - Business size Classification (e.g., 8(a), HUBZone, etc) pursuant to the applicable NAICS code of 541712 size standard which is 500 Employees. - Points of contact, - Email, - Telephone number, Page Limitation: No more than five (5) pages, 8 ½ x 11. Response Due Date: Submit information above to Diane J Meeder, Contracting Officer, CDC, NIOSH, 626 Cochrans Mill Road, Pittsburgh PA 15236, DMeeder@cdc.gov. Reference: HHS-CDC-NIOSH(DM)-SBSS-15-001. Responses are due no later than 2:00pm, January 26, 2015 Eastern Time. Any information received by the government will not be returned. Disclaimer and Important Notes. This notice does not obligate the Government to award a contract or otherwise pay for the information provided in response. The Government reserves the right to use information provided by respondents for any purpose deemed necessary and legally appropriate. Any organization responding to this notice should ensure that its response is complete and sufficiently detailed to allow the Government to determine the organization's qualifications to perform the work. Respondents are advised that the Government is under no obligation to acknowledge receipt of the information received or provide feedback to respondents with respect to any information submitted. After a review of the responses received, a pre-solicitation synopsis and solicitation may be posted on Federal Business Opportunities. However, responses to this notice will not be considered adequate responses to a solicitation. Confidentiality. No proprietary, classified, confidential, or sensitive information should be included in your response. The Government reserves the right to use any non-proprietary technical information in any resultant solicitation(s).
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