SOLICITATION NOTICE
53 -- ABRASIVE BLASTING OPERATORS HEXAVALENT CHROMIUM & CADMIUM EXPOSURE ELIMINATION
- Notice Date
- 4/17/2015
- Notice Type
- Presolicitation
- NAICS
- 327910
— Abrasive Product Manufacturing
- Contracting Office
- Department of the Air Force, Air Force Materiel Command, PK/PZ Tinker AFB, 3001 Staff Drive, Ste 1AG76A, Tinker AFB, Oklahoma, 73145-3015, United States
- ZIP Code
- 73145-3015
- Solicitation Number
- AbrasiveMediaBlasting
- Archive Date
- 6/16/2015
- Point of Contact
- Trina A. Ingram, Phone: 405-582-1998
- E-Mail Address
-
trina.ingram@us.af.mil
(trina.ingram@us.af.mil)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- MARKET RESEARCH REQUEST FOR INDUSTRY INPUT ABRASIVE BLASTING OPERATORS HEXAVALENT CHROMIUM & CADMIUM EXPOSURE ELIMINATION THERE IS NO SOLICITATION AVAILABLE AT THIS TIME. REQUESTS FOR A SOLICITATION WILL NOT RECEIVE A RESPONSE. This Sources Sought Synopsis (SSS) is in support of Market Research being conducted by the United States Air Force to identify sources and determine if this effort can be competitive or a Small Business Set-Aside. This is not a Request for Proposal (or solicitation) or an indication that a contractual commitment will exist for this requirement. The government does not intend to award a contract on the basis of this market research. No funds are available to fund the information solicited. The 76 th Commodities Maintenance Group (CMXG) at the Oklahoma City Air Logistics Complex (OC-ALC), located at Tinker AFB, is seeking information for automated system solutions or alternatives to the mechanical removal (abrasive media blasting) of organic finish. The objective is to eliminate personnel exposure to harmful airborne coating particles created by the aforementioned process. The Government will use this information to determine the best future acquisition strategy for this procurement, inclusive of the need to do an Industry Day and/or Presolicitation Conference. The proposed North American Industry Classification Systems (NAICS) Code is 327910 Abrasive Product Manufacturing which has a corresponding size standard of 500 employees. The Government is interested in all businesses to include, Large Businesses, Small Businesses, Small Disadvantaged Businesses 8(a)s, Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses, HUBzone Businesses, and Woman-Owned Small Businesses. The government requests that interested parties respond to this notice if applicable and identify your small business status to the identified NAICS code. Additionally, please provide any anticipated teaming arrangements, along with a description of similar services offered to the Government and to commercial customers for the past three years. Any responses involving teaming agreements should delineate between the work that will be accomplished by the prime, and the work accomplished by the teaming partners. II. BACKGROUND Abrasive blasting is the process of forcibly propelling a stream of abrasive material (plastic, sand, glass, etc.) against a surface to remove paint coatings, rust/corrosion and other contaminants. It is a mechanical removal operation that is recommended when use of chemical removers is impractical due to structural complexities and/or rising difficulties in an area being worked and/or local environmental restrictions. While these methods are very effective for finish system removal, they can cause severe damage to structure and equipment in a very short time if improperly used. Plastic media is currently being utilized during the abrasive blasting operation. Plastic media used has a particle size of U.S. screen 20 to 40 mesh; however, 12 to 16 mesh may be added as make up media. The media has a particle shape that is irregular with sharp, angular edges and corners. Specifically, CMXG's media blasting booths are currently utilizing Type V plastic media. Type V is an acrylic plastic with a hardness of 3.5 Mohs (46-54 Barcol) hardness. This media is authorized for use on both aerospace systems and non-aerospace applications. Blasting parameters include blasting pressure of 25-40 PSI, stand-off distance (nozzle tip to work surface) of 12-24 inches, and blasting angles of incidence (between nozzle tip and work surface) of 0-60 degrees (for Alclad and composites) and 30-90 degrees (for nonclad). Any metal calling for Type V plastic media will have a thickness of no less than 0.016 inches. A constant removal rate must be maintained and the amount of time which the plastic media blast impinges on any given surface (dwell time) shall be limited. As stand-off distance increases, pressure increases, and vice versa, to maintain a constant removal rate. In addition, as the angle of incidence decreases towards 0 degrees, the pressure increases, and vice versa as the angle of incidence increases towards 90 degrees. A variety of masked aircraft components (e.g. flaps, tabs, inboard and outboard ailerons, elevators, rudders, nose and side cowls, miscellaneous components) undergo the abrasive blasting process at the OC-ALC. Parts can range from 1.5 in. x 5 in. bar weight to 8 ft long x 6.5 ft OD side cowls. The dust and exposure to strontium chromate [Cr(VI)] and cadmium airborne particles created by abrasive blasting is hazardous to the respiratory tract and may cause major health problems. Strontium chromate is added to alloy steel to increase hardenability and corrosion resistance. It is, however, a known human carcinogen if inhaled. Additionally, it targets the respiratory system, kidneys, liver, skin and eyes. Cadmium is used in the electroplating process due to ability to resist corrosion when applied to steel components. Inhalation of cadmium dust can be dangerous and potentially fatal. Blasting operators are protected from airborne exposure with personal protection equipment along with ventilated walk-in booths. Any equipment failure may leave operators vulnerable to hex chrome or cadmium particulates and other airborne particles that are hazardous to the eyes, skin, and respiratory tract. The 76 CMXG OC-ALC is seeking information for system/process solutions and innovative approaches for eliminating personnel exposure to Cr(VI) from the abrasive blasting process. III. REQUIREMENTS The 76 CMXG's priority is to remove personnel from exposure or potential exposure from hazardous materials, in this case, hexavalent chromium and cadmium airborne particulates. Along with keeping the required operating conditions listed above, the most important factor in any removal of organic finish system is complete removal without damaging surfaces on which it is applied. Mechanical methods shall be used only long enough to remove the finish system and not abrade the underlying metal surface. Removal without damage to the surface or creating a condition which can lead to future corrosion damage and providing a surface suitable for finish system reapplication are the most important factors. The blasting rate shall be able to keep up with the current workflow and the process/technology shall be undamaging environmentally. Dust generated from abrasive blasting can create the potential for dust explosion. Only pneumatic type motor-driven equipment shall be used. All sources of ignition shall be avoided and adequate ventilation in the area shall be provided. The resulting contamination from abrasive blasting operations makes the plastic media a hazardous waste and shall be disposed of properly. The government needs industry input on the availability of existing equipment, functions, and deficiencies and recommend solutions to meet or exceed the operational, environmental, and safety requirements. There are no preset restrictions on solutions. Industry input may include any range of solution from modification of all or part of any component to complete refurbishment or replacement of the entire system. A recommended solution may be considered but not be restricted to automated or robotic abrasive blasting systems. Interested parties are requested to submit any information necessary to describe the recommended solution, including recommended steps necessary to achieving the desired end result if the technology is not currently available or anything the industry wants the government to consider. DISCLAIMER: The information requested may help shape future requirements but there is currently no planned acquisition. The government is not obligated to, and will not, pay for any information received from industry as a result of this request. Please e-mail your response advising if the requirements stated above can be met to the following address: trina.ingram@us.af.mil. This SSS is issued solely for informational and planning purposes. No funds are available to fund the information requested. The information in this notice is current as of the publication date but is subject to change and is not binding to the Government. Oral submissions of information are not acceptable. Submit the following information also: •- Company Name and Address •- Cage Code •- DUNs Number •- Company business size by NAIC code •- Small Business Type (s), if applicable •- Point of Contact for questions and/or clarification •- Telephone Number, fax number, and email address •- Web Page URL •- Teaming Partners (if applicable) •- OEM License/Agreement/Manual Provide any recommendations and/or concerns. Responses and/or questions to this synopsis will be posted through FBO. Respond (along with the requested information) directly to: trina.ingram@us.af.mil Primary Point of Contact: Trina Ingram Contracting Officer Phone: 405-582-1998
- Web Link
-
FBO.gov Permalink
(https://www.fbo.gov/spg/USAF/AFMC/OCALCCC/AbrasiveMediaBlasting/listing.html)
- Place of Performance
- Address: Building 3001 Industrial Area, Post Location 2S76, Tinker AFB, Oklahoma, 73145, United States
- Zip Code: 73145
- Zip Code: 73145
- Record
- SN03703628-W 20150419/150417235202-bfb0fda3b756ad611c94dc277ee8409a (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
FedBizOpps Link to This Notice
(may not be valid after Archive Date)
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