FLEET AND INDUSTRIAL SUPPLY CENTER, PUGET SOUND, BLDG 467 W STREET, CODE 204.CP, BREMERTON, WA 98314-5100

P -- INSULATION, REMOVAL OF RUBBER POC Contact Point, M. RENVILLE, (360)476-5008, Contracting Officer, G. WATSON, (360)476-5008 Sources Sought Announcement. The Puget Sound Naval Shipyard is interested in insulation removal technologies which can provide an efficient means of removing rubber insulation from the exterior hulls of submarines undergoing recycling. The rubber is bonded to the hull in tiles with an epoxy compound. The tiles are approximately 22 inches X 22 inches with caulking between. All of the rubber and most of the epoxy adhesive must be removed. There are two types of rubber tile. Typical properties are shown as follows: Type I: material-Neoprene; average thickness is .327 inches; durometer (shore A) is 70 +/-5. Type 2: material-Base is natural rubber, coverply is neoprene; average thickness: Base-.62 inches, coverply is .25 inches; durometer (shore A) is: Base-45 +/-5, coverply-65 +/-5. Due to the types of material involved (rubber and epoxy) removal is labor intensive. Current methods include slicing off with a knife and grinding the residual, or hydro-blasting. The proposed processing technologies may include, but are not limited to, mechanical removal methods (e.g. scraping, grinding, etc.) and breaking the epoxy bond between the steel hull and the rubber insulation (e.g.microwaves, laser, etc.). Firms having demonstrated experience and expertise in this area should submit a statement of capabilities, including, at a minimum, previous experience, description of facilities and personnel qualifications. All interested parties are requested to provide a written response NTL 45 days after the date of this announcement to Fleet & Industrial Supply Center Puget Sound, attn: Ms. M. Renville, C/204.CP, 467 W Street, Bremerton WA 98314-5120. Telephone notice of interest will not be accepted. This is not a request for proposal, nor is it an invitation for bid and is not to be construed as a commitment by the government to ultimately issue an RFP, RFQ or contract. The government will not cover any cost for preparation of information in response to this announcement nor pay preparation costs as a direct expense on any contracts which may eventually result from this announcement. (0040)

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