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COMMERCE BUSINESS DAILY ISSUE OF APRIL 14,1995 PSA#1325DOT,FED HWY ADMN, Contracts and Procurement, 400 7th ST, SW, Room 4410,
Washington, DC 20590 A -- DESIGN AND FABRICATION OF A PROTO-TYPE PORTABLE ACOUSTIC EMISSION
(AE) MONITORING SYSTEM.'' SOL DTFH61-95-X-00026 DUE 060195 POC Contact
Jean Maxwell, HCP-40F, (202) 366-5745 The FHWA announces that it will
accept applications to enter into a cost-sharing, cooperative
agreement entitled ''Design and Fabrication of a Proto-type Portable
Acoustic Emission (AE) Monitoring System.'' The objective of the
cooperative agreement is to use existing AE Technology to fabricate a
portable AE system to be used for the non-destructive inspection and
evaluation of steel bridge superstructures. The FHWA anticipates that
one (1) award will be made at a funding level not to exceed $220,000.
MINIMAL TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS FOR APPLICANT: The FHWA intends that
award will be made to any organization with the capability to
demonstrate: (1) current progress in the design, development and/or
fabrication of an AE system(s), (2) advanced-level knowledge of AE
system capabilities and application of these principles to the non-
destructive inspection and evaluation of highway bridges, and (3)
access to all necessary resources for the design, development and
fabrication of a working proto-type. MINIMAL PROTO-TYPE REQUIREMENTS:
The proto-type AE system should capitalize on existing AE Technologies
for Acquisition and Analysis of data, where possible, and meet the
following requirements: (1) easily and quickly installed at bridge
sites, (2) environmentally hardened for weather conditions typical of
bridge sites, (3) capable on being left operating on site, unattended,
for a minimum of one week, (4) efficient detection, measuring,
evaluation and monitoring of fatigue cracks in bridge steel with AE,
(5) capable of producing test results that can be downloaded to a
personal computer, (6) capable of utilizing state-of-the-art AE data
collection and evaluation techniques, (7) capability to automatically
collect, process and store AE and concomitant strain gauge data, (8)
capability to collect data to determine the effective stress range and
state of stress in the area of testing, (9) capable of using
concomitant strain gauge data to gate AE data processing and storage,
and (10) be powered by a local power source capable of maintaining
unattended system operations for a minimum of one week. APPLICATION
CONTENTS - TECHNICAL: The technical application should not exceed 40
pages and should include: (A) A project statement. (B) A technical
discussion of the anticipated research, design, fabrication and testing
process, including: (a) a discussion on the state-of-the-art of: (1)
detection and location of cracks with AE, (2) measurement of crack
growth with AE, (3) monitoring and evaluation of fatigue crack growth
under high cycle fatigue loading, and (4) specific problems associated
with the monitoring of cracks in bridge steel members. (b) a detailed
plan for the development of the AE system, including a discussion of:
(1) the planned approach and anticipated results, (2) the anticipated
hardware and software to be developed, (3) waveform discrimination,
counting, and graphical presentations techniques, and (4) a plan for
recording the step-by-step development/ fabrication process (e.g.
slides, videotape, etc.). (c) a plan for testing and demonstrating the
capabilities of the finished proto- type, including possible sites,
type of test(s), the length of the demonstration and the anticipated
audience. (d) A plan for the development of a user's manual describing
the functional aspects, use, design, and methods for troubleshooting
the system. (e) A plan for FHWA involvement throughout the period of
performance. (f) A plan for the preparation of the final report. It is
anticipated that the final report would be approximately 150 pages and
would include: (1) a discussion on the technologies used in the system,
and, how they were selected and implemented, (2) a discussion of the
system capabilities, and it's limitations, (3) a full cost analysis of
the prototype and an estimate of the cost of reproducing that system
for sale on the commercial market, and (4) other issues identified by
the recipient. (C) A plan for including the working proto-type in the
''FHWA Technology Transfer Program (TT).'' The TT program is designed
to accelerate the implementation of the research by providing product
marketing assistance at regional/national seminars and conferences,
professional gatherings and field demonstrations. The plan should
address the availability of videotapes, brochures, and other
promotional items. The plan should identify who would conduct on- site
demonstration and testing of the proto-type (e.g., recipient employees
or FHWA personnel). Also, for what period of time the proto-type would
be available for use by the TT Program. NOTE: The FHWA anticipates a
need to incorporate the working proto-type in the TT program on a
long-term, relatively permanent basis, but will consider any alternate
schedule. (D) Other technical matter deemed relevant by the applicant.
APPLICATION CONTENTS - STAFFING The staffing application should include
the qualifications and experience of key personnel anticipated to
participate in the work. APPLICATION CONTENTS - ADMINISTRATIVE (A) A
schedule for the anticipated work. NOTE: The FHWA anticipates a working
proto-type within 18 months after award, but will consider all
alternate schedules. The FHWA also anticipates a need to incorporate
the working proto-type in the TT program on a long-term, relatively
permanent basis, and will consider all alternate schedules. (B) A plan
for meeting the monthly progress reporting needs of the FHWA. This may
include written reports and/or oral presentations. (C) A plan for
preparing a research paper suitable for publication in a national
magazine. (D) The required certifications regarding ''Drug Free
Workplace'', ''Debarment, Suspension, and Other Responsibility
Matters,'' and ''Disclosure of Lobbying Activities (SF- LLL).''
APPLICATION CONTENTS - BUDGET:(A) A completed SF-424, ''Application for
Federal Assistance,'' SF-424A, ''Budget Information- Non
Construction,'' and SF-424B, ''Assurances-Non Construction Program,''
(B) An anticipated billing schedule. APPLICATION REVIEW PROCESS AND
CRITERIA: Initially, all applicants will be reviewed for eligibility
and conformance with the Application Contents section of this notice.
Acceptable applications will be evaluated based upon the following
technical evaluation criteria: (1) Potential for implementation of the
AE system by bridge owners for the effective management and inspection
of bridges, (2) Knowledge of current highway technology, practice,
procedures, and organization relating to the inspection of highway
bridges. (3) The recognition of potential problems with implementation
of an AE system and the appropriateness of methods anticipated to
overcome them, and (4) The integration into the work plan of innovative
ideas and new approaches, including use of strain gauge and AE data,
data management, environmental hardening, power system and power
management, and the application of AE techniques into the monitoring of
highway bridges. TERMS AND CONDITION OF AWARD: The recipient shall
produce a research paper suitable for publication in a national
journal. Upon invitation, the paper will be presented orally by the
principal investigator at the FHWA offices in the Washington, D.C.,
area and/or at the annual meeting of the Transportation Research Board
held each January in Washington, D.C. The date and location of any
oral presentation would be coordinated by FHWA with the recipient.
Authority: P.L. 102-240, Title 6, Part A, Section 6001(a)(2)(B).
APPLICATION PROCEDURES - Applications must be submitted to the Office
of Contracts and Procurement (HCP-40F), Federal Highway Administration,
Room 4410, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, D.C. 20590, Attention:
Jean Maxwell. Applications must reference Solicitation No.
DTFH61-95-X- 00026. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jean Maxwell,
Office of Contracts and Procurement, at (202) 366-5745. Office hours
are 8 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., e.t., Monday through Friday, except legal
Federal holidays. This announcement represents the total solicitation.
There is no printed document available from the issuing office. Note
25. (0102) Loren Data Corp. http://www.ld.com (SYN# 0001 19950413\A-0001.SOL)
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