95 -- METAL BARS, SHEETS, AND SHAPES The purpose of this request for information (RFI) is to find alternate steels or other alloys that can be used as reference-grade materials for verifying the performance of Charpy impact machines. In particular, the Materials Reliability Division of NIST is seeking alternatives to double vacuum melted (VIM/VAR) 18 Ni maraging steel bars, which have been used to produce Charpy V-notch impact specimens with a mean energy between 155 and 175 ft-lbs of absorbed energy (preferably at room temperature), and a standard deviation of less than 3.7 % between specimens. Most materials exhibit much more scatter than this, yet such a strict requirement is needed to adequately assess impact machine performance. Charpy V- notch specimens machined from this steel shall be sold by NIST as standard reference materials to certify the calibration of Charpy V-notch machines around the world, so the specimens (and the steel) must be of the highest uniformity possible. The American Society for Testing and Materials specification E23 describes this test and these specimens. The steel that we seek shall be produced as a single heat and the ingot(s) shall be adequately forged prior to rolling to minimize compositional and microstructural variation in the final products. Because steel plants produce steel in different heat sizes (inherent to their facilities), we have tried to add some flexibility to past purchase contracts by bracketing the quantity of the steel to be purchased: 3,000 to 5,000 pounds. The composition shall be certified using standard analysis procedures (such as optical emission spectroscopy or x-ray fluorescence), and the analysis equipment shall be calibrated by standards traceable to NIST. We seek a material that can be processed to 0.50 inch (+ 0.15, -0.00) square bar. The corner radius of the finished bars shall not exceed 0.03 inches. In other attributes (surface condition, etc), the steel shall be suitable for use as 0.394 inch square Charpy V-notch specimens. The bar can be delivered in the as-rolled condition. The bar shall be machine straightened (to minimize twist and bow), and shipped in lengths no less than 6 ft and no more than 12 ft (11 to 12 ft lengths are ideal). We seek responses from steel producers and suppliers who could furnish material that might be suitable. Responses should include: 1) contact information, 2) supporting documentation on impact properties, 3) availability in the desired product form, 4) typical heat or ingot yields, and 5) lead time and rough order of magnitude cost estimates. Responses are due no later than 30 days from the date of this announcement. Based upon an examination of the RFI submittals, it is possible, but not guaranteed, that the government will issue a future purchase order. The Government does not intend to award a contract on the basis of this RFI or otherwise reimburse for the information that is being solicited. Please address responses or inquiries to Tom Siewert at e-mail: thomas.siewert@nist.gov, Phone 303-497-3523; Fax: 303-497-5030 E-MAIL: NOAA; MASC Acquisition Management, Doris.P.Turner@noaa.gov. Posted 01/07/99 (D-SN286242).

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