Commander, U. S. Army Aviation & Missile Command, Acquisition Center, Buiding 5303, Redstone Arsenal, AL 35898-5280

66 -- LIQUID FLOWMETER CALIBRATION SYSTEM (PART 1) SOL DAAH01-00-R-0262 DUE 032000 POC Betty Carden, 256-842-7223 or Debra K. Long, 256-876-4153 THIS IS THE FIRST PART OF THE DESCRIPITION FOR THIS ACQUISITION. THE DESCRIPTION IS CONTINUED IN A NOTICE, SUBJECT: 66 -- LIQUID FLOWMETER CALIBRATION SYSTEM (PART 2). -- THIS IS A COMBINED SYNOPSIS/SOLICITATION. SOLICITATION NUMBER: DAAH01-00-R-0262, NOUN: LIQUID FLOWMETER (R078-00), PRON: B003HK21D2, NSN: 0000 00 000 0000, CLOSING DATE: 20MAR00. This Request for Proposal (RFP) is for commercial items prepared in accordance with the format in Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Subpart 12.6, as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation. This RFP and incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular (FAC) 97-15. This RFP is competitive, restricted to small businesses. The Standard Industry Code (SIC) is 3829, number of employees is 500. The requirement is as follows: General: A positive displacement liquid flow calibrator(LFC), a volumetric type measurement device, producing and measuring the exact volume of fluid passing through a flowmeter as a function of time while compensating for fluid viscosity, density, and temperature. The LFC is to be used as a Primary Standard. The LFC is to include a precision honed and polished piston and cylinder assembly mechanically connected with a shaft to a linear encoder. The encoder side of the piston shall be pressurized with air to provide the force to move the piston. Calibration fluid will be loaded into the opposite side of the piston, the meter under test, and a collection reservoir tank hydraulically located after a manifold of flow control valves, plumbing, etc. Air pressure should be supplied to the piston through control valves and pressure regulators. Once the pressure is applied, pressurizing the fluid, flow is created by opening one or more flow control valves on the downstream side to adjust the desired flow rate. Once the rate is established, data is acquired by the data acquisition and control system and stored on a disk mediumfor later evaluation. When the piston reaches the end of the cylinder, the flow stops. The air pressure on the encoder side of the piston is vented and air pressure is supplied to the collecting reservoir to provide motive force to return the piston to the starting point. As the fluid returns to the cylinder, from the reservoir, it is directed through a filter to remove any minute particles that may be present in the line. A fluid diverting check valve prevents this fluid from passing backward through the meter under test. When the piston reaches the starting position, the reservoir is vented and the piston is repressurized to restart the process. SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS FOR LIQUID FLOW CALIBRATOR(LFC): The LFC will operate over a range of 0.5 to 300 gpm using hydrocarbon fluids such as MIL-H-5606 and MIL-H-7024D. The uncertainty of the generated flow rate will be 0.05% of reading or better at K=2(95% Confidence Level). The repeatability will be 0.02% of reading or better. The required viscosity range is 0.5 to 100 centiStokes within the temperature range of 60 to 120 F. The LFC is to operate with an existing air pressure supply of 100 PSIG at 20 CFM. If the delivery volume is insufficient, the manufacturer will supply an air system, which will provide the required air capacity for operating the LFC. The LFC will be capable of operating at any ambient temperature from 60 to 100 F with no degradation in performance. The LFC temperature conditioning system(TCS) will be capable of conditioning and maintaining the temperature of the calibration media within 2.5 F over a range of 60 to 120 F at flow rates over the range of 0.5 to 300 gpm. The TCS will include all of the components required (chiller, heaters, storage vessels, valves, plumbing, heat exchangers, control cables, control, etc.) to achieve the required operation over the operating ranges. Transient response to temperature changes will be stabilized within 2.5 F within 60 minutes when changing from room temperature to either operating extreme; and within 120 minutes when changing from one extreme to the other in either direction (heating or cooling). The chiller and other components, to be supplied and installed by manufacturer, will be mounted outside of the calibration laboratory and will not require environmental cover. The cooling media must not freeze under out-door ambient temperatures of -10 F. They will be located within 150 feet of the LFC with appropriate power and other services in close proximity. The storage vessel for the conditioning fluid will be insulated to limit the media temperature change to 5.0 per 8 hours when the ambient changes from 35 to 100 F. The LFC will be housed in a single enclosure. The data acquisition and control system will be located on a separate console. The enclosure shall be moveable by conventional means to the final location. The LFC does not have to be rigidly mounted to the floor, but may be rigidly mounted if desired. All power wiring will be in conduit with explosion proof junction boxes and terminations. Instrumentation cables of low power and voltage will be routed in other appropriate conduits and cableways. All components of the LFC data acquisition and control will be housed in a single mobile cart with 10 to 20 feet of shielded cable between the LFC and the cart. The cart will have at least two drawers with minimum internal dimensions of 16 inches wide, 5 inches high, and 18 inches deep. All interconnecting computer cables will be shielded, and will enable the LFC to be operated and controlled at a position contiguous to the artifact being calibrated. A benchtop viscometer and densitometer will be supplied by the manufacturer. These will be utilized to determine the liquid media characteristics by sampling the fluid from the LFC. These devices shall provide a means of control the temperature of the sample being measured. The uncertainty in the measurements they provide during there use shall not degrade the over system uncertainty of the LFC. The LFC will use an optical linear encoder to determine the displaced volume during the piston cycling. No alignment by the user should ever be required. The LFC will include a minimum of three pressure and six resistance temperature sensors to monitor flow media conditions during calibration processes. Each of the above sensors will be supplied with appropriate signal conditioners and connectors. Interconnecting cables for each sensor will be supplied with a mating connector. Each connector set will be appropriately marked to aid in connecting each sensor to the correct electronics channel. Each sensor will be supplied with an eleven point NIST traceable calibration covering the applicable range of the sensor. The sensors in the LFC shall be removable to allow calibration off line. The signal conditioner, along with its sensor, shall be calibrated as a system. The resolution of the temperature sensors shall be 0.010 C and the resolution of the pressure sensors shall be 0.010 psig. The data acquisition system shall be capable of recording all sensors in use by the LFC. The placement of the pressure and temperature sensors will be at approximate locations in the LFC. If these locations are incorrect, it is up to the manufacturer to place the sensors where the performance of the LFC meets the required flow rate uncertainty. One pressure sensor shall be located near the exit manifold of the piston cylinder tube. The other pressure sensors shall be located at the upstream end of the test section as well as between flow meters under test. One temperature sensor shall be located at each end of the piston cylinder tube. The remaining temperature sensors shall be located at along the test section, including but not limited to the upstream and downstream location of each meter under test. The LFC will be capable of calibrating pulse generating type flow meters manufactured by Cox, FMSI, FT, EG&G, Potter, Foxboro, etc. The LFC electronic interfaces will allow the connection of RF and magnetic pickoffs. Analog input channels will be provided for 1 ea. over the following ranges: 0 -- 5 VDC, 0 -- 15 VDC, 4 -- 20 ma. 10 -- 40 ma. Each of these channels may be used for any desirable purpose including but not limited to the calibration of flow meters with analog outputs. These meters are subject to the same response limitations as for the frequency inputs. The LFC will have the capability to simultaneously calibrate at least two separate turbine flow meters that may have magnetic or RF pickoffs. Adapters, flow straighteners, fittings, etc., will be provided to allow connection of flow meters having diameter sizes of 2", 1.5", 1", ", ", 3/8", etc. The manufacturing process by which the cylinder is fabricated will be controlled to maintain a true cylinder to within 0.001" or better, the actual mean diameter being measured and recorded. Filtering of the calibrating media will be provided in the LFC. A filter with a nominal rating of 200 microns or better shall be provided. All fittings and valves will be provided to gravity drain 99% of the fluid from the LFC and to vent the air from the high points in the system. Air or Nitrogen pressure may be used to expedite the draining process. A stainless steel drip pan will be located to catch fluid that drains from the test meter during removal from the LFC. The total fluid requirements of the system will not exceed 75 gallons. The manufacturer will supply storage tanks sufficient in capacity to house all fluids required while using the LFC. Installation of the power services for the LFC and its associated components, i.e., chiller, air pressure system, data acquisition system, shall be performed by the manufacturer of the LFC. The APSL will provide drawings to the manufacturer that will give the needed information to make the installation. Installation of cement pads for the chiller and air compressor shall be the responsibility of the manufacturer. The LFC dimensions will not exceed 25-ft. in length, 6-ft. depth, and 8-ft. in height, not including the chiller, air compressor, or data acquisition system. The LFC will fit through a door 12-ft wide and 10-ft high. The controller cart will not exceed 5-ft in length, 3-ft in depth, and 6-ft in height and will be mounted on caster wheels. SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DATA ACQUISITION AND CONROL SYSTEM(DACS): The DACS will include all of the computer hardware and software to manually or automatically control the LFC, acquire, reduce and display the test data in tabular and/or plotted form, and generate hard copy of the tabulated and/or plotted calibration results on paper or magnetic media. All original equipment manuals, supplied with each component or software package, will be supplied with system. All data taken will be stored to disk media and can be imported into other programs such as Excel, Access, etc. The DACS will make use of instrumentation interface cards which are placed in either ISA or PCI ports (or both) of the computer itself. In the event of a computer failure or a card failure, replacement and removal should be easy and quick. An Intel Pentium 300 MHz or faster computer with all of the supporting equipment, video card, monitor, instrument interfaces, color printer, plotter, and software will be supplied with the LFC. An additional hard drive and zip drive will be supplied in computer system to allow data backup and storage for historical and statistical use. A 17" monitor or larger will be supplied. A HP DeskJet 895C or like printer will be provided with the system. The software used with the DACS will be a flexible, comprehensive, user friendly, menu driven and will run under Microsoft Windows 98 or the latest version of Windows. The software will allow the user to access and control all facets of the LFC data collect and presentation. The software will allow access to all sensor data and selection to view sensor data. Manual and automatic mode operation of the LFC will be part of the software as well. In addition, a calibration and system checkout section of the software will allow the user to calibrate all instrumentation used in the LFC, i.e. encoder, temperature sensor(s), pressure sensor(s), and all other inputs. An operation manual will be included to afford manipulation visualization of the software. The software includes calibration means for each sensor including the clock, pressure, temperature, encoder, and analog channels. The data may be curve fit using, a polynomial least squares fit of any order up to 10th. Any number of data points may be taken during the calibration process. All calibration data gathered while using the LFC will be compensated for density and kinematic viscosity changes as a function of temperature. Actual test conditions, the raw data, and computed parameters are automatically recorded during flow meter calibration at the conclusion of each data point. Calculations are made by the system to correct the data in any desired manner, including those to standard conditions such at 70 F and 14.7 psia. The software must include a method to enter header information that is configurable by the user. Information such as date, model, serial, liquid medium, turbine meter manufacturer, etc. can be put in header. Automatic flow calibration tables are stored in the program for future use and may be retrieved at any time. All instructions are communicated to the computer through the keyboard. Data output of the text and graphics may be processed to the screen, hard or soft magnetic media, printer, plotter, and/or serial or parallel ports. Software will allow presentation of calibration data in a report format suitable to satisfy most customer needs. Information in the form of graphs, tables, standards used, the description of the measurement process, etc, can all be put in this report. MAINTAINABILITY/RELIABILITY: Maintenance of the LFC is to be kept to a minimum. The piston and shaft seals, as well as valve seals, are normally the only items that will eventually wear out with normal use. The layout of the LFC is such that the seals are readily accessible. Removal of a minimum amount of plumbing and the end flanges will facilitate the piston removal. All items that are subject to failure such as transducers, electronic components, valves, switches, etc. are positioned so that they can be removed and installed with a minimum of effort and without requiring removal of other components. Draining and filling the LFC must be readily accomplished from one location. 99% of the fluid in the system can be drained without removal of a single component. The system can be filled from a single location by pouring the fluid into a reservoir or more easily by pumping the fluid into the flow loop with a portable pump. The means of draining and filling the LFC will be supplied by the manufacturer. The electronics shall be designed in modular boards and discrete components. Each board or discrete component can be removed without unnecessary removal of other components. The manufacturer will provide a mean time between failure of those components that are most likely to fail in the LFC under normal usage. SAFETY ISSUE: The LFC will be built to meet or exceed all requirements to NEC Class I Division II GroupD for devices capable of producing arcing or sparking. MAINTENANCE AND CALIBRATION SUPPORT PLAN: Manufacturer shall provide a complete Maintenance and Calibration Support Plan. A minimum warranty period of 2-year will be supplied. REPAIR PARTS AVAILABILITY: A list of the recommended spare parts, including manufacturing source, will be incorporated into the manuals provided with the LFC. These will include seals, gaskets, fittings, plumbing, electronic boards, sensors, connectors, etc. This list will contain all of the items that are subject to wear and those items that are most likely damaged by power surges, lighting, or misuse of the machine. DOCUMENTATION: A set of manuals on all components of the LFC and DACS will be supplied. Manuals are to be comprehensive. Instrumentation, test data, standards, equations, correction factors, etc. are to be listed and discussed for all components within the LFC and DACS that affect the uncertainty of the liquid flow measurement. (THIS DESCRIPTION IS CONTINUED IN CBD NOTICE: SUBJECT: LIQUID FLOWMETER CALIBRATION SYSTEM (PART 2). Posted 02/24/00 (W-SN428235). (0055)

Loren Data Corp. http://www.ld.com (SYN# 0249 20000228\66-0011.SOL)