US Army Tank -- Automotive and Armaments Command -- Rock Island( TACOM-RI) Attn: AMSTA-CM-CR, Rock Island, IL 61299-7630

29 -- AUTOMATIC BATTERY CHARGER DUE 081100 POC Sheryl L. DeVol (309)782-6602 E-MAIL: Click here to contact the contract specialist via, devols@ria.army.mil. The U.S. Army, TACOM-RI, Rock Island, IL is seeking sources for a Commercial Item' as defined in FAR Part 2.101, to provide special automatic battery chargers for starting/deep cycle batteries used in tactical and combat vehicles. Please inform us if there is an item of a type customarily available in the commercial marketplace that would meet our requirements or one that is available in the commercial marketplace with minor modifications. 1. Intended purpose: The chargers will be part of a transportable battery servicing shop designed for battery activation and charging on the battlefield. Because military operations require heavy use of radios and other electronic devices, the Army uses lead-acid starting/deep cycle batteries in its tactical and combat vehicles. To provide maximum shelf life, Army vehicular batteries for use on the battlefield are procured, stored, and shipped in the dry-charged condition. As part of the activation process, the batteries normally require a finishing charge amounting to 5-10% of their capacity prior to use. Exigencies of military operations often require very deep discharge of these same batteries (a 12 volt battery may be discharged to less than 10 volts). Recovery of deeply discharged batteries will also be performed in the transportable battery servicing shop. Because of their deeply discharged state, electrolyte stratification may occur in the batteries during recharging, especially in calcium alloy (very low water loss) batteries. For that reason, the chargers must provide a "mixing" or "equalization" charge to assure thorough mixing of the electrolyte through the bubbling resulting from water electrolysis. [Note: Although charging voltage sufficient to produce significant electrolysis is normally not recommended for very low water loss ("maintenance free") batteries, it is acceptable in this case. Because military vehicular batteries are supplied dry-charged and must operate in climates where significant water loss is unavoidable, they are not sealed and are subject to regular maintenance checks and service.] 2. Characteristics sought: a. The chargers must be capable of charging these standard military batteries: (1) The 6T series of flooded 12 volt batteries, including the 6TL (low antimony) and the 6TMF (calcium). The 6TMF is a 120 Ampere-hour battery with 725 Cold Cranking Amps (CCA) at 0 degrees F and a Rated Reserve Capacity (RRC) of 200 minutes. [Note: The vast majority of Army tactical vehicles and engine-driven equipment use this battery. Identifying appropriate chargers for this battery is our primary concern.] (2) The 2N, which is a flooded 12 volt antimony battery. It is a 45 Ampere-hour battery with 300 CCA at 0 degrees F and an RRC of 75 minutes. [Note: A separate model of charger for this battery is acceptable.] (3) The 4N, which is a flooded 24 volt antimony battery. It is a 21 Ampere-hour battery with 160 CCA at 0 degrees F and an RRC of 28 minutes. [Note: A separate model of charger for this battery is acceptable.] b. It is desirable that thechargers be capable of charging a variety of additional battery types that are not military standard. These specifically include Valve Regulated Gel Cell and Absorbent Glass Mat (AGM) 12 volt batteries with capacities roughly equal to that of the 6T and 2N, as well as regular and maintenance-free automotive starting batteries of various sizes. c. The chargers must be of the automatic type, which regulate the charging current and voltage in response to the battery's state of charge. The chargers must provide voltage and current profiles tailored to each battery type they are intended to charge, and designed to bring the battery to full charge in the shortest time possible without damaging or overheating the battery and without producing excessive water loss. As a minimum requirement, the charging profiles must be switch selectable for the battery type; automatic sensing is desired. Automatic adjustment of charging voltage to compensate for battery temperature is also desired. d. The chargers must provide two-stage charging. Initial (bulk) charging shall be constant current. (The 6T series can accept charging current up to 30 amps without damage.) Finish (taper, absorption) charging is to be constant voltage, with the voltage appropriate to battery chemistry. Automatic shut-off at completion of charge is required. e. For deeply discharged military batteries, the chargers must provide "mixing" or "equalizing" profiles that apply sufficient voltage during finish charging to produce thorough mixing of stratified electrolyte. Free gassing voltage for the 6TMF is 16 VDC; for the 6TL and 2N it is 15.5 VDC; and for the 4N it is 31 VDC. As a minimum the mixing profiles must be switch selectable; automatic selection based on initial state of discharge is desired. Capability to recover very deeply discharged (over-discharged, flat, dead) batteries is desired. f. Reverse-polarity battery hook-up protection is required. The protective method must not require fuse replacement. g. AC overload and short-circuit protection is required. The protective method must not require fuse replacement. h. Spark-free battery hook-up is required. i. The chargers must provide a visible battery status indicators that show when the power is on, when the battery is accepting charge, and when charge is complete. Displays indicating correct/incorrect polarity, charging voltage, current output, battery faults, and the battery's state of charge are desired. j. The chargers must operate on 60 Hz AC power. The capability to operate on both 50 and 60 Hz AC is desired. k. The chargers must operate in ambient temperatures of +32 to +90 degrees F. It is desirable that the charger operates in ambient temperatures of 25 to +120 degrees F. Automatic shutdown for thermal overload is desired. l. The chargers must be resistant to damage from transport shock and vibration, including transport on tactical vehicles across unpaved surfaces. m. The chargers must be resistant to corrosive atmospheres, including high humidity, salt air, and acid vapor. n. It isdesirable that the chargers be suitable for all-weather operation and impervious to damage from acids, bleaches, and petroleum products. o. Certification to FCC Class B requirements or better is desired. 3. If you have/sell a battery charger that meets the requirements stated above, please provide your commercial literature on the product along with prices and any minimum order quantity. Also provide information on discount terms, price breaks, warranties, delivery terms and any testing performed. 4. Please identify any requirements stated above that you feel are unduly restrictive which would either restrict effective competition or prohibit commercial items as defined in FAR 2.101. 5. Funds are not presently available for this potential acquisition. It should be noted that this is not a Request for Proposal; the purpose of the sources sought notice is to seek commercial sources that will meet the U.S. Government's requirement. Posted 07/07/00 (W-SN472456). (0189)

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