NASA/Glenn Research Center, 21000 Brookpark Road, Cleveland, OH 44135

66 -- POLYMER RHEOMETER SYSTEM SOL RFO3-154739 DUE 081600 POC Glen M. Williams, Contracting Officer, Phone (216) 433-2885, Fax (216) 433-2480, Email Glen.M.Williams@grc.nasa.gov WEB: Click here for the latest information about this notice, http://nais.msfc.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/EPS/bizops.cgi?gr=D&pin=22#RFO3-154739. E-MAIL: Glen M. Williams, Glen.M.Williams@grc.nasa.gov. This notice is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items prepared in accordance with the format in FAR Subpart 12.6, as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation; offers are being requested and a written solicitation will not be issued. This notice is being issued as a Request for Offer (RFO) for; Item 1: One (1) Polymer Rheometer System consisting of Rheometric Scientific Model ARES or equal with the following features: 2KFRNT1, FCO, STD, ARES-AD, ARES-MELT2, ARES-LN2, and ARES-MELT1 or equals. Item 2: One set of instruction manuals. Item 3: Installation of the System. The specifications/salient characteristics of the Item 1 System are as follows: This rheometer shall be capable of reliably and reproducibly measuring the complex viscosities of solid liquid polymers at temperatures from -100:C to +450:C. In addition, this instrument shall be capable of measuring relaxation behavior of thermosets, thermoplastics and elastomers over the same temperature range. Operations/Performance Specifications: Torque Range: 0.02 to 2000 gram cm Normal Force Range: 2.0 to 2000 grams Frequency Range: 10-5 to 100 rad/sec Angular Deflection: 0.005 to 500 mrad Rotational Rate: 2 x 10-6 to 200 rad/sec Temperature Range: -150 to 600:C Heating Rate: up to 60:C/min 1. Display: The instrument shall have an LCD display, or equivalent display, at the test station with a constant readout of torque, axial force, temperature, and gap to assist in sample loading. 2. Actuator: The servo actuator shall be a direct drive servo actuator capable of providing a 10 msec rise time to 90% of a 100 mrad step displacement. The actuator shall be capable of providing steady shear capabilities in both clockwise and counterclockwise directions. 3. Frequency Range: The instrument shall be capable of generating a range of frequencies between 0.00001 to 500 rad/sec with a resolution of 0.098% of commanded frequency. 4. Strain Generation: The rheometer shall have the capability of operating in a controlled strain mode utilizing a separate DC servo motor actuator and a Force Rebalance transducer to measure both torque and normal force. The instrument shall utilize a direct drive servo controlled actuator to generate strain amplitudes between 0.005 and 500 mrad. 5. Steady Rate Range: The instrument shall be capable of steady angular rates of from 0.000002 rad/sec to 200 rad/sec with an accuracy of 1% at all rates. Instrument shall be capable of providing shear at these rates in both clockwise and counterclockwise directions to eliminate the possible effects of shear history. 6. Temperature Range: The environmental system shall be a forced-air convection oven, or equivalent, utilizing a dual-element heater with counter-rotating air flow for temperature stability. The Temperature range of the oven shall be between ambient and 6000C, and shall have the capability of operation to -1500C. using liquid nitrogen cooling. 7. Dynamic Range: The instrument shall be capable of making measurements over the full range of frequencies at minimum and maxim torque range. The torque range should be between 0.02 and 2000 gram-cm at frequencies up to 100 rad/sec. 8. AutoZero and AutoGap: The instrument shall be equipped with AutoZero and AutoGap functions. The AutoZero feature shall use the actual measured axial force to sense zero gap. The AutoGap feature shall allow decent rate programming as well as time and gap. The tools should close logarithmically to preserve sample structure, and shall be able to load a sample both as a function of time and rate as well as at a constant axial force. 9. Software: The instrument operation and basic analysis software shall be a native 32 bit Windows 98/NT application. The instrument control package shall seamlessly operate with the optional data analysis package and not require data format conversions. Software shall be capable of multitasking, and operating multiple instruments from a single work station. The data analysis package shall also be a native 32 bit Windows 98/NT application and shall perform the following functions: 7 Time-Temperature superposition with automatic horizontal and vertical shift. Automatically generates master curves. After fitting with WLF, curves can be generated for any temperature within the range tested. 7 Automatic determination of Zero Shear Viscosity, Plateau Modulus, Equilibrium Compliance, and Flow Activation Energy. 7 Data analysis options shall include transformations of G', G", G(t), J', J", J(t), with the following curve modeling functions: Polynomial, exponential, sine/cosine, Fourier series, power law, Ellis, Bingham, Bueche, Casson, Hershel-Buckley, as well as user defined curve modeling. It shall also be able to do statistical analysis (including error bar generation), and include data (point) editing, FFT and spline smoothing, and data reduction functions. Fluid inertia corrections will be included in the software, as well as Berger's correction. 10. Miscellaneous: The instrument shall include provisions to dry sampleair used in heating the sample in the convection oven. The instrument shall also include the following fixtures: -- 25mm parallel plates -- 50mm parallel plates -- 25 mm serrated parallel plates -- 25mm 0.1 rad cone -- 50mm 0.04 rad cone. Item 2 Instruction manual, 1 copy, which, as a minium, instructs in the safe operation of the System. In addition to the instruction manual, on line help may also be provided by the Contractor via phone or electronic means. Item 2 Installation. The Contractor shall install the System at NASA GRC within 30 days of delivery. Actual installation date(s) shall be via mutual agreement between the Government and Contractor. Installation shall be performed during Monday-Friday, non-federal holidays, normal business hours at NASA GRC. The provisions and clauses in the RFO are those in effect through FAC 97-18. The SIC code and the small business size standard for this procurement are 3823 and 500 employees respectively. The offeror shall state in their offer their size status for this procurement. All qualified responsible business sources may submit an offer which shall be considered by the agency. Delivery to NASA Glenn Research Center (GRC) 21000 Brookpark Road, Cleveland, OH 44135 is required within 60 days ARO. Delivery shall be FOB Destination. The DPAS rating for this procurement is DO-C9. Offers for the items(s) described above are due by 4:30 DST (GRC time) on August 16, 2000 to NASA Glenn Research Center, 21000 Brookpark Road, Attn: Glen M. Williams, MS 500-306, Cleveland, OH 44135 and must include, solicitation number, FOB destination to this Center, proposed delivery schedule, discount/payment terms, warranty duration (if applicable), taxpayer identification number (TIN), identification of any special commercial terms, and be signed by an authorized company representative. Offerors are encouraged to use the Standard Form 1449, Solicitation/Contract/Order for Commercial Items form found at URL: http://procure.arc.nasa.gov/Acq/Forms/Index.html to submit a offer. Offerors shall provide the information required by FAR 52.212-1. If the end product(s) offered is other than domestic end product(s) as defined in the clause entitled "Buy American Act -- Supplies," the offeror shall so state and shall list the country of origin. FAR 52.212-4 is applicable. 52.247-34 F.O.B. Destination (NOV 1991), 1852.215-84 Ombudsman (OCT 1996),1852.216-78 Firm Fixed Price (DEC 1988) FAR 52.212-5 is applicable and the following identified clauses are incorporated by reference: 52.222-21, Prohibition of Segregated Facilities (Feb 1999), 52.222-26, Equal Opportunity (E.O. 11246), 52.222-35, Affirmative Action for Disabled Veterans and Veterans of the Vietnam Era (38 U.S.C. 4212), 52.222-36, Affirmative Action for Workers with Disabilities (29 U.S.C. 793), 52.222-37, Employment Reports on Disabled Veterans and Veterans of the Vietnam Era (38 U.S.C. 4212), 52.225-1, Buy American Act -- Balance of Payments Program -- Supplies (41 U.S.C. 10a -- 10d), 52.225-15, Sanctioned EuropeanUnion Country End Products (E.O. 12849), 52.232-33, Payment by Electronic Funds Transfer -- Central Contractor Registration (31 U.S.C. 3332). The FAR may be obtained via the Internet at URL: http://www.arnet.gov/far/ The NFS may be obtained via the Internet at URL: http://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/procurement/regs/nfstoc.htm Questions regarding this acquisition must be submitted in writing no later than 2 days after the posting date of this notice. Selection and award will be made on an aggregate basis. Award will be based upon overall best value to the Government, with consideration given to the factors of meeting specifications, price, and past performance. Other critical requirements (i.e., delivery) if so stated in the solicitation and best value will also be considered. Unless otherwise stated in the solicitation, for selection purposes, technical, price, past performance, and other critical requirements are essentially equal in importance. Technical acceptability will be determined by information submitted by the offeror providing a description in sufficient detail to show that the product offered meets the Government's requirement(see specifications above) and any best value criteria the offeror wishes to address. It is critical that offerors provide adequate detail to allow evaluation of their offer. (SEE FAR 52.212-1(b)). Best Value Criteria: 1) Delivery schedule of 30 days or less. 2) A System with the ability to add a laser extensometer to measure dimensional changes in the sample and the ability to add a dielectric analyzer to identify chemical changes that might be occurring in the sample during testing at a later date. 3) System with the features of: a)laser extensometer to measure dimensional changes in the sample and b)an dielectric analyzer to identify chemical changes that might be occurring in the sample during testing included at this time. (For number 3 above, show pricing for these features separately and separate from the System pricing in order for the Government to make a determination during evaluation whether its budget allows it procure them at this time.) Offerors must include completed copies of the provision at 52.212-3, Offeror Representations and Certifications -- Commercial Items with their offer. These may be obtained via the internet at URL: http://ec.msfc.nasa.gov/msfc/pub/reps_certs/midrange/ . These representations and certifications will be incorporated by reference in any resultant contract. An ombudsman has been appointed -- See NASA Specific Note "B". It is the offeror's responsibility to monitor the following Internet site for the release of solicitation amendments (if any): http://nais.msfc.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/EPS/bizops.cgi?gr=C&pin=22 Potential offerors will be responsible for downloading their own copy of this combination synopsis/solicitation and amendments (if any). Any referenced notes can be viewed at the following URL: http://genesis.gsfc.nasa.gov/nasanote.html Posted 08/09/00 (D-SN484065). (0222)

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