SOLICITATION NOTICE
B -- Research on Safety of Oil and Gas Operations on the US Outer Continental Shelf
- Notice Date
- 5/14/2009
- Notice Type
- Presolicitation
- NAICS
- 541690
— Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services
- Contracting Office
- Department of the Interior, Minerals Management Service, Procurement Operations, MMS Procurement Branch, HQ381 Elden Street, MS 2102HerndonVA20170-4817US
- ZIP Code
- 00000
- Solicitation Number
- M09PS00069
- Response Due
- 6/15/2009
- Archive Date
- 7/15/2009
- Point of Contact
- Tardiff, Christy C 703-787-1367, tardiffc@mms.gov<br />
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- DESCRIPTION:This announcement solicits White Papers of not more than five (5) pages in length, for specific areas of interest to the Minerals Management Service (MMS) Technology Assessment and Research (TA&R) Program on Safety of Oil and Gas Operations in the US Outer Continental Shelf. When appropriate, the research shall be conducted consistently with prior research. For a summary of TA&R research recently performed, visit http://www.mms.gov/tarsafety/index.htm. BACKGROUND: The MMS TA&R Program is requesting white papers to be submitted in accordance with the terms of this announcement. Selected white papers will be requested to submit proposals. Proposals selected for funding by MMS shall receive funding from FY 2010. The MMS anticipates that $2,000,000 may be available for the initiation of new research addressing topics identified through this announcement. NOTICE: The MMS may share the White Papers with other organizations for review. Potential contractors shall notify the MMS if they do not want their White Papers/proposals shared. OBJECTIVE: The topics for the FY 2010 safety research funding should be limited to the following topics: 1. An Evaluation of the Use of Mean versus Nominal Yield Strength of Steel in Offshore Structural DesignEvaluate the American Institute of Steel Construction Inc.s, (AISC), criteria for nominal steel strength designation. The study should assess how nominal yield strength is determined and certified; in particular; consider how nominal strength correlates to mean yield strength. Also, assess how nominal yield strength correlates to other steel properties / characteristics of importance in structural steel analyses. Is mean yield strength definable for use as a design variable? If so, develop a procedure by which mean yield strength for use in structural analyses is to be determined. Keep in mind, the resulting mean yield strength has to be applicable to all common members in the structural analysis. Assess the reliability of the resulting structural analyses. Include a parallel assessment of mean yield strength of the weld material. 2. The Reliability of Metocean Measures - Site Specific MetoceanEvaluate the methodology and resulting quality of site specific metocean measures performed in accordance with the American Petroleum Institute (API) and other applicable standards to determine the reliability of hindcast data (including site-specific data) as an indicator of past and future metocean events. The study shall assess and quantify the reliability of instrument placement, operation and calibration; non-measured, antidotal, or derived metocean data, and associated mathematical models; data sets selections, manipulations (including pooling points, track shifting, boundary conditions, smoothing of site-specific conditions, bias removal and the like) and impact on resulting measures. Assess metocean models for consistency with accepted standard metocean practices, in particular, to discern between methodology founded in theory versus methodology which relies on statistics. Reliability is to be assessed and quantified not only in terms of the certainty of the measure, but also for consistency with accepted standard metocean practices throughout the profession (not solely in the Gulf of Mexico), as well as for consistency with met ocean theory and practice applied elsewhere in API and other industry standards. 3. Metocean Measures Hind-cast and Prior Exposure in Offshore Structural Design and AssessmentEvaluate methodology developed under American Petroleum Institute (API) standards as they relate to the structural design and assessment of OCS facilities based on prior storm exposure in order to clarify methodology used and address any uncertainties of using this method.4. Use of Vibration Measurement Systems to Assess Underwater Structural Integrity of OCS Facilities.Evaluate technology, methodology and use of Vibration Measurement (VM) as an alternative to current MMS approved inspection practices used for assessing underwater structural integrity of OCS facilities. Study should include analysis of VM systems, applications and limitations, risks, and comparison of VM inspection against existing systems to document its effectiveness relative to level II/III inspections.5. Use of Epoxy-based Materials in Well Abandonments MMS is considering use of epoxy-based materials for abandonment for wells damaged by hurricanes. These wells do not have vertical access and may be buckled below the mud line therefore preventing wire line operations via tubing to set plugs near the packer or punch the tubing to circulate cement into the casing. This study should evaluate materials and procedures for epoxy-based well abandonments; compare epoxy-based materials against cement abandonments; and determine whether epoxy material can effectively drop 7000 feet through a casing annuli and accumulate on top of the packer; how long material takes to travel to the bottom of a casing annuli and cure; how material performs over time, and how weighting of this material with BaSO4 affects the compressive and bond strength. 6. Inline Inspection of Low-pressure Low-volume (LPLV) In-service Gas Pipelines to Detect Wall Loss.Evaluate technologies to help develop or identify in-line inspections for use in detecting wall loss in low-pressure low-volume oil and gas pipelines. Technology must be applied without use of a tether or addition of a fluid.7. Wet-welding Workshop Organize and hold workshop to identify challenges, developmental needs, and areas of research necessary to advance the design, processes, metallurgy, and inspection/repair of underwater welding applications; with specific attention to status of development and availability of wet-welding consumables and services; current applications and practices for underwater welding and inspection; limitations that hinder underwater applications; new and advanced technologies, and collaboration of international partners including manufactures, suppliers, repair and inspection service companies, standards writing organizations, regulators, and researchers. The final workshop report will be compiled in the form of a proceedings book with broad distribution to the industry for further implementation of the technology. 8. Summary of Recent Significant TAR Projects and Their Results Review recent significant TA&R safety and engineering research projects and their deliverables and summarize the technical results in a report that is ready to be reproduced in quantity. The projects are categorized by safety and engineering topics on our web page at: http://www.mms.gov/tarsafety/index.htm HOW TO RESPOND: White Papers of not more than five (5) pages in length, an ORIGINAL PLUS three (3) copies and one (1) electronic copy in PDF format, on a CD, shall be submitted to the U.S. Department of Interior, Minerals Management Service, 381 Elden St., Herndon, VA 20170-4817, ATTN: Ms. Christy Tardiff, not later than June 15, 2009 at 04:00 PM, EDT. WHITE PAPERS SENT THROUGH EMAIL AND FAXES WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED. White Papers shall define the proposed research scope and include the level of effort. NOTE THAT COST ESTIMATES ARE NOT TO BE INCLUDED IN THE WHITE PAPER. The White Papers shall be evaluated only on technical merits. IF YOUR WHITE PAPER IS SELECTED FOR FURTHER EVALUATION, A TECHNICAL AND COST/BUSINESS PROPOSAL WILL BE REQUESTED BY THE CONTRACTING OFFICER FROM YOUR COMPANY. Projects shall be selected from all or part of the technical issues listed depending on the interest and scope of White Papers received. The MMS shall evaluate the responses, and those deemed to have merit shall be furnished information to assist in the preparation of the complete proposal. This announcement constitutes a Request for White Papers, but does not obligate the Government to consummate award. Respondents WILL NOT be notified of the results of the evaluation on the information submitted. WHITE PAPERS SHALL BE EVALUATED USING THE FOLLOWING CRITERIA: (1) feasibility of the approach or solution; (2) the offerors understanding of the technical issues; (3) the offerors ability to implement the proposed approach; (4) innovative or creative approaches or solutions including the participation and/or funding by the oil and gas industry or other groups in the research industry, where appropriate; and (5) past performance. IF ANY OF THE REQUIREMENTS OF THIS ANNOUNCEMENT ARE NOT MET, THE WHITE PAPER WILL NOT BE EVALUATED. QUESTIONS shall be E-mailed to Christy.Tardiff@mms.gov not later than May 29, 2009. The Solicitation number M09PS00069 MUST be in the subject line of the E-mail. All questions shall include the Solicitation number M09PS00069, your full name and title, your organization, complete address, and telephone and fax numbers. Telephone inquiries WILL NOT be accepted. A separate White Paper shall be submitted for each study on which the offeror wishes to propose. The White Paper shall identify clearly the offeror's company/organization, point of contact, address, telephone and facsimile numbers. Responses shall be accepted ONLY until June 15, 2009, 04:00 p.m., EDT. If Offerors desire to hand deliver their White Papers, they are advised that the MMS facility is a secure office complex and Offerors MUST NOT enter the building beyond the lobby. POINT OF CONTACT:You MUST contact Christy Tardiff at 703-787-1367 and set up an appointment 24 hours in advance of dropping off your White Paper. Point of Contact: Christy Tardiff, Contract Specialist, EMAIL: Christy.Tardiff@mms.gov, PHONE: 703-787-1367. Submit via email your questions to Point of Contact above.
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