SOURCES SOUGHT
36 -- Machinery for the Expansion of Paper Honeycomb Core into Energy Dissipation Pads (EDPs)
- Notice Date
- 3/15/2012
- Notice Type
- Sources Sought
- Contracting Office
- ACC-APG - Natick (PADDS), ATTN: CCRD-NA, Building 1, Kansas Street, Natick, MA 01760-5011
- ZIP Code
- 01760-5011
- Solicitation Number
- WARPADD-RFI-EDP
- Response Due
- 4/13/2012
- Archive Date
- 6/12/2012
- Point of Contact
- Allison Griffin, 508-233-4495
- E-Mail Address
-
ACC-APG - Natick (PADDS)
(allison.griffin@us.army.mil)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- The US Army Research Development Engineering Command, Natick Soldier Research, Development & Engineering Center (NSRDEC), is conducting a market survey for technical information to provide machinery for the expansion of paper honeycomb core into Energy Dissipation Pads (EDPs) at forward operating locations. Currently, the only medium used for cargo airdrop ground impact energy dissipation is paper honeycomb. Paper honeycomb comes in sheets that are 8 feet long, 3 feet wide and 3 inches thick, and is otherwise referred to as EDPs. Given that EDP is more than 95% air by volume, it is extremely inefficient to ship and store. Because of the remote and involved nature of the conflict in Afghanistan in particular, the demand for airdrops is at record highs. Consequently, EDP shipping expenses are climbing and storage space in airdrop staging points is filling up. To alleviate challenges presented by these unprecedented strategic airdrop numbers, machinery to produce EDPs as close as possible to their location of use is being sought. Of particular interest is the private sector's practice of shipping bulk paper honeycomb core and expanding the core where the honeycomb panels are desired. This process begins with the creation of compressed honeycomb called honeycomb "core." This airless configuration of honeycomb is shipped to various facilities where the core is expanded and plied with paper on the top and bottom in a process called "paneling." The machine that panels honeycomb core is called a "Panel Line." The intended deliverable of this project is to attain a "turn-key" paper honeycomb panel line that is containerized and capable of being shipped to forward locations where EDPs will be produced and used. The containerized honeycomb panel line and raw materials shall be capable of producing EDPs that meet current honeycomb standards outlined in MIL-PRF-9884F. Beyond the threshold of providing the standard 96"x36"x3" honeycomb, machines capable of producing 44 inch-wide honeycomb in order to accommodate rigging of high-demand CDS bundles would be desired in order to provide this objective capability as part of a future effort. The machine shall be capable of a continuous production rate of at least 60 feet per minute. One of the major problems with continuous production honeycomb expansion machines is the maintenance actions required for the glue applicator. If the machine is going to be idle for more than 20 minutes, the glue applicator drums that apply glue to the expanded core for paper panel lamination need to be cleaned with running water and detergent. Due to the harsh and remote climates that the expansion machine may have to operate in, running water will not always be available, and cycle / shut down times will often exceed 20 minutes. To mitigate the glue maintenance problem, a honeycomb panel line which utilizes an adhesive-backed paper is desired in order to eliminate the need for glue applicators and their cleaning and maintenance all together. The resultant EDP must also meet the requirements of MIL-PRF-9884F. Sources capable of making or providing i.e., lease and support the machine(s) (to include core and material (paper/glue)) to above specification are sought. NSRDEC is seeking sources, technical and product information for products which meet the DoD requirements, or may meet requirements with modifications. Proprietary information will not be disclosed outside of the U.S. government. All interested firms, regardless of size, are encouraged to respond to this Request for Information (RFI). This RFI is for planning purposes only and shall not be construed as a Request for Proposal or as an obligation on the part of the Government. The Government does not intend to award a contract on the basis of this request or otherwise pay for information solicited. No awards will result from this request. Firms responding to this RFI shall bear all risk and expense of any resources used to provide the requested information, and all information submitted in response to this request shall become the property of the Government and will not be returned to the submitter. Respondents must submit their product brochures, technical data, or other information concerning performance and cost by 13 April 2012. Responses may be sent via email to william.millette@us.army.mil or by regular mail to US Army RDECOM, Natick Soldier RD&E Center, ATTN: RDNS-WPA-D (Millette), Kansas Street, Natick, MA 01760-5017. This market survey is for information and planning purposes only. This is not an Invitation for Bid (IFB) or a Request for Proposal (RFP) and is not to be taken as a commitment by RDECOM-NSRDEC.
- Web Link
-
FBO.gov Permalink
(https://www.fbo.gov/notices/e04513bc2eb5f190c7b6e0b093c964e9)
- Place of Performance
- Address: RDECOM Warfighter Protection & Aerial Delivery Directorate ATTN: RDNS-WPA-D, Kansas Street Natick MA
- Zip Code: 01760-501
- Zip Code: 01760-501
- Record
- SN02697613-W 20120317/120315234811-e04513bc2eb5f190c7b6e0b093c964e9 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
FedBizOpps Link to This Notice
(may not be valid after Archive Date)
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