Requirements for Quarter Blanking, Annealing, Upsetting (BAU)
The Unites States Mint is conducting market research into new annealing furnace technology to better equip our production facilities for current and future quarter Dollar production. Interested parties should provide a technical brief of all of the unique elements of their proposed solution and highlight new features. The US Mint is not restricting any type of annealing furnace as long as the furnace and all associated systems meet the below requirements:
1. Blank Requirements:
a. Hardness according to HR-15T: 50-60 (this value constitutes a fully annealed coin)
b. Minimal to zero oxide formation. - checked via visual Kappa test (attached)
i. Zero detrimental oxides
c. Weight:
i. LSL: 5.443g
ii. Nominal: 5.67g
iii. USL :5.897g
d. Staining - must conform to steam test
e. Process must allow for Carboshield BTX (anti-tarnish and lubrication product) to bind to the blank.
2. Furnace Requirements:
a. Temperature Range of 1000-1800 Fahrenheit
b. Control accuracy of ±10 F
c. Proposed solutions should minimize the need for new utilities.
d. Design to incorporate manual loading option.
e. Discharge blanks into a bucket conveyor.
3. Footprint Requirements:
a. Footprint cannot exceed 50 feet by 15 feet. Maximum footprint includes all allowances for maintenance access.
4. Throughput Requirements:
The US Mint requests the contractor state what the maximum achievable material throughput rate given the qualisty and foot print constraints. Also provide a brief description of the process used (i.e. atmosphere used, material movement method, washing and drying mthod and energy requirements).
Interested parties shall provide a full technical brief including (but not limited to):
1. Furnace atmosphere: specify atmosphere required to meet blank requirements and how temperature is achieved within the furnace.
2. Techniques used for blank movement, washing and drying processes to meet requirements listed.
3. Utilities needed to operate furnace equipment.
4. Size of furnace equipment and all associated systems
5. Estimated throughput of blanks in pounds per hour
6. Any other notable features
Places of Performance:
Denver Mint
320 W. Colfax Ave.
Denver, CO 80204
Philadelphia Mint
151 North Independence Mall East
Philadelphia, PA 19106

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