The U.S. Army Contracting Center-New Jersey, Emerging Technologies (ACC-NJ-ET) on behalf of Armament Research, Development, and Engineering Center's (ARDEC) Benet Laboratories, Watervliet Arsenal, NY, is conducting a market survey to identify potential commercial sources having expertise in the Spark Plasma Sintering (SPS) process and having their own SPS machines and Mechanical Testing equipment in place along with proven experience and demonstrated ability to design, produce, and test commercial SPS parts. Moreover, the Sources shall outline their present methodology for obtaining homogeneous plasma sintering compacts and have capability to continuously/mass produce SPS parts

The sources should be capable of developing a SPS manufacturing procedure or Data Package for obtaining homogeneous Plasma Sintering Compacts for the 155mm sample as described below. All of the Compacts are made with the EX M4 (AISI M4) Powder which will be supplied by US Government.

Compacts:
(1) 30mm diameter, 10~20mm thick specimens
(2) 80mm diameter, 10~20mm thick specimens
(3) 155mm diameter Broach Blanks, 10~20mm thick specimens
Validation of the Sinterability of the M4 powder shall be accomplished by performing the following tests on all of the specimens previously specified. These tests will include:
a. Hardness (Indentation tests)
b. Density
c. Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (SEM/EDX) / Energy Dispersive X-Ray Chemical Composition (XRD)
(Chem. Composition, Synthetic substance, phase)
d. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) observations
Micrographs (grain boundary of crystallographic behavior)
Moreover, the following material characteristics need to be evaluated from a statistical sample for the 80 mm and the 155mm compacts:
a. CHARPY C-NOTCH Impact Value Hardness
b. Wear Resistance
c. Hardness
d. Strength
e. Modulus of Elasticity
f. Thermal Expansion Coefficients

This announcement constitutes an official Request for Information (RFI). Any information or brochures submitted will be used for planning purposes only and shall not be considered as a Request for Proposal or as an obligation on the part of the Government to purchase a technology. This request does not constitute a solicitation for proposals or the authority to enter into negotiations to award a contract (see FAR 15.201(e)). No funds have been authorized, appropriated, or received for this effort.

Responses:

Interested organizations should submit a company brochure or a tailored capability statement for these requirements that clearly details the ability to perform the aspects of the notice described above. The submission should also include a rough order of magnitude cost estimate for the proposed set up. Responses will be reviewed by the US Army ARDEC Benét Laboratories personnel only and will be held in a confidential manner. Submitted documentation will not be returned. Any and all information provided shall include a description of the proposed technology specifics including technology capabilities and relevant applications.

Responses to the RFI must be received no later than COB 1600 EST on 30 September 2016 via email. Interested firms should provide their address, point-of-contact with telephone number and e-mail address. The Point of Contact for this action is Giuseppe Tropiano, Contract Specialist, U.S. Army Contracting Command-New Jersey, ACC-NJ-ET, Benet Laboratories, 1 Buffington St., Bldg. 40, Watervliet Arsenal, NY 12189; email: [email protected] NO TELEPHONE INQUIRIES WILL BE ACCEPTED. The Government will accept written questions by email to Giuseppe Tropiano at [email protected].

 

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