The Naval Surface Warfare Center, Panama City Division intends to issue a sole source purchase order to Wendell Hull Associates, 5605 Dona Ana Rd, Las Cruces, NM 88007, to address safety concerns related to fielded Navy diving equipment that utilizes quick disconnects in high pressure oxygen systems. Testing will include QD mate and demate cycles, ability to resist contamination, adiabatic compression testing and particle impact testing. Upon completion of the test program an Oxygen Hazards and Fire Risk Analysis (OHFRA) will be developed to rank the probability of ignition and reaction effect for the QDs tested. This effort is sole source for the following reasons. First, in the past, Wendell Hull and Associates (WHA) have investigated oxygen fires attributed to the use of QDs in oxygen systems. The details of these investigations are considered proprietary but justify the raised level of concern for their use in oxygen systems. Basic oxygen system design provides guidance to avoid QDs due to increased concern over ignition. Additionally WHA investigated the unique hazards associated with filling ports on valve integrated pressure regulators. WHA is the only company that can execute this test program. WHA's test facility in Las Cruces, NM is specifically configured to perform oxygen compatibility testing. Access to the test cells is controlled and oxygen monitors are used to detect unsafe conditions. Emergency evacuation fans are also installed in the test cells to help prevent oxygen-enriched or oxygen-deficient conditions.
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