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THIS IS A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION/SOURCES SOUGHT (RFI/SS) ONLY. This Notice is issued solely for information and planning purposes and does not constitute a Request for Proposal (RFP) or a Request for Quotation (RFQ) or a promise to issue a solicitation for such in the future. Similarly, ATF will not accept any unsolicited proposals/quotations related to this Notice. Additionally, this RFI does not commit the Government to contract for any supply or service. As such, the Government will not pay for any information or for administrative costs incurred in response to this RFI; instead, all costs associated with responding to this RFI will be solely at the interested party’s expense. Not responding to this RFI does not preclude participation in any future contract, if issued. If a solicitation is released, it will be issued through a government point of entry (i.e., SAM, eBuy); therefore, firms should monitor such sites for additional information pertaining to this requirement.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, & Explosives (ATF), Office of Science & Technology (OST), Laboratory Services (LS) Division is seeking to determine availability of and identify which firms under a Best-in-Class solution(s), General Services Administration schedule contract(s) or other Government-Wide -Acquisition Vehicle(s) can successfully provide engineering support services for its Fire Research Laboratory (FRL).
2. BACKGROUND
ATF is a law-enforcement organization with unique responsibilities and is dedicated to reducing violent crime and protecting the public. ATF protects the public from crimes involving firearms, explosives, arson, and the diversion of alcohol and tobacco products. It regulates lawful commerce in firearms and explosives and provides worldwide support to law-enforcement, public-safety, and industry partners. ATF is dedicated to preventing terrorism, violent crime, and protecting the Nation.
In 1985, the ATF Laboratories became the first Federal forensic laboratories accredited by the American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors. The FRL conducts forensic research, case support, training and education for fire investigation and analysis for the ATF Certified Fire Investigators (CFIs), prosecutors, and the fire-investigation community at-large. CFIs use a variety of analytical tools, such as computer fire modeling, to help them determine the origin and cause of fires. The FRL provides forensic fire analysis to help with accurately recreating fire scenes and studying various potential ignition scenarios.
The FRL is a 72,000-square foot building that houses three (3) burn rooms. The large burn room measures 130 foot by 130 foot and is 55 feet high. The large burn room contains a 60 foot by 60 foot, 14-megawatt calorimetry hood. The medium burn room is 80 foot by 160 foot and is 35 foot high. The medium burn room houses a 4-megawatt hood, two 1-megawatt hoods and two (2) modular hoods. The small burn room houses several bench-scale test equipment fixtures. Also, included on-site are evidence- and materials- storage and conditioning rooms, fabrication shop, and an electrical laboratory.
The mission of the FRL is to provide accurate and authoritative scientific information utilized by ATF in reducing violent crime and protecting the public. The FRL is committed to providing the best-quality laboratory support services to its customers.
The activities performed at the FRL require adherence to strict safety precautions and procedures established by ATF. Contract personnel shall comply with all applicable safety and health regulations for the work they perform. The FRL maintains a comprehensive safety, emergency-response and fire-brigade training program, and periodic refresher training.
NAICS Codes: 541380 – Testing Laboratories and 541330 - Engineering Services,
3. SCOPE
ATF is seeking sources to provide Test-Floor Engineering and Instrumentation Engineering support services necessary to facilitate FRL operational requirements for a base year with up to four (4) option years. Test-Floor engineering consists of tests and/or experiments conducted in a controlled environment in ATF’s FRL burn rooms. Test-Floor engineers shall have a critical quality-assurance role, ensuring equipment and systems are operating properly for FRL experiments, as well as making sure that technician staff members are trained to assist with experiments, which include live burn testing. Instrumentation Engineering consists of developing, maintaining and improving instrumentation and Data Acquisition (DAQ) systems critical to FRL operations.
Contractor shall develop test plans that meet the goals and objectives as determined/ set by ATF staff. Test plans include determining appropriate measurement type(s) (i.e. Heat flux, temperature, velocity, etc.), the proper selection of measuring devices, and their placement within live burn experiments. The contractor shall review data collected from live burn experiments to insure the validity and accuracy of the results. Contractor shall generate “Test Records” of experiments that meet all FRL policies and procedures. Contractor shall also conduct studies, with goals and objectives set by ATF staff, to contribute to the accomplishment of conceptual and developmental objectives for the FRL. These studies focus on the validation of unique test measurements and the development of new procedures and equipment to further the science of fire investigation.
Contractor shall provide Engineers and Project Managers required for specific tasks with limited scope and duration. These tasks may include the design and fabrication of unique test equipment, in depth analysis of fire dynamic calculations, smoke and fire modeling of laboratory design, etc. An example of a specific task may include designing, developing and directing the fabrication of a laser-smoke-detector system, heat-flux calibration black body, or a 40-megawatt spray burner for use in the laboratory.
4. TASKS & DELIVERABLES
5. ANTICIPATED LABOR CATEGORIES
6. CONTRACT TYPE and VEHICLE
IF there is a resulting solicitation and contract/task order, then ATF anticipates a hybrid contract type: firm-fixed price for labor and cost-reimbursement for Travel and Other Direct Costs.
7. RESPONSES
Interested parties shall respond to this RFI using the attached Excel Spreadsheet by the Close Date and Time of this Notice by sending an email to [email protected] with a Cc to [email protected]. Sources responding shall also attach proof of similar work with detailed information on governmental contracts. Proprietary information, if any, should be minimized and MUST be CLEARLY MARKED and segregated to aid the Government. ALL submissions become Government property and will not be returned.
8. PLACE OF PERFORMANCE
The place of performance will be ATF – National Laboratory Center/Fire Research Laboratory, located at 6000 Ammendale Road in Ammendale, Maryland 20705-1250.