Description
Action Code: P Classification Code: A Title: Testing of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) Containers and Accessories Agency/Office: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Location: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration HQ NAICS Code: 541712, Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences, 500 Employees. Response Date: February 18, 2015 Point of Contract: Vincent C. Lynch, Contracting Officer, (202) 366-9568. Solicitation Number: DTNH2215RQ-00322 Description: The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) intends to negotiate with Powertech, for the continuation of essential services to provide conducting research to evaluate potential upgrades to FMVSS No. 304, "Compressed natural gas container integrity." This research program will evaluate CNG containers in new test conditions and procedures prescribed in the Global Technical Regulation (GTR) No. 13, "Hydrogen and fuel cell vehicles." Background: Current FMVSS No. 304 only has a pressure cycling test at ambient temperature and a bonfire test. These tests do not address the current safety concerns regarding CNG containers as observed in the field. CNG containers are exposed to different chemicals, temperature ranges, internal pressure, impacts, and use conditions that could affect the container performance and life. CNG container failures in the field have occurred in vehicle fires because the of pressure relief devices (PRDs) or temperature activated pressure relief devices (TPRDs) failed to activate. Field failures also involve failure of pressure relief devices (PRDs), temperature activated pressure relief devices (TPRDs), and valves on the CNG containers. This research program will evaluate CNG containers in new test conditions and procedures prescribed in the Global Technical Regulation (GTR) No. 13, "Hydrogen and fuel cell vehicles." These tests were developed to represent the vehicle environment that a fuel container is exposed to during the lifetime of the vehicle and is independent of the type of gas in the container. Therefore, these tests may be applied to CNG containers as well. Other tests specific to CNG containers and PRDs specified in ANSI NGV-2-2007, "Compressed natural gas vehicle fuel containers," and ANSI NGV-3.1 - 2012, "Fuel system components for compressed natural gas powered vehicles," will also be considered. Objective: The primary objective of this contract is to perform container tests specified in GTR No 13, 5.1.1.1., 5.1.2., and 5.1.4, and primary closure durability tests in section 5.1.5 and Part 13 of ANSI NGV-3.1. The contractor will conduct the following tests identified in the GTR No. 13: 5.1.1.1. Baseline initial burst pressure test 5.1.2. Performance Durability (hydraulic sequential tests) 5.1.4. Service terminating system performance in fire 5.1.5 Performance durability of primary closures (and Part 13 ANSI NGV-3.1) The testing will be conducted on four CNG container models (representing Types 2, 3, and 4 containers). The primary closure models to be tested to part 5.1.5 will be the same as those with which the containers are equipped. General Requirements: The basic testing requirements are: Test item selection - Select and purchase 3 different models of containers. Record and document all test conditions that will affect the test sample performance or the test outcome through the duration of testing such as the part's material properties, the test environment temperature, the tank temperature, the test fluid or hydrogen gas temperature, the pressure, the cycle counts etc. This task shall be thoroughly documented through the entire test process. Monitor and maintain test conditions or test environment through the duration of testing such as the test temperature change as required in the respective standards. This task shall be documented in a test logbook through the test process. Prior to conducting the tests, the contractor shall confer with the Contracting Officer's Representative (COR) on the test articles selected and the proposed test protocols. A test plan shall be submitted to the COR for approval prior to conducting the tests. Testing shall be completed six (6) months after acquisition of the test articles. The period of performance of this contract in 12 months. The anticipated period of performance is for a base period of twelve (12) months. A firm fixed-price contract is anticipated. Interested firms should identify their capability provide the services described above. The written response must include detailed information relating to the specific equipment being requested. Expressions of interest without sufficient detail to permit evaluation of one's ability to provide the requested items will not be considered. This notice of intent is not a request for competitive proposals nor is a Request-for-Proposal solicitation document currently available. A determination by the Government not to compete this action based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Information received will be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive acquisition. In the absence of responses from interested firms demonstrating their capability, NHTSA intends to request a proposal from Powertech on a noncompetitive basis for the work described. Responses must be received by the listed procuring office with 15 days from the date of publication of this notice.