SOURCES SOUGHT
A -- SEMI-AUTOMATIC LOCKOUT SYSTEM FOR SAFER BALERS USER BY THE RECYCLING INDUSTRY
- Notice Date
- 1/13/2005
- Notice Type
- Sources Sought
- NAICS
- 333319
— Other Commercial and Service Industry Machinery Manufacturing
- Contracting Office
- Department of Health and Human Services, Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Acquisition and Assistance Field Branch (Morgantown), 1095 Willowdale Road, Morgantown, WV, 26505
- ZIP Code
- 26505
- Solicitation Number
- Reference-Number-2005-DSR-0001
- Response Due
- 2/27/2005
- Archive Date
- 3/14/2005
- Description
- The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) is seeking to sign a Letter of Agreement (LOA) to work with a machine safeguarding manufacturer to design, test, and evaluate the marketability of the semi-automatic lockout system (JamAlert) for balers used by the recycling industry that NIOSH has previously designed and tested. The goal of this project is to improve the safety of operators of horizontal balers by bringing the JamAlert device into the marketplace. This announcement is a business opportunity in that the partner selected will share expertise with NIOSH researchers toward making the JamAlert a profitable safety product. Presently, safe clearing of jammed balers is limited because the personnel who perform this task must remember to complete all the steps of a manual shutdown and lockout of the baler power supply. Training can help with getting personnel to take these steps, but people often do not follow the designated procedures. There is currently no form of passive protection, such as the JamAlert, available for balers for protecting operators from fatal injury when clearing jams. The JamAlert device developed by NIOSH is normally in a standby mode for day-to-day use. If a jam condition is detected by the strain gage sensor on the baler?s shear bar, the baler will be automatically shut down, and a captured key will be released that must be used to lock out the power supply before the jam can be safely cleared. Field tests of the JamAlert have been conducted by NIOSH on a horizontal baler. The results of these tests show that the JamAlert may be a viable device that could be used to help prevent deaths and injuries due to personnel being caught during an unexpected restart of a jammed baler. Candidate companies, which appear to provide the most promise of meeting the requirements listed below, will be evaluated by their capability to complete the research and development needed to bring the JamAlert into commercial production. NIOSH does not guarantee to sign a LOA with any presented company. NIOSH does not guarantee purchasing or testing of equipment provided by the selected partner company. NIOSH reserves the right to establish a partnership based on engineering analysis/evaluation capabilities described in this announcement or other searches, if determined to be in the best interest of the government. JamAlert Commercialization Capabilities Parameters: (Companies should meet all of these requirements, but highly innovative solutions without testing are not discouraged from presentation or response.) (A) Providing significant intellectual, engineering, and technical expertise in manufacturing the JamAlert. This would include defining the cost and usability needs of a target, recycling center market. Also, provide assistance in setting realistic product cost objectives and providing suggestions on how the JamAlert can achieve product cost goals - Required; (B) Fabricating prototypes for test and evaluation - Required; (C) Providing expertise to NIOSH in designing and conducting field evaluations involving recycling center worker populations - Required; (D) Reviewing test results and recommending design modifications - Required; (E) Reviewing testing methods and recommending appropriate, new testing criteria - Required; (F) Working with recycling centers to provide NIOSH with access to balers so that further field tests can be conducted ? Required. NIOSH is seeking an innovative partner to address these major areas. A company that is qualified and currently is producing balers or machine safety devices is highly desired. However, past testing and design of devices exactly like the JamAlert is not required. If prior testing has been performed, the test information and results should be provided. Interested parties responding to this request should provide detailed information regarding capabilities, test results, and cost data. Presentation material may consist of literature, electronic presentation, or video. (Samples and data provided to the government as part of this solicitation will not be returned to vendors following the completion of this project.) Vendors may be offered the opportunity to meet with representatives of the NIOSH project team following a review of all submitted data. Data and/or product samples must be delivered to NIOSH within two weeks (10 business days) of the closing of this announcement. Although every effort will be made to consider all information received, the government will not be obligated to evaluate information received after the two week period. Vendors should note any proprietary data as such. If any data is to be excluded from exchange with any of the project participants, a statement of that fact shall be included with the statement of propriety. Presentations from interested vendors are optional but encouraged. The government has identified March 8th and 9th, 2005 for these presentations to be conducted. The Government reserves the right to identify an alternate meeting date if those identified are not viable for one or more interested vendors. Please direct technical questions to: John Etherton, Project Officer Technical Representative CDC/NIOSH, MS/G800 1095 Willowdale Road Morgantown, WV 26505 Phone : 304-285-5985 Fax : 304-285-6047 jre1@cdc.gov (Please include 3 copies)
- Record
- SN00734449-W 20050115/050113211803 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
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