NCMS is assisting the US Navy in identifying partners with ready-to-field valve seat scanning systems, remote operated vehicles for tank inspection and condenser tube inspection systems. Interested parties are strongly encouraged to submit to this Sources Sought and register to exhibit for the Carrier Team One (CT1) Innovation Expo, 16-18 May 2023.

Background

Shipyards continue to seek innovative solutions for major bottlenecks causing scheduling and availability delays. Slowed scheduling can be caused by maintainers being required to manually complete blue checking processes on valve seats to determine seat-to-disk contact. This process is highly time consuming and can be manually strenuous.

Tank inspections lead to major scheduling delays due to extensive manual checkups. Maintainers must follow specific processes to drain tanks and wait for gas free / safe operating conditions before entering for inspection. Time spent waiting for safe inspecting environments vary depending on the contents of the tank, leading to longer turn around times.

Condenser tube cleaning processes can create significant scheduling delays. Common practices include ultrasound and rubber plug injections. Location and ease of access determines the method of inspection, requiring multiple systems and maintainers to inspect condenser tubes. This creates inconsistent diagnostic, repair, and cleaning lead times.

Solutions Sought

The US Navy is seeking these ready-to-field capabilities.

Valve Seat Scanning

Parties must have ability to:

  • Scan valve seat while disk is in place
  • Detect seat anomalies
  • Reduce diagnostic time from current manual process

Tank Inspection

Parties must have ability to:

  • Complete Level 1 tank inspections
  • Inspect tank while contents remain
    • Example – JP5 jet fuel
  • Use remote operated vehicle
  • Reduce diagnostic time from current manual process

Condenser Tube Inspection

Parties must have:

  • Ability to reduce diagnostic time (Improvement over current methods)
  • Interest in:
    • Spatial mapping
    • LIDAR

Responses

Interested parties should complete the following form and provide a Capability Summary with no more than three (3) pages. Responses are due no later than the close of business on May 12, 2023. All questions or concerns can be addressed to opportunities@ncms.org.

Disclaimer and other Legal Information

NCMS encourages the participation of Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBEs), including Minority Business Enterprises (MBEs) and Women’s Business Enterprises (WBEs).

Responding to a Sources Sought, RFI, or Survey does not guarantee that a CTMA Program initiative will result. By submitting a response, you are agreeing to allow NCMS to share your information with the United States government. All submissions containing proprietary information shall be marked accordingly.

Any industry or academia participant awarded a contract by a participating government sponsor pursuant to a Sources Sought, RFI, or Survey will be compensated, under the agreement, on a cost-reimbursable basis. Each project participant will be expected to share in the total project cost by contributing cash or in-kind resources.

Under the CTMA Program, the parties shall limit participation on the project to (1) U.S. citizens, (2) lawful permanent residents as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(20), (3) other protected individuals as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), and (4) Canadian citizens (pursuant to the principles underlying the Canada-U.S. Free Trade Agreement), if such participation will involve visual inspection of the Technology, Intellectual Property or Technical Information, or oral exchanges of information about the foregoing. We also require the project participants to furnish NCMS, upon request, with proof of the citizenship status of its personnel participating on the project, including (1) U.S. citizens; (2) legal permanent residents; and (3) foreign nationals who are not permanent residents. In instances where it is necessary to involve foreign national employees in the visual inspection of the Technology, Intellectual Property, or Technical Information, or oral exchanges of information about the foregoing, the parties will be required to furnish to NCMS proof of appropriate valid export license, or technical assistance agreement, or exemption from licensing requirements (e.g. Canadian exemption) to the extent required by the International Traffic In Arms Regulations (“ITAR”) or the Export Administration Regulations (“EAR”). A copy of such license or agreement shall be furnished to NCMS before any disclosure of information to such foreign person. In the event a party believes that the subject matter of the project agreement is not covered by ITAR, that party may request a written waiver of the requirements of foreign national provision in the CTMA Agreement, which may be granted if the NCMS contracting officer agrees that ITAR does not cover the subject matter.

These requirements also apply to individuals who have dual citizenship status.