NASA is procuring ORCAlloy-21 atomized and coated powder, which requires specific chemical compositions and particle size distributions as outlined in the solicitation. This opportunity is open to all businesses, as there is no set-aside for small businesses. Vendors must be capable of producing the powder using precise methods and providing detailed certifications for each lot. Interested parties should note that this is a solicitation notice, indicating that they should prepare to submit bids rather than simply track the opportunity.
Analysis by Mindy, grounded in the SAM.gov notice.
Description
NASA Marshall Space Flight Center
Procurement for: ORCAlloy-21 Atomized and Coated Powder
SOW for Specialty NASA Powders
1. The powders shall be produced using vacuum or inert induction melting utilizing gas atomization
in argon. The furnace charge for production will consist of master alloys, virgin melt stock, solid
revert of controlled purity, or any combination thereof.
2. Unless explicitly specified by the purchase request, the requested quantity of powder shall be
supplied as a single lot. The single lot may be supplied as a blend of multiple heat lots. Blending
of multiple heat lots into a single lot is allowed only if every lot blended is verified independently
to meet all aspects of this specification. Heat lot numbers and their independent certification
will be provided for each blended lot. Blending of heat lots will not be used to control chemistry
or particle size distribution. Blending of heat lots will not occur other than at the original powder
producer.
3. Vendor shall provide ORCAlloy-21 per the following composition in Table 1.
Table 1. ORCAlloy-21 Composition.
Element Nominal Minimum Maximum
Nickel BAL - -
Chromium 14.5 13 15
Cobalt 27 25 29
Rhenium 1 0.5 1.5
Tungsten 2.75 2.5 3
Titanium 0.2 0.15 0.3
Aluminum 0.15 0.1 0.2
Niobium 0.7 0.6 0.8
Carbon 0.04 0.03 0.05
Sulfur - - 0.01
Phosphorus - - 0.01
Silicon - - 0.1
Boron - - 0.005
Hydrogen - - <50 ppm
Oxygen - - <300 ppm
Nitrogen - - <200 ppm
4. Powder chemical composition shall be verified for carbon, sulfur, nitrogen, and oxygen per
ASTM E1019. Other elements of Table 1 shall be verified by wet chemical methods per ASTM
E354 or inductively coupled plasma spectroscopy per ASTM E2594. Other methods may be used
if agreed upon prior to contract award. Chemical check analysis limits of SAE AMS 2269 are
applicable.
5. The powder particle size distribution (PSD) shall target the ranges listed in Table 2. The supplier
shall furnish a certification for each powder lot per ASTM B214 (Sieve Analysis) and ASTM B822
(Light Scattering) including analysis for the mesh size, name of analyzing lab, the date analyzed,
and analysis method. Other methods may be used if agreed upon prior to contract award.
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NASA Marshall Space Flight Center
Table 2. Powder Composition (weight %)
Size / Cut Mesh or Micron Size Notes
DED Cut -140 mesh/+325 mesh
(105 um/45 um)
1. Particles greater than +140 mesh shall be
limited to ≤ 1.0 weight % per ASTM B214
2. Particles smaller than +325 mesh shall be
limited to < 5.0 weight % per ASTM B214
L-PBF Cut +325 mesh/1250 mesh
(45 um/+10 um)
1. Particles greater than +325 mesh shall be
limited to ≤ 1.0 weight % per ASTM B214
2. Particles smaller than 10 (um) shall be limited
to ≤ 2.0 cumulative volume % per ASTM B822
6. Powder shall be primarily spherical in shape, free of significant satellite particles, and have
smooth surfaces. Powder vendor may meet these requirements by supplying images of a mono-
layer sample of the powder lot of approximately 0.5 cm2 area at sufficient
magnification/resolution to observe particle shape and confirm the absence of significant
satellite particles. Powder sampling must meet minimum acceptable methods as defined in
ASTM B215.
7. Post-production additions to the powder lot for control of PSD or chemistry are not allowed.
8. The powder must be handled and processed under inert atmosphere as vendor’s process allows.
All exposures to atmosphere during handling and processing will be described prior to
processing and allowed with pre-approval by NASA. The powder shall be packaged in air-tight,
inert gas filled containers or drums no larger than 20 kg each.
9. The ORCAlloy-21 powder shall be coated using nano-scale Yttria Oxide at 0.45% and shall have
sufficient covered according to NASA specifications and engineering direction.
10. The powder shall be delivered with Certificates of Conformance (CoC) specifying lot number,
and the date and facility location of powder production, and verification of compliance to all
requirements listed in this specification. If the provided lot of powder is a blend of heat lots, the
CoC must contain compliance information for each blended lot.
Deliverables
1. Vendor shall supply a minimum 1,000 pounds (lbs) of ORCAlloy-21 per composition in table 1
with a L-PBF cut per Table 2.
2. The powders may be produced in individual lots, if necessary.
3. The powder shall be delivered to MSFC within 14 weeks of authority to proceed (ATP).
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Source: SAM.gov, as posted. Verify the current solicitation before responding.
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