GB-BRISTOL: Investigation into Wire Arc Additive Manufacture technique

Tender description

The Armoured Vehicle programmes (AVP) In Service Platforms (ISP) team, part of the Ministry of Defence UK requires a suitably qualified and experienced supplier to manufacture Qty 5.off Maraging Steel pins (NSN: 5315 99 598 6562) using the Wire Arc Additive Manufacture (WAAM) technique and test the resulting product against a traditionally manufactured Maraging Steel Pin for comparison purposes. Vehicle trials may also be required as part of the testing regime (Full details will be included within any resulting Invitation to Tender issued by the Authority). The Authority will provide the Contractor access to an appropriate vehicle on a MOD site should vehicle borne trials be required. The item must be made of Maraging steel and will be no larger than circa 40cmx30cmx30cm. Should the manufacture of NSN 5315 99 598 6562 not be viable by the WAAM method the potential supplier will be asked (within the ITT) to propose their solution based on a prioritsed list of alternative Maraging Steel Pins. Higher marks will be available during the tender evaluation for potential suppliers able to manufacture the Maraging Steel Pins deemed more preferential by the Authority. Full down selection criteria will be provided within any resulting Invitation to Tender issued by the Authority. The AVP ISP team has been investigating various ALM techniques and believe WAAM could provide similar, if not improved, performance against traditional manufacturing techniques. The Authority has a requirement for the suppliers to be able to provide the following compulsory areas of capability. • Access to suitable WAAM Manufacturing facilities. • Previous experience of ALM and component testing. • Access to CAD processing facilities. • Access to ‘3D Scanning to CAD’ facilities. • Access to material property testing facilities, to include but not limited to UTS, 0.2% proof test, Young’s modulus, ductility, Vickers hardness & microstructure characteristic analysis.