B--Evaluate and Debug a COMSOL Finite Element Mathmatics (FEM) Model

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development (ORD) located at 26 W. Martin Luther King Drive, Cincinnati, OH, requires a certified COMSOL consultant to evaluate and debug a COMSOL Finite Element Mathmatics (FEM) model developed by EPA's National Risk Management Research Laboratory (NRMRL) describing a chemical reaction in a spinning annular region. A spinning tube-in-tube reactor (STTR) is a continuous-flow reaction system that uses the benefits of increased reaction efficiency and conversion to produce more sustainable processess. The enhanced performance is believed to be the result of high shear rates (mixing) created within the reaction zone minimizing the heat and mass transfer resistance encountered by the reacting species. However, quantitative analysis of this phenomenon is limited to ideal cases and is impractical for system design. Without such a model, experimental work involves a rigorous trial-and-error approach to determ ine the conditions necessary to carry out a reaction in the STTR and does not guarantee identical performance after scale-up. The developed model will accurately simulate the simultaneous heat and mass transfer occuring within an STTR to aid in both experimental and process design. The improved efficiency for experimental and process design that this model will provide is necessary for EPA to meet its deliverables to both industrial partners and to the Chemical Safety for Sustainability (CSS) National Research Program within EPA. NRMRL has developed a preliminary model using COMSOL Multiphysics and requires expertise not available within the Agency to obtain a solution to the model based on manipulation of the FEM solving parameters for chemical reaction process simulation within COMSOL Multiphysics. A firm-fixed-price contract will be issued with award being made using best value methodology. This is a Small Business Set-Aside under NAICS Code 541712 with a Size Standard of 500 Employees. All prospective offerors are required to be registered in the Central Contractor Registration system in order to be eligible for award. See the website www.ccr.gov for information about registration. It is anticipated that the complete solicitation will be posted on or about July 20, 2012 on the EPA website http://www.epa.gov/oam/cinn_cmd. It is the responsibility of the offerors to monitor the EPA website for changes or updates. No hard copies will be made available. All responsible sources may submit a proposal which shall be considered. Point of Contact for this requirement is Scott Tharp, Contracting Officer, at (513) 487-2020, or email at tharp.scott@epa.gov. Questions must be submitted in writing via email.