Environmental Chamber for Large Component Reliability Testing Level 3

Solicitation / RFP / RFQ

This Request for Quotes (RFQ) from the National Laboratory of the Rockies (NLR) seeks competitive subcontracts for an "Environmental Chamber for Large Component Reliability Testing Level 3". The NLR is a national laboratory owned by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), focused on renewable energy and energy efficiency research and development.

• The core requirement is for an "Environmental Chamber for Large Component Reliability Testing Level 3".

• Offerors must meet baseline requirements outlined in Attachment 1 (Technical Specifications) and Attachment 3 (Vendor Performance Requirements).

• Attachment 2 (Equipment Specifications Spreadsheet) must be completed and submitted; estimates are acceptable.

• The selected offer will be for a firm-fixed-price purchase order.

• The anticipated lead time for award is nine months, with an expected delivery date by 12/4/2026.

• NLR standard terms and conditions (Appendix B-8) are applicable.

• Submission Deadline: March 4, 2026, 5:00 PM Mountain Time.

• Technical Questions Deadline: February 11, 2026.

• Selection Method: Lowest Price (Cost), Technically Acceptable Selection. Offers will be evaluated first for technical acceptability against baseline requirements, then for lowest evaluated price.

• Quote Submission: Must include an official quote, cover letter, completed Attachment 2, and signed Representations and Certifications.

• Quote Validity: Must be valid for 90 days from the date of the offer.

• The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code is 334519 (Other Measuring and Controlling Device Manufacturing) with a size standard of 600 employees.

• Offers will be evaluated in accordance with FAR Part 25, with preference given to domestic offers per the Buy American Act.

• Offerors must certify their size and socioeconomic status in SAM.gov or via Attachment 3 (Small Business Certification Form).

• This is Revision No. 1 to the RFQ.

• Electronic copies of forms and appendices can be found at: http://www.NLR.gov/workingwithus/standard-terms.html

• Offerors must identify country of shipment and itemize tariff costs. Failure to do so may result in rejection.

• Prohibition on use of certain telecommunications and video surveillance services/equipment (Section 889) applies.

• Compliance with Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act applies to EIT procurement.

Amendment / Modification

• This amendment (No. 3) updates the solicitation contact information.

• The NLR RFP Contact is now Maurice Nelson, with the email address Maurice.Nelson@nlr.gov.

• This supersedes information previously provided in Amendment No. 2.

• NLR RFP Contact information.

• The due date for proposals remains 3/4/2026 at 5:00pm Mountain Time.

• Technical questions must be received in writing no later than 2/11/2026.

• Proposals should be submitted electronically to Maurice.Nelson@nlr.gov.

• Bidders should include confirmation of receipt and acceptance of amendments in their cover letter.

Amendment / Modification

This amendment (No. 2) updates the solicitation for the Level 3 Environmental Chamber.

• Attachments: This amendment adds "Attachment No. 3 – Vendor Performance Requirements, dated 1/20/2026." The following attachments are now considered baseline requirements:

  • Attachment No. 1 – Technical Specifications titled “Level 3 – Large Components Reliability Testing Environmental Chambers, dated 6/24/2025
  • Attachment No. 2 – Equipment Specifications Spreadsheet
  • Attachment No. 3 – Vendor Performance Requirements, dated 1/20/2026

• Proposal Due Date: The due date for proposals remains March 4, 2026, at 5:00 PM Mountain Time.

• Technical Questions Deadline: Technical questions must be received in writing no later than February 11, 2026.

• Proposal Submission: Proposals must be submitted electronically to Nicole.Edun@nlr.gov.

• Confirmation: Offerors must include confirmation of receipt and acceptance of the Amendments in their cover letter.

Solicitation / RFP / RFQ

This solicitation is for an "Environmental Chamber for Large Component Reliability Testing Level 3" and is being conducted by the National Laboratory of the Rockies (NLR), a Department of Energy national laboratory. NLR intends to award a Purchase Order for this requirement.

• The core requirement is to meet the baseline requirements outlined in Attachment 1 (Technical Specifications) and Attachment 3 (Vendor Performance Requirements).

• Attachment 2 (Equipment Specifications Spreadsheet) must be completed, and estimates are acceptable.

• Offerors must provide a quote that includes an official quote, a cover letter accepting the specifications, and completed representations and certifications.

• The product being delivered must be a domestic end product, as defined in FAR 25.003, or foreign offers will be adjusted.

• The contract type will be a Firm Fixed Price Purchase Order.

• The anticipated lead time for award is nine months, with an expected delivery date by 12/4/2026.

• Submission Deadline: March 4, 2026, 5:00 PM Mountain Time.

• Technical Questions Deadline: February 11, 2026 (in writing).

• Evaluation Method: Lowest Price (Cost), Technically Acceptable Selection. Offers will be evaluated first for technical acceptability and then by price.

• Quote Validity: Must be valid for 90 days from the date of the offer.

• Submission Format: Electronic Quotes.

• The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code is 334519 (Other Measuring and Controlling Device Manufacturing) with a size standard of 600 employees.

• Offerors must certify their SAM.gov registration for size and socioeconomic status is current and accurate.

• Preference will be given to domestic offers per the Buy American Act.

• NLR standard terms and conditions (Appendix B-8) are applicable. Submitting a quote constitutes acceptance.

• Information regarding tariffs for international shipments must be clearly itemized.

• Failure to identify tariff costs may result in rejection of the offer.

• NLR is not responsible for costs incurred in preparing or submitting a proposal.

• Solicitation documents are available at specified URLs or upon request.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document, "Attachment 3 - Vendor Performance Requirements," outlines specific performance, installation, and utility requirements that potential offerors must meet for the opportunity. It serves as a critical component for bidders to assess their capability to fulfill the contract's technical and logistical demands.

• Vendor Experience & Proven Installations: Requires offerors to have manufactured, delivered, and installed a minimum of five (5) units of comparable equipment within the past five (5) years for research laboratories, universities, or equivalent institutions. Evidence must include customer details, contact information, and operational performance summaries.
• Maintenance Support: Mandates a written warranty with defined coverage, duration, and guaranteed response times for on-site service. Service maintenance agreements must be available for the equipment's expected lifecycle (at least 7 years), including parts and trained personnel.
• Remote Demonstration Capability: Offerors must be able to provide a remote demonstration of comparable equipment in operation.
• Installation Location and Utility Requirements:
  • Physical Space & Location Constraints: Details restrictions on pathing to the installation location (e.g., 8' wide roll-up door, 9' overhead clearance in hallways) and within the installation area itself. The assembled tool must fit within a defined cross-hatched area, and egress paths must be maintained (minimum 36" wide).
  • Egress-Related Requirements: Specific safety-related egress path requirements and considerations for equipment access and maintenance panels are outlined.
  • Utility Constraints: Specifies limits on electrical power consumption (<160 kW), chamber cooling water energy requirement (<239,000 btu/h with a 16°F ΔT), and heat dissipation to ambient air (<12,000 btu/h). Information regarding expected water temperature rise and chilled water flow is required. The location does not have access to LN2 for cooling.

This attachment is crucial for bidders to understand the technical and logistical prerequisites for successful contract performance. It directly impacts proposal preparation by defining experience, support, installation site limitations, and utility requirements that must be addressed and confirmed. Failure to meet these requirements, particularly the remote demonstration, can lead to disqualification.

Amendment / Modification

This amendment addresses questions received regarding the Request for Quote (RFQ) for the Level 3 Environmental Chamber. The questions and answers provided clarify various aspects of the chamber's requirements and the procurement process. Key clarifications include:

• Racking System: Vendors are to specify the distance required between modules for adequate airflow.
• Water Inlet: A 3/4" FNPT inlet is required, placed on the ceiling or side of the chamber toward the rear.
• Access Ports: Four ports for access wires are preferred at a height between 5'-6' from the floor, positioned roughly 1/3 and 2/3 front to back.
• Live Load: Solar panels may be energized during testing, contributing to the "live load." The specific heat dissipation for this live load is detailed in the specification levels.
• Walk-in Chamber Dimensions: While NREL estimates dimensions of 150" High X 171" Long X 150" Wide, building entryways are constrained to 117" tall by 90" wide.
• Lead Time: Estimated lead time for award can vary based on technical evaluation, terms negotiation, and safety document review.
• Humidity Control: The RH setpoint during water spray will be around 95+/- 5% RH, with typical temperatures of 25°C or 40°C. Needed set points for humidity control include 85°C/85%RH, 60°C/95%RH, and 60°C/10%RH, with an air dryer requested.
• Codes and Standards: Evaluating against UL508A, NFPA 70, and UL61010-1 is acceptable; field evaluations are also acceptable.
• Floor Drain: A trench 4' x 2" is needed, feeding at least a 1/4" drain, with a flow of up to 2.1 gpm.
• Test Article Temperature Uniformity: For dead load situations, uniformity must be within ±2°C. For live load situations, uniformity deviation may exceed approximately 10°C, and overshooting chamber air temperature to achieve ramp rates is acceptable, with specifications applying to test article temperature.
• Price Justification: Offerors are preferred to provide at least 3 redacted invoices for similar systems billed within the last 18 months.
• SAM.gov Registration: Offerors must be fully registered and active in SAM.gov.

This amendment primarily consists of Questions & Answers that clarify existing requirements and do not appear to introduce new sections or modify existing ones directly, but rather provide further detail and context.

The proposal due date remains August 8, 2025, at 5:00 PM Mountain Time. Offerors are reminded to submit proposals electronically to Nicole.Edun@nrel.gov and to include confirmation of receipt and acceptance of this Amendment in their cover letter. No changes to evaluation criteria or submission rules are indicated beyond the need to acknowledge this amendment.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document outlines the technical specifications and requirements for a "Level 3 - Large Component Reliability Testing Environmental Chamber." It details the capabilities and performance criteria necessary for accelerated stress testing of contemporary large format PV modules, inverters, and other related equipment.

• Required Capabilities: Specifies the chamber's capacity for 8 full-size solar panels (up to 1.5m x 3m x 5cm) with a dead load of 294 kg (panels) and 91 kg (racking). It requires humidity control (10-95% RH), programmable temperature control with ±2°C stability, a floor drain, ports for wiring, remote setpoint control, and a water inlet for spray capability.
• Temperature/Humidity Ramps: Details specific heating and cooling ramp rates and durations, including performance under various live load conditions (8 kW and 15 kW).
• Technical or Safety Requirements: Mandates that vendors include facility requirements, ensure equipment is NRTL listed or evaluated, specify refrigerants, and quote installation/commissioning separately.

This document is crucial for vendors bidding on the opportunity as it defines the precise technical specifications, performance standards, and safety compliance required for the environmental chamber. Bidders must ensure their proposed solution meets all listed capabilities, ramp rates, and safety requirements. The timeline indicates delivery is needed by January 1, 2027.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document is an equipment specifications spreadsheet intended to provide detailed technical requirements for various assets related to the opportunity. Bidders should use this spreadsheet to understand the specific equipment needs, including physical dimensions, power, water, gas, and environmental controls.

• Asset Information: Equipment Name, Manufacturer, Model #, Freestanding/Bench-top status.
• Space Planning, Access, & Structural: Dimensions (Length, Width, Height), specific clearance parameters (front/above), and weight.
• Electrical: Voltage, Phase, Hertz, Wattage/Amperage, Dedicated Power requirement (Y/N), Computer Network Hookup requirement (Y/N).
• Utilities: Requirements for Domestic Water, DI Water, Drain, Process Chilled Water, Compressed Air, and Specialty Gas, including flow rates, pressure, and gas types/sizes.
• Environmental: Room Temperature Range, Room Humidity Range, Exhaust Air (Direct Connection or Canopy, Corrosive Exhaust Y/N), Heat Load.
• Notes: A column for additional relevant information.

This spreadsheet is critical for bidders to accurately assess their capability to meet the technical specifications for the required equipment. It directly impacts proposal preparation by defining the physical, electrical, and utility requirements that must be accommodated or provided. Understanding these specifications is essential for accurate pricing and technical solution development.