Environmental Chamber for Large Component Reliability Testing Level 2

Solicitation / RFP / RFQ

This Request for Quotes (RFQ) is for the "Environmental Chamber for Large Component Reliability Testing Level 2" and is being conducted by the National Laboratory of the Rockies (NLR), managed by the Alliance for Energy Innovation, LLC. NLR is a national laboratory owned by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) focused on renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies. The anticipated award is a Purchase Order with an expected delivery date by 12/4/2026.

• The core requirement is to meet the baseline requirements outlined in Attachment No. 1 (Technical Specifications) and Attachment No. 3 (Vendor Performance Requirements).

• Attachment No. 2 (Equipment Specifications Spreadsheet) must be completed and submitted; estimates are acceptable.

• The product delivered must be a domestic end product, as defined in FAR 25.003.

• Offerors must identify the country of shipment for each item and itemize tariff costs as of the proposal due date.

• Compliance with Section 889(a)(1)(B) of the National Defense Authorization Act regarding telecommunications equipment and services is required.

• Compliance with Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act for electronic and information technology is required.

• Contract Type: Firm Fixed Price, Purchase Order.

• Period of Performance: Anticipated lead time of award is nine months, with an expected delivery date by 12/4/2026.

• Estimated Value: Not explicitly stated, but the selection is based on Lowest Price (Cost), Technically Acceptable.

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

• Technical Questions Deadline: February 11, 2026.

• Evaluation Criteria: Lowest Price (Cost), Technically Acceptable Selection. Offers will be evaluated first for technical acceptability against baseline requirements, then by price. Discussions may be held.

• Submission Requirements: Official Quote, Cover Letter, completed Attachment 2, signed Representations and Certifications, and price justification.

• Quotes must be valid for 90 days.

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

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

• Offerors must certify their SAM.gov registration or self-certification of size and socio-economic status is current and accurate.

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

• Electronic quotes are required.

• NLR is not responsible for costs incurred in proposal preparation.

• Late submissions may be considered under specific circumstances.

• A disclaimer is included regarding the accuracy and usefulness of provided information.

• Disputes should be directed to the Advocate for Commercial Practices.

Amendment / Modification

• This amendment updates the NLR RFP Contact information. The new contact is Maurice Nelson, with the email address Maurice.Nelson@nlr.gov.

• The NLR RFP Contact section has been updated.

• 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 must be submitted electronically to Maurice.Nelson@nlr.gov by the deadline date.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document, "Attachment 3 - Vendor Performance Requirements," outlines specific requirements related to vendor experience, maintenance support, remote demonstration capabilities, and installation site constraints. It serves as a critical attachment to a solicitation, detailing the performance and physical prerequisites for potential offerors.

• 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 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. Evidence of available service maintenance agreements for the equipment's lifecycle (at least 7 years) is also required.
• Remote Demonstration Capability: Offerors must provide a remote demonstration of comparable equipment in operation.
• Installation Location and Utility Requirements: Details physical constraints for equipment pathing (e.g., loading dock door, hallway clearance) and the final installed footprint. It also specifies utility constraints, including maximum electrical power consumption (160 kW), chamber cooling water energy requirements (less than 239,000 btu/h), and heat dissipation limits (less than 12,000 btu/h to ambient air). Information on expected water temperature rise and chilled water flow is required.

This attachment is crucial for bidders to assess their capability to meet the stringent performance and site-specific requirements. It directly impacts proposal preparation by defining necessary past performance, warranty provisions, demonstration capabilities, and the physical and utility limitations of the installation site. Failure to meet these requirements could lead to disqualification.

Solicitation / RFP / RFQ

This solicitation is for an "Environmental Chamber for Large Component Reliability Testing Level 2". The National Laboratory of the Rockies (NLR), a U.S. Department of Energy national laboratory, is seeking competitive subcontracts to procure this equipment. The selection will be based on the Lowest Price (Cost), Technically Acceptable method.

• The core requirement is the "Environmental Chamber for Large Component Reliability Testing Level 2".

• 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 estimates are acceptable.

• The anticipated award is a Purchase Order.

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

• The contract type is Firm Fixed Price.

• Quotes are due by 3/4/2026, 5:00 PM Mountain Time.

• Technical questions must be submitted in writing by 2/11/2026.

• Offers will be evaluated in three steps: Initial Evaluation (technical acceptability), Price (Cost) Evaluation (reasonableness and lowest price), and Selection.

• Submissions must include an Official Quote, Cover Letter, acceptance of NLR's terms and conditions (Appendix B-8), completed Attachment 2, Representations and Certifications, and price justification.

• Electronic quotes are required.

• The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code is 334519, with a size standard of 600 employees.

• Preference will be given to domestic offers in accordance with the Buy American Act.

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

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

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

• International shipments may be subject to additional charges related to tariffs; these must be clearly itemized.

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

Amendment / Modification

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

• Includes Attachment No. 3 – Vendor Performance Requirements.

• Lists the following attachments as NLR's baseline requirements:

  • Attachment No. 1 – Technical Specifications titled “Level 2 – 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

• 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 must be submitted electronically to Nicole.Edun@nlr.gov by the deadline.

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

Amendment / Modification

This amendment addresses questions received regarding the Request for Quote (RFQ) for the Level 2 Environmental Chamber. The questions have been edited to address duplicates or protect sensitive information, but their core meaning remains unchanged.

• Racking System: Vendors are to specify the distance required between modules for adequate airflow when designing and installing their own racking system.

• Water Inlet: A 3/4" FNPT inlet is required, placed on the ceiling or side of the chamber toward the rear.

• Access Ports: Four access ports are preferred on each wall, 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 heat dissipation. The chamber must accommodate specified dead and live loads.

• Dimensions: Chambers are estimated at 150" High X 171" Long X 150" Wide. Building entry doors are constrained at 117" tall by 90" wide.

• Lead Time: Estimated lead time for award varies based on technical evaluation, terms negotiation, and safety document review. Vendors should provide their best estimates.

• Humidity Control: Needed set points include 85°C/85%RH, 60°C/95%RH, and 60°C/10%RH. An air dryer is requested. Humidity control is specified for a dry bulb range, with a 95+/- 5% RH setpoint during water spray.

• Codes and Standards: UL508A, NFPA 70, and UL61010-1 are acceptable for NRTL evaluation; field evaluations are also acceptable.

• Floor Drain: A 4' x 2" trench drain is needed, feeding at least a 1/4" drain, with a flow up to 2.1 gpm.

• Test Article Temperature: While chamber air temperature may overshoot, test article temperature must not overshoot by more than 2°C. Uniformity of ±2°C applies to dead load situations.

• Price Justification: Offerors are preferred to provide at least 3 redacted invoices for similar systems billed within the last 18 months.

• SAM Registration: Full and active registration in SAM.gov is required.

• The proposal submission deadline remains 8/8/2025 at 5:00pm Mountain Time.

• Offers must be submitted electronically to Nicole.Edun@nrel.gov.

• Vendors must include confirmation of receipt and acceptance of this Amendment in their cover letter.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document outlines the technical specifications and requirements for a "Level 2 – Large Component Reliability Testing Environmental Chamber." It details the background, objective, and specific capabilities required for this equipment, which is intended for testing contemporary PV modules and other related equipment.

• Background: Explains the need for environmental chambers in PV reliability research and the market trend towards larger format modules.
• Objective: To enable testing of PV modules that do not fit in existing chambers and to support broader reliability research.
• Required Capabilities:
  • Accommodate modules up to 1.5 m x 3 m x 5 cm, with a dead load capacity of 294 kg for panels and 91 kg for racking.
  • Humidity control from 10-95% RH.
  • Temperature control based on a probe affixed to the device under test.
  • Uniform temperature distribution across modules (±2°C).
  • Chamber features: floor drain, 4 ports for wiring, remote programmable/readable setpoints and readings, water inlet for spray capability.
  • Temperature ramp rates: -40°C to 85°C in 75 minutes, and 85°C to -40°C in 75 minutes.
  • Maintain air temperature at 10°C with 21 kW live load + dead load.
  • Cool test article from 60°C to 15°C in 18 minutes with 15 kW live load + dead load.
• Technical or Safety Requirements:
  • Vendor must include facility requirements in the quote.
  • Equipment must be listed by a Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory (NRTL) or field evaluated.
  • Specify all refrigerants used.
  • Quote installation and commissioning as a separate line item.
• Timeline: Delivery needed by January 1, 2027.

This document serves as a detailed specification for potential vendors to understand the exact technical requirements, performance criteria, and safety standards for the environmental chamber. Bidders must ensure their proposed solution meets all listed capabilities and requirements. The timeline indicates the expected delivery date, which is crucial for project planning.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document is an equipment specifications spreadsheet, likely intended to detail the technical requirements for various equipment associated with the opportunity. It serves as a reference for bidders to understand the specific parameters and characteristics of the equipment that may be required for the project.

• Equipment Details: Includes columns for Equipment Name, Manufacturer, Model #, and physical characteristics like Freestanding/Bench-top, Length, Width, and Height.
• Space Planning & Structural: Specifies clearance parameters (front/above, etc.) and weight.
• Utilities: Details requirements for Electrical (Voltage, Phase, Hertz, Wattage/Amperage, Dedicated Power), Domestic Water, DI Water, Drain, Process Chilled Water, Compressed Air, Specialty Gas, and Exhaust Air.
• Environmental Controls: Specifies Room Temperature Range and Room Humidity Range.
• Heat Load: Includes Heat Generation and Notes.

This spreadsheet is crucial for bidders to understand the detailed technical specifications of the equipment involved in the opportunity. It will inform decisions regarding product selection, integration, power, and utility requirements, directly impacting proposal development, cost estimation, and the feasibility of meeting project requirements.