Integrated Biorefinery Facility North High Bay Revitalization Custom Equipment
Overview
Buyer
Place of Performance
NAICS
PSC
Set Aside
Original Source
Timeline
Qualification Details
Fit reasons
- NAICS alignment with historical contract wins in similar service areas.
- Scope strongly matches core technical capabilities and delivery model.
Risks
- Past performance thresholds may require one additional teaming partner.
- Potential clarification needed on staffing minimums before bid/no-bid.
Next steps
Validate eligibility requirements, assign capture owner, and schedule partner outreach to confirm teaming strategy before submission planning.
Quick Summary
The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), under the Department of Energy, is soliciting proposals for custom process equipment to revitalize its Integrated Biorefinery Research Facility (IBRF) North High Bay in Golden, CO. This Firm Fixed Price Subcontract seeks expertise to design, build, and commission "plug-and-play" equipment for scale-up piloting experiments. Proposals are due January 30, 2026.
Scope of Work
NREL aims to enhance its capacity for biomass conversion and waste carbon utilization. The project requires the engineering design, procurement, and fabrication of process equipment, sized for approximately one barrel per day production capacity. This includes both a Hydroprocessor and a Distillation Column. The design must prioritize value engineering, operational flexibility, and process safety.
Subcontractor responsibilities encompass:
- Detailed engineering design.
- Sourcing equipment and components.
- Fabrication and factory acceptance testing (FAT).
- Providing comprehensive engineering documentation.
- Delivery of equipment to NREL.
- Commissioning a portion of the equipment at NREL.
Equipment must comply with relevant codes (electrical, controls, HMI, piping, pressure vessel) and ASME standards for overpressure testing.
Contract & Timeline
- Contract Type: Firm Fixed Price Subcontract (one or two awards)
- Estimated Funding: $750,000.00 to $3,500,000.00
- Period of Performance: Through March 30, 2027 (commissioning completion)
- Product Service Code: 6695 - Combination And Miscellaneous Instruments
- NAICS: 334516 (Small Business Size Standard: 1,000 employees)
- Set-Aside: None specified for the prime contract. Lower-tier subcontracting plans are required for subcontracts exceeding $700,000.00.
- Original Issue Date: October 16, 2025
- Proposal Due Date: January 30, 2026 (extended by Amendment 3)
- Commissioning Target: Late-2026, due by March 30, 2027
Evaluation
Award will be based on a Best Value Selection, where qualitative merit is substantially more important than price. Evaluation criteria include:
- Technical Approach (45%)
- Experience (40%)
- Capability (15%) Offerors may submit proposals for one or both unit operations (Hydroprocessor and Distillation Column), with separate technical and price proposals requested.
Additional Notes
Multiple amendments have been issued, providing Q&A and updated technical specifications for the Hydroprocessor and Distillation Column. Amendment 3 specifically extended the proposal due date. Bidders must acknowledge all amendments. Contact Todd Labosky at Todd.Labosky@nrel.gov for inquiries.