LBNF Liquid Argon LAr Circulation 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 Department of Energy (DOE), through FERMILAB - DOE CONTRACTOR, is soliciting proposals for the LBNF Liquid Argon (LAr) Circulation Equipment. This opportunity involves the engineering, manufacturing, testing, and delivery of critical components for the Long-Baseline Neutrino Facility (LBNF) in Lead, SD. Proposals are due January 30, 2026, at 5:00 P.M. CST-Chicago.
Scope of Work
The selected vendor will be responsible for the LAr Circulation System Vertical Drift (VD) and Horizontal Drift (HD) equipment. This includes:
- Engineering and manufacturing a vacuum jacketed pump valve box.
- MLI insulated upstream and downstream piping.
- Isolation valves, pressure safety valves, and instrumentation.
- Cryogenic equipment protection, including platforms, ladders, and support beams. The system is designed to transfer liquid argon from the cryostat to the LAr Purification system. Technical specifications clarified in Amendment 02 include material grade (304/304LSS), MLI insulation, relief valve sizing, cold testing, leak-rate acceptance, and oxygen cleaning requirements.
Contract & Timeline
- Type: Firm Fixed Price (FFP) subcontract.
- Period of Performance: Delivery milestones are specified from April 2026 to December 2027.
- Set-Aside: None specified; however, a Small Business Subcontracting Plan is required unless the offeror is a small business.
- Proposal Due: January 30, 2026, at 5:00 P.M. CST-Chicago.
- Published: January 23, 2026 (latest amendment date).
Submission & Evaluation
Proposals must be submitted via email to jeremyd@fnal.gov, consisting of separate Technical and Price/Contractual PDF volumes. Evaluation will follow a Tradeoff source selection method, considering best value, price, past experience, technical merit of the approach, and quality. Offerors who have already submitted proposals may revise them via email before the new due date.
Key Documents & Requirements
Bidders must review the Statement of Work (J-4) for detailed scope, applicable codes (ASME, API, ASTM, NFPA, OSHA), and testing requirements (FAT). The Project Management Requirements, QA/QC Plan (J-8) outlines stringent quality and procedural standards, including welding and documentation. The Project Schedule (J-13) details scheduling expectations, requiring Primavera (P6). Physical constraints and interface requirements are detailed in the Ross Load Envelopes (v5) and Drawing BNCP-76-998 (J-14). A 3D model (STP file) is available via a Fermilab OneDrive portal; instructions are provided in Amendments 1 and 2. General Terms and Conditions for Supplies (J-1) also apply.