Request for Information (RFI) 475215, Helium-Water Shell-and-Tube Heat Exchangers
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 Brookhaven Science Associates, LLC (BSA), operator of Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL), has issued a Request for Information (RFI) for Helium-Water Shell-and-Tube Heat Exchangers. This RFI is for planning purposes to identify qualified vendors and gather market capabilities for a future procurement. Responses are due by February 23, 2026.
Purpose & Scope
This RFI aims to inform the future procurement of nine new helium-water shell-and-tube heat exchangers. These units are critical for replacing existing components in the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC) Central Helium Plant and will support the future Electron-Ion Collider (EIC) at BNL. The procurement will involve the design, fabrication, testing, and delivery of these specialized heat exchangers.
Key requirements include:
- Minimizing helium leakage, with a zero cross-stream leak rate and mass-spec leak checking to 10-9 Torr-L/s.
- Engineering and fabrication to ASME BPVC Section VIII and U-stamping.
- Compatibility with existing infrastructure, fitting into the same location and mating with existing plumbing (helium on tube-side, water on shell-side).
- Adherence to detailed operational parameters for intercoolers, aftercoolers, and a utility compressor aftercooler.
- Compliance with various codes and standards including ASME B31.3, ASTM, TEMA, and AWS.
Information Requested
Interested companies are asked to provide:
- An indication of interest in bidding on the services.
- A brief Statement of Capabilities demonstrating how they meet the outlined requirements.
- Answers to specific RFI questions, including experience with ASME BPVC Section VIII, US manufacturing capabilities (per FAR 25.101(a)), Rough Order of Magnitude (ROM) pricing, fabrication and delivery schedules, commercial product status (per FAR 2.101), and SAM.gov registration/UEI.
Contract & Timeline
- Type: Request for Information (RFI) / Sources Sought. This is not a Request for Proposal (RFP), and no solicitation exists at this time.
- Set-Aside: None specified.
- Response Due: February 23, 2026, by 5:00 PM Eastern Time.
- Published: February 13, 2026.
- Place of Performance: Upton, NY.
Submission Details
Electronic submissions must be sent via email to mnichols@bnl.gov. The email subject line must include "BSA RFI-475215".
Additional Notes
The U.S. Government will not pay for any information solicited. Responses will help BNL understand market capabilities and refine requirements for a potential future solicitation. Detailed technical specifications (SPEC-CAD-1372) and envelope drawings are provided as attachments to aid in understanding the physical and technical requirements.