RFI for MAGIS-100 Access Platforms
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
Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory (FNAL), a DOE contractor, is issuing a Request for Information (RFI) for the design, fabrication, and potential installation of access platforms for the MAGIS-100 experiment located in a 100m deep shaft at its Batavia, Illinois site. This RFI is for planning purposes only and will not result in a direct award. Responses are due March 10, 2026, at 5:00 PM CT.
Purpose & Scope
The MAGIS-100 experiment requires platforms to allow personnel safe access to designated regions within a 100m deep vertical shaft. FNAL seeks to identify vendors capable of providing design recommendations and fabricating five distinct types of platforms: one split-level laser transport system platform, one ground-level platform, three atom source landing platforms, three atom source platforms, and fourteen connection node platforms. All platforms must adhere to OSHA requirements, including toe boards and railings, and be designed to accommodate access via ladders, suspended scaffolds, or access baskets.
Technical Requirements & Constraints
Platforms must be designed to avoid supporting the experiment directly, though some may need to support atom sources weighing approximately 2,000 lbs. Critical material restrictions apply, requiring non-magnetic materials (e.g., non-magnetic stainless steel, aluminum, copper, plastic/glass reinforced materials, ceramic, titanium) within a 2ft radius of the experiment beam tube. Designs must ensure clearance for crane activity and be compatible with a stabilizer system for external access. The shaft walls are 1-foot thick cast-in-place concrete, and proposed attachment methods should utilize mechanical concrete anchors (e.g., Hilti Kwik Bolt TZ2) with proof testing. A placement tolerance of 1/2 inch is desired for supports.
Submission Requirements & Timeline
Interested vendors must submit responses via email, including:
- Design sketches, drawings, or models of proposed platforms.
- Budgetary cost and lead time estimates.
- A description of the installation process, including estimated pricing or ranges, and noting if installation will be subcontracted or if only platforms are provided.
- Examples of previous relevant work (redacted project descriptions are acceptable for confidentiality).
- Design recommendations and proposed adjustments.
A Pre-RFI meeting was held on February 10, 2026, and a Q&A document addressing prospective offeror questions has been released. STEP and IGES files of the shaft and MINOS building are available upon email request to the contracting officer. This project is in the Preliminary Design phase, with procurement anticipated near the end of 2026.
Contract Details
- Opportunity Type: Request for Information (RFI)
- Set-Aside: None specified
- Place of Performance: Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory, Batavia, IL
- Response Due: March 10, 2026, 5:00 PM CT
- Published Date: February 27, 2026 (latest amendment)
- Contact: Danielle Amico, damico@fnal.gov