Wind- Tunnel upgrade - Industrial Vacuum System (and Ancillary Pumps)

Solicitation / RFP / RFQ

This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for a commercial item to procure an Industrial Vacuum System (and Ancillary Pumps) for a wind-tunnel upgrade. The U.S. Army Contracting Command (ACC-NJ) is issuing this Request for Quote (RFQ) as a 100% Small Business set-aside.

• A vacuum system configuration, either A or B, as detailed in the Statement of Work (SOW).

• Configuration A includes: (1) Steel Sphere vessel (2,400 cu ft), (1) Vacuum Pump, (1) Pump Exhaust Silencer, and (1) Vacuum Booster.

• Configuration B includes: (2) Steel Cylindrical vessels (2,400 cu ft total), (1) Vacuum Pump, (1) Pump Exhaust Silencer, and (1) Vacuum Booster.

• Delivery within twelve (12) months after award.

• Commercial manuals associated with the system.

• Certificate of Conformance (CoC) for each requirement.

• Contract Type: Firm-Fixed-Price (FFP) purchase order.

• Period of Performance: Delivery within 12 months after award.

• NAICS Code: 333248 (All Other Industrial Machinery Manufacturing) with a small business size standard of 750 employees.

• Offer due date: March 17, 2026, by 3:00 PM EST.

• Responses must be submitted electronically through the Procurement Integrated Enterprise Environment (PIEE) suite.

• Proposals will be evaluated on a two-volume basis: Volume I - Technical Quote and Volume II - Price Quote.

• Evaluation is first for technical acceptability (pass/fail), then price.

• Award will be made to the responsive and responsible offeror with the lowest evaluated total price among technically acceptable offers.

• Technical Capability Factor and Price Factor are of equal importance.

• This procurement is 100% set-aside for Small Business.

• Solicitation Number: W15QKN-26-Q-A048.

• The solicitation incorporates FAR provisions and clauses in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular 2025-06.

• Offerors must complete and submit OMB Standard Form 1449 and Disclosure of Lobbying Activities if applicable.

• Delivery destination: Wind Tunnel Facility, Picatinny Arsenal, NJ 07806-5000.

• No bar codes are required for packaging.

Amendment / Modification

This amendment to Solicitation W15QKN26QA048, originally dated 02 March 2026, makes the following changes:

• Response Due Date Extension: The deadline for submitting offers has been extended from 17 March 2026 to 19 March 2026.
• Attachment Updates:
  • Attachment 0007, titled "Industry Questions and Answers_12March2026" (4 pages), has been added.
  • Attachment 0006, titled "Industry Question and Answers_05March2026", has been modified. The document name has been updated to "Industry Question and Answers 05March2026".

• The due date for offers has been changed.

• The list of contract documents, exhibits, or attachments has been updated to include Attachment 0007 and modify Attachment 0006.

• The proposal submission deadline is extended to Thursday, 19 March 2026.

• Bidders should ensure they are referencing the most current versions of all attachments, particularly Attachments 0006 and 0007.

Questions & Answers / Clarifications

This document provides official responses to questions submitted by offerors regarding Solicitation W15QKN26QA048 for the Industrial Vacuum System.

• Evacuation Time: The objective evacuation time for the 2400 cubic feet chamber is 30-45 minutes, with a maximum threshold of 60 minutes.
• Final Pressure Correction: The Statement of Work (SOW) has been corrected; the final pressure requirement is 10 Torr, not 8x10^-3 Torr or 10-3 Torr.
• Chamber Supply: The vacuum vessel (Configuration A or B) must be supplied by the winning bidder.
• Configuration A vs. B: Configuration A is a single 2400 cubic feet vessel. Configuration B consists of multiple vessels totaling 2400 cubic feet. Both configurations must meet specified pressure and temperature ratings.
• Pressure Vessel Ratings: Vessels must withstand a pressure range between 10 Torr and 350 psi, and be ASME-rated. They must also handle processing <350 PSIG of 100% air at 800 degrees Fahrenheit (without after-cooler).
• Controls: Variable speed drive on the blower is not required.
• Pump Requirements: Pumps will pull atmospheric air and do not require water cooling. Electrical requirements are a maximum of 480V, with 240V available. The pump temperature range is 40-110 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Exhaust: Exhaust air must be cooled to <100 degrees Fahrenheit using a cooler for outdoor location.

These clarifications address key technical specifications, requirements for supplied components, and correct errors in the original SOW, directly impacting proposal preparation and technical compliance.

Amendment / Modification

This amendment (0001) to solicitation W15QKN26QA048, dated 02 MAR 2026, provides responses to industry questions and modifies the solicitation.

Key changes include:

• Addition of miscellaneous text for CLIN/SLIN/ELIN 000201, which is Not Separately Priced.

• Addition of CLIN/SLIN/ELIN 00020 for "Exhibit A001 - DD1423 A001 Certificate of Conformance."

• Modification of CLIN/SLIN/ELIN 0001: Product/Service changed from "Real Property" to "Personal Property"; Equipment Type changed from "Vacuum System (and ancillary pumps)" to "Vacuum System (and ancillary pumps)".

• Modification of CLIN/SLIN/ELIN 0002: Product/Service changed from "Real Property" to "Personal Property"; Equipment Type changed from "Vacuum System (and ancillary pumps)" to "Industrial Vacuum System (and auxiliary pumps)".

• Miscellaneous text in the "Statement of Work" section has been modified.

• Miscellaneous text in the "Packaging and Marking Requirements" section has been modified.

• Miscellaneous text in the "Transportation Requirements" section has been modified.

• Delivery information for CLIN/SLIN/ELIN 000201 was added (FOB Point: Destination, Payment Method: Contractor).

• The "List of Contract Documents, Exhibits, or Attachments" table has changed.

• Attachment 0006 (Questions and Answers_05March2026) was added.

• Page counts for Attachment 0006 were changed from N/A to 2.

• Miscellaneous text in the "Addendum to 52.212-1, Instructions to Offerors - Commercial Products and Commercial Services" section has been modified.

• The "Basis for Award" section has been modified to clarify evaluation criteria.

• CLINs/SLINs/ELINs (0001, 0002, 00020, 000201)

• Statement of Work

• Packaging and Marking Requirements

• Transportation Requirements

• List of Contract Documents, Exhibits, or Attachments

• Addendum to 52.212-1

• Basis for Award

This amendment provides responses to questions and modifies various sections of the solicitation. Offerors should review all changes carefully to ensure their proposals meet the updated requirements. The basis for award remains the lowest priced proposal that meets minimum technical requirements, evaluated in two volumes (Technical and Price). Discussions are not intended but may be conducted at the government's discretion.

Solicitation / RFP / RFQ

This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for a commercial item, issued as a Request for Quote (RFQ) for an Industrial Vacuum System to support a wind tunnel upgrade. The U.S. Army Contracting Command (ACC-NJ) intends to award a firm-fixed-price purchase order.

The contractor shall deliver a vacuum system configuration, either A or B:

• Configuration A: Includes one steel sphere vessel (2,400 cubic feet), one vacuum pump (achieving <13.8 Mbar or <10 Torr), one pump exhaust silencer (<70 dB), and one vacuum booster. Requires commercial manuals.
• Configuration B: Includes two steel cylindrical vessels (total 2,400 cubic feet), one vacuum pump (achieving <13.8 Mbar or <10 Torr), one pump exhaust silencer (<70 dB), and one vacuum booster. Requires commercial manuals.

Delivery is required within twelve (12) months after award, FOB destination, to Picatinny Arsenal, NJ.

• Contract Type: Firm-Fixed-Price (FFP)

• Period of Performance: Delivery within 12 months after award.

• NAICS Code: 333248 - All Other Industrial Machinery Manufacturing

• Size Standard: 750 employees

• Offer Due Date: March 17, 2026, by 3:00 PM EST.

• Submission Method: Electronically through the Solicitation Module of the Procurement Integrated Enterprise Environment (PIEE) suite at https://piee.eb.mil/. Direct email submission will be invalid.

• Evaluation: Proposals will be evaluated in two volumes: Technical and Price. Technical proposals will be evaluated on an acceptable/unacceptable basis. The technically acceptable offer with the lowest evaluated total price will be selected. Technical Capability and Price factors are of equal importance.

This procurement is 100% set-aside for Small Business.

• The solicitation incorporates FAR 52.212-1, 52.212-4, and 52.212-5.
• Points of Contact: Roseanne Hooven (roseanne.hooven2.civ@army.mil) and Charlotte A. Sylvain-Ceraul (charlotte.a.sylvain-ceraul.civ@army.mil).
• The document includes extensive details on packaging, marking, transportation, inspection, acceptance, contract clauses, and provisions.

Questions & Answers / Clarifications

This document provides official responses to questions submitted by potential offerors regarding Solicitation W15QKN26QA048 for the INDUSTRIAL VACUUM SYSTEM project.

• Evacuation Time: The objective evacuation time to reach the specified pressure is 30-45 minutes, with a maximum threshold of 60 minutes.
• Final Pressure Correction: The Statement of Work (SOW) has been corrected; the final pressure requirement is 10 Torr, not 10-3 Torr. The previous mention of 8x10^-3 Torr was a typographical error.
• Chamber Supply: The winning bidder must supply the vacuum vessel (Configuration A or B) as part of the procurement.
• Drawings: Bidders are required to provide a sketch or drawing of the chambers with their proposal. Any configuration totaling 2400 cubic feet will be considered.
• P&ID: No Process and Instrumentation Diagram (P&ID) is provided for the wind tunnel and vessel configuration.
• Connection Sizes & Ratings: The design requires a minimum diffuser diameter of 15 inches. Pressure vessels must withstand a range between 10 Torr and 350 psi and be ASME-rated for this range and specified temperatures.
• Configuration B Ratings: Both Configuration A and B have identical pressure and temperature ratings. Vessels must be rated for pressures between 10 Torr and 350 psi, with compressors supplying air up to 350 PSI. The operational temperature may be lower due to a heat exchanger.

These clarifications address key technical specifications, requirements for bidder-provided components, and correct errors in the original SOW. Offerors should ensure their proposals reflect these updated details. The final date for submitting further questions remains March 12, 2026, by 1200 EST.