Bottle Field Assessment

The Air Force Test Center’s Installation Contracting Division is conducting market research through a Sources Sought Notice to identify qualified vendors capable of performing a commercial engineering assessment of nineteen high-pressure gaseous nitrogen storage vessels at the AEDC White Oak facility in Maryland. The work entails a comprehensive evaluation to determine safe operating limits, following a five-phase approach beginning with data collection and documentation, followed by development and execution of a Non-Destructive Examination (NDE) plan, engineering analysis using API 579/ASME FFS-1 Fitness-for-Service standards, and culminating in the creation of an In-Service Inspection (ISI) Plan. Key deliverables include detailed NDE reports, solid model files in Creo, SOLIDWORKS, or STEP format, ANSYS FEA models, and a final summary of findings and recommendations, all subject to review and approval by Tunnel 9 personnel within specified timeframes. All work must comply with AEDC engineering standards, ASME BPVC Section VIII, API 510, and safety, health, and environmental requirements, with on-site performance required at the Maryland location. Proposals must be submitted via email by 1:00 PM Central Time on July 7, 2026, to the designated points of contact at Arnold Air Force Base, Tennessee, and must include the vendor’s Unique Entity Identifier, proof of business size status under NAICS code 541330, and detailed technical capability documentation demonstrating experience with high-pressure vessel assessments above 10,000 psig. The solicitation does not constitute a request for quote or a binding commitment by the government, and no pricing, contract line items, or formal evaluation factors are provided at this stage. The notice requests budgetary estimates and technical capabilities to inform future procurement decisions without specifying award type or funding details. No formal contract clauses, packaging instructions, payment procedures, or special requirements such as security clearances or key personnel designations are outlined, as this is strictly a pre-solicitation market research initiative.