Dilution Refrigerator

Brookhaven National Laboratory, through its contractor Brookhaven Science Associates, is seeking a firm fixed-price contract for the procurement of a custom dilution refrigerator system designed as an ultralow temperature quantum materials and devices measurement system for the Center for Functional Nanomaterials and the Co-design Center for Quantum Advantage. The instrument must be a cryogen-free, dry dilution refrigerator capable of achieving temperatures below 10 millikelvin using a helium-4 pulse tube for precooling and a helium-3/helium-4 mixture for ultra-low temperature operation, with a minimum cooling power of 14 microwatts at 20 millikelvin. The system must include dual vacuum and radiation shield assemblies to simultaneously support electronic transport and optical spectroscopy of two-dimensional heterostructures and RF dielectric-loss characterization using high-Q microwave resonators for superconducting qubit materials. It must be engineered for safe, user-friendly operation by general users within a National Scientific User Facility and demonstrate a proven record of low maintenance and minimal downtime. The system must comply with stringent technical specifications, safety codes including ASME, NFPA, ANSI, and BNL QA-101, and must be fully documented with design reviews, factory acceptance tests, and site commissioning procedures. The contract requires full lifecycle delivery—including design, manufacturing, testing, installation, and operator training—with all milestones tied to a 52-week delivery schedule and final acceptance at Brookhaven National Laboratory in Upton, New York. The contractor must provide at least five prior references of successfully delivered comparable dilution refrigerators, maintain a U.S.-based service network, hold ISO 9001 certification, and ensure the instrument is certified by an OSHA-recognized Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory. All packaging must meet ASTM D 3951 standards, including dry nitrogen backfilling of vacuum components, ESD protection, prohibition of peanut packing materials, and mandatory use of Shockwatch and Tipwatch sensors. Unique serial and lot numbers must be assigned and traceable to material heat numbers, with shelf life requiring at least 75% remaining at delivery. The proposal must include a configuration control system, approved special process procedures, job hazard analyses, weld inspection reports, and patent certification. All submissions are due by June 1, 2026, evaluated solely on technical acceptability and lowest price, with no trade-offs permitted between cost and performance. Invoices must be emailed to apinvoices@bnl.gov, and payment is milestone-based with