HD Coldboxes Fabrication

Fermi Forward Discovery Group, LLC (FFDG), acting on behalf of Fermilab under DOE auspices, is soliciting firm-fixed price proposals for the fabrication, assembly, testing, and delivery of two high-definition (HD) stainless steel coldbox structures, with an option for a third. These coldboxes are large, insulated stainless steel assemblies specifically designed for cryogenic testing of Anode Plane Assembly (APA) units at temperatures near 90K, as part of the Long-Baseline Neutrino Facility (LBNF) / Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (DUNE) project. The vendor is required to produce the coldboxes using 304 stainless steel with strict adherence to detailed engineering drawings and specifications, including dimensional tolerances per ASME and ANSI standards, welding per AWS D1.1/D1.6, and structural compliance with AISC and ASTM standards. The fabrication scope includes procurement of materials, assembly of quadrant subassemblies and doors, dry-fit verification at the fabrication site, and load testing of the monorail beam, but excludes insulation and field welding. The procurement emphasizes a comprehensive quality control regime, requiring submission of certified material test reports, welding procedure documentation, nondestructive examination results, and inspection records. Vendor responsibilities include ensuring packaging integrity to protect against transit damage, marked traceability per contract specifications, and delivery within six months of contract signing to Fermilab’s warehouse in Batavia, Illinois, with final acceptance inspections conducted both at the vendor’s facility and upon arrival at a designated distribution warehouse in South Dakota. The contract incorporates Federal Acquisition Regulation clauses relating to Buy American provisions, trafficking in persons, anti-kickback, and data rights, mandating offerors to submit certifications via the PUR-466 and SARC forms for proposals exceeding $10,000. Award evaluation will be based on best value source selection considering technical capability, quality assurance, delivery schedules, and pricing, with proposals due by 5:00 PM Central on December 19, 2025. Spencer Keske serves as the primary point of contact for clarifications. The combination of stringent technical, quality, and compliance requirements reflects the critical nature of these coldbox structures within a high-energy physics research context.