Heat Exchanger Inspection Tool

The Department of Energy, through its contractor Fluor Marine Propulsion, is conducting market research under solicitation NNL-FMP-0046 to identify viable inspection solutions for small, additive manufactured heat exchangers fabricated from Alloy 625 Inconel. The primary objective is to evaluate non-traditional inspection methods capable of detecting eight specific flaw types—including circumferential and axial volumetric flaws, cracks, voids, delamination, degradation, and wall-thickness variations—in tube geometries with an internal diameter of 0.100 to 0.400 inch and wall thicknesses ranging from 0.010 to 0.050 inch, under surface roughness conditions of 10 to 200 micro-inches Ra. While ultrasonic immersible probes have been previously explored, all technologies demonstrating the ability to reliably detect these flaws in AM-fabricated components are eligible for consideration. Respondents are required to submit a detailed response table quantifying their capability for each flaw type across the specified dimensional and surface parameters, along with answers to twelve technical questions and, where available, supporting visual documentation such as probe designs or equipment schematics. This solicitation is strictly a sources-sought notice, not a formal request for proposal, and thus no pricing, delivery schedules, or award criteria are defined at this stage. All submissions must be provided by the deadline of July 22, 2026, to the designated point of contact, John Heckert at John.Heckert1@unnpp.gov, and are intended to inform future procurement decisions rather than result in an immediate contract award. The effort is classified under NAICS code 54171 and is being conducted from Schenectady, New York, with no set-aside preferences indicated.