Polarizing and Non-polarizing Neutron Mirrors and Wafers Coated with Neutron Absorbers for Nested Mirror Optics

The Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory, managed by UT-Battelle, LLC, is seeking specialized polarizing and non-polarizing neutron mirrors and silicon wafer substrates coated with neutron absorbers for integration into nested mirror optics systems used at the Spallation Neutron Source and the High Flux Isotope Reactor. These components serve as critical elements in neutron scattering instruments, enabling precise beam control, spin filtering, and collimation to enhance signal-to-background ratios for experiments involving small or constrained samples under extreme conditions such as high pressure or magnetic fields. The mirrors must meet exacting technical specifications for performance and durability under neutron irradiation, while the wafers must provide effective neutron absorption without compromising structural integrity. The contract is fixed-price, with delivery required at ORNL in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, under FOB Origin terms, meaning the seller assumes all transportation risk until delivery. All materials must comply with stringent quality standards, including adherence to federal and Department of Energy regulations, and are subject to inspection at both the seller’s and destination facilities prior to formal acceptance. The contract imposes comprehensive compliance obligations, including export control adherence to ITAR, EAR, and the Atomic Energy Act, requiring licenses for foreign national access and mandatory flow-down of these requirements to subcontractors. Sellers must maintain commercial general liability, professional liability, and cyber liability insurance each at $2 million from carriers rated A-/VIII or better by A.M. Best. Personnel working on-site must meet DOE medical qualification standards, undergo drug screening for security clearance eligibility, and report occupational injuries within two working days using DOE Form 5484.3. Data protection mandates the destruction of all contract-related data within 60 days of contract termination, with certification required, and all information is subject to the company’s proprietary controls and cybersecurity incident reporting protocols. Invoices must be submitted electronically via the Ariba Network to ornlap@ornl.gov and are payable net 30 days upon receipt and acceptance. The seller is liable for civil penalties up to $121,876 per violation under the Atomic Energy Act, with each day of noncompliance treated as a separate offense, and no assignment or novation is permitted without written consent. The contract incorporates multiple FAR and DEAR clauses, including rights in data, integrity of unit prices, and unenforceability of unauthorized obligations, along with company-specific clauses for PII protection, alternative data formats, and confidential data handling.