Sample Changing Robotic System

The Neutron Scattering Division at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, managed by UT-Battelle, LLC under the U.S. Department of Energy, is soliciting proposals for a Sample Changing Robotic System under solicitation number RFP466328, with a deadline for responses on May 4, 2026. The contract requires the development and delivery of a robotic 7th axis system designed for beam line automation, specifically to support machine logic programming and sample handling within the BL04A MAGREF environment. Performance will be conducted on-site at Oak Ridge, Tennessee, with all deliverables required to be physically installed and operational at ORNL facilities. The contract is structured as a Firm Fixed Price award, with selection based on the lowest priced technically acceptable proposal. The scope is governed by Attachment C, Statement of Work, and supported by Attachment D, the Bill of Material, which lists key components including the Robot 7th Axis, Motor Cable Extension, MachineMotion AI, and Robot Safety Module AI, though specific performance metrics, pricing, and quantitative targets are not detailed in the available documents. The contract includes a comprehensive set of compliance and administrative requirements drawn from FAR and DOE-specific clauses, with special emphasis on personnel access, data security, and subcontracting controls. All contractor personnel must obtain PIV-compliant identification for facility access, and delivery personnel must be U.S. citizens. The contract mandates adherence to DOE Orders for safety, waste management, and quality assurance, as well as NIST SP 800-171 for safeguarding controlled unclassified information. Electrical equipment must bear NRTL certification. Clauses on anti-kickback, contractor code of conduct, trafficking in persons, and limiting pass-through charges are applicable, with additional obligations under the Walsh-Healey Act and employment eligibility verification. Flow-down provisions require subcontractors to comply with privacy, safety, and substance abuse policies. Offerors must submit a single PDF containing a firm fixed price proposal, completed representations and certifications, and the Bill of Material, with no alternative formats permitted. The contract triggers reporting and certification obligations for agreements exceeding thresholds including $200,000, $500,000, $700,000, and $7.5 million, and includes requirements for displaced employee hiring preference and workforce restructuring compliance. No evaluation factors, weights, or award methodology beyond lowest price technically acceptable have been disclosed, and no contract value is provided due to missing pricing data.