Sources Sought: EIC Quadrupole Magnet Coils

Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility (JLab) is soliciting preliminary technical and budgetary input from industry partners through a Request for Information (RFI) to support the development of magnet coils for the Electron Ion Collider (EIC) to be installed at Brookhaven National Laboratory. This RFI, identified as STek-26-S455088, is not a formal solicitation for award but a critical early engagement step aimed at gathering Rough Order of Magnitude (ROM) estimates, technical feasibility insights, and schedule expectations from qualified vendors. The focus is on the manufacturing of quadrupole, sextupole, and corrector magnet coils, with preliminary quantities specified for various coil types including 100 each of LH and RH quadrupole coils, 50 each of Q60 and Q80 variants, 80 corrector coils of type QN80, 400 each of TH and TV corrector coils, and others, all to be produced under a first-article production model before potential follow-on contracts. Coils must be constructed from Oxygen-Free High Conductivity (OFHC) copper with a minimum annealed conductivity of 101% IACS per ASTM B170-99, while corrector coils require heavy square copper wire wet-wound with specific epoxy systems. All coils must be insulated with a fiberglass/vacuum impregnated epoxy system, include threaded stainless-steel fittings brazed into copper ends, and undergo rigorous acceptance testing at the vendor’s facility, including water passage leak checks above 150 psi, ground insulation tests at 2.5 kV, turn-to-turn insulation validation via pulsing, and resistance measurements. Vendors must maintain a documented quality assurance system, ideally ISO9001-compliant, and ensure all measuring and test equipment is NIST-traceable. Packaging must protect coils from damage during transit and outdoor storage, using crates or pallets compatible with forklift and overhead crane handling, with all shipments labeled to Jefferson Lab’s address in Newport News, Virginia. Responses must be submitted via email to Ebony Beaver by August 18, 2026, and include company details, business status under NAICS code 335999 with a 600-employee size standard, years of relevant experience, and budgetary cost estimates. Vendors must also disclose any portion of work planned for performance outside the U.S., as this impacts planning for inspections and oversight. Delivery