Amendment No. 1.pdf
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- Attached to
- Fabrication of edge-welded bellows
- Solicitation number
- 377904-RK
About this file
This is Amendment No. 01 to Solicitation No. 377904-RK issued by Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory for the fabrication of edge welded bellows. The proposal due date is March 6, 2026. The amendment provides clarifications to the original solicitation through a comprehensive Questions and Answers section addressing 22 specific inquiries from suppliers.
Key technical clarifications include: ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code Section VIII requirements apply to the finished bellows assembly and external welds but not to the internal diaphragm-to-diaphragm edge welds of the bellows subcomponents. The procurement requires 316LN stainless steel and titanium screws for non-magnetic properties; no substitutions are permitted without formal deviation requests submitted with the RFP response. Materials must achieve magnetic permeability less than 1.02 (measured post-weld) and withstand 2,000 mechanical life cycles and 150 thermal cycles. The bellows must operate at temperatures ranging from 2K to room temperature with internal vacuum conditions and external atmospheric pressure during assembly, transitioning to external vacuum after cryomodule completion. Design requirements include a 2.05 bar internal MAWP with pneumatic pressure tests at 2.4 bar gauge, cold shock testing via liquid nitrogen immersion, and 150 thermal cycles minimum. The specification permits alternative welding processes without filler material where applicable, alternative cleaning detergents with FFDG approval, and alternative stock types provided they satisfy drawing requirements and ED0045548 Rev A specifications. Electropolishing is mandatory only where required by individual component drawings. Bidders must acknowledge receipt of this amendment prior to proposal submission through email, signed return, or notation in their proposal letter.
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AMENDMENT TO SOLICITATION
AMENDMENT NO. 01 DATE OF AMENDMENT : February 20, 2026 SOLICITATION NO. 377904-RK DATE ISSUED: February 6, 2026
PROPOSAL DUE DATE: March 6, 2026 TITLE OF PROJECT: Fabrication of edge welded bellows Bidders must acknowledge this Addendum prior to the hour and date set forth in the solicitation by one of the following methods:
1. Immediately upon receipt of the amendment via email to the FRA Procurement Specialist.
2. Return the Amendment with a signature on the acknowledgment signature line.
3. In the Offeror’s Proposal Letter that accompanies an Offeror’s proposal.
If by virtue of this Addendum, you desire to change a bid already submitted, such change may be made by email or letter, provided such email or letter makes reference to the Solicitation and this Amendment and is received prior to the time set for opening.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
1. Clarify applicability of welding and inspection standards: The supplier notes that the specifications reference ASME Boiler & Pressure Vessel Code Section VIII and related requirements, which they state do not apply to edge-welded bellows and are typically associated with formed bellows or pressure vessels. Please confirm whether these requirements are intentionally applicable to this procurement or if portions of the welding and examination criteria are boilerplate and should be revised or limited to edge-welded bellows–appropriate standards.
The ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code (BPVC) Section VIII requirements specified for this procurement do not directly govern the fabrication of the thin-foil edge-welded bellows subcomponents (e.g., F10132367); therefore, ASME Section VIII welding documentation and examination criteria are not required for the internal diaphragm-to-diaphragm edge welds that constitute the bellows element itself.
However, ASME BPVC Section VIII requirements do apply to the bellows assembly as a welded structure. Accordingly, welding process controls, examination criteria, and documentation requirements in accordance with Section VIII shall be required for all welds external to the bellows subcomponent, including but not limited to the welds joining the edges of the bellows elements to the mating tube components.
2. We noticed some component material is specified as 316LN stainless steel. If possible, can 316L stainless steel be considered as an acceptable alternative?
No, 316LN is required for all components where specified by the drawings for its non-magnetic properties (which are maintained even after welding) without annealing.
3. Is there a specific reason the screws are specified as titanium? If so, is there any possibility to consider alternate screw materials?
Titanium is non-magnetic, and the screws are more resistant to stripping due to its strength.
4. The specification states that all welds and manufacturing tolerances must be in accordance with
ASME Section VIII pressure vessel codes. Does this imply that the parts will be subject to overpressure conditions during operation or testing?
A proof test will be conducted on the bellows weldments. The required internal MAWP of the finished accelerator beamline (which will include these bellows weldments) is 2.05 bar at room temperature, and pneumatic pressure tests will be performed with the pressure at least 2.4 bar gauge.
5. Does this ASME Section VIII requirement also apply to the bellows themselves, or is it limited to other welded components? The drawings do not appear to explicitly call this out for the bellows.
The requirements do not apply to the edge-welded bellows subcomponents themselves (e.g., F10132367).
6. Can you confirm on which side of the bellows the vacuum condition exists (internal or external)?
The vacuum condition exists internal to the bellows weldments.
7. Is the opposite side subjected to atmospheric pressure, or another defined pressure condition?
The external side of the bellows is subjected to atmospheric pressure during assembly, until the cryomodule is completed, at which point the operating condition of the outside of the bellows will change to vacuum.
8. What is the required design pressure (internal and/or external)?
A proof test will be conducted on the bellows weldments. The required internal MAWP of the completed SSR2 cryomodule beamlines (which will include these bellows weldments) is 2.05 bar at room temperature, and pneumatic pressure tests will be performed with the pressure at least
2.4 bar gauge.
9. What is the required number of full mechanical life cycles for the bellows?
Bellows and other components subject to cyclic loading shall be designed to have a minimum of 2000 life cycles.
10. What is the operating temperature range (minimum and maximum)?
Cold shock tests will be conducted on bellows weldments, consisting of immersion in liquid nitrogen for 10 minutes, repeated 2-3 times.
The operating temperature of the bellows will be from 2K to room temperature.
11. Are there any thermal cycling requirements?
The bellows should withstand 150 cycles at minimum.
12. Are there any radiation, vibration, or dynamic load conditions to consider?
Radiation requirement: The materials used in the cryomodule shall not have mild to moderate radiation damage below 1.0 MGy corresponding to 0.8 Gy/hr for 40 years. There should be no issue with satisfying this requirement if the specified materials are used for all components.
There are no specific vibration or dynamic load conditions to consider.
13. The specification references weld seams per ASME VIII, Division 1 (2021). Does this apply to both bellows weld seams and connecting part weld seams? Is a dedicated Welding Procedure Specification (WPS) required for each bellows configuration? Has the applicability of ASME VIII, Division 1 to edge-welded bellows specifically been verified?
The specification does not apply to the edge-welded bellows subcomponents (e.g., F10132367) themselves. In this procurement it applies to the finished weldment, including the welds joining the bellows, flange extension mating tubes, and flanges.
14. The specification mentions welding filler material. Please confirm whether filler material is mandatory, considering microplasma or laser welding processes typically do not use filler
Filler material is not mandatory where not applicable to the welding process.
15. Regarding magnetic permeability, what is the maximum allowable permeability value (µr)? At which stage must permeability be measured (base material only or including weld seams)? Is post-weld measurement acceptable for compliance verification?
The magnetic permeability of each finished bellows weldments shall be less than 1.02. Post-weld measurements are acceptable.
16. If 316LN is required, can the acceptable nitrogen content range be specified?
The nitrogen content should fall within the range specified by ASTM/ASME requirements for UNS S31653.
17. Is material substitution subject to formal deviation approval?
Yes. DEVIATION REQUESTS MUST BE SUBMITTED WITH THE RFP RESPONSE.
18. The specification states “Weldment to be clear anodized per MIL-A-8625, Type II, Class 1.” Can you confirm that this requirement applies only to aluminum components? Can the current valid standard reference be confirmed?
The requirement only applies to components where specified by the individual component drawing (e.g. F10205745 and F10170065). The standard reference is correct.
19. The specification calls for cleaning with strong alkalines or acids. Can “strong” be defined (pH range or specific chemicals)? Would ultrasonic cleaning using standard industrial alkaline solutions be acceptable?
The cleaning procedure we would like to be used is specified in ED0045548 Rev A Section 3.8. For ultrasonic cleaning, Liquinox liquid detergent is suggested. Other liquid detergents, which are proven to be compatible with this cleaning procedure for these components, can alternatively be used with FFDG approval.
20. Is electropolishing mandatory or optional? What surface roughness (Ra) is required after electropolishing?
Electropolishing is mandatory for individual components where required by their respective drawings. The requirements on electropolishing are only a pleasing cosmetic finish and a smooth surface, there are no specific surface roughness requirements.
21. The specification states parts must be made from plate stock. Does this strictly prohibit the use of round bar material? Is the intent to control grain orientation, mechanical properties, or traceability? Would forged or rolled round stock be acceptable if traceability and properties are equivalent?
As long as the stock satisfies the requirements in the drawings including magnetic permeability, specified material, and satisfies the requirements in ED0045548 Rev A Section 3.1, a different stock type is acceptable.
22. For the bellows assemblies with long bellows capsule (F10205726), the bellows is prone to buckling. An internal guide design may be considered. Please advise if there will be a shaft or rod going through the bellows ID, and if so, please share its OD.
No internal shaft, rod or guide will be going through the bellows ID. The operating condition of the bellows will be vacuum internal and external to the bellows. During the assembly of the cryomodule with the bellows however, the bellows will have vacuum inside and the outside will be atmosphere.
AMENDMENT TO SOLICITATION
Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory P.O. Box 500 Batavia, IL 60510 M.S 210
Richard Konan Procurement Specialist III
(630) 840-2835 Email: rkonan@fnal.gov
Kindly acknowledge receipt of this Amendment by signing and returning one (1) copy of this Amendment.
Company Name
Signature
Name & Title of Individual
Date mailto:rkonan@fnal.gov
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