B.1j_481667 - Enclosure J. Q&A dated 31July26.xlsx
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- Attached to
- Permanent Magnet Blocks
- Solicitation number
- 481167
- Issued by
-
Department of Energy Office of Science
About this file
This is a Questions and Answers document dated 31 July 2026 addressing vendor inquiries regarding a solicitation for Permanent Magnet Blocks (Notice ID: 481667). The document clarifies technical specifications, manufacturing requirements, and delivery expectations for two part numbers with different dimensional envelopes and finished masses.
Key clarifications include: finished mass values on drawings are incorrect and will be disregarded, with Step files to be provided for accurate geometry; the solicitation scope correctly addresses Permanent Magnet Blocks (not a scanning electrochemical microscope system as initially referenced); minimum Br of 1.14 T applies to each individual block with 0.02 T variation evaluated per part number; magnetic moment will be measured using Helmholtz coil for each finished block with hysteresigraph testing of witness coupons from the alloy lot; BSA will apply price evaluation preferences to foreign end products under FAR Part 25; delivery schedules should not account for export licensing delays, with the supplier responsible for notifying BNL of any delays post-award; the 20°C reference temperature applies with thermal effects to be controlled through magnet design; magnetization angle tolerance is evaluated as a single angle within one plane; segmented and bonded construction is permitted if necessary, with no specific adhesive grade currently mandated; bare Sm2Co17 material is acceptable without coating; dimensional inspection reports must include measured values traceable by serial identifier with equipment identification, though full point-cloud data is not required; BNL's review and disposition time does not count against the 18-week delivery period; and shipping containers must comply with all applicable transportation regulations for permanent magnets. The solicitation maintains an 18-week delivery requirement with documentation packages due one week before shipping authorization.
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Sheet1
| Enclosure J: Questions & Answers List, dated 31 July 2026 | ||
| Requirement: | Permanent Magnet Blocks | |
| Notice ID: | 481667 | |
| # | Vendor Question | BSA Response |
| 1 | Finished mass: The Enclosure H title block states 4.7 lb and Enclosure I states 9.4 lb, but the dimensioned envelopes (100 × 48 × 19 mm and 100 × 76 × 24 mm) compute to approximately 1.7 lb and 3.4 lb at Sm2Co17 density. Drawing Note 3 defers undimensioned geometry to the 3D model. Please confirm the correct finished mass for each part number and release the 3D models (STEP or Parasolid) referenced in Note 3. | Please disregard the finished mass shown on the drawings, we used an incorrect density for this material. Step files will be furnished. |
| 2 | Governing scope document: RFQ §1.0 solicits a quote for "a scanning electrochemical microscope (SECM) system." Please confirm Enclosure A reflects the Permanent Magnet Blocks scope, and provide Enclosures A and C, which were not included in the posted package we received. | The reference to the SECM System in the RFQ is an error, and has been corrected with Revision 2 to this solicitation. Enclosures A and C were included with this solicitation posted to SAM. Enclosure A is a Draft Purchase Order for this Permament Magnet Blocks requirement. |
| 3 | Definition of "average Br.": SOW Table-1 requires Br of 1.14 T minimum with a range of ±0.02 T from average Br. Is "average" the arithmetic mean of each production lot, or must every block fall within ±0.02 T of a single population mean across all 168 pieces? If the latter, is the band evaluated separately per part number or across both? | The minimum Br of 1.14 T applies to each individual block. The Br variation requirement of ±0.02 T will be evaluated based on the average Br of each part number separately |
| 4 | Magnetic certification method and sampling: What methodology does BNL require, Helmholtz coil moment measurement on each finished block, hysteresigraph testing of witness coupons from the same alloy lot, or another approach? Is Br to be reported per serialized piece, or by lot? | The magnetic moment will be measured using a Helmholtz coil for each finished block and reported per serialized piece. Hysteresigraph measurements will be used to characterize Br, Hcj and other magnetic parameters from the same alloy lot. |
| 5 | IGCE Range: Does this opportunity have an IGCE range it can share, or provide historical pricing from prior similar work? | BSA is unable to provide an IGCE or historical pricing. |
| 6 | Buy American: RFQ §6.0 requires disclosure of domestic versus foreign end-product status. Will BSA apply a price evaluation preference to foreign end products under FAR Part 25, or is §6.0 disclosure-only for reporting purposes? | BSA will apply a price evaluation preference to foreign end products IAW FAR Part 25. |
| 7 | Export licensing and schedule: Samarium and downstream SmCo products have been subject to Chinese export licensing since April 2025. If a proposed supply chain requires an export license, will BSA consider a schedule provision for licensing time, or should offerors price only license-free sources against the firm 18-week delivery? | Do not consider licensing time in your delivery schedule. Once an award has been made, the successful supplier will notify BNL of any delays due to licensing time. |
| 8 | Thermal coefficients: Table-1 specifies properties at a 20 °C nominal reference. Are there maximum allowable temperature coefficients for Br (α) or Hcj (β) over the operating or storage range, and what range applies? | The 20 °C value is the reference temperature for the PM specification and magnet measurements. The operating temperature variation will be controlled or compensated within the magnet design, including the use of thermal shunts to minimize temperature effects. |
| 9 | Magnetization angle definition: Drawing Note 2 specifies 90° to Datum A, ±3.0°. Is that tolerance evaluated as a single angle within one plane relative to Datum A, or as a 3D spatial deviation of the magnetization vector? Please also confirm the acceptable measurement method. | The magnetization angle tolerance is evaluated as a single angle within one plane relative to Datum A. The magnetic moment measurement using a Helmholtz coil will provide the three components of the magnetization vector, from which the magnetization angle can be determined |
| 10 | Segmented and bonded construction: SOW §6 permits segmenting and gluing if dimensions cannot be achieved monolithically, with assembled-geometry drawings submitted at quotation. If used: does BNL require a specific adhesive grade or radiation-compatible class; is there a maximum bond-line thickness; is joint shear strength testing required; and does segmentation change the dimensional inspection basis or the magnetization angle acceptance criteria? | The final magnet assembly must satisfy the specified geometrical tolerances and magnetization angle acceptance criteria. No specific adhesive grade is currently specified; the supplier may propose an appropriate adhesive solution for the application |
| 11 | Surface treatment: The title blocks specify a 125 µin finish with no coating callout. Please confirm bare Sm2Co17 is acceptable, with no passivation, nickel plating, or other coating required. | Bare Sm2Co17 material is acceptable. No passivation, nickel plating, or other coating is required. |
| 12 | Marking: Note 1 requires part number, revision letter, and unique serial in capital letters approximately 12 mm high. Please confirm the intended etch face for each part number, the exact string format desired (for example, LT-SR-MG-PMQH-3001 A SN-001), and that reduced character height is acceptable where the available face will not accept 12 mm characters. | The plan view on each drawing shows the face for laser etching the part number, revision letter, and unique serial number. Desired format LT-SR-MG-PMQH-3001-A SN-001. A reduced character height is acceptable if necessary. |
| 13 | Dimensional report format: SOW §9 requires standard dimensional inspection reports with individual measured values traceable by serial identifier. Please confirm a per-serial CMM dimensional summary report satisfies this, and that full point-cloud data is not required. | The measurement equipment or instrument used for the actual measurements should be identified on the inspection report. A full point-cloud data is not required. |
| 14 | BNL turnaround inside the 18 weeks: SOW §9 requires the documentation package one week before shipping authorization. What is BNL's review window for issuing that authorization, and what is the standard response window for dispositioning a Nonconformance Report under SOW §2? Please confirm whether BNL's review time counts against the 18-week delivery period. | The time BNL spends reviewing, dispositioning, and responding does not count against the 18-week delivery period. |
| 15 | Transport stray-field limits: SOW §9 requires containers meeting requirements for transporting >1 T permanent magnets. Please confirm the applicable acceptance criteria, for example, the IATA limit of 0.00525 gauss at 4.5 m for non-restricted air shipment, and the 0.418 gauss at 2.1 m threshold for UN2807 Class 9, and whether ground-only transport is acceptable. | The shipping container shall comply with all applicable transportation regulations for permanent magnets. The supplier is responsible for ensuring the packaging meets the requirements for the selected mode of transportation (air or ground). |
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