RFI BZ-2027-01.pdf

LBNL Request for Information No. BZ-2027-01 Page 1

November 10, 2026

Subject: Request for Information (RFI) No. BZ-2027-01 Response Due Date: November 20, 2026

Introduction The University of California, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) is conducting market research to identify sources capable of fabricating and delivering an external veto tank for the Eos neutrino detector, intended for installation at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. LBNL has developed a preliminary design and welcomes supplier input on materials, fabrication methods, and practical design refinements.

Scope LBNL seeks information from potential suppliers with the capability to furnish one complete veto tank, including its lid, sealing interfaces, attachment provisions, and associated features. Drawings EOS-E- 0202 (Eos/SNS proposed arrangement) and EOS-E-0203 (veto tank envelope) provide the preliminary design and key interfaces. These drawings are a starting point. LBNL is open to working iteratively with a supplier to refine the design, provided the functional and interface requirements are preserved.

Veto Tank — Technical Requirements and Design Intent LBNL intends to acquire a tank that meets or exceeds the following specifications. These are preliminary and subject to change.

• Quantity: one (1) external veto tank assembly. The tank envelope, required internal diameter, and required inside height shall follow drawing EOS-E-0203. Dimensions shown for steel construction are reference dimensions.

• Capacity and contents: tank designed to contain approximately 6,250 gallons of pure water under a nitrogen cover gas; water temperature approximately 5–25 °C.

• Interior optical finish: irrespective of material or construction method, the tank interior shall be white and have at least 95% reflectivity over the wavelength range 350–500 nm. A metal tank may require a bonded Tyvek liner or other suitable reflective treatment. LBNL’s preference is to have one vendor deliver the tank with the finished interior included, either manufactured entirely in-house or through a collaboration with a lower-tier vendor, but LBNL is willing to consider separate procurements if this is unfeasible.

• Light exclusion: the tank assembly shall be opaque and light-tight, including lid joints, seams, ports, and penetrations.

• Lid and gasket: provide a removable top lid and sealing interface as indicated on EOS-E-0203. Item 5 gasket may be segmented to permit cables to exit from inside the veto tank. Segmentation and gas sealing details remain to be determined. The Eos collaboration will determine the light-tightness method at this interface.

• Ports and penetrations: gas and water connections are required in the top lid; number, configuration, and locations remain to be finalized. Structural and installation interfaces: the shim plate is intended to connect the external veto tank to the existing Eos tank shown in EOS-E-0202. The assembly and its interfaces shall be designed for the seismic conditions at Oak Ridge, Tennessee, using ASCE 7-10 as indicated in the drawing. Floor anchorage brackets are to be designed.

LBNL Request for Information No. BZ-2027-01 Page 2

• Codes and materials: carbon steel tank construction shall meet ANSI/AWWA D100-21, as indicated on EOS-E-0203; other proposed materials shall meet appropriate applicable codes. Lifting and handling: lifting points illustrated on the lid are suggested for steel/stainless construction only.

• Interfaces and reference drawings: proposed designs shall accommodate the detector and calibration arrangement shown in EOS-E-0202. The supplied drawings represent a preliminary LBNL design.

Suppliers may suggest modifications to improve manufacturability, cost, schedule, or performance, subject to agreement with LBNL and preservation of the essential requirements. Final configuration and detailed interfaces would be developed collaboratively in any subsequent procurement.

NAICS Code and Size Standard The anticipated North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code for this acquisition will be 332420 Metal Tank (Heavy Gauge) Manufacturing. The corresponding small business size standard is 750 or fewer employees. It is possible that this could change if the material selected for the outer tank falls under a different code.

Instructions

• Respondents should answer the questions in the “Information Requested” section below.

• Respondents should indicate if they qualify as a domestic small business under the NAICS code identified above.

• Respondents should email their response to LBNL Procurement Representative Brian Zatkow at bzatkow@lbl.gov. All responses must be submitted by email no later than 2:00pm Pacific on Friday, November 20, 2026.

Information Requested from Respondents Interested vendors are requested to provide the following nonproprietary information:

• Company name, contact information, manufacturing location(s), and relevant fabrication capabilities.

• Proposed tank material(s), fabrication method, applicable design codes, and experience with similar water-containing vessels.

• Relevant past performance, quality-control procedures, and available testing/inspection capabilities.

• Earliest achievable delivery timeframe estimate, including anticipated design iteration, fabrication, and shipping lead times; current manufacturing capacity and principal schedule constraints. LBNL seeks delivery as soon as practicable and does not prescribe a fixed lead time for this market-research request.

Optional Information The following optional questions are not required for the response to this RFI. Any information provided in response to these questions would be helpful for LBNL’s planning purposes, but responding to these questions will not provide any advantage or disadvantage to potential offerors if LBNL chooses to issue a formal solicitation at a later date.

• Respondent’s ability to meet the minimum 95% interior reflectivity across 350–500 nm and white finish, either in-house or through a lower-tier.

• Respondent’s ability to meet the opacity requirement.

• Respondent’s ability to meet the light-tightness, and nitrogen-cover-gas sealing requirements.

• Any further information regarding proposed verification approaches.

mailto:bzatkow@lbl.gov

LBNL Request for Information No. BZ-2027-01 Page 3

• Suggested approach to removable lid, gasket/cable passages, ports, water-tight sealing, lifting points, and seismic/anchorage engineering.

• Suggested modifications to the preliminary drawings or alternative construction approaches, including any implications for interfaces, internal dimensions, performance, cost, or schedule.

• Budgetary estimates are not required, but would be welcome for planning and funding allocation purposes.

Request for Information Only This RFI is for informational and planning purposes only. This is not a request for quote or proposal. It does not constitute a solicitation and shall not be construed as a commitment by the University.

Responses in any form are not offers and no subcontract will be awarded as a result of this announcement. No inquiries regarding a bid package or solicitation will be answered, because there is no bid package or solicitation yet available. Any information submitted by respondents to this RFI is strictly voluntary.

In order to protect the procurement integrity of any future procurement that may arise from this RFI, information regarding the technical point of contact will not be given and no appointments for presentations will be made. No funds are available to pay for preparation of responses to this announcement, and no reimbursement will be made for any costs associated with providing information in response to this RFI or any follow-up information requests related to this RFI. Responding to this RFI does not provide any advantage or disadvantage to potential offerors if LBNL chooses to issue a formal solicitation at a later date.

This Request for Information is governed by procurement policies and procedures established under the University's Prime Contract with the U.S. Government, represented by the Department of Energy, for management and operation of Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.

Buy American Act All LBNL procurement awards include FAR Clause 52.225-1, Buy American Act - Supplies, which requires that only domestic end products be delivered (i.e., products manufactured in the United States or unmanufactured products mined or produced in the United States), unless a specific exception applies.

Proprietary Information Because information received in response to this RFI may be used to structure future programs and may be made available to the public, respondents must not include any information in their responses that might be considered business sensitive, proprietary, or otherwise confidential. Responses must be submitted with the understanding that their contents may be publicly disclosed and, in the event of a public disclosure, LBNL will not notify respondents or provide any opportunity to revise or redact submitted information.

Brian Zatkow LBNL Procurement Representative

(510) 495-2547

LBNL Request for Information No. BZ-2027-01 Page 4 bzatkow@lbl.gov

(End of RFI document) mailto:bzatkow@lbl.gov

NAICS Code and Size Standard