FFDG Request for Information_LAR 12-4-2025_final.pdf

December 4, 2025

To: All Prospective Suppliers of Liquid Argon

Subject: 2025 Request For Information for Liquid Argon Supply to Lead, SD

BACKGROUND

Fermi Forward Discovery Group LLC (“FFDG”), the manager and operator of Fermi National Accelerator

Laboratory (“FERMILAB”), under its Prime Contract Number 89243024CSC000002 with the United States

Department of Energy (“DOE”), is leading the Long-Baseline Neutrino Facility (LBNF) Project to enable a world-class program in neutrino physics. The LBNF Project (https://lbnf-dune.fnal.gov/) provides the infrastructure for a new high-intensity neutrino beam generated at the Fermi National Accelerator

Laboratory (Fermilab) to be aimed at large liquid argon-based neutrino detectors located nearly a mile underground at the Sanford Underground Research Facility (SURF) in Lead, SD. The LBNF project will provide the infrastructure and facilities necessary to support the massive neutrino detectors located deep underground at SURF. In close coordination with LBNF, the Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment

(DUNE) will construct and install the neutrino detectors immersed in Liquid Argon (LAR) in the cryostats at SURF. In support of DUNE, the FDC subproject will procure approximately 797,416,695 scf

(~37,400 metric tons) of LAr for delivery to the surface located Argon receiving facility at the SURF site.

An additional amount of approximately 801,680,955 scf (~37,600 metric tons) of LAr may be procured if

Detectors 3 and 4 are added to the project scope in the future.

The responsibility for LAR procurement will be under the LBNF Project group and performed in accordance with an Acquisition Plan that is fully approved by all stakeholders. The approved plan is based on discussions with major US LAR suppliers from 2016 through the present. To ensure that FFDG is fully aware of any significant changes in argon supply and demand and in the organization of LAr suppliers, our approved plan includes the issuance of a final RFI to verify market conditions as we

Jeremy R. Duncan Procurement Specialist

LBNF/DUNE-US

Fermilab P.O. Box 500, MS 123 Kirk Road and Pine Street Batavia, Illinois 60510-5011

USA

Mobile: 865.300.0443 jeremyd@fnal.gov https://lbnf-dune.fnal.gov/ mailto:jeremyd@fnal.gov prepare the Request for Proposals (RFP). An accurate understanding of market conditions is vitally important to FFDG’s efforts to execute a significant acquisition of the supply of approximately

797,416,695 scf (~37,400 metric tons) of LAR.

All responses to this RFI will be treated by FFDG as proprietary and confidential. Each page of your response should be marked accordingly. This RFI will be organized in the following Sections:

• Layout and Facility Operations

• LAR Requirements and Supply Schedules

• Planned Procurement Approach

• Content of the RFI Request and Responses

LAYOUT AND FACILITY OPERATIONS

The DUNE experiment (http://www.dunescience.org/) and underground facility will employ two (2) massive neutrino detectors, housed in cryostats requiring about 370,990,655 scf (~17,400 metric tons) of

LAR each for permanent operation of the detectors. The total amount is higher because of the initial cleanup of the system (purge) and losses. In addition to the cryostats the underground facility will include two (2) complete argon condensers systems, each with Nitrogen liquefaction facilities to provide the refrigeration to the argon condensers, purity monitoring and purification circuits and significant underground gas and liquid piping, manifolding and control systems, plus Liquid Nitrogen (LN2) storage for the Nitrogen refrigeration units.

The surface-based LAR receiving facility will store the LAR, then vaporize the liquid and compress the argon gas to moderate pressure for piping it down shaft to the argon condensers system. During filling and operation of the cryostats, argon boiloff gas from the cryostats will be recondensed and returned in a closed cycle to the cryostats.

Several slides are included in the Appendix, listed below, and illustrate various aspects of the experiment and facilities relevant to LAR supply.

a. Current LBNF/DUNE project timeline and how LAR Supply fits into that schedule.

b. Cryogenics Process Flow Diagram, starting with the receiving of LAR Tankers.

c. Conceptual Argon Receiving Facilities Layout (3D view).

http://www.dunescience.org/

d. Current Argon Fill Station Layout (Preliminary from Chart).

e. Mill Street Grade (steepest incline on way to site).

f. Aerial Photo of Surface Facilities.

g. Space Available for LAR Receiving Facilities.

h. Surface Facilities (detail of Argon Receiving Area).

LAR REQUIREMENTS AND SUPPLY

The DUNE experiment will require approximately 1,599,097,650 scf (~75,000 metric tons) of LAR to fill and operate the four detector–cryostat systems. That LAr will be supplied by one or more primary LAR producers and delivered to the SURF receiving storage system site during the period of Q1 CY2029 to Q2

CY2035 in two Filling Phases as described below.

The LAR requirements and outline of the Cryostat Filling programs for this supply are as follows:

Base Scope (Purge/cool down and fill Cryostats #1 and #2):

o February 2029 – December 2031 o 797,416,695 (~37,400 metric ton) of LAR total split over two periods (each period corresponding to activities for one cryostat and requiring half the amount).

o LAR Delivery:

• Cryostat #1:

• 852,852 scf/day (~40 metric ton/day) for 1-2 weeks for initial purge and system testing. Total of 3,198,195 scf (~150 metric ton).

(February 2029). 24/7 access.

• 852,852 scf/day (~40 metric ton/day) for 4 mo for purge/cool down. Total of

68,228,166 scf (~3,200 metric ton).

(February 2029 through May 2029). 24/7 access.

• 1,492,491 scf/day (~70 metric ton/day) for fill. Total of 329,414,116 scf (~15,450 metric ton).

(May 2029 through February 2030). 24/7 access.

• Cryostat #2:

• 852,852 scf/day (~40 metric ton/day) for 1-2 weeks for initial purge and system testing. Total of 3,198,195 scf (~150 metric ton).

(April 2030). 24/7 access.

• 852,852 scf/day (~40 metric ton/day) for 4 mo for purge/cool down. Total of

68,228,166 scf (~3,200 metric ton).

(June through September 2030). 24/7 access.

• 959,459 (~45 metric ton/day) for fill. Total of 325,149,856 scf (~15,250 metric ton).

(September 2030 through December 2031).

24/7 access.

o Deliveries are to vertical tanks located above ground at the Ross Shaft site in limited space near an existing warehouse.

The following quantities are optional requirements, which can be enacted if the U.S. Department of

Energy authorizes the completion of LBNF Cryostats 3 and 4.

Optional Scope (Purge/cool down and fill Cryostats #3 and #4):

• If FD-3/FD-4 are authorized, Options could be exercised by November 2031 with final delivery anticipated April 2035.

• 801,680,955 scf (~37,600 metric ton) of LAr total split over two periods (each period corresponding to activities for one cryostat and requiring half the amount).

• LAr Delivery:

o Cryostat #3 (Option 1):

• 852,852 scf/day (~40 metric ton/day) for 1-2 weeks for initial purge and system testing. Total of 3,198,195 scf (~150 metric ton. (November 2031). 24/7 access.

• 852,852 scf/day (~40 metric ton/day) for 4 mo for purge/cool down. Total of

68,228,166 scf (~3,200 metric ton). (December 2031 through April 2032). 24/7 access.

• 1,066,065 scf/day (~50 metric ton/day) for fill (April 2032 through April 2033).

24/7 access.

o Cryostat #4 (Option 2):

• 852,852 scf/day (~40 metric ton/day) for 1-2 weeks for initial purge and system testing. Total of 3,198,195 scf (~150 metric ton. (February 2033). 24/7 access.

• 852,852 scf/day (~40 metric ton/day) for 4 mo for purge/cool down. Total of

68,228,166 scf (~3,200 metric ton). (May 2033 through August 2033). 24/7 access.

• 852,852 scf/day (~40 metric ton/day) for fill (September 2033 through April 2035).

24/7 access.

• Deliveries are to vertical tanks located above ground at the Ross Shaft site in limited space near an existing warehouse.

LAR Purity:

• < 5 ppm Water

• < 5 ppm Oxygen

• < 10 ppm Nitrogen

• < 1 ppm THC

The duration of the fill of each cryostat is related to the cooling power available from the Nitrogen

Refrigeration Equipment to liquefy the gaseous argon (GAR). The Nitrogen Refrigeration Equipment will be installed in two phases: the first three refrigeration units in the first phase and the fourth refrigeration unit in the second phase. During the filling of the first cryostat, the refrigeration system will supply the maximum cooling capacity and devote it to liquifying the GAR. Once a cryostat is completely filled, it will require cooling power to maintain the LAR in a liquid state by recondensing the boiloff

GAR. The reduced cooling capacity will increase the duration of the fill for the next cryostat. The fourth unit of the nitrogen refrigeration system will provide the cooling capacity that will enable the third and fourth cryostats to be filled (if authorized by DOE).

PLANNED PROCUREMENT APPROACH

Since 2016 FFDG has discussed LAR supply to this project with the US gas industry and its LAR suppliers. A LAR Acquisition Plan has been developed based on those productive discussions, and this plan is now approved by all stakeholders. This RFI is intended to update the information previously gained so as to stay current with developments in US LAR supply and the economics of that supply. The information gained from this final RFI will be used to confirm that the plan remains aligned with the current conditions in the industry. The RFI will ensure any changes in market pricing, and logistics are reflected in the official Request for Proposals (RFP). In addition, this RFI will result in refreshed budgetary information that may be used for final budgeting purposes with U.S. Department of Energy.

FFDG has planned to issue Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) subcontract(s) suppliers for the acquisition of LAR. FFDG prefers to issue one IDIQ subcontract, but it may issue multiple IDIQ subcontracts if it is uncertain that a single offeror cannot meet FFDG requirements in a reliable and economically feasible manner. Delivery Orders will be issued by FFDG for the required quantities of

LAr. Estimated delivery volume and delivery schedules are provided in a previous section. However, the exact timing will depend on the fill process for the cryostats and other site conditions.

CONTENT OF THE RFI REQUEST AND RESPONSES

Updating the following items will help the FFDG team to ensure that the RFP and the budget is based on the most current industry conditions.

1. LAR Supply and Purity

• To what extent can your company supply this LAR requirement? Why/Why not?

• Would you be willing to be a part of a multi-supplier group or only a sole source supplier?

Why/Why not?

• How would you handle a catastrophic event that would limit your capability to supply the required amount?

• Can you provide an actual analysis of LAR from the primary supply plant that would be producing the LAr for this supply?

• Delivery Logistics and Site Access

• Please provide details as to how you plan to supply the LAR requirements.

• Storage on site (above ground at SURF) is limited to 52,800 gallons (280 metric tons) using four (4) vertical LAR storage tanks. Would you require additional storage? If so, how much and how would you provide it?

• What significant challenges do you see in the LAR supply chain to the Lead, SD site?

2. Cost

• Provide your best estimate on the economics if you were to perform this supply of LAR in 2026 through 2027.

• How would you adjust that 2026 supply scenario to applicable economics effective in 2029-2035?

3. Planned Actions 2025 to 2029

The information from this RFI will be used to inform periodic DOE program reviews and the solicitation phase. The main steps are outlines in the table below. The internal review and approval of the RFP and consent package for award are not explicitly listed but are included.

Activity Current planned date

RFI issued to industry Q4 CY 2025

Industry feedback received and incorporated in RFP Q1 CY 2026

RFP issued to industry (responses due 90-day after RFP release) Q4 CY 2026

Subcontract in place (12-18 months ahead of start of LAR deliveries) Q4 CY 2027

Start of LAr deliveries to site Q1 CY 2029

4. Procurement Process

• To meet the schedule highlighted above, supplier proposals will be due 90 days from RFP issue date.

• Please comment on the feasibility of this procurement process.

• Please confirm/provide the name and contact information of the current contact person(s) at your organization for the LAr Supply RFP. When the official RFP is issued, FFDG will email it to the person(s) named in your response.

5. Other

• Please provide any other information and advice that you deem appropriate for this project.

The information requested in support of this RFI should be submitted in writing.

The primary point of contact for this RFI is Jeremy Duncan, LBNF Project Procurement Specialist. We request that any questions pertaining to this RFI be sent to jeremyd@fnal.gov on or before December 15, 2025. We further request that all responses to this RFI are submitted by electronic mail to jeremyd@fnal.gov on or before January 30, 2026.

This RFI does not commit FFDG or the United States Government to pay any costs incurred in the preparation or submission of any response to procure any supplies or services.

Sincerely, Jeremy R. Duncan

Procurement Specialist cc:

Steve Atkins

David Montanari

Enclosures – Appendix for LAR Supply RFI Nov 2025.pdf

Slide 1 - Title Page.

Slide 2 – Outline.

Slide 3 – LBNF/DUNE Project timeline.

Slide 4 – Process Flow Diagram.

Slide 5-9 – Receiving Facilities Site Layout.