LBNF - FDC RFI - Scaffolding 02.27.2026.pdf

LBNF/DUNE - US

South Dakota Scaffolding Services

Request for Information (RFI) February 27, 2026

Request for Information (RFI) – South Dakota Scaffolding Services FDC I&I

Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory 2

1. Purpose

The purpose of this Request for Information (RFI) is to obtain industry input regarding preferred approaches to Scaffolding Service for the site. Our intention is to invite firms to participate in a future Request for Proposals. Your input will help us to structure our RFP in a way that is compatible with current market conditions. We have structured the questions so that your time commitment should be minimized.

2. 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 the further study of neutrinos.

Neutrinos are by far the most abundant particles in the universe. About 100 trillion neutrinos pass through your body every second without interacting with any of the particles in your body. You never notice them. By building facilities such as LBNF, physicists can conduct additional experiments aimed at understanding how neutrinos behave and their role in our universe. The LBNF Project (https://lbnf-dune.fnal.gov/) provides the infrastructure for a new high-intensity neutrino beam generated at Fermilab to be aimed at neutrino detectors located nearly a mile underground at the Sanford Underground Research Facility (SURF) in Lead, SD. We are excited to invite your firm to be part of this groundbreaking effort.

To ensure the success of on-going construction on the LBNF, Fermilab will require scaffolding services at the Lead, South Dakota location for approximately a three to five-year duration. Work is anticipated to be performed either on the day and or night shift based on project requirements for this service. This work involves erection of scaffolding in support of detector construction and will take place in underground caverns, approximately 4,900’ feet below the surface.

We are looking for a Subcontractor with the ability to furnish all properly qualified management, personnel, transportation, hand tools, and PPE required in support of these scaffolding services. This work will require the Subcontractor to plan and coordinate directly with LBNF/DUNE-US project management to assure effective performance of all scaffolding services as described below.

3. Scope of Scaffolding Activities

3.1 Standard Scaffolding Activities

• Advance notification of scaffolding requirement – lead time requirements.

• Delivery to required location underground at SURF.

• Assembly of the scaffolding equipment.

• Inspection, Tagging and Certification.

• Dis-assembly, removal and or storage requirements.

3.2 Custom Scaffolding Requirements

• Advance notification of scaffolding requirement – lead time requirements.

• Design lead time

• Procurement time for custom scaffolding

• Delivery to required location underground at SURF.

• Assembly of the scaffolding equipment.

• Inspection, Tagging and Certification.

• Dis-assembly, removal and or storage requirements.

Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory 3

3.3 Rental and Rates

• Scaffolding equipment rental rate periods

• Labor rates and classifications

• Engineering rates for standard and custom packages

• Travel and per-diem rates

3.4 Misc Information

• Standard crew size

• Invoicing structure for equipment and labor

• Examples of custom designed scaffolding

• Training requirements

4. Management & Supervision

4.1 The FFDG Technical Representative will provide oversight and supervision of Subcontractor tradesmen. This does not relieve the Subcontractor of responsibility to ensure safe and effective management of employees and their work activities.

The appropriate level of site supervision will be determined by the FFDG Technical Representative in consultation with the Subcontractor.

The level of FFDG review and oversight of work activities is commensurate with the risk and complexity of the work activity.

4.2 The Subcontractor's representative shall be available for consultation and discussion relative to FFDG operational problems.

4.3 The Subcontractor shall be responsible for maintaining satisfactory standards of employee conduct, integrity, and competence.

i. The Subcontractor shall be responsible for initiating and administering disciplinary action to employees regarding any deficiencies.

5. Questions

5.1 What is your current company staffing level and would your company have the capability to provide up to 10 Craftsmen without causing impact on your general operation?

5.2 FFDG will provide location and access requirements but will not give directions. Is it an issue for your company to provide a foreman on site for all activities to direct their work force?

5.3 Would working in an underground environment create any issues for your staff or company? Would this work location deter you from interest in this subcontract?

5.4 Does your company have a labor pool that will offset unforeseen absences and how would you address an unforeseen absence on site?

5.5 What certifications/trainings (NCCCO, OSHA, ANSI, etc.,) do you require of your team members?

5.6 How do you calculate rental rates?

• By scaffold component? Or structure dimensions?

• Are rental rates broken down into monthly, weekly, or daily rates?

• How do you compile your billing rate?

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5.7 Do you ever use Sub-tier contractors to dismantle scaffolds that were erected by your company?

5.8 How much notification time would you require to mobilize to site and perform work?

5.9 Some scaffolding structures are complex and significant in size, is there any issue with supporting longer duration (5 days +) requirements?

5.10 Do you have engineering capabilities in house for certified scaffold design?

5.11 How do you track multiple scaffold structures for general control and invoicing?

5.12 Would you require a staging area to keep scaffold components on site rather than hauling from a general yard? How would you address the quantity, and would this be a cost to us?

5.13 Please explain your scaffold tagging system. Example: What constitutes a green tag and what exactly does that mean for use of that scaffold?

5.14 Should minor scaffold modifications be required after erection is complete and work is in progress, does your company have any issue with our technicians making those minor modifications? Do you have any corporate guidelines that govern these modifications?

5.15 Does your company have a policy on modifying or tear down standard non engineered scaffolding?

6. Planned Procurement Approach

FFDG has planned to issue Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) subcontract(s) suppliers for the acquisition of Scaffolding Services. Individual task orders will be issued by FFDG for the required services/projects.

• To meet the schedule, supplier proposals will be due 30 days after the “formal RFP” issue date.

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

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

• Please provide comments on the feasibility of this procurement process.

7. Response Instructions

• Responses should be submitted in writing.

• Responses to all questions are preferred, but not necessary.

• Clearly identify your company name and point of contact.

• Submission deadline: March 20, 2026

• Submit responses electronically to: mckenzie@fnal.gov

8. Procurement Timeline

• RFI (Request for Information) Due Date March 20, 2026

• RFP (Request for Proposal) Released and Posted on SAM.GOV in April 2026

• RFP (Request for Proposal) Due late Spring 2026

• IDIQ Award date July/August 2026 mailto:mckenzie@fnal.gov

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9. Disclaimer

This RFI is issued for information-gathering purposes only. Participation is voluntary and does not confer any advantage or disadvantage in any future procurement. This RFI does not commit the United States Government to pay any costs incurred in the preparation or submission of any response to procure any supplies or services.

Sincerely, Brian McKenzie

LBNF/DUNE-US Procurement Specialist IV