Heater Vendor Questions.pdf

Heater Vendor Questions

A. Technical and Acceptance Clarifications

1. Pressure Drop Requirement (SOW Section 4) Section 4 of the Statement of Work specifies that the heater shall have a “minimum pressure drop across the heater.”

Can BNL please confirm whether there is a maximum allowable pressure drop (ΔP) requirement (e.g., bar, atm, or psi) under the stated operating conditions?

If no numeric limit applies, please confirm whether compliance will be evaluated qualitatively.

1.15 mbar.

2. Temperature Sensor Specification (SOW Section 7) Section 7 states that “the heater will have a temperature sensor.”

Can BNL please confirm whether a specific temperature sensor type is required for the 4.7K operating environment (e.g., Cernox, Platinum RTD, Silicon Diode), or whether sensor selection is left to the manufacturer provided performance requirements are met?

Thermocouple Type J.

3. Acceptance Criteria Can BNL please clarify the formal acceptance criteria for this procurement, including whether acceptance is based solely on receipt and documentation review, or if functional testing, pressure testing, or inspection is required prior to acceptance?

Functional testing and pressure testing that can be performed at the factory is required. See Question 5.

4. Inspection / Source Inspection Does BNL anticipate any source inspection, in-process inspection, or on-site inspection at the manufacturer’s facility prior to shipment?

No on-site inspection.

5. Pressure and Functional Testing Are pressure tests or functional performance tests required prior to delivery?

If so, please confirm applicable standards, documentation requirements, and whether test results must accompany the shipment.

Yes, applicable standards as per norms to be applied like ASME pressure test code and its relevant pressure test reports. For functional test: to show temperature rise signal.

B. Drawings, Documentation, and Quality Assurance

6. Approval Drawings Process (SOW Section 11) Section 11 requires approval drawings to be submitted and signed prior to fabrication.

Can BNL please confirm the expected format of approval drawings and the anticipated review and approval turnaround time?

ASME formatting. ~1-2-week approval turnaround?

7. Approval Drawings vs. Quote Validity The RFQ requires pricing to remain firm for 45 days, while fabrication may not begin until approval drawings are signed.

Can BNL please confirm whether the 45-day quote validity period is intended to include the approval drawing review cycle, or whether fabrication authorization may extend beyond the quote validity window without requiring price revalidation?

Once a PO is issued, pricing is finalized. The 45 days is intended to cover the quote submission through PO award.

8. Certificates and Documentation at Delivery In addition to the Finishing Certificate specified in the SOW, does BNL require any of the following at delivery:

• Certificate of Conformance Yes

• Material certifications Yes

• Calibration certificates Yes If so, please specify the required formats. Generally, manufacturers know standard format, we do not usually specify.

9. ISO 9001 Evidence Does BNL require submission of the supplier’s ISO 9001 certification at the time of quotation, at award, or prior to shipment?

Yes

C. Delivery, Logistics, and Schedule

10. Required Delivery Date (RDD) The RFQ lists the anticipated delivery date as “TBD.”

Does BNL have a Required Delivery Date (RDD) or target delivery window following award that Offerors should use for schedule and OEM lead-time planning?

Please include your lead time on your quote submission. We do not have a designated RDD.

11. Partial Deliveries Are partial deliveries acceptable, or must all heater and housing assemblies be delivered as a single shipment?

Partial deliveries are OK, if it’s necessary.

12. Early Delivery Is early delivery permitted or encouraged, or should deliveries align strictly with a future confirmed delivery date?

Yes. Early delivery is OK.

D. Commercial and Warranty Clarifications

13. Warranty Requirements Does BNL require any specific warranty period or warranty terms for the heaters and assemblies?

If not specified, please confirm whether standard commercial warranty terms are acceptable.

Standard Warranty.

14. Liquidated Damages / Late Delivery Are liquidated damages or other delivery penalties applicable for late delivery, or will standard Purchase Order remedies apply?

Question for Mark.

15. Installation or On-Site Support Can BNL confirm that installation, commissioning, or on-site technical support is not required under this procurement unless expressly added by modification?

Not required.

• For the cycling type dryer, should it be sized for one compressor or for two compressors in case both operate at the same time?

It seems that the request is for an ASME-stamped inline heater. Currently, the only products that we offer with an ASME stamp are the ANSI circulation heaters. However, we will not be able to offer a product that meets the requested length and diameter.

The request is too general for something that seems to require such specificity and critical attention to detail for a system. Simply describing the requirements would result in a design with too many errors.

I will not ask for a drawing or more specifics yet until we determine that there are no flow downs we should be concerned about. And is the customer developing something critical for the US Government?

Is this a request to prototype a system? Are they planning to purchase all 40 heaters at once?

It is critical for the US Government. Not a prototype, and yes to buying all 40. I am not really sure what else they are asking here.