RFI BZ-2024-09.pdf

LBNL Request for Information No. BZ-2024-09 Page 1

July 23, 2024

Subject: Request for Information (RFI) No. BZ-2024-09 Response Due Date: July 31, 2024

Introduction The University of California, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) is conducting market research to identify sources that possess the capabilities and experience necessary to provide a dilution refrigeration system for low-temperature measurements.

Background The Physics Division at LBNL is developing low-temperature sensor and detector technologies for high energy physics and quantum information science. A new dilution refrigeration system is needed to reach the extreme temperatures necessary to conduct this research.

Preliminary Specifications LBNL intends to acquire an instrument that meets or exceeds the following specifications. These are preliminary and subject to change.

Thermal requirements:

1. Base temperature of <10 mK

2. At least 10 µW of cooling power at 20 mK

3. Cycle time of <2 days

4. Vertical design with mixing chamber directly below the still and pulse tube

5. Integrated thermometry with automated cool-down and warm-up routines

Vibration requirements:

1. System must be capable of extended (>1 hour) operation at 10 mK with the pulse tube turned off

2. System must include vibration damping between the cryostat and its support structure, as well as between the cryostat and its gas handling system

Electrical requirements:

1. Must be compatible of powering the entire system with 60 Hz 110V and 220V power

2. Must support 8 SMA connectorized RF lines rated up to at least 10 GHz with which are fully superconducting between the 4K and 10mK stages and CuNi between the vacuum shell and 4K stage

3. Must support phosphor bronze low frequency wiring (>24 twisted pairs) which span from the cryostat exterior to the mixing chamber stage and are thermalized at each major intermediate stage

4. Must support 4x twisted-triple copper wires for biasing amplifiers mounted at the 4K stage with power supplies exterior to the cryostat

NAICS Code and Size Standard The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code for this acquisition will be 334516 (Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing). The corresponding small business size standard is 1,000 or fewer employees.

LBNL Request for Information No. BZ-2024-09 Page 2

Instructions Respondents who can demonstrate a proven record of delivering a dilution refrigerator per the preliminary specifications above should email the LBNL Procurement Representative Brian Zatkow at bzatkow@lbl.gov with any and all relevant published product literature and/or technical specifications demonstrating compliance. Attachments or hyperlinks are both acceptable. Please state if the dilution refrigerator qualifies as a domestic end product under FAR Clause 52.225-1, Buy American Act - Supplies. Budgetary estimates are welcome but not necessary.

All responses must be submitted by email no later than 3:00pm Pacific on Wednesday July 31, 2024.

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 LBNL.

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 bzatkow@lbl.gov

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

NAICS Code and Size Standard