Attachment 0007.pdf

PROJECT: INDUSTRIAL VACUUM SYSTEM

SUBJECT: Questions and Answers regarding Solicitation W15QKN26QA048

pg. 1

The final date for Offerors to submit questions is:

12 March 2026 by 1200 EST

05MARCH2026 – Questions and Answers

Below are the official responses to questions submitted regarding the aforementioned solicitation.

Question 1: The target time to reach 10⁻³ Torr in the 2400 cubic feet chamber is not specified.

Could you please confirm the desired evacuation time?

Answer 1: The threshold for evacuation time is 60 minutes, with an objective of 30-45 minutes.

Please note a correction to the Statement of Work (SOW): the final pressure should be 10 Torr, not 10⁻³ Torr.

Question 2: Could you provide a sketch or drawing of the chambers, including whether they are spherical, vertical, or horizontal?

Answer 2: Bidders are required to provide a sketch or drawing with their proposal. Any configuration totaling 2400 cubic feet will be considered. Only one configuration (A or B) is necessary for the vessel portion of the bid.

Question 3: Should the chambers be supplied as part of this procurement, or does your facility already have the required vacuum chambers?

Answer 3: As stated in the SOW, the vacuum vessel (either Configuration A or B) must be supplied by the winning bidder.

Question 4: Is there any additional information or requirements for this project? Is there a P&ID of the desired wind tunnel and vessel configuration?

Answer 4: No P&ID is provided. The system will be considered Government Furnished Equipment (GFE) for a future upgrade, and the hardware will be sized to match accordingly.

Question 5: Is there a list of required connection sizes and ratings for the vessels?

Answer 5: The current design requires a minimum diffuser diameter of 15 inches. The pressure vessels must withstand a pressure range between 10 Torr and 350 psi. Vessels must be ASME-rated for this pressure range and the temperatures specified in the SOW.

Question 6: We spoke with someone in 2024 in regard to this project and our capabilities, and at the time the ultimate vacuum requirement was 10 torr. This SOW now says 8x10^-3 torr. This is a large change in ultimate vacuum and required equipment. I wanted to confirm that the SOW requirement is correct.

Answer 6: The requirement of 8x10⁻³ Torr was a typographical error in the SOW. The correct final pressure requirement is 10 Torr.

pg. 2

Question 7: In our previous conversation, the time frame for vessel evacuation was 30-45 minutes. Is this still the case?

Answer 7: Yes, that is correct. The objective remains 30-45 minutes, with a maximum threshold of 60 minutes.

Question 8: Configuration B mentions a pressure of <350 PSIG and a temperature of 800°F.

Please confirm those are the max rating requirements for the vessels.

Answer 8: The pressure and temperature ratings should be identical for both Configuration A and Configuration B. The design includes a heat exchanger to be placed before the pressure vessel, so the final operational temperature may be lower. The pressure vessels must be rated to withstand a range of pressures between 10 Torr and 350 psi, as the compressors will supply air up to a maximum of 350 PSI.

11MARCH2026 – Questions and Answers

Configuration A: (1) Steel Sphere Vessel: Total internal volume of 2400 cubic feet.

Question 9: Are you requesting this chamber to be quoted or is there already one at the customer's site? If requesting the chamber, what are the dimensions of the chamber?

Answer 9: Yes. A chamber should be included with the proposal in order to be considered.

Internal volume Is in the SOW.

Question 10: Cubic or cylindrical?

Answer 10: Spherical as mentioned in the SOW. However, would consider cylindrical configuration as well if that is cost-effective. Key requirement is internal volume of 2400 cubic feet.

Question 11: Chamber material requirements?

Answer 11: Any material to fit the requirements of the SOW.

Question 12: Required leak tightness?

Answer 12: Must be able to hold a vacuum to pressures in SOW.

Question 13: Is plumbing to vacuum pump system required in quote?

Question 13: Plumbing between hardware not required.

pg. 3

Question 14: Are controls required? If so, what type? Variable speed drive on the blower seems like a request. Please confirm if any other control is required.

Answer 14: Variable speed not required. Must pull vacuum to 10 Torr within 30-45 minutes objective, 60 min threshold.

o For example, the system provided should protect the pumps while the inlet temperature is above the allowable threshold inside the chamber. If the chamber will be heated to 800 F, the pumps can not be exposed to that hot gas.

Configuration A: (1) Vacuum Pump:

Question 15: Are there any requirements for this pump to be a dry pump?

Answer 15: Pump will be used to pull atmospheric air out of pressure vessel and dumping into atmosphere.

Question 16: Are there electrical requirements for this system?

Answer 16: 480V max. 240V available

Question 17: Is water cooling available for the pumps? If so are there any limitations?

Question 17: No water cooling available for the pumps.

Question 18: Will any gas be flowed through the pumps during the process, or will the pump strictly be used to evacuate the chamber down to 1e-2 mbar?

Question 18: No gas, just ambient air. Note pressure requirement has been updated to 10 Torr

Configuration A: (1) Pump Exhaust Silencer:

Question 19: Please clarify this request. Would it be possible to provide drawings if further connection from exhaust are required.

Question 19: Silencer to reduce noise levels below 70dB. Not required if noise levels are already below this threshold.

Configuration A: (1) Vacuum Booster:

Question 20: Is there a target time to achieve 1e-2 mbar in the 2400 ft^3 volume with the booster running at full speed?

Answer 20: Must pull vacuum to 10 Torr within 30-45 minutes objective, 60 min threshold. Note pressure requirement has been updated to 10 Torr.

pg. 4

Question 21: Any sort of temperature or pressure sensors required?

Answer 21:Booster will work in conjunction with vacuum pump, which should have an internal sensor.

Configuration A: Commercial Manuals:

Question 22: Is a line for installation and start up required?

Question 22:Just purchasing hardware. Installation and start up not required.

Configuration B: (2) Steel Cylindrical Vessels (Horizontal or Vertical): Total internal volume of 2400 cubic feet (e.g., (2) 1200 cubic feet vessels).

Question 23: Please clarify horizontal or vertical requirement…can it be either?

Answer 23: Design appears to be preferring vertical configuration due to possible space restraints.

Question 24: If a chamber is required for this project, please provide clarification to the chamber questions posed above.

Answer 24: Configurations A or B require the same items other that the pressure vessel.

Configuration A is just one vessel with internal volume of 2400 cubic feet, while configuration B is multiple vessels with the same internal volume.

Either configuration must be able to withstand compression pressure of 15 psi outside and 10 torr inside, as well as tension < 350 psi inside and 14 psi outside.

Vacuum pressure vessel must handle processing <350 PSIG of 100% air at 800 degrees Fahrenheit (temperature without after-cooler).

Question 25: Please clarify further maximum pressure rating.

Answer 25: After achieving vacuum of 10 Torr, vessel will be exposed to incoming air at 350 psi.

Caution: The pump temperature ranges from 40 - 110 degrees Fahrenheit, and exhaust air must be cooled to <100 degrees Fahrenheit using a cooler. Suitable for outdoor location.

Question 26: Please clarify if there are any specifications for this request.

Answer 26: Design calls for temperature of air from tunnel will be lowered to 100 degrees F prior to reaching vacuum vessels and pumps.