Cryocooler

The Department of Energy's Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory is soliciting proposals for a specialized pulse-tube cryocooler designed for a superconducting radio-frequency electron beam accelerator project under an NNSA initiative. The cryocooler must meet precise technical specifications, including an operating temperature of 4.2K or lower, first stage cooling capacity of 2.5W at 4.2K, second stage cooling capacity of 40W at 45K, and maximum power consumption of 30kW per unit, while incorporating low-vibration design features to protect sensitive Niobium-Tin cavity coating. The procurement will be evaluated using a Lowest Price Technically Acceptable (LPTA) source selection process, where technical acceptability is determined solely by conformance with the attached procurement specifications. Proposals are due on November 14, 2025, at 4:00 p.m. Central Time, and must include completed RFP pages with pricing, the Subcontractor Annual Representations & Certifications (SARC) form, and the Proposal Certifications form (PUR-466). The solicitation is being conducted through Fermi Forward Discovery Group, LLC under prime contract DE AC02 07CH11359 with the Department of Energy Office of Science.

This procurement carries no set-aside designation and represents a competitive open opportunity. The cryocooler package must include a cold head, compressor, gas lines, vibration dampening bellows, instrumentation cables, and power cables, with F.O.B. Fermilab delivery terms requiring the vendor to bear all freight charges. No specific award value or budget range has been disclosed in the solicitation materials. The place of performance is located in Batavia, Illinois 60510, where the equipment will support the development of a portable electron beam system intended to provide a safer alternative to radioactive cobalt-60 sources for sterilization and materials treatment applications. Bidders must comply with comprehensive contractual terms and conditions established by Fermi Forward Discovery Group, including federal acquisition regulations, export control compliance, equal opportunity requirements, and various DOE-specific regulatory obligations.