Forward Hadronic Calorimeter Absorber Structures

The Department of Energy Office of Science is seeking a contractor to produce absorber steel structures for the Longitudinally segmented Forward Hadronic Calorimeter (LFHCal) of the Electron-Ion Collider (EIC) detector at Brookhaven National Laboratory. The initial contract scope includes manufacturing five pre-production 8M steel absorber modules, with potential options for an additional 645 8M modules and 72 4M modules. These magnetic carbon steel components will serve as part of the detector's solenoid magnetic flux return path, requiring precise manufacturing with 16mm thick steel plates alternating with 4mm scintillator plates across 60 total layers. Potential contractors must be fully registered in SAM.gov and capable of meeting stringent quality assurance standards following ISO-9001 requirements. The pre-solicitation notice requires detailed responses regarding company capabilities, potential subcontracting needs, material import requirements, and size classification under NAICS 332710.

The contract does not have a specific set-aside designation, indicating it is open to businesses of various sizes and ownership structures. Key deliverables include a program plan, manufacturing and inspection plans, acceptance test procedures, and initial pre-production unit delivery within 10 calendar weeks after contract award. The planned schedule anticipates delivery of the first 645 modules by week 52, with potential additional module batches extending through week 130. While specific award values are not disclosed, the technical complexity and multi-phase nature of the project suggest a significant contract opportunity. The total project involves manufacturing 1,138 calorimeter modules (1,066 8M modules and 72 4M modules), with final acceptance testing to be conducted by Brookhaven Science Associates at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Contractors must be prepared to meet extremely precise technical specifications, including dimensional tolerances as tight as +/- 0.005 inches and specific material composition requirements.