Geothermal Program Coso Steam Flow Verification

The Department of the Navy Naval Facilities Engineering Command is procuring Steam Tracer Mass Flow Rate Measurement services to provide independent verification of steam flow rates at the Coso geothermal sites. The contractor will collect steam flow samples at three designated transfer points between projects and conduct laboratory analysis to determine steam mass flow rates measured in thousand pounds per hour (kph), with results submitted to the Geothermal Program Office (GPO) within 30 days of each sampling period. Key contract requirements include performing 18 tests annually across three sample sites with two sampling periods per year (spring and before September 30th), conducting 20-minute interval sample collections using vapor-phase tracers, and alerting GPO of any discrepancies of 15 percent or more between contractor results and Coso DCS system measurements. The procurement is structured as a single-source acquisition under NAICS code 541380 (Testing Laboratories and Services) with a Firm-Fixed Price contract format, and the evaluation will prioritize the contractor's specialized capability in the proprietary steam analysis method developed since 1995. The proposal due date is January 5, 2026, with the contract award anticipated for 2026.

This solicitation carries no set-aside designations and represents a follow-on requirement from previous geothermal research contracts, indicating an incumbent contractor with established expertise in this specialized field. The contract structure includes a base period of one year with four option years, extending through 2030, plus a potential six-month extension if a follow-on contract cannot be awarded timely. The base period only carries a minimum guarantee, while option years are at the government's discretion. The contractor must perform field work on-site at the Coso Geothermal Field at Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake in Ridgecrest, California, while conducting laboratory analysis at their own facility. The contractor is required to travel twice annually to the Coso site and maintain compliance with base access requirements throughout the contract performance period.