Pilot-Scale Membrane Research Line

The Department of Energy Office of Science issued a Request for Information on behalf of the National Laboratory of the Rockies seeking market research on pilot-scale membrane production line capabilities, with responses due by September 3, 2026 at 5:00 PM Mountain Time. The RFI does not carry a set-aside, but qualified small business responses may result in a total small business set-aside for any subsequent Request for Proposals.

The Alliance for Energy Innovation, LLC is conducting this market research to identify potential sources capable of designing and building a roll-to-roll membrane production system for research and development. The required system must produce membranes up to 42 inches wide within a 70–75 foot facility footprint and support thin film composite, asymmetric, hybrid, and dense membrane production. Minimum required capabilities include 42-inch-wide coating/casting stations with multiple modalities (slot, knife, dip, gravure), four 12-foot electric oven zones, temperature-controlled baths with recirculation, infrared heater zones, secondary coating station, splice table, interleaf peel and feed systems, bidirectional winding/unwinding, web steering, and tension control for polymer films (25–150 micrometers) and non-woven supports. The system must prioritize modularity, process configuration flexibility, sensor integration capability, and human-machine interface functionality.

Respondents must submit PDF responses limited to 2–5 pages addressing company information, technical approach, Rough Order of Magnitude pricing, and responses to technical questions on multi-technology capability, sensor integration, membrane R&D experience, oven specifications, bath compatibility, and safety features. Submissions go to ASP.Responses@nlr.gov with subject line "RFI-2026031392: [Company Name]." The applicable NAICS code is 333248. This RFI represents market research only and does not guarantee inclusion in future solicitations or commit to reimbursing response costs.