Presolicitation Notice for Upper Wide-Angle Viewing System (UWAVS) Instrumentation and Control (I&C) Subsystem

The Department of Energy, through Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL), is issuing a pre-solicitation notice for the manufacture, inspection, and testing of the Instrumentation and Control (I&C) Subsystem for the Upper Wide-Angle Viewing System (UWAVS) for the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) project. The UWAVS will provide real-time visible and infrared imaging of the ITER divertor region through optical systems located in five upper port plugs to support machine protection, plasma control, and physics measurement functions. Key contract requirements include the development of comprehensive documentation, software and hardware components, prototyping, rigorous factory acceptance testing, and compliance with international standards and quality assurance protocols. The procurement will be divided into two phases: Phase 1 focuses on preparation for manufacturing including documentation and software development with a Manufacturing Readiness Review milestone, while Phase 2 encompasses component fabrication, assembly, testing, packaging, and delivery. The deadline for submission of questions or comments regarding the draft documentation is April 30, 2026, and potential suppliers are encouraged to submit voluntary feedback to facilitate the issuance of three separate RFPs expected by May 2026.

This pre-solicitation notice carries no set-aside designation and represents an open competitive procurement with no identified incumbent contractors. The government has provided draft Statements of Work and a Current Reference List as guidance documents to enable potential suppliers to prepare advance proposals; responding to this notice is optional and not required for future proposal eligibility. No specific award value or budget range has been disclosed in the pre-solicitation announcement. The contract timeline extends from the Final Design Review through Site Acceptance of the final article, encompassing multiple critical milestones including software and hardware development phases, first article inspection, factory acceptance testing, and site integration activities. Interested suppliers should direct all inquiries referencing PPPL RFI_26_014_KS UWAVS Instrumentation and Control (I&C) Subsystem to Khalif Stripling at kstripli@pppl.gov, with the understanding that questions and responses may be posted publicly while maintaining the confidentiality of the inquirer's identity.