Procuring Level Test Articles from Portable Tanks Made with Fiber-Reinforced Plastic Materials

The Department of Transportation's Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) has issued a Request for Information (RFI) seeking industry input on procuring test articles consisting of Fiber-Reinforced Plastic (FRP) Portable Tanks for performance testing and research purposes. This market research effort aims to address concerns raised in Notice of Proposed Rulemaking HM-215 Q regarding the adoption and use of FRP Portable Tanks in the United States. PHMSA is seeking information from both domestic and international FRP Portable Tank manufacturers to evaluate their willingness and ability to provide test articles, preferably donated, along with representative material samples for comprehensive testing studies. Manufacturers must demonstrate capabilities in producing tanks manufactured in accordance with United Nations Model Regulations (UNMR) and provide detailed responses addressing company capabilities, previous experience, material specifications, and non-destructive testing methodologies. The original response deadline was July 18, 2025, but Amendment 0001 has extended the deadline to August 11, 2025, at 5:00 PM EST, with responses limited to 7-10 single-sided pages and submitted electronically to specified PHMSA contacts.

This opportunity does not include any set-aside designations and is open to all qualified manufacturers without restrictions based on business size or socioeconomic status. No incumbent contractors or current service providers are identified in the documentation, as this represents an initial market research phase rather than a recompetition of existing services. While specific budget ranges or award values are not disclosed, the RFI emphasizes PHMSA's preference for donated test articles, though manufacturers are requested to provide pricing estimates for potential future procurement scenarios. The agency is seeking up to two FRP Portable Tanks from each participating manufacturer, along with material samples representative of the full-scale tanks being tested, with responses requiring details on lead times for preparation and delivery of test articles. This RFI serves as preliminary market research to inform the development of requirements for a potential future research and testing project focused on FRP Portable Tank safety and performance evaluation.