Request For Information - Basic Expeditionary Airfield Resources (BEAR) Water System Freeze Protection

The Department of the Air Force Materiel Command Lifecycle Management Center at Robins Air Force Base is conducting a Request for Information (RFI) to identify commercial and commercial-off-the-shelf solutions for a Water Freeze Protection System for the Basic Expeditionary Airfield Resources (BEAR) program. The system must sustain water and wastewater operational flow in frigid temperatures, with primary protection capability down to -25 degrees Fahrenheit and extended protection down to -65 degrees Fahrenheit. Key requirements include six modular Freeze Protection Modules (FPM) that integrate with existing BEAR water infrastructure without modifications, with all electrical components interfacing with BEAR electrical distribution equipment (120/208 VAC, 60 Hz) and no single component exceeding 60 amps. The RFI seeks information on contractor expertise, capabilities, experience, and technical approaches to freeze protection for expeditionary water systems, with responses due by May 7, 2026. It is important to note that this is a market research RFI, not a formal solicitation, and participation does not guarantee future contract participation or reimbursement for response costs.

No set-aside designations apply to this procurement, and no incumbent contractors have been identified at this stage. The contract type, acquisition strategy, pricing arrangement, quantities, and timelines remain to be determined and will be shaped by the findings from this RFI and other market research sources. The modular system must accommodate multiple components including heated shelters, insulated hose wraps totaling thousands of feet across various diameter configurations, and protected bladder tanks ranging from 3,000 to 20,000-gallon capacities. Modules must be transportable via ISU-90 containers for air transport (maximum 10,000 pounds) or TRICONS/BICONS/20' ISO containers for surface transport (maximum 14,900-25,000 pounds), with components designed for a minimum 10-year service life and 25-year outside storage capability in extreme environmental conditions including precipitation, salt fog, sand/dust, and humidity levels from 5 to 95 percent.