Sodium Battery Installation for KAFB COMM 498

The Department of the Air Force Materiel Command Nuclear Weapons Center has issued a solicitation for the removal and replacement of battery systems in Communication Building 498 at Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico. The project involves removing existing lead-acid batteries and installing 12 new sodium nickel battery modules with specific technical requirements including 4,500 cycle capability, 100-120 Wh/kg energy density, and 20+ year shelf life, along with Ethernet remote monitoring capabilities. The contractor must also remove and dispose of existing power inverters, install new 200-amp and 100-amp modular power inverters, and install 27 new 20-amp dual locking electric outlets to support the critical backup power infrastructure. The solicitation is classified under NAICS code 335910 (Battery Manufacturing) and requires contractors to provide all equipment, tools, materials, supplies, transportation, labor, supervision, and management necessary to complete the work. The original quote submission deadline was July 15, 2025 at 1400 hours MST, though the posted due date indicates July 24, 2025. The government has noted that funds are not currently available and reserves the right to cancel the solicitation at any time.

This procurement is designated as a total small business set-aside, limiting competition to qualified small business contractors. The solicitation documents do not identify any incumbent contractors or provide specific award values or budget ranges for the project. Key technical specifications include installing 40 sodium nickel batteries (48V, with preference for 200Ah units) arranged in a 6-shelf rack configuration, with each battery cell weighing approximately 150 pounds and requiring specific rack dimensions of 78" x 42" x 25". The work must be performed during normal duty hours (Monday-Friday, 0700-1600) with potential for off-hours work based on mission requirements. The place of performance is specifically located at Kirtland Air Force Base in Albuquerque, New Mexico, with detailed base access procedures outlined including requirements for U.S. citizenship, valid government-issued identification, and coordination with 377 MSG Communication Division personnel. The project timeline emphasizes modernizing critical backup power systems with enhanced monitoring capabilities as part of a broader electrical infrastructure upgrade.