Vacuum Muffle Furnace

The Office of Naval Research, under the Department of the Navy, is seeking a Vacuum Muffle Furnace for laboratory research purposes. This pre-solicitation notice represents a Request for Information (RFI) to gauge industry interest and identify potential sources capable of providing the equipment. The furnace must meet specific technical requirements, including operation on 208V or 220V power, accommodation of a 12-inch cubic assembly for microfluidics boards, and a maximum temperature capability of 1200 Celsius, along with a compatible vacuum pump offering pumping speed of 300L/min or greater. The furnace must also achieve a vacuum level of 5E-4 torr or lower, feature a digital vacuum gauge, operate in both inert gas and vacuum modes, and maintain compact dimensions of 30x30x36 inches or less. Interested small businesses must submit a capability statement by 3:30 PM Eastern on November 19, 2025, with responses directed to Graham Fisher at graham.w.fisher.civ@us.navy.mil.

This procurement opportunity is designated as a Total Small Business set-aside, restricting competition to qualified small business entities. Respondents should submit a 7-page capability statement detailing company information, technical capabilities, the commerciality of the proposed item, a product description, and a rough order of magnitude cost estimate. The RFI emphasizes that this is a market research and planning effort rather than a formal solicitation, and the government provides no guarantee of future contract competition or specific award values. Potential vendors should explain how their proposed furnace meets or could be modified to meet the stated specifications and include relevant product brochures with their submissions. No specific evaluation criteria, contract value range, or timeline for future solicitation has been disclosed in this pre-solicitation notice.