Toroidal field bundle (UW-MAD) [19-0036]

The University of Wisconsin-Madison, located in Dane County's Madison City, is seeking bids for a Toroidal Field Bundle for the Engineering Physics Department's Urania Experiment, a magnetic confinement facility funded by the Department of Energy. The procurement involves a specialized electromagnetic component consisting of 24 custom copper conductors with wedge-shaped cross-sections, including insulation systems, cooling tubes, and end caps that will be vacuum pressure impregnated with high-temperature epoxy. Bidders must be original manufacturers, authorized distributors, or authorized dealers with five years of experience in electromagnetic equipment and service/repair capabilities. The Request for Bid (RFB) was initially issued on January 8, 2019, with written questions due by January 15, 2019, and bids originally due on January 22, 2019, but subsequently extended to January 29, 2019, at 2:00 PM CST. The University will award the contract to the lowest qualified bidder deemed to be in the best interest of the institution, with desired delivery within 16 weeks of order receipt and a warranty period beginning after successful acceptance testing within 30 days of delivery.

The procurement includes provisions for Wisconsin-certified Minority Business Enterprises, Woman-Owned Businesses, and Disabled Veteran-Owned Businesses, which may receive preference if their bids are not more than 5 percent higher than the apparent low bid. Contractors must maintain commercial general liability insurance with minimum coverage of $1,000,000 and add the Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System as an additional insured. Bidders are required to submit three client references from comparable institutions within the past three years and may need to provide an affirmative action plan if the contract exceeds $50,000. The contract includes compliance requirements for federal debarment certifications, Wisconsin nondiscrimination and affirmative action guidelines, and prohibitions on boycotts of the State of Israel. Payment terms are established as Net 30 days upon acceptance, with the potential for milestone-based payment negotiation and a maximum of 50 percent payment prior to acceptance. While a specific award value is not explicitly stated, the comprehensive technical specifications and rigorous requirements suggest a significant investment in this specialized electromagnetic equipment for research purposes.