Solicitation
UPDATED ALS SHB pulsed RF HPA
Department of Energy
AI summaryThis is an updated request for proposal from Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (run by the University of California for the Department of Energy) for two custom 25 kilowatt (kW) pulsed solid-state radio frequency (RF) high power amplifiers (HPAs), one at 125 megahertz (MHz) and one at 500 MHz, for the Advanced Light Source in Berkeley, CA; they replace older tube-based amplifiers. The statement of work and engineering specification were revised, so bidders send a revised proposal, due November 18, 2026, 3:00 PM Pacific, by email. The work is expected to run about 12 months (design, build and commissioning) under a fixed-price subcontract, with no small business set-aside. More in the summary
AI summary Beta
Summary of the version posted Oct 12, 2026. The notice was amended Oct 27, 2026. Check what else changed on SAM.gov. This summary may miss requirements: 15 of 27 attachments weren't read (RFP SHB pulsed RF HPA ESD Response sheet.xlsx, 4 LBNL ES_H Manual (PUB-3000) Chapter 08 Electrical Safety Program.pdf and 13 more). Check the attachments on SAM.gov.
This is an updated request for proposal from Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (run by the University of California for the Department of Energy) for two custom 25 kilowatt (kW) pulsed solid-state radio frequency (RF) high power amplifiers (HPAs), one at 125 megahertz (MHz) and one at 500 MHz, for the Advanced Light Source in Berkeley, CA; they replace older tube-based amplifiers. The statement of work and engineering specification were revised, so bidders send a revised proposal, due November 18, 2026, 3:00 PM Pacific, by email. The work is expected to run about 12 months (design, build and commissioning) under a fixed-price subcontract, with no small business set-aside.
Who can bid (4)
- No small business set-aside: open to any business, and every bidder completes the small business size representation (North American Industry Classification System code 334220, size standard 1,250 employees)
- Be a responsible offeror: adequate finances, ability to meet the schedule, satisfactory performance record, technical skills, and not currently barred from new federal prime contracts or subcontracts
- Signed Representations and Certifications form, which asks for your System for Award Management (SAM) Unique Entity Identifier (UEI)
Show all 4Show fewer
- A QA/QC plan that meets ISO 9001 (a quality management standard) and the lab's Quality Assurance Program Description (PUB-3111)
How to submit: Email to the University Procurement Representative, Anita Mathias (AMathias@lbl.gov), or another secure electronic submission. What to include is under Full summary below. Check the solicitation's instructions on SAM.gov.
Things to watch (11)
- Serious: SAM.gov and the solicitation disagree on the set-aside. SAM.gov lists no set-aside, but the solicitation the AI read says a set-aside for small businesses. Ask the contracting officer which applies before you bid.
- Worth checking: Custom high-power RF equipment with a heavy engineering process. This is a design-and-build job for 25 kW pulsed amplifiers with design reviews, a 100-hour pre-factory test, factory and site acceptance tests, and a long technical specification, so it suits only firms that can engineer and manufacture such equipment.
- Worth checking: Safety lab (NRTL) certification before site acceptance. The final inspection report, certification and labels from a nationally recognized testing laboratory must reach the lab before the site acceptance test, which adds cost and schedule work.
Show all 11Show fewer
- Worth checking: Design documents and source code become the lab's property. Engineering designs, drawings and documentation made for this job become Berkeley Lab property and cannot be marked proprietary; the sample subcontract also has the vendor certify that the delivered data is not limited rights data or restricted software unless reported within 10 days of award.
- Worth checking: Warranty term set by the lab at award. The updated statement of work says the on-site warranty follows the option the lab selects at award, starting after the site acceptance test; the earlier statement of work said 3 years from written acceptance or 3.5 years from delivery, whichever is earlier.
- Worth checking: Price must include freight, shipping insurance, duties and tariffs. Your total price has to cover freight, shipping insurance and any import duties or tariffs, so foreign parts can raise your price.
- Worth checking: Buy American Act preference for domestic end products. Offering a foreign end product requires supporting information for an exception to the Buy American Act (the rule favoring U.S.-made goods).
- Worth checking: Failed site test repaired on site at vendor cost. Amplifiers that fail the site acceptance test must be repaired at Berkeley Lab at your cost, and final acceptance only comes with the lab's written approval.
- Minor: 12-month term covers design through commissioning. The whole job, from design and fabrication to commissioning, is expected to fit in about 12 months.
- Minor: Specification requirements were modified. The marked-up engineering specification changes some requirements (for example measurement accuracy on the control display), so bidders should work from the revised version and not the earlier one.
- Minor: Tariff handling and possible duty-free entry filing. For foreign-origin items the University wants to be importer of record and may send your original proposal to the Government in a duty-free entry package unless you object in your proposal.
Read from the notice and 12 attachments. 15 of 27 not read. Show which files.
- RFP-SHB pulsed RF HPA Rev. 1.pdf (read)
- Updated SHB pulsed HPA SOW MARKUP Rev.1.pdf (read)
- AL-1887-8783A SHB pulsed RF HPA SOW.pdf (read)
- 10 LBNL LBNL Facilities Master Specifications 260519.11_600 Volt Conductors and Cable.docx (read)
- 11 LBNL Facilities Master Specifications 260523_Low-Voltage Electrical Power Conductors and Cables.docx (read)
- Updated - SHB pulsed HPA ESD MARKUP Rev.1.pdf (read)
- Rep Cert- SHB pulsed RF HPA Rev1.docx (read)
- Sample Subcontract.pdf (read)
- AL-1887-8780A SHB pulsed RF HPA ESD.pdf (read)
- 1 LBNL Electrical Equipment Build Standard V6.pdf (read)
- 2 LBNL Electrical Safety Manual Revision 1.pdf (read)
- 3 LBNL RPM on Safe Electrical Installations Policy.pdf (read)
- RFP SHB pulsed RF HPA ESD Response sheet.xlsx: not read (the AI doesn't read this file type yet): open it on SAM.gov
- 4 LBNL ES_H Manual (PUB-3000) Chapter 08 Electrical Safety Program.pdf: not summarized: open it on SAM.gov
- 5 LBNL ES_H Manual (PUB-3000) Chapter 14 Electrical Equipment Safety Program.pdf: not summarized: open it on SAM.gov
- 6 LBNL RPM on Seismic Safety.pdf: not summarized: open it on SAM.gov
- 7 LBNL Lateral Force Design Criteria Resource Document (RD3.22) (version 18).pdf: not summarized: open it on SAM.gov
- 8 LBNL RPM on Cranes Hoists and Rigging Safety.pdf: not summarized: open it on SAM.gov
- 9 LBNL ES_H Manual (PUB-3000) Chapter 27 Cranes Hoists and Rigging Safety.pdf: not summarized: open it on SAM.gov
- 12 LBNL ES_H Manual (PUB-3000) Chapter 43 Non Ionizing Radiation.pdf: not summarized: open it on SAM.gov
- 13 LBNL PUB 3111 Quality Assurance Program Description.pdf: not summarized: open it on SAM.gov
- Price Proposal Schedule Attachment B.xlsx: not read (the AI doesn't read this file type yet): open it on SAM.gov
- 1a Appendix A Electrical Equipment Hazard Labeling.pdf: not summarized: open it on SAM.gov
- 1b Appendix B Electrical Equipment Fabrication.pdf: not summarized: open it on SAM.gov
- 1c Appendix C Ground Hook Safety.pdf: not summarized: open it on SAM.gov
- 1d Appendix D Rack Build Standard.pdf: not summarized: open it on SAM.gov
- Past Performance Reference Information Form.docx: not summarized: open it on SAM.gov
Full summary
What they want
- Design, build and test two pulsed solid-state RF high power amplifiers (HPAs), 25 kW each: one at about 125 MHz and one at about 500 MHz
- Pass design reviews, a factory acceptance test (FAT, the buyer's check at your plant) and a 100-hour pre-FAT test, with reports
- Deliver the units with a nationally recognized test laboratory (NRTL, an OSHA-approved safety testing lab) inspection report, certification and labels
- Ship the units to the lab; Berkeley Lab installs and commissions them, and your representative guides the installation
- Take part in the site acceptance test (SAT, a repeat of a subset of the factory tests at the lab) and repair failures on site at your cost
- Provide manuals, schematics, control program source code, drawings, parts lists and test procedures in English
- Provide an on-site warranty for both units, with the warranty option chosen by the lab at award
- Keep a quality assurance and quality control (QA/QC) program
- Contract type
- Fixed-price subcontract (one set price), issued by the University of California under its Department of Energy prime contract
- Period of performance
- About 12 months, covering design, fabrication and commissioning. The warranty starts after the site acceptance test and written acceptance.
- Place of performance
- Berkeley, CA, USA, as given in the SAM.gov fields (Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Advanced Light Source)
- Estimated value
- Not stated
- Contract vehicle
- Subcontract under the University of California's Department of Energy prime contract DE-AC02-05CH11231 for managing Berkeley Lab; not tied to a GSA schedule
- How they'll choose
- Best overall value: the University first checks that offers are complete and meet the minimum technical requirements in the engineering specification document (ESD), then picks the best combination of price, performance features, reliability and supplier attributes. It may award to other than the lowest price.
- Offers due
- November 18, 2026, 3:00 PM Pacific (from the version posted Oct 12, 2026; amended since)
- How to submit
- Email to the University Procurement Representative, Anita Mathias (AMathias@lbl.gov), or another secure electronic submission
What they'll judge offers on
- Minimum technical requirements in the ESD (checked first)
- Desired performance features
- Reliability
- Supplier attributes
- Price: the total proposed price, including freight and, if applicable, import duties and tariffs
What to include when you submit
- Send a revised proposal that reflects the updated statement of work and engineering specification
- Write the proposal in English, clear and detailed enough to evaluate; an offer missing a required document or an evaluation factor may be excluded
- Complete, sign and return the Representations and Certifications form with the proposal, including the size representation for North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code 334220 (1,250 employees) and your System for Award Management (SAM) Unique Entity Identifier (UEI)
- Include all descriptive material (manuals, drawings, technical specifications) the University needs to evaluate the offer
- Price must be the total, including freight, shipping insurance and, if applicable, import duties and tariffs
- If you offer any foreign end product, include information supporting an exception to the Buy American Act
- If an item is of foreign origin and incurs tariffs, the University wants to be importer of record; state in the proposal if you object to your original proposal going to the Government in its duty-free entry package
- If you offer an equal to a brand name item, identify the brand and model, include descriptive literature, and describe any modifications
- Proposals stay valid for 60 days from the proposal due date
- Send all correspondence about the solicitation to the University Procurement Representative
- If a registered lobbyist contacted the Government on your behalf about this contract, submit Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Standard Form LLL (Disclosure of Lobbying Activities) with the offer
After award, you must have
- Equipment delivered must be listed, labeled and certified by an OSHA-recognized nationally recognized testing laboratory (NRTL) From Sample Subcontract.pdf:
…shall be NRTL listed, labeled, and certified in accordance with Part 1910, Occupational Safety and Health…
- Certifications and reports from NRTL and a California licensed structural engineer, among others, delivered with the equipment From Updated SHB pulsed HPA SOW MARKUP Rev.1.pdf:
…such as from NRTL, California licensed structural engineer, etc.
Current contractor
No current contractor is named. The new amplifiers replace the existing 125 MHz and 500 MHz tube-based amplifiers. No sources-sought results or Government estimate are given.
Not in the notice text
- Not all text was available: about 19,000 characters of the request for proposal (the rest of the evaluation section, what a proposal must contain, and the start of Section 3) and large parts of the statement of work, engineering specification, Representations and Certifications form and sample subcontract were left out, and the spreadsheets and form listed as not read were not read (it may be an attached file the AI skipped; check SAM.gov): the engineering specification response sheet, Price Proposal Schedule Attachment B, and the Past Performance Reference Information Form.
- Evaluation factor weights or order, and what supplier attributes means, are in the left-out part of the request for proposal.
- Whether the response sheet, price schedule and past performance form must be returned with the proposal, how many references to send, and any page limits are not shown.
- Contents of the Initial Design Proposal Report, which the statement of work lists as due in response to the request for proposal, are not shown.
- No dollar value or budget is given; the delivery schedule and prices in the sample subcontract are marked to be determined (TBD).
- The warranty options the lab may select at award are not shown.
- The subcontract's General Provisions for Commercial Supplies and Services are on the lab's procurement website and were not read.
- Safety manuals, seismic and rigging documents and the electrical build standard appendices named as applicable documents were not read (it may be an attached file the AI skipped; check SAM.gov).
Eligibility and how to respond
- No set-aside: any business, large or small, can bid unless the notice says otherwise.
- How to submit, from the AI summary: Email to the University Procurement Representative, Anita Mathias (AMathias@lbl.gov), or another secure electronic submission. Check it in the notice before you send anything.
Notice details
- Posted
- Oct 27, 2026
- Notice type
- Solicitation
- Office
- Berkeley Natl Lab - DOE Contractor, CA
- Product/service code
- 5996 · Amplifiers
- Business type
- Electronic parts & equipment (supplies) (FedReady's grouping, from NAICS 334220)
- Versions
6 versions have been posted, newest first.
- Oct 27, 2026 · Amendment 0005 (this version)Due Nov 18, 2026
- Oct 12, 2026 · Amendment 0004Due Nov 18, 2026
- Oct 12, 2026 · Amendment 0003Due Nov 18, 2026 (changed)
- May 21, 2026 · Amendment 0002Due Jun 19, 2026 (changed)
- Apr 23, 2026 · Amendment 0001Due May 12, 2026 (changed)
- Apr 14, 2026 · SolicitationDue May 8, 2026
- Attachments
Past awards and competition
Who has won work like this before, the likely incumbent, and what similar contracts paid, from USAspending.gov.
Before you respond
- How to respond to a solicitation (8 steps)
- How to read a government solicitation
- How to price a government contract
Terms on this notice: Solicitation
Full notice text from SAM.gov
RFP is hereby modified on 10/27/2026 to incorporate Offeror Questions and Responses.pdf Request for Updated Proposal – SHB RF High Power Amplifiers (HPA) The Statement of Work (SOW) and Engineering Specification document have been modified. Please review the updated documentation and submit a revised proposal that reflects the changes. The proposal submission deadline has been extended to November 18, 2026. This Request for Proposal (RFP) is for the procurement of two Sub-Harmonic Buncher (SHB) pulsed Radio Frequency (RF) High Power Amplifiers (HPA): one unit operating at 125 MHz and a second unit operating at 500 MHz. The proposed equipment must comply with the requirements outlined in the RFP, Sample Subcontract, updated SOW, revised Engineering Specification, and all other applicable enclosures.
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