Sources Sought
CFA-686 Carbon-based Fuels Capability - CO2 Storage Vessel
Department of Energy · Sol. INL-26-056
Due in 10 days
AI summary Beta
Battelle Energy Alliance, which runs Idaho National Laboratory for the Department of Energy, is asking for expressions of interest from firms that can design, build, test and deliver a 200 cubic foot stainless steel CO2 pressure vessel (V-738) for Idaho Falls, ID. This is a sources sought step; only firms judged qualified will get the later RFP, which will be a firm-fixed-price design/build contract. All work is expected to take 28 weeks after award.
Watch out for
- ASME U stamp required. Only shops holding a current U stamp for design and fabrication qualify, which rules out most general fabricators.
Experience in ASME BPVC Section VIII, Division 1 pressure vessel design and fabrication
- Tight schedule with heavy fabrication. Everything including a 26-foot, 2-inch-thick stainless vessel must be shipped in 27 weeks and fully documented by week 28.
The total anticipated duration for completion of all work is 28 weeks ARO
- Sources sought only. A response does not guarantee an RFP; only firms judged qualified will be invited.
Only potentially qualified offerors, as determined by BEA, will receive the RFP for the project.
Read from the notice text only.
Full brief
What they want
- Design and analyze the vessel to ASME BPVC Section VIII, Division 1 (Code U stamp)
- Fabricate a horizontal 304/304L stainless steel vessel: 36 in. inner diameter, about 26 ft long, 1,800 psig design pressure
- Include nozzles, saddle supports, band heating elements and Foamglas insulation with aluminum sheathing
- Test and inspect: hydrostatic test, material identification, liquid penetrant testing, and radiography or phased array ultrasonic testing
- Ship the vessel to INL and submit the final Code Data Report and as-built drawings
- Design for static, seismic and wind loads for outdoor installation in a high desert environment
- Contract type
- Firm-fixed-price design/build contract (planned; this notice is a sources sought / expression of interest)
- Period of performance
- 28 weeks after award (ARO)
- Place of performance
- Idaho Falls, ID (Idaho National Laboratory, Central Facilities Area)
- How they'll choose
- Interested firms are screened on qualifications; qualified firms may receive an RFP for source selection and ranking
- Offers due
- 2026-10-16, close of business (response deadline field: 2026-10-16T23:59:00-06:00)
- How to submit
- Email expression of interest to Chase Egbert (chase.egbert@inl.gov)
- Page limits
- No more than 5 pages
What they'll judge offers on
- ASME Section VIII Div. 1 vessel design and fabrication experience with current U stamp
- Stainless steel pressure vessel welding experience
- Ability to meet the 28 week schedule
- Ability to fabricate the required configuration
- Inspection, examination and testing execution plan
- Written quality control system and Appendix 10 and Appendix 47 compliance
- Qualified project manager and Quality Control Manager
What to include when you submit
- Provide written information addressing each of the listed qualification criteria
- Send technical questions in writing by email to Ben Bryson (Benjamin.Bryson@inl.gov) or Chris Dudley (Christopher.Dudley@inl.gov)
- Selection decision is expected in November 2026
You must have
- Current ASME "U" stamp certificate for both design and fabrication, with experience in Section VIII, Division 1 pressure vessels
Experience in ASME BPVC Section VIII, Division 1 pressure vessel design and fabrication
- Stainless steel welding experience including full penetration butt welds and 100% radiography
Experience with stainless steel pressure vessel welding, including full penetration butt welds, 100% radiography
- Written quality control system consistent with ASME BPVC Section VIII Division 1, Mandatory Appendix 10
Agreement to maintain a written Quality Control System consistent with ASME BPVC Section VIII Division 1, Mandatory Appendix 10.
- A qualified project manager and Quality Control Manager
Availability of a qualified and experienced project manager and Quality Control Manager to oversee the work.
Not in the notice text
- Estimated contract value
- RFP release date and award date
- Detailed fabrication drawings and design calculations (given only to qualified offerors)
- Evaluation weights for the later RFP
- NAICS code (not listed)
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Key facts
- Response due
- Oct 17, 2026, 5:59 AM UTC
- Posted
- Sep 23, 2026
- Notice type
- Sources Sought
- Solicitation
- INL-26-056
- Agency
- Department of Energy
- Office
- Battelle Energy Alliance–doe CNTR
- Place of performance
- Idaho Falls, ID, 83415
- Contracting contact
- Chase Egbertchase.egbert@inl.gov
- Versions
- 2 (amended since first posted)
Full notice text from SAM.gov
INTRODUCTION Battelle Energy Alliance, LLC (BEA), Management & Operating Contractor of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) owned Idaho National Laboratory (INL), is seeking an Expression of Interest (EOI) from prospective offerors to support the design, fabrication, testing, and inspection of a pressure vessel for the Central Facilities Area (CFA) Carbon-based Fuels Capability. PROCESS BEA is seeking qualified firms to compete for the design/build contract in support of the CFA-686 CO2 Storage Vessel (V-738). As determined by BEA, responders to this EOI may receive a Request for Proposal (RFP) that will require detailed technical and price proposals be provided for evaluation and ranking under a source selection process. Interested firms are advised that RFP release and the source selection/award decision timeline will be communicated following review of submitted EOIs. The contract award type will be firm?fixed price. The total anticipated duration for completion of all work is 28 weeks ARO, and the estimated sequential schedule is as follows: ASME Code design and analysis (3 weeks), shop fabrication drawings (4 weeks), WPS/PQR submittal and approval (3 weeks), complete shop fabrication including cleaning (25 weeks), install heating elements and insulate vessel (26 weeks), ship vessel to INL (27 weeks), and submission of the final Code Data Report, as?built drawings, and all other deliverables (28 weeks). PROJECT DESCRIPTION The vessel will be designed, fabricated, inspected, and delivered for the INL Central Facilities Area (CFA) Carbon-based Fuels Capability (CFA-686). The vessel, designated V-738, is a 200 cubic foot ASME BPVC Section VIII, Division 1 code "U" stamped pressure vessel for gaseous CO2 service, with a design pressure of 1,800 psig and a design temperature range of -40°F to 500°F. The vessel is a horizontal configuration with two saddle supports spaced 16 feet apart, a 36-inch inner diameter, minimum 2-inch shell thickness, minimum 1-inch hemispherical head thickness, and an overall shell length of 26 feet 3-1/2 inches. The vessel includes seven nozzles (inlet, outlet, five inspection ports, a low point drain, a pressure relief nozzle, and two instrumentation ports), nine band heating elements (3.6 kW total) to maintain the vessel above 150°F, and Foamglas (or equivalent) insulation with protective aluminum sheathing. The vessel will be installed outdoors at INL in a high desert environment, with an altitude of 4,900 ft, ambient temperatures ranging from -40°F to 100°F, and exposure to wind, blowing sand, dust, snow, and frost. The vessel must be designed for static, seismic, and wind loading in accordance with IBC 2024, ASCE 7-10, and ACI 318-19, and fabricated from 304/304L stainless steel pressure boundary materials. Specific fabrication drawings, foundation details, and design calculations will be provided to qualified offerors as part of the RFP process. PROCESS This EOI is the first step in identifying interested and qualified vendors for future solicitation. Responses may be used to inform the development of a formal solicitation list. Selected vendors may be invited to participate in a Request for Proposal (RFP) process for award consideration. SUBMITTAL REQUIREMENTS Interested firms are requested to provide expressions of interest to Chase Egbert (chase.egbert@inl.gov) by close-of-business on 10/16/2026. Included must be sufficient written information confirming the responder's qualifications addressing each of the following criteria: Experience in ASME BPVC Section VIII, Division 1 pressure vessel design and fabrication, including possession of a current "U" stamp certificate for both design and fabrication. Experience with stainless steel pressure vessel welding, including full penetration butt welds, 100% radiography, and carbide precipitation control during welding. Capability to meet the design/build schedule outlined above. Capability to fabricate the vessel in the required configuration, including nozzle arrangement, saddle supports, band heating elements, and insulation system. Proper identification and execution plan for inspection, examination, and testing, including hydrostatic testing, positive material identification, liquid penetrant testing, and radiography or phased array ultrasonic testing. Agreement to maintain a written Quality Control System consistent with ASME BPVC Section VIII Division 1, Mandatory Appendix 10. Compliance with ASME BPVC Section VIII Division 1, Mandatory Appendix 47 requirements for pressure vessel design. Availability of a qualified and experienced project manager and Quality Control Manager to oversee the work. Note that responses must be no more than 5 pages in length. Only potentially qualified offerors, as determined by BEA, will receive the RFP for the project. Interested individuals are advised that the selection decision is anticipated in November 2026. If you have questions, need additional information, or need to speak with a BEA Point of Contact, please contact the following via email: Project Manager - Ben Bryson - Benjamin.Bryson@inl.gov Project Engineer - Chris Dudley- Christopher.Dudley@inl.gov Technical questions must be submitted in writing via email.