Combined Synopsis/Solicitation
X209 Laser Powder Bed Fusion (L-PBF) Machines FY27…
Department of Energy
AI summaryOak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), run by UT-Battelle for the U.S. Department of Energy, wants to buy two metal laser powder bed fusion (L-PBF) machines. L-PBF is a 3D printing method that melts metal powder layer by layer with lasers. One machine is medium-scale with two lasers and one is large-scale and tall-build with six lasers, with delivery, installation, testing, software and training. The award is anticipated as firm-fixed-price (FFP: one set price, whatever the work costs). It goes to the lowest price among offers that meet every requirement (lowest price technically acceptable, LPTA). The response due date is November 3, 2026, 3:00 PM Eastern. More in the summary
AI summary Beta
The notice looks incomplete: Attachments B, C, D and E (terms and conditions, flowdown clauses, representations and certifications, and the draft subcontract) were attached but only partly read, with their middle sections left out. Check the full files on SAM.gov. Check the attachments on SAM.gov.
Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), run by UT-Battelle for the U.S. Department of Energy, wants to buy two metal laser powder bed fusion (L-PBF) machines. L-PBF is a 3D printing method that melts metal powder layer by layer with lasers. One machine is medium-scale with two lasers and one is large-scale and tall-build with six lasers, with delivery, installation, testing, software and training. The award is anticipated as firm-fixed-price (FFP: one set price, whatever the work costs). It goes to the lowest price among offers that meet every requirement (lowest price technically acceptable, LPTA). The response due date is November 3, 2026, 3:00 PM Eastern.
Who can bid (7)
- No set-aside: businesses of any size may bid. SAM.gov also shows no set-aside.
- Active SAM.gov registration is strongly encouraged, to verify business size and eligibility.
- Return the Representations and Certifications - Abbreviated form (BSD-CS-2260) when the proposal exceeds $15,000.
Show all 7Show fewer
- Large businesses must send a Small Business Subcontracting Plan if the offer, including options, is $900,000 or more. Others send the Representations Regarding Small Business Subcontracting Plan.
- Show recent, relevant experience building, testing, delivering, installing and supporting similar metal additive manufacturing equipment, with references.
- Both machines must be certified by a Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory (NRTL), or another body approved in writing by ORNL, with certification papers and labeling.
- If the offer exceeds $2.5 million, return the Cost Accounting Standards Notices and Certification form (BSD-CS-2039).
How to submit: Not stated in the documents. The ORNL Procurement Officer is Rian Lewis, lewisgr@ornl.gov.. What to include is under Full summary below. Check the solicitation's instructions on SAM.gov.
Things to watch (9)
From the version posted Oct 21, 2026.
- Serious: Highly specialized machines required. The tall-build system must have exactly six lasers and 1600-1800 mm of usable height, so only a few equipment makers or their teams can meet it.
- Serious: Pass or fail technical review with no exceptions. Award goes to the lowest price among acceptable offers, and taking exceptions to the RFP may get an offer treated as non-responsive.
- Worth checking: Questions were due Oct 27, 2026. Check the amendments for the agency's answers.
Show all 9Show fewer
- Worth checking: Seller supplies test powder and runs test builds. Unless ORNL says otherwise, the Seller must furnish the Haynes 282 powder for FAT, and build geometry and acceptance criteria are agreed in writing before FAT.
- Worth checking: Payment comes after final acceptance and funding is released in steps. Payment is Net 30 for large businesses or Net 15 for small businesses after final acceptance, and the draft subcontract is incrementally funded by purchase order releases. A milestone payment plan may be proposed.
- Worth checking: Affordability also counts in the award decision. The RFP calls the award lowest price technically acceptable, but also says the affordability response is an element of evaluation; ask the Procurement Officer how it is used.
- Minor: Schedule and period of performance not fixed. The anticipated period of performance is TBD, and installation and SAT day counts are shown in brackets, so the delivery schedule may change.
- Minor: Minimum 2-year warranty. The Seller must warrant defects in materials, workmanship, operating software and installation, and provide software support during the warranty.
- Minor: High-power laser safety paperwork. Before work on site the Seller must submit an Activity Hazard Analysis and tell ORNL before bringing Class 3B and 4 lasers on site.
Read from the notice and 10 attachments. Show which files.
- RFP511373.pdf (read)
- Attachment A - Statement of Work - X209 Laser Powder Bed Fusion (L-PBF) Machines FY27.pdf (read)
- Attachment B - Terms-Conditions-Fixed-Price-BSD-CS-2150-09.30.2026.pdf (read)
- Attachment C - Prime-Flowdown-Clauses-BSD-CS-2258-09.30.2026.pdf (read)
- Attachment D - Reps-and-Certs-Abbreviated - 2026.03.09.pdf (read)
- Attachment E - Fixed Price Subcontract - Draft.pdf (read)
- Attachment F - Representations Regarding Small Business Subcontracting Plan (BSD-CS-2125) - 10.01.2025.pdf (read)
- Attachment G - Certification-Exemption-from-SCLS-Certain-Services-BSD-CS-2049-08.20.2025.pdf (read)
- Attachment H - BSD-CS-2290-C-SCRM-Questionnaire.pdf (read)
- Attachment I - Exhibit-2-Rep-Limited-Rights-Data-Restricted-Computer-Software-BSD-CS-2005-2025.10.13.pdf (read)
Full summary
What they want
- One medium-scale dual-laser L-PBF system (QTY 1 in the draft subcontract): exactly two lasers, 200-300 mm usable X and Y, 300-400 mm usable Z, build plate up to 500 degrees C.
- One large-scale six-laser tall-build L-PBF system (QTY 1 in the draft subcontract): exactly six lasers, 400-500 mm usable X and Y, 1600-1800 mm usable Z.
- Features on both machines: near-infrared fiber lasers, water-cooled optics, inert gas with oxygen at 500 ppm or less before a build, 20 micrometer minimum layer thickness, 400 V power, safety certification by a Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory (NRTL), and exportable build data.
- The same, or substantially common, maker software on both machines, able to move a build file and a parameter set between them without recreating either.
- Factory acceptance testing (FAT: tests at the maker's site before shipping) and site acceptance testing (SAT: tests after installation), including qualification builds in Haynes 282 powder.
- Delivery, installation, commissioning and calibration, with final acceptance at ORNL.
- Onsite operator-level and maintenance-level training, completed before final acceptance.
- Paperwork: facility-planning package 30 days after award, final utility and facility requirements 60 days after award, plus manuals, calibration procedures, spare-parts list and test reports.
- Contract type
- Firm-fixed-price (anticipated), as a subcontract under ORNL's Department of Energy prime contract; the draft says it is incrementally funded
- Period of performance
- Anticipated period is TBD (to be determined) in the RFP. The statement of work sets installation within [60] days after delivery and SAT within [15] days after installation, with the numbers in brackets.
- Place of performance
- Oak Ridge, TN, USA on SAM.gov. The draft subcontract says the primary performance location is the Seller's location, with delivery and final acceptance at ORNL.
- Estimated value
- Not stated
- How they'll choose
- Lowest price technically acceptable (LPTA): the award goes to the responsible bidder with the lowest-priced offer that meets all specified requirements
- Offers due
- November 3, 2026, 3:00 PM Eastern
- How to submit
- Not stated in the documents. The ORNL Procurement Officer is Rian Lewis, lewisgr@ornl.gov.
What they'll judge offers on
- Technical acceptability (pass or fail): provide the requested services per the Statement of Work (Attachment A) with no exceptions
- Price: lowest price among offers found technically acceptable
- Affordability: the RFP says the response to its affordability request will be an element of the evaluation and award decision
What to include when you submit
- Send a complete package: Technical Proposal, Price Proposal, Exceptions/Non-Compliance, Conditions of Proposal/Assumptions, and Supplementary Requirements.
- Use MS Excel, MS Word or PDF. Use the forms the Company supplies; if none, any format is allowed.
- Include a glossary of acronyms and special terms. Put no certified cost or pricing information in the technical proposal.
- Technical proposal must cover: relevant experience, facilities and key personnel, technical approach, system configuration, software and data, installation and commissioning, testing, delivery and documentation, training, schedule, references, and a warranty of at least 2 years.
- For each reference give customer name, contract or purchase order number, period of performance, contract value if available, work performed, how it is similar, and a customer contact with phone and email. The number of references is not stated.
- Name the manufacturer and model of each machine, the usable build volume, laser layout, overlap zones, and any exceptions, assumptions or limits.
- Price Proposal must be in U.S. dollars. Show direct labor, subcontracts, travel, materials and equipment, other direct costs, indirect expenses, and fee or profit. State any tariffs separately.
- A milestone payment plan may be proposed. State a definite delivery time; days count as calendar days unless the offer says business days.
- List any exceptions in a separate Exceptions/Non-Compliance section. Leaving it out is treated as accepting all requirements, terms and conditions.
- Provide a company profile with business size, signing authority contacts, and business address and parent company. Acknowledge any amendment in writing.
- If the proposal exceeds $15,000, return the Representations and Certifications - Abbreviated form (BSD-CS-2260). List any foreign end products with country of origin.
- Offers stay valid for 120 days. Direct all questions only to the Procurement Officer.
After award, you must have
- Deliveries to the ORNL site must be made by a U.S. citizen; a foreign national driver is not allowed on site. From Attachment E - Fixed Price Subcontract - Draft.pdf:
…must be delivered by a United States citizen…
Current contractor
No incumbent is named. The RFP says it is competitive and the Company intends to make one award.
Not in the notice text
- Attachments B, C, D and E (terms and conditions, flowdown clauses, representations and certifications, and the draft subcontract) were attached but only partly read, with their middle sections left out. Check the full files on SAM.gov.
- How and where to send the proposal is not stated; ask the Procurement Officer.
- The Government's estimate or budget for the two machines is not stated; the draft subcontract shows $TBD.
- The delivery date and the subcontract start and end dates are not stated (TBD).
- How many references to send, how many trainees to train, and how the affordability response is scored are not stated.
- Which attachment forms must be returned with the offer, beyond the abbreviated representations and certifications and the subcontracting plan forms, is not stated. This includes the C-SCRM (cybersecurity supply chain risk) questionnaire, Attachment H.
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: Not stated in the documents. The ORNL Procurement Officer is Rian Lewis, lewisgr@ornl.gov. Check it in the notice before you send anything.
Notice details
- Posted
- Oct 21, 2026
- Notice type
- Combined Synopsis/Solicitation
- Office
- Ornl Ut-Battelle LLC-DOE Contractor, Oak Ridge, TN
- Product/service code
- 3695 · Miscellaneous Special Industry Machinery
- Business type
- Manufactured parts & equipment (FedReady's grouping, from NAICS 339999)
- 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
The procurement, delivery, installation, commissioning, acceptance testing, documentation, software, and training associated with two (2) metal laser powder bed fusion (L-PBF) additive manufacturing systems. One medium-scale system and one large-scale, tall-build system. The systems are intended to provide complementary build-volume capability and support a substantially common process-development, build-preparation, machine-control, and parameter-management workflow.
Similar open opportunities
- Classroom Training Supplies of Hydraulic & Pneumatic Systems, Valves, Pumps, Cylinders & Related EquiptmentNAVSUP Fleet Logistics Center Norfolk (Navy) plans a firm-fixed-price (FFP: one set price, whatever the work ends up costing) contract for hydraulic and pneumatic training…
- Mop-Up Kit, Lateral Lin
- Request for Proposal Neptune Cask Interface SystemOak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), run by UT-Battelle for the Department of Energy, asks for proposals to build and deliver a proof-of-concept "Neptune" cask interface…
- 641 NSN LTC Sources Sought