Request for Information: Supply of Liquid Argon to Long-Baseline Neutrino Facility (Lead, South Dakota)
ID: LBNF-2025-LAR-RFI-JDType: Sources Sought
Overview

Buyer

ENERGY, DEPARTMENT OFENERGY, DEPARTMENT OFFERMILAB - DOE CONTRACTORBatavia, IL, 60510, USA

NAICS

Industrial Gas Manufacturing (325120)

PSC

GASES: COMPRESSED AND LIQUEFIED (6830)

Original Source

https://sam.gov/workspace/contract/opp/b1b289fea1df459eb05f4fbe781a987f/view
Timeline
    Description

    The Department of Energy, through Fermilab, is seeking information from vendors regarding the supply of significant quantities of Liquid Argon (LAr) for the Long-Baseline Neutrino Facility (LBNF) project in Lead, South Dakota. The procurement aims to secure approximately 797 million standard cubic feet (scf) of LAr for initial neutrino detectors, with an optional supply of an additional 801 million scf for future detectors, totaling around 1.6 billion scf required between Q1 2029 and Q2 2035. This supply is critical for the LBNF/DUNE project, which plays a vital role in advancing neutrino research. Interested vendors should respond to the Request for Information by January 30, 2026, providing details on supply capability, purity, delivery logistics, and cost estimates to Jeremy R. Duncan at jeremyd@fnal.gov.

    Point(s) of Contact
    Jeremy Duncan
    (865) 300-0443
    jeremyd@fnal.gov
    Files
    Title
    Posted
    Appendix for LAr Supply RFI Nov-2025_Final.pptx
    The Long-Baseline Neutrino Facility (LBNF)/DUNE Project's LAr Supply RFI Appendix, dated November 21, 2025, details the planned infrastructure for liquid argon (LAr) supply. Key aspects include a high-level project timeline and a cryogenics process flow diagram emphasizing that no cryogens will be in the shaft. The proposed LAr receiving facilities will feature four 50 m³ storage tanks, totaling 280 tons of LAr storage (sufficient for 3.5-4 days at 70 tons/day), along with two 500 kW redundant vaporizers. Space and utilities for LAr pumps and an argon purity shed for quality control are also included. The document provides layouts for both conceptual and preliminary designs of the argon receiving facilities, details on the steepest incline to the site, and a visual overview of the surface facilities, indicating an available area of 300 m² for the receiving facilities next to the existing access road and shaft. The existing warehouse is not available. This information is critical for vendors responding to the Request for Information regarding LAr supply for the LBNF/DUNE project.
    FFDG Request for Information_LAR 12-4-2025_final.pdf
    Fermi Forward Discovery Group LLC (FFDG) is issuing a Request For Information (RFI) for the supply of liquid argon (LAr) to the Long-Baseline Neutrino Facility (LBNF) Project in Lead, SD. This RFI aims to update market conditions for LAr supply in preparation for a formal Request for Proposals (RFP). The project requires approximately 797,416,695 scf (~37,400 metric tons) of LAr for the initial two neutrino detectors, with an optional 801,680,955 scf (~37,600 metric tons) for two additional detectors, totaling around 1,599,097,650 scf (~75,000 metric tons) between Q1 CY2029 and Q2 CY2035. FFDG plans to issue Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) subcontracts. The RFI seeks information on supply capability, purity, delivery logistics, cost estimates, and feedback on the procurement schedule. Responses are due by January 30, 2026, to Jeremy R. Duncan.
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