RFI for MAGIS-100 Suspended Work Platform System

Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory (Fermilab) is issuing a Request for Information (RFI) for a MAGIS-100 Suspended Work Platform System. The RFI seeks information from vendors capable of designing, fabricating, and potentially assembling and installing a suspended work platform system for personnel to safely access instrumentation within a 100m deep vertical shaft. This system will facilitate maintenance for the MAGIS-100 experiment. The RFI outlines access methods for different shaft depths, including ladders, suspended scaffolds or access baskets, and scissor lifts. While this RFI is for informational and planning purposes only, respondents are requested to submit design sketches, budgetary cost estimates, assembly/installation procedures, examples of previous work, and design recommendations by July 14, 2026. A virtual pre-RFI meeting is scheduled for June 25, 2026. This RFI will not lead to a subcontract award but will inform future Request for Proposals.

Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory (Fermilab) is seeking vendor capabilities for a suspended work platform system for its MAGIS-100 experiment. This project, currently in the Preliminary Design phase, involves designing and procuring equipment for personnel to safely access instrumentation within a 100m deep vertical shaft. The system requires moveable scaffolds with specific dimensions (64” deep x 68” wide), an extension for reaching between platforms, and sufficient tie-off points. Key requirements include a roof for falling object deflection, stowage outside the shaft, and a load rating exceeding 8,000 lbs. The scaffold must be stable enough for mechanical assembly tasks and support a 500 lb point load, while adhering to OSHA and other applicable safety standards. This Request for Information (RFI) aims to understand vendor abilities to meet these detailed requirements for safe access and maintenance within the MAGIS-100 experiment shaft.

The document details the Matter-wave Atomic Gradiometer Interferometric Sensor (MAGIS-100) experiment, a blend of accelerator and detector technology installed in a 100m shaft. Produced by FermiForward Discovery Group, LLC under contract with the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Science, the project leverages Fermilab's expertise in various engineering and scientific domains. Key components include strontium atom sources, an interferometry laser system, 17 modular sections with support frames, a ultra-high vacuum system reaching down to -11 Torr, a magnetic field system with bias coils and a mu metal shield, and imaging and retroreflection mirror systems. The infrastructure also includes access platforms for personnel and existing laboratory facilities. The experiment requires precise assembly of large, delicate instruments, robust data handling, and comprehensive safety systems.