Hydrogen Water Dropout Heat Exchangers

Amendment / Modification

This amendment (No. 1) is issued in response to vendor questions regarding the Request for Quote (RFQ) for Hydrogen Water Dropout Heat Exchangers.

Key clarifications provided include:

• Size Constraint: While a range of sizes is acceptable, designs are expected to be less than 1 m³ each.
• Coiled Shell and Tube Type: This type of heat exchanger is acceptable and meets technical specifications.
• Phase Change in HXs: The coolant side is not expected to have a phase change. The hydrogen side will be saturated with water, and the heat exchangers are intended to cause water condensation for dropout.
• Hydrogen Flow Rate: The stated hydrogen flow rate is for dry hydrogen mass only. The total mass flow rate includes water vapor at inlet conditions.
• Water Flow Rate: Specific water vapor flow rates are provided for the hot and cold sides of HXs 6-10, with worst-case inlet conditions detailed.
• Two-Phase Flow on Cold Side: It is assumed that liquid water is removed by a coalescing filter, allowing single-phase hydrogen at the inlet. Reheating is expected to keep water in vapor form downstream.
• Residual Liquid Water: Any residual liquid water droplets are assumed to be sub 1% of the mass flow and can be considered zero for simplicity.

This amendment primarily provides clarifications to questions, impacting the understanding of technical requirements and specifications.

• The proposal deadline remains April 8, 2026, at 5:00 PM Mountain Time.
• Proposals must be submitted electronically to Allison.Pezzullo@nlr.gov.
• Offerors must include confirmation of receipt and acceptance of this Amendment in their cover letter.

Solicitation / RFP / RFQ

This solicitation is for "Hydrogen Water Dropout Heat Exchangers" and is being conducted by the National Laboratory of the Rockies (NLR), managed by the Alliance for Energy Innovation, LLC. NLR intends to award a subcontract in the form of a Purchase Order.

• The core requirement is to meet the baseline requirements outlined in Attachment No. 1 – Technical Specifications.

• Offerors must provide a technically acceptable solution with the lowest evaluated price (cost).

• Contract Type: Firm Fixed Price, Purchase Order.

• Period of Performance: Anticipated lead time for award is 2 weeks, with an expected delivery date by 8/28/2026.

• Estimated Value: Not explicitly stated, but selection is based on lowest evaluated price.

• Submission Deadline: Quotes are due by 4/8/2026, 5:00 PM Mountain Time.

• Technical Questions Deadline: Written questions must be received no later than 3/25/2026.

• Evaluation Process: Offers will be evaluated in three steps: Initial Evaluation (technical acceptability), Price (Cost) Evaluation, and Selection. Award will be made to the lowest priced, technically acceptable offer.

• Submission Requirements: Include an Official Quote based on Attachment No. 1, a Cover Letter, completed Representations and Certifications, and price justification. Submitting a quote constitutes acceptance of NLR's terms and conditions.

• NAICS Code: 332410 (Power Boiler and Heat Exchanger Manufacturing) with a Business Size Standard of 750 Employees.

• Buy American Act: Preference will be given to domestic offers.

• Small Business: Offerors must certify their size and socio-economic status representations in SAM.gov or via Attachment 3 – Small Business Certification Form.

• Electronic copies of forms and appendices can be found at: http://www.NLR.gov/workingwithus/standard-terms.html

• NLR standard terms and conditions (Appendix B-8) are applicable.

• Offerors must identify tariff costs and shipping country if applicable. Failure to do so may result in rejection.

• Solicitation disputes are handled through the Advocate for Commercial Practices, not GAO or DOE.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document, "Attachment 1 - Technical Specifications - Hydrogen Water Dropout Heat Exchangers," provides detailed technical specifications for ten heat exchangers (HX) required for the Multimegawatt (MMW) Electrolyzer project. These HXs will cool the hydrogen process stream. Bidders must use this document to understand the specific requirements for the heat exchangers to ensure their proposed solution meets the government's needs.

• Quantity: Ten (10) heat exchangers.
• Application: Cooling a hydrogen process stream saturated with water, using a 50/50 propylene glycol/water mixture on the cold side.
• Materials: Must be compatible with deionized water (1-17 MOhm-cm conductivity) and hydrogen. No sulfur-containing components in wetted sections. Metallic material to be 316/316L stainless steel. Soft sealing material to be FKM/Viton, PTFE, or Teflon.
• Pressure & Temperature Ratings: Specific Maximum Allowable Working Pressure (MAWP) and Maximum Allowable Working Temperature (MAWT) are detailed for different HX groupings (1-3, 4-5, 6-8, 9-10).
• Flow Rates & Pressure Drop: Specified hydrogen flow rates and maximum allowable pressure drops are provided for each HX group.
• Cleaning & Passivation: Hot sides of HXs must be electropolished or passivated per ASTM A967 or equivalent for Type I DI water service.
• Connections: 1.5 inch Swagelok compression fitting or 1.5 inch ANSI raised face flange fittings.
• Delivery: To NLR Flatirons Campus, Arvada, CO 80007.
• Timeline: Delivery preferred in August 2026, required by September 2026.

This attachment is critical for bidders to define their technical solution. It outlines the exact performance parameters, material requirements, and operational conditions the heat exchangers must meet. Failure to meet these specifications will likely result in a non-responsive bid. The detailed specifications for different HX pairs (e.g., HXs 1-3, HXs 4-5, HXs 6-8, HXs 9-10) indicate that variations in requirements exist within the total order, which bidders must address.