Under contract to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), the Fermi Research Alliance, LLC (FRA) is leading the Long-Baseline Neutrino Facility (LBNF) Project to enable a world-class program in neutrino physics. Specifically, the LBNF Project (http://lbnf.fnal.gov/) provides the infrastructure for a new high-intensity neutrino beam at Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory (Fermilab) aimed at large liquid argon-based neutrino detectors to be located nearly a mile underground at the Sanford Underground Research Facility (SURF) in Lead, SD. In close coordination with LBNF, the Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (DUNE) will construct and install the liquid argon neutrino detectors planned for SURF. In support of DUNE, the LBNF Project will procure 70,400 tons of liquid argon (LAr) for delivery to SURF and filling of the cryostats housing the detectors.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

DUNE (http://www.dunescience.org/) is a leading-edge, international experiment for neutrino science and proton decay studies. Discoveries over the past half-century have put neutrinos, the most abundant matter particles in the universe, in the spotlight for further research into several fundamental questions about the nature of matter and the evolution of the universe. DUNE is expected to achieve transformative discoveries by making definitive determinations of neutrino properties, examining the dynamics of supernovae that produced the heavy elements necessary for life, and probing the possibility of proton decay.

The experiment is supported by LBNF, which will provide the infrastructure necessary to support the massive neutrino detectors located deep underground at SURF in Lead, SD. SURF is the site of the 8,000-foot deep former Homestake Gold mine which was converted into a physics and materials laboratory in the early 2000s. DUNE will employ four (4) neutrino detectors, housed in cryostats requiring over 70,000 tons of liquid argon (about 17,600 tons for each cryostat). In order to commission the detectors, liquid argon will be supplied at the surface, vaporized for transport to the experiment a mile underground, and condensed to liquid argon for the filling of the cryostats. During operation of the cryostats, argon boiloff gas from the cryostats will be recondensed back to liquid argon. Slide 3 of the Appendix shows the planned Process Flow Diagram (PFD) with only one cryostat for simplicity.

LAr SUPPLY

The LAr requirements for this supply are as follows:

Phase 1 (Fill Cryostats #1 and #2):
• March 2027 - February 2029
• 35,200 ton of LAr total split over two periods (each period for filling one cryostat).
• About 8 months for the first cryostat (March through November 2027) and 11.5 months for the second cryostat (March 2028 through February 2029).
• Delivery: ~75 ton/day for the first cryostat and ~50 ton/day for the second cryostat (Assuming 24/7 delivery).
• Deliveries are to vertical tanks located above ground at the Ross Shaft site in limited space near the Compressor Building.

Phase 2 (Fill Cryostats #3 and #4):
• February 2029 to April 2031
• 35,200 ton of LAr total split over two periods (each period for filling one cryostat).
• About 9.5 months for the third cryostat (March 2029 through January 2030) and 14.5 moths for the fourth cryostat (February 2030 through April 2031).
• Delivery: ~65 ton/day for the third cryostat and ~40 ton/day for the fourth cryostat (Assuming 24/7 delivery).
• Deliveries are to vertical tanks located above ground at the Ross Shaft site in limited space near the Compressor Building.

LAr Purity:
• < 10 ppm Water
• < 5 ppm Oxygen
• < 10 ppm Nitrogen

The duration of the fill of each cryostat is related to the cooling power available from the Nitrogen Refrigeration System to liquefy the GAr. The Nitrogen Refrigeration System will be installed in two phases: the first three refrigeration units in the first phase and the fourth refrigeration unit in the second phase. During the filling of the first cryostat, the refrigeration system will supply the maximum cooling capacity and devote it to liquifying the GAr. Once a cryostat is completely filled, it will require cooling power to maintain the LAr in a liquid state by recondensing the boiloff argon gas. The reduced cooling capacity will increase the duration of the fill for the next cryostat. The fourth unit of the nitrogen refrigeration system will provide the cooling capacity that will enable the third and fourth cryostats to be filled. Slide 4 of the Appendix provides additional information on the cooling power requirements.

The terms of any Confidential Mutual Non-Disclosure Agreement previously signed for prior FRA Liquid Argon Supply RFIs apply to this RFI. FRA will treat responses to this RFI as proprietary and confidential.

FRA welcomes your input on the questions and issues below. If there is anything that was not asked but is valuable to hear, FRA welcomes your insight.

1. Current and Forecast of Demand and Supply
o What are the current and forecast U.S. LAr production capacities and those of your company through 2023? What is the difference between nameplate capacity and effective production capacity for your company?
o What is your current and forecast view of argon demand, for both the U.S. and your company through 2023?
o What is your forecast on U.S. LAr surplus of production over requirement for demand, and those of your company, through 2023?
o What argon production capacity can your company bring to support our requirement in Lead, SD, now and in the future? What risks are involved?
o What are the challenges of the production of the above LAr requirement for delivery in 2027-2031?
o Are there any developing trends in argon demand requirements or geographic shifts in demand that may impact our sourcing strategy?
o What would be the challenges that would suggest changes to our preliminary supply plan?

2. Delivery Logistics and Site Access
o From which production plants and by what means would you propose to supply our argon requirements in Lead, SD? How would you plan for and operate the required distribution equipment and people to supply the above requirements?
o What is the feasibility of railcar/tanker transport (Class I rail) from your production plant to Lead, SD?
o Storage on site (above ground at SURF) is limited. However, we can supply up to 280 tons of vertical LAr storage capacity. We request input on the sufficiency of on-site storage with potential delivery schedules to ensure continuous supply of LAr during filling operations.
o We have included the flow schematic and site plot plans in Slides 5-9 of the Appendix. We request your comments and input on the current layout of the LAr offloading station and the scope of the supply scheme planned.

3. Cost
o Provide your best estimate on the economics if you were to perform this supply of LAr in 2019 through 2023.
o How would you adjust that 2019 supply scenario to applicable economics effective in 2027-2031?

4. Planning and communication from 2019 to 2025
Our plan is to obtain detailed pricing information through 2023 with projections for delivery in 2027 through 2031. We will then issue requests for yearly updates of the information provided as reply to this RFI. The annual update will inform periodic DoE program reviews and the solicitation phase (2023-2025). We plan to have a subcontract in place in 2025 for LAr deliveries starting in 2027.
o Are there other communications or interactions (either recurring or one-off) with industry that our program would benefit from through 2025?
o How much time should be allotted for your company to develop a proposal in response to a procurement solicitation?
o Is having a subcontract in place two years before the start of deliveries reasonable, too little, or too much?

5. Contract
o What type of contracting plans and agreements will you propose to meet these requirements?
o What are the potential challenges to be considered in the contracting process?

6. Other
o Please provide any other information and advice that you deem appropriate for this project.

The information requested in support of this RFI should be submitted in writing.
The primary point of contact for this RFI is Chris Allen, LBNF Sr. Project Procurement Administrator, or his designee. All questions regarding this RFI should be submitted via electronic mail to [email protected] by 3 P.M. Central Time on February 15, 2019. All responses to this RFI should be submitted by electronic mail to [email protected] by 3 P.M. Central Time on March 1, 2019.

This RFI does not commit FRA or the United States Government to pay any costs incurred in the preparation or submission of any response to procure any supplies or services.