Enclosed Electronics Racks
ENERGY, DEPARTMENT OF.ENERGY, DEPARTMENT OF.FERMILAB - DOE CONTRACTOR · Response deadline: Tue, 10 Nov 2026
What the government is buying
Fermilab—a U.S. Department of Energy national laboratory operated by a DOE contractor—is soliciting proposals for enclosed electronics racks. These are standard infrastructure components used in research, computing, and laboratory environments to house, protect, and organize electronic equipment, cabling, and power systems. See the solicitation for detailed specifications, quantities, and performance requirements.
Key facts
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Agency | Energy, Department of. Energy, Department of. Fermilab – DOE Contractor |
| Notice type | Solicitation |
| Solicitation number | RFP387713 |
| NAICS | 332999 |
| Set-aside | None (no set-aside indicated) |
| Response deadline | November 10, 2026 at 1:00 PM CT |
| Place of performance | Illinois |
Who can bid
This procurement is open to all responsible sources—no small-business set-aside applies. Firms registered in the System for Award Management (SAM.gov) with the applicable NAICS code may submit proposals.
NAICS 332999 covers "All Other Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing," a broad category that includes miscellaneous metal fabricated products not classified elsewhere. Producers of cabinets, enclosures, frames, and similar custom metal fabrications often operate under this code. Vendors with capabilities in precision metal fabrication, powder coating, ventilation integration, and electronics-specific design (EMI shielding, thermal management, cable management) are typical competitors for this type of laboratory equipment.
How to put together a competitive bid
Understand Fermilab's environment. National laboratories demand high reliability, cleanroom compatibility, and long service life. If the solicitation references standards such as NEMA, UL, or DOE-specific safety requirements, compliance is typically pass/fail.
Demonstrate fabrication quality and customization capability. Enclosed racks for particle-physics or high-performance computing environments often require non-standard dimensions, seismic bracing, integrated grounding, or specialized cooling cutouts. Highlight your engineering review process and ability to produce prototypes or first articles for approval.
Consider supply chain and lead-time commitments. DOE labs frequently operate on fiscal-year schedules with limited tolerance for delays. Be explicit about material sourcing (domestic vs. imported steel/aluminum), sub-tier supplier management, and your contingency plans.
Price strategically. With no set-aside restricting competition, expect pricing pressure from large custom-fabrication houses. Scrutinize the evaluation criteria—Fermilab may weight total evaluated price heavily, or may apply a best-value tradeoff that rewards technical superiority. See the solicitation for the specific scheme.
Address shipping and installation if applicable. Heavy fabricated metal products shipped to Batavia, Illinois, incur significant freight costs. Clarify whether delivery is dock-only or includes placement, and whether on-site assembly or configuration is required.
Register and stay current in SAM.gov. Ensure your entity registration is active through the award period and that your NAICS codes andsize standard certifications are accurate.
Next steps
- Read the full solicitation on SAM.gov using solicitation number RFP387713.
- Note the deadline: Proposals are due November 10, 2026 at 1:00 PM Central Time. Late submissions are typically inadmissible in DOE contractor procurements.
- Submit questions early if the solicitation includes a Q&A period; allowable communications and deadlines for responses will be specified in the document.
View the official notice on SAM.gov →