CFA-686 Carbon-based Fuels Capability CO2 Compressor Design/Build

INTRODUCTION 

Battelle Energy Alliance, LLC (BEA), Management & Operating Contractor of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) owned Idaho National Laboratory (INL), is seeking an Expression of Interest (EOI) from prospective offerors to support the design, fabrication, testing, and delivery of a CO2 compressor for the Central Facilities Area (CFA) Carbon-based Fuels Capability.  

PROCESS 

BEA is seeking qualified firms to compete for the design/build contract in support of the CFA-686 CO2 Compressor. As determined by BEA, responders to this EOI may receive a Request for Proposal (RFP) that will require detailed technical and price proposals be provided for evaluation and ranking under a source selection process. 

Interested firms are advised that RFP release and the source selection/award decision timeline will be communicated following review of submitted EOIs. The contract award type will be firm-fixed price. Per the proposed project schedule, all durations are After Receipt of Order (ARO): Engineering Documentation Report (3 weeks), shop fabrication drawings (4 weeks), complete shop fabrication (40 weeks), and compressor arrival at INL (3 weeks). 

PROJECT DESCRIPTION 

The compressor will be designed, fabricated, tested, and delivered for the INL Central Facilities Area (CFA) Carbon-based Fuels Capability (CFA-686). The compressor will be used to compress CO2 from a combustor unit into a storage vessel that will supply gas to downstream users, and will be housed in a protected shipping container. 

The compressor shall be oil-free, liquid-cooled, fixed speed, and electric motor driven. Inlet conditions are 50-100°F at 0.14-2 psig; outlet conditions are 1,400 psig, 66.1 scfm, and 150°F, with the unit operating on a nearly continuous basis. The compressor and all components must fit within a high cube shipping container with interior dimensions of 19'6" long x 7'9" wide x 8'10" high, and must be mounted on a structural frame designed and fabricated in accordance with the American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC), with welding per AWS D1.1. Any pressure vessels used in fabrication of the compressor must be designed and fabricated in accordance with ASME Section VIII, Division 1, and stamped and registered with the National Board. 

The compressor must withstand a CO2 gas stream composition of approximately 99% CO2 with trace nitrogen, oxygen, water vapor, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, sulfur oxides, hydrocarbons, hydrogen sulfide, and hydrogen chloride. The unit will be installed at INL at an altitude of approximately 4,938 ft, with a shipping container temperature range of 41°F to 104°F and humidity from 0 to 100%. 

The compressor package must include a control panel with instrumentation and alarms for conditions such as low discharge pressure and motor failure, a data history logging function, an emergency shutoff switch, and UL-508A listed control panels. The unit must be provided with inter-coolers or after-coolers to maintain outlet temperature at or below 150°F, and a stainless steel drip pan sized to contain at least 1.5 times the volume of any fluids contained in the compressor. 

Specific fabrication drawings, nozzle location diagrams, and design details will be provided to qualified offerors as part of the RFP process. 

PROCESS 

This EOI is the first step in identifying interested and qualified vendors for future solicitation. Responses may be used to inform the development of a formal solicitation list. Selected vendors may be invited to participate in a Request for Proposal (RFP) process for award consideration. 

SUBMITTAL REQUIREMENTS 

Interested firms are requested to provide expressions of interest to Chase Egbert (chase.egbert@inl.gov)  by close-of-business on 10/16/2026. Included must be sufficient written information confirming the responder's qualifications addressing each of the following criteria: 

• Experience in design and fabrication of oil-free, liquid-cooled CO2 or industrial gas compressor packages. 

• Experience with ASME Section VIII, Division 1 pressure vessel design where applicable to compressor components, and structural fabrication in accordance with AISC and AWS D1.1. 

• Capability to meet the design/build schedule outlined above. 

• Capability to package the compressor, motor, controls, and all interconnecting piping and instrumentation within the required shipping container footprint. 

• Proper identification and execution plan for inspection, examination, and testing, including non-destructive examination of castings and welds, operational testing, and a 10-hour continuous reliability test. 

• Agreement to maintain a written Quality Assurance Plan based on a national consensus code such as ANSI/ASME ISO-9000. 

• Capability to provide Operations & Maintenance documentation, a Recommended Spare Parts List, and field support for startup and commissioning. 

Note that responses must be no more than 5 pages in length. Only potentially qualified offerors, as determined by BEA, will receive the RFP for the project. Interested individuals are advised that the selection decision is anticipated in November 2026.  

If you have questions, need additional information, or need to speak with a BEA Point of Contact, please contact the following via email: 

Project Manager -  Ben Bryson - Benjamin.Bryson@inl.gov 

Project Engineer - Chris Dudley - Christopher.Dudley@inl.gov

 Technical questions must be submitted in writing via email.