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77344426Q0085 0003 Solicitation Questions and Answers Amendment No.: 0003 Purpose: To provide responses to vendor questions and clarify solicitation requirements.
Applicability: This amendment is issued to all prospective offerors.
Questions and Answers
| Amendment No. |
| Q&A No. |
| Question |
| Government Response |
| 3 |
| 1 |
| Can DFC identify the project so that offerors can clear any potential conflicts? |
| No. The project is confidential and cannot be disclosed until after award. |
| 3 |
| 2 |
| Given the timeline of 3 weeks for the draft report, the scope appears to be more of a high-level review rather than a deep dive. Does that align with DFC’s intentions? |
| No. DFC expects a thorough analysis that identifies material weaknesses and challenges the PFS, seismic, and pilot plant conclusions. DFC considers this a deep dive. The 3-week draft report is intended to show the overall direction, focus, and flow of the report so DFC can course-correct if needed. The draft is not expected to be near-final. |
| 3 |
| 3 |
| Can DFC provide more information about what specific documents will be provided, in what format, and approximately how many pages? |
| Documents to be provided may include, but are not limited to: subsurface technical report sections for the PFS/SK-1300 report, including text, tables, figures, and model outputs; updated 3D geological and structural models and Mineral Resource block models/estimates; preliminary mineability/reserve sensitivity assessment; geomechanical modeling and cavern stability/subsidence outputs in spatial and temporal formats; hydrogeological model results and water/brine balance outputs; preliminary cavern design, wellfield layout, and well completion design; and wellfield CAPEX/OPEX and replacement schedule inputs. Materials will primarily be provided in PDF format, with supporting files in other formats such as Excel, as appropriate. Page counts are not available at this time. |
| 3 |
| 4 |
| For the PFS review, is DFC expecting a full independent reserve/resource verification or only a reasonableness and assumptions-based assessment? |
| DFC expects a full independent reserve/resource verification based on the assumptions and outputs in the feasibility study. If the reviewer determines that assumptions do not make sense, the reviewer is expected to challenge those assumptions and outputs and provide supporting rationale. |
| 3 |
| 5 |
| For the pilot plant design review, is the expectation to assess only process design, or also civil/structural, geotechnical, utilities, permitting readiness, constructability, and HSE? |
| The expectation is to assess geotechnical and process design primarily, and to highlight material infrastructure and utilities concerns and considerations. |
| 3 |
| 6 |
| What is the expected level of interaction? Would a 1-hour weekly standing call be appropriate? |
| Yes. Weekly 1-hour standing calls would be appropriate on an as-needed basis. After receiving the materials, the contractor is expected to validate the reports and identify potential issues. DFC expects follow-up discussions regarding findings. The contractor may also interact with the report provider on an as-needed basis. |
| 3 |
| 7 |
| Between the draft report due in 3 weeks and the final report due in 6 weeks, is there a Government review window for comments? Does the 6-week period include DFC review time? |
| No formal DFC comment window is built into the 6-week period. DFC expects to provide immediate feedback on the draft report’s direction and focus after 3 weeks. After the 6-week period, DFC will review the project more thoroughly and may follow up with additional Q&A. |
| 3 |
| 8 |
| Is there a page limit for proposal submission? |
| No. |
| 3 |
| 9 |
| Will the Government provide a complete copy of the PFS, including appendix materials? |
| The Government will provide these materials after contract award, if available. |
| 3 |
| 10 |
| Will the Government provide all information pertaining to the current state of the wellfield, including when and how existing wells were completed and all wellfield cost estimates? |
| The Government will provide these materials after contract award. |
| 3 |
| 11 |
| Will the Government provide the proposed solution mining designs and mine plan? |
| The Government will provide these materials after contract award, if available. |
| 3 |
| 12 |
| Will the Government provide the geological model and resource/reserve model? |
| The Government will provide these materials after contract award, if available. |
| 3 |
| 13 |
| Will the Government provide assays and certificates? |
| The Government will provide these materials after contract award. |
| 3 |
| 14 |
| Will the Government provide current land information in digital GIS files? |
| The Government will provide these materials after contract award. |
| 3 |
| 15 |
| Will the Government provide a list of all equipment currently on site? |
| The Government will provide these materials after contract award. |
| 3 |
| 16 |
| Will the Government provide pilot plant testing results? |
| No. Pilot plant testing results will not be available for this review. |
| 3 |
| 17 |
| Will the Government provide any new information acquired since the original pilot testing? |
| No additional information is available to share at this time. |
| 3 |
| 18 |
| Will the Government provide water source information and disposal formation information? |
| The Government will provide these materials after contract award. |
| 3 |
| 19 |
| Will the Government provide plant design and construction information? |
| The Government will provide these materials after contract award, if available. |
| 3 |
| 20 |
| What is the nearest populated center? |
| This information will be shared after contract award. |
| 3 |
| 21 |
| The solicitation states that pricing should be submitted in Excel format. Does the Government have a preferred pricing template, or should offerors provide their own? |
| Offerors should provide their own pricing format. |
| 3 |
| 22 |
| The solicitation appears to contain a discrepancy regarding the proposal due date between the SF1449 and page 50. Can the Government confirm the correct proposal submission due date and time? |
| The correct proposal submission due date is June 3, 2026, at 10:00 AM EDT. |
All other terms and conditions of the solicitation remain unchanged.