RFI - DUE AC100.pdf

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION

AC100 Deployment Demonstration for Unobligated LEU Enrichment

Request for Information regarding AC100 Deployment Demonstration for NNSA’s Domestic Uranium Enrichment program.

This is not a request for proposal (RFP) and is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government to issue a solicitation or ultimately award a contract. Market Research is being conducted at this time for the sole purpose of determining interest and capability of potential sources to meet the needs of DOE/NNSA.

I. BACKGROUND / PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The Domestic Uranium Enrichment (DUE) program within the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) is responsible for ensuring a reliable supply of unobligated enriched uranium (EU) for defense missions, including low-enriched uranium (LEU) for tritium production and highly enriched uranium (HEU) for naval nuclear propulsion plants.

The U.S. Government currently lacks the ability to enrich uranium to support defense missions.

The last government-owned enrichment facility, the Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant, closed in 2013. DOE/NNSA possesses sufficient unobligated LEU to fuel tritium production through the early 2040s and sufficient unobligated HEU for naval propulsion plants into the 2050s.

DOE/NNSA must establish a new domestic uranium enrichment capability to continue providing EU material for these defense missions beyond these need dates.

The DUE program is leveraging an incremental approach to establish a new domestic uranium enrichment capability using one or more centrifuge technologies. The program is considering deployment of one to two cascades of AC100 machines to begin producing LEU in the near term. This deployment would provide a limited early production capability, demonstrate one of the available centrifuge technologies, and reduce risk to meeting the program’s requirements.

II. ACQUISITION STRATEGY

The DUE program is considering the acquisition of one to two 120-machine AC100 cascades to produce unobligated LEU. The objective is to address the need for a new domestic uranium enrichment capability for defense missions, gain additional confidence in the reliability of the AC100 centrifuge design, and reduce risk to meeting the program’s requirements. The core aspects of the preliminary acquisition strategy are as follows (Note: the timeline and division of the acquisition approach below is preliminary and subject to change as the acquisition approach is matured):

A. Acquisition Approach

Phase 1 (estimated ~3 years)1:

a. (6 months–1 year) Develop a project execution plan for deploying a 120-machine cascade at one of the existing American Centrifuge Plant (ACP) facilities in Piketon, OH (with an option for a second cascade) using fully unobligated AC100 machines and supporting feed/withdrawal systems that can produce LEU (4.95% U-235). This plan will include the entire acquisition scope, cost, schedule, and risk assessment for the deployment and operation of two cascades to aid the DUE program in decision-making.

b. (1 year) Design the LEU cascade, supporting feed and withdrawal systems, and any necessary facility modifications. Initiate appropriate licensing actions with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC).

c. (1.5 years) Produce and install 16-242 unobligated AC100 machines, procure and install feed and withdrawal systems for the cascade, implement any necessary facility modifications, and demonstrate operation of the machines on UF6 gas.

Phase 2 (estimated ~2 years):

Manufacture and construct the remainder of a single 120-machine cascade;

Demonstrate successful cascade operation and production of unobligated LEU.

Phase 3 (estimated ~2 years):

Manufacture and construct a second 120-machine cascade and demonstrate successful cascade operation and production of unobligated LEU.

If Phases 2 and 3 are successful, long-term operation of the cascades for LEU production could follow.

B. Competitive Procurement

The DUE program will utilize an open solicitation for the Phase 1 acquisition to establish competitive options for deployment early in the acquisition process and incentivize partnering arrangements among potential offerors. Facilitation of open competition will help to ensure the best value and quality of service for the Government. Among other things, the Government believes the following capabilities may be good indicators of potential success under the project:

1 The timeline and division of the acquisition approach is preliminary. Phase 1 sub-phases could be contracted out separately or broken down differently to provide the U.S. government the best value.

2 The number of machines to be produced in this phase is subject to change. NNSA is open to feedback on the appropriate number of initial machines required to demonstrate manufacturing capability and supply chain readiness for larger scale build-out.

1) Strong experience in engineering, procurement, and construction for complex nuclear material-related projects with heightened security and classification concerns.

2) Demonstrated successful project management experience for the above types of projects.

3) Manufacturing and supply chain experience for domestic, nuclear-related equipment.

4) Experience with uranium enrichment and associated chemical handling processes for uranium hexafluoride, including applicable NRC licensing processes and regulations.

The U.S. Government, through the Secretary of Energy, has an irrevocable, royalty-free, non-exclusive license in all AC100 centrifuge uranium enrichment-related intellectual property for U.S. Government purposes. Government purposes include, but are not limited to, deploying or operating enrichment technologies for national defense purposes, including providing nuclear material to operate commercial nuclear power reactors for tritium production or to the U.S.

Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program.

DOE owns two process buildings, referred to as the ACP facility, that were purpose-built for the DOE’s American large centrifuge technology in the 1970s at the Portsmouth site near Piketon, OH. Both process buildings are currently leased to a private company, but only one of the buildings is actively being used for AC100 activities.

Parties responding to this RFI should only do so if they are willing and able to execute all three phases. However, the U.S. Government may issue open solicitations at any of the above phases (i.e., just because one offeror completed Phase 1 does not guarantee the same offeror will be selected for subsequent phases). NNSA supports industry partnerships to execute various aspects of the project.

III. NAICS CODE– 325180 Other Basic Inorganic Chemical Manufacturing

This industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in manufacturing basic inorganic chemicals (except industrial gases and synthetic dyes and pigments). The applicable NAICS code is 325180, Other Basic Inorganic Chemical Manufacturing. The small business size standard is 1,000 employees.

IV. GENERAL PROJECT OBJECTIVES AND REQUIREMENTS

This section provides high-level objectives and requirements for the AC100 acquisition to aid respondents in understanding the basic scope of the project. A more detailed description of the project, including the work envisioned for Phase 1, is included in the attached draft Statement of Work for Phase 1.

The AC100 acquisitions have the following primary objectives:

1) Establish high-fidelity cost, schedule, and risk estimates for deployment and operation of up to two 120-machine AC100 cascades at the ACP facilities in Piketon, OH, for unobligated LEU enrichment, including any necessary upgrades/modifications to the ACP facilities.

2) Demonstrate the ability to produce EU free of peaceful use obligations (“unobligated”).

EU is considered unobligated when neither the uranium nor the technology used to enrich it carries an “obligation” from a foreign country requiring that the material only be used for peaceful purposes. Enrichment technology, supporting equipment, and feed material must all be unobligated to be suitable to meet NNSA mission needs.

3) Demonstrate the manufacturability and supply chain readiness for the AC100 centrifuge and all necessary supporting equipment required for objective 2.

4) Provide any necessary upgrades and modifications to the ACP facilities to support AC100 operations. This includes any necessary infrastructure enhancements as well as applicable NRC licensing and National Environmental Policy Act authorization.

5) Deploy up to two 120-machine AC100 cascades and operate them to produce LEU

(4.95% U-235) to support NNSA’s defense missions. Demonstrate the operability of the AC100 centrifuge design.

V. GENERAL QUESTIONS

1) Briefly describe how your company could support or execute Phase 1, or individual sub-phases, of the AC100 deployment on the approximate timeline as described in Sections II and IV?

2) What capabilities or joint ventures, such as small business teaming arrangements, could your company leverage to complete Phase 1 and subsequent phases of the AC100 deployment?

3) Identify any gaps in the AC100 acquisition approach or the scope as described in Sections II and IV?

4) What additional information or documentation would you require from NNSA to support or execute Phase 1, or individual sub-phases, of the AC100 deployment as described in Sections II and IV.

5) NNSA plans to conduct this procurement on a firm-fixed price (FFP) basis. Please comment on this contracting approach or recommend alternative approaches that may be more advantageous and explain why.

VI. CAPABILITY STATEMENT FORMAT

Interested parties that have experience in uranium enrichment or other related services are requested to submit a capability statement and the following company information.

1) Number of years’ experience and description of experience in uranium enrichment or related services including any development, operations, and management expertise.

2) Business size under NAICS 325180.

3) Current Federal Government contracts (if any).

4) Name, address, and UEI number.

5) Point of contact email address and phone number.

6) Response to the questions outlined in Section V.

Capability statements, which includes responses to the questions in Section V, shall be no more than 15 pages in length. Any and all cost associated with the preparation of the capability statement is the sole responsibility of the respondents.

VII. SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS

DOE invites all interested parties to submit in writing by February 4, 2025, comments and information on matters addressed in this RFI in the capability statement. Any information that may be business proprietary and exempt by law from public discourse should be submitted as described in Section VIII Business Proprietary Information. Interested vendors shall submit capability statements to kyle.krzywicki@nnsa.doe.gov by February 4, 2025 at 1:00PM EST.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for further information should be sent to: Kyle Krzywicki at kyle.krzywicki@nnsa.doe.gov with “Question on AC100 Deployment Demonstration” in the subject line.

VIII. BUSINESS PROPRIETARY INFORMATION

Pursuant to 10 CFR 1004.11, any person submitting information he or she believes to be business proprietary and exempt by law from public disclosure should submit via email, or postal mail two well-marked copies: One copy of the document marked “Business Proprietary” including all the information believed to be proprietary, and one copy of the document marked “non-Proprietary” with the information believed to be business proprietary deleted. DOE will make its own determination about the business proprietary status of the information and treat it according to its determination. Factors of interest to DOE when evaluating requests to treat submitted information as business proprietary include: (1) a description of the items; (2) whether and why such items are customarily treated as business proprietary within the industry; (3) whether the information is generally known by or available from other sources; (4) whether the information has previously been made available to others without obligation concerning its business proprietary nature; (5) an explanation of the competitive injury to the submitting person which would result from public disclosure; (6) when such information might lose its business proprietary character due to the passage of time; and (7) why disclosure of the information would be contrary to the public interest.

IX. RFI DISCLAIMER

This is not a request for proposals (RFP) and is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government to issue a solicitation or ultimately award a contract. Market Research is being mailto:kyle.krzywicki@nnsa.doe.gov mailto:kyle.krzywicki@nnsa.doe.gov conducted at this time for the sole purpose of determining interest and capability of potential sources currently available to meet the needs of DOE/NNSA.

In accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation 15.201 (e) RFIs may be used when the Government does not presently intend to award a contract, but wants to obtain price, delivery, or other market information or capabilities for planning purposes. Responses to these notices are not offers and cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract.