C2CE Final RFQ Cover Letter Signed.pdf

March 1, 2024

To: Interested Parties

CARBON POLLUTION-FREE ELECTRICITY PROJECT(S) AT THE HANFORD

SITE – FINAL REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS

This letter hereby serves as the official notice to interested parties and prospective offerors that the Department of Energy (DOE) is releasing the Final Request for Qualifications (RFQ) pertaining to a Realty Agreement (potential easement) for Carbon Pollution-Free Electricity (CFE) Project(s) at the Hanford Site. The Final RFQ can be found on the accompanying website (https://www.energy.gov/em/em-clean-energy-land-reuse) and on SAM.gov.

Questions pertaining to the Final RFQ shall be submitted in writing to the following email address: EMCleanEnergy@em.doe.gov no later than 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time, March 15, 2024. Prospective Offerors shall use the enclosed “Industry Comment Template” when submitting questions. In order for a thorough and timely response to all questions, Prospective Offerors are encouraged to submit questions pertaining to the Final RFQ as early as possible, but no later than the date shown above. DOE will post amendments issued to the Final RFQ to SAM.gov. Additional information (including responses to questions and official communication related to this solicitation) will be available on the EM Cleanup to Clean Energy website (https://www.energy.gov/em/em-clean-energy-land-reuse).

The established due date for receipt of proposal submission is April 15, 2024.

Background

The DOE contemplates issuing a Realty Agreement (potential easement) for CFE Project(s) at the Hanford Site by selecting one or more Qualified Offerors that will utilize the Property for the purposes set forth in the RFQ. This is not a Government procurement covered by the Federal Acquisition Regulations, but is rather a private and/or public (non-federally funded) project on Federal land. The Realty Agreement with the Government is ultimately for the purpose of installation, maintenance, and operation of a 200+ MW CFE generation facility and its interconnection with the local public electric utility system. The anticipated Realty Agreement duration will include three periods – development, construction, and initial operations, consistent with commercial best practices for the proposed project type.

Interested Parties -2-

DOE is pursuing a competitive, qualifications-based RFQ for selection of the Offeror(s) representing the best return with least risk to the Government. The selected project(s) will be determined based on four Consideration Factors (Project Description; Return to the Government; Capability and Experience; and Project Plan and Schedule). The selection will include a 2-step process, whereby negotiations will commence after the Government completes the evaluation and ranking of the submitted offers/proposals and provides written notice to those Offeror(s) determined to be Qualified Offeror(s).

On December 20, 2023, DOE released a Draft RFQ and pre-solicitation information for the Hanford CFE Project(s). The purpose of the Draft RFQ was to facilitate understanding of the Government’s requirements with interested parties and to provide an opportunity to submit comments and feedback pertaining to the Draft RFQ. All comments and feedback in response to the Draft RFQ were carefully considered by DOE when developing the Final RFQ. The Final RFQ is the result of these considerations, and other changes made since the Draft RFQ issuance. DOE responses to the questions and comments received on the Draft RFQ were posted to the EM Cleanup to Clean Energy website on February 27, 2023, to provide additional information and feedback regarding this effort.

The proposal preparation time period for responses to this RFQ for the CFE Project(s) at the Hanford Site was established at approximately 45 calendar days. Proposals shall be submitted to: EMCleanEnergy@em.doe.gov no later than 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time, April 15, 2024.

In order to further the Government’s policy of maximizing electronic commerce, electronic media will be the primary method of communication regarding this procurement. The Final RFQ and amendments issued will be posted on SAM.gov. Additional information (including responses to questions and official communication related to this solicitation) will be available on the EM Cleanup to Clean Energy website (https://www.energy.gov/em/em-clean-energy-land-reuse). Interested Parties/Prospective Offerors shall be responsible for reviewing the website regularly for information, notices, and updates regarding the Final RFQ.

DOE intends to answer all questions pertaining to the Final RFQ as thoroughly and efficiently as possible and looks forward to receiving proposals in response to the Final

RFQ.

Sincerely, Andrea Dolch Realty Specialist

Interested Parties -3-

Enclosures:

Final RFQ (with Appendices A - F) Industry Comment Matrix