DUF6 Final RFI for Release 3-16-20.pdf

Portsmouth Paducah Project Office (PPPO) Operation of Depleted Uranium Hexafluoride (DUF6) Conversion

Facilities Project

SOURCES SOUGHT / REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI)

Solicitation Number: 89303320REM000070

Title: Portsmouth Paducah Project Office (PPPO) Operation of Depleted Uranium Hexafluoride

(DUF6) Conversion Facilities Project

Date: March 16, 2020

THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR QUOTE OR PROPOSAL. THIS IS A REQUEST FOR

INFORMATION (RFI) ONLY.

No solicitation is available. This RFI is released pursuant to FAR 15.201(e), Exchanges with

Industry Before Receipt of Proposals, and is issued for the purpose of conducting market research.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Environmental Management Consolidated Business

Center (EMCBC) is currently in the acquisition planning stage for the potential contract award for the continued management and operation of all uranium hexafluoride (UF6) activities at

PPPO. This includes the DUF6 Conversion Facilities along with the X-340 Complex. Facilities are located at Paducah, Kentucky, and Portsmouth, Ohio. The conversion facilities were designed and constructed to convert DOE’s inventory of DUF6 at the Paducah Gaseous Diffusion

Plant and the Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant, to a more stable uranium oxide form for reuse, storage, and/or transportation and disposition. Both facilities have been in operation since

2011. The X-340 Complex was constructed in the 1950s for UF6 processing and handling. The

Contractor shall continue to provide material transfer, chemical conversion, and cylinder surveillance and maintenance (S&M) services for the entire DOE inventory of UF6 regardless of assay (e.g., DUF6, low-enrichment uranium (LEU) UF6, normal UF6, and empty and heel cylinders) in a safe, compliant, and environmentally acceptable manner.

The purpose of this RFI is to solicit input via capability statements from interested parties with the specialized capabilities necessary to meet all of the major elements of scope for the upcoming competitive procurement for operation, surveillance and maintenance, and product and waste disposition associated with the PPPO DUF6 project requirements. Within these capability statements, DOE is seeking feedback from contractors and other interested parties regarding options for innovative approaches for the performance of the major elements of scope as well as insight into potential contracting alternatives to maximize production and disposition without impacting safety while achieving steady-state production operations. This market research will assist DOE with identifying interested and capable sources and developing its acquisition strategy. Key market research goals include identifying and minimizing barriers to competition, evaluating small business capabilities, and identifying risks associated with successful completion of the project scope. The final contract type, period of performance, amount of funding, and set-aside possibilities will be determined through the acquisition planning process and this market research.

Portsmouth Paducah Project Office (PPPO) Operation of Depleted Uranium Hexafluoride (DUF6) Conversion

Facilities Project Solicitation 89303320REM000070

Due to the preliminary stage of this planning activity, a Performance Work Statement is not available at this time and the major elements of scope are identified in Attachment 1.

DOE will determine whether or not the full requirements can be set-aside for small business, 8(a), HUBZone small business, small disadvantaged business, woman-owned small business, service-disabled, veteran-owned small business, or large business. Small businesses, believing that they have the capability to perform all of the major elements of scope are welcome to demonstrate such capabilities by submitting a capability statement in accordance with the instructions below. Information provided in response to this RFI will also help shape small business subcontracting incentives if a small business set-aside is not feasible. The North

American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for this requirement is 325180, Other

Basic Inorganic Chemical Manufacturing with a small business size standard of 1,000 employees.

THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (RFP) AND SHALL

NOT BE CONSTRUED AS A COMMITMENT BY THE GOVERNMENT TO AWARD A

CONTRACT AT THIS TIME.

All interested parties are hereby invited to submit a capability statement of no more than 15 pages, and no smaller than 12 point font. Also, electronic file submissions must be less than 20

Megabytes. The Government will evaluate each capability statement based on the interested parties’ (and that of teaming partners when applicable) demonstrated qualifications, capabilities, expertise, and past performance in each of the major elements of scope. More specifically, capability statements should include the following information as appropriate and as applicable:

1) Describe your ability, approach (including rationale), and relevant work in performing all of the major elements of scope over the past five years. Identify no more than five (5) DOE, other Government, and/or other commercial work relevant to this sources sought [include contract number, role in the effort (i.e., prime contractor or subcontractor), period of performance, dollar value, scope, client, and contracting agency contact information].

2) Identify any performance and/or technical challenges and risks in meeting the requirements discussed in Attachment 1, Major Elements of Scope. Identify how your organization would minimize any risks to maximize the probability of successful performance. DOE is interested in cutting-edge thinking, innovativeness, and other ways for DOE to be more effective in accomplishing work safely through technology or process improvements.

3) Discuss your company and/or teaming arrangement’s relevant work managing and integrating the major elements of scope under a single contract to ensure the most efficient overall approach to maintaining and operating the DUF6 facilities. Also, describe your relevant work managing and integrating the work of subcontractors who would perform specialty functions.

4) Describe your experience operating hazardous, radiological, and/or complex chemical processing facilities in a multifaceted regulatory environment with respect to improving efficiency, problem-solving, and working with various stakeholders and regulatory agencies

Portsmouth Paducah Project Office (PPPO) Operation of Depleted Uranium Hexafluoride (DUF6) Conversion at the state and federal level. Additionally, this work will be performed at the Paducah and

Portsmouth sites and the Contractor will be required to interface with other site contractors.

Discuss your experience regarding such interfaces.

5) It is anticipated that the DUF6 Contractor will be required to administer a defined benefits pension plan and welfare benefits plan for the existing workforce that are currently covered by such plans while performing the requirements of the anticipated contract. Describe your ability to obtain the expertise and your relevant work in sponsorship, management, and administration of legacy pension plans and other benefit plans including defined contribution plans, post-retirement benefits plans, health and welfare benefit plans and severance.

Discuss your company’s and/or teaming arrangement’s relevant work in managing a union-represented workforce, labor-management relations, and in resolving any past labor disputes.

6) Provide input and rationale to DOE on the optimal period of performance and contracting approach for the prospective procurement. Discuss any issues the Contracting Officer should consider when developing the solicitation for this requirement. Identify and describe any areas listed in Attachment 1, Major Elements of Scope, believed to be missing, or in need of clarification.

7) Although this is not an End State procurement, DOE is seeking innovative solutions that achieve a goal, with associated reduction in risk and environmental liability, while also providing for accelerated completion of conversion activities. Provide input and ideas regarding methods for a contracting approach including the type of contract that could be effectively implemented in order to incentivize the contractor to more efficiently achieve the mission of the DUF6 Project. Highlight any factors that would make competing for this contract desirable or undesirable for your firm, including input on proposal evaluation criteria.

8) Identify any organizational conflicts of interest (OCI) concerns and/or potential OCIs that you or your teaming partners may have pertaining to the work described in this RFI.

Interested parties are requested to provide the name of the firm, or firms if a teaming arrangement is being contemplated, point of contact, phone number, address of firm, DUNS number, and/or CAGE code used over the past five years for the prime and each contemplated teaming partner. Small business teams or joint ventures shall identify the socio-economic status of each member and shall provide the capabilities of each member, as well as a description of the work that each member would perform under a contract, keeping in mind the requirements of

FAR Clause 52.219-14, Limitations on Subcontracting (if any portion of the effort is to be set-aside for small businesses). Identify as one or more of the following under NAICS 325180, Other Basic Inorganic Chemical Manufacturing: 1) small business; 2) 8(a) business (including graduation date); 3) HUBZone small business; 4) small disadvantaged business; 5) woman-owned small business; 6) service-disabled, veteran-owned small business; or 7) large business.

DOE reserves the right to use any and all information submitted by, or obtained from, an interested party in any manner DOE determines is appropriate, including, but not limited to, the

Portsmouth Paducah Project Office (PPPO) Operation of Depleted Uranium Hexafluoride (DUF6) Conversion creation of a competitive solicitation. An interested party shall not include any classified, business confidential, and/or proprietary information in its response.

The Government will not pay for any information that is provided in response to this announcement nor will it compensate any respondents for the development of such information.

All capability statements and questions pertaining to this announcement shall be submitted electronically to DUF62020@emcbc.doe.gov no later than 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on, April 16, 2020. DOE may not respond to or post on the EMCBC website any verbal or written questions or comments pertaining to this RFI. DOE personnel may contact firms responding to this announcement to clarify a responder’s capabilities and other matters as part of this market research process.

Point of Contact:

Kimberly Tate

Contracting Officer

(513) 246-0102

Kimberly.tate@emcbc.doe.gov mailto:DUF62020@emcbc.doe.gov mailto:Kimberly.tate@emcbc.doe.gov

Portsmouth Paducah Project Office (PPPO) Operation of Depleted Uranium Hexafluoride (DUF6) Conversion

Attachment 1 – Major Elements of Scope

Uranium Material Processing

Transfer of UF6 material to DOT approved 48Y heavy-walled cylinders using autoclaves and cold boxes;

Transfer of the filled 48Y cylinders for homogenization and sampling;

Transfer the empty cylinders to the cylinder yard for later disposition;

Complete laboratory analysis and preparation of the Certification of Quality and

Quantity;

Downblend reactor return cylinders;

Clean, hydrostatic test, and disposition small cylinders used to support laboratories and cold traps;

Operate and maintain the DUF6 facilities and associated equipment used to convert the uranium material in its current form to uranium oxide or other chemical compounds;

Operate and maintain X-340 Complex and associated equipment used for UF6 repacking activities;

Reuse, store, and/or transport and dispose of the uranium material processing end-products and wastes;

Conduct preventive and corrective maintenance of autoclaves, cold boxes, cranes, and scales;

Perform plant modifications/upgrades to enhance safety, reliability and production

Implement programs and modifications as needed to support processing of cylinders with

Tc-99 and trace amounts of transuranics;

Design and implement modifications to the Cylinder Evacuation Room at Paducah to enable processing of oversized cylinders; and

Disposition uranium bearing products or wastes.

Cylinder Management/Operations

Perform surveillance and maintenance (S&M) on the cylinders listed in the cylinder information database (CID), and uranium oxide filled cylinders;

Perform S&M of the cylinder handling equipment;

Maintain the CID database containing cylinder defect characterization, contents, inspection status, S&M activities, and location;

Manage cylinders/containers containing depleted, normal, or enriched uranium hexafluoride, or other uranium compounds. The cylinders/containers are located in multiple cylinder storage yards/locations at each of the two diffusion plants, Paducah and

Portsmouth;

Retrieve cylinders from the yards and transport them to the conversion facility;

Return uranium oxide containing cylinders to the appropriate cylinder storage yard for storage and/or disposition; and

Ship and disposition uranium oxide and cylinders that are empty/contain heels.

Note: There is a population of enriched cylinders (combination of 30-inch and 48-inch cylinders) greater than 0.96% that cannot be processed through the DUF6 facilities and have contaminants that will not allow for them to be brought into compliance with ASTM

Portsmouth Paducah Project Office (PPPO) Operation of Depleted Uranium Hexafluoride (DUF6) Conversion specifications for subsequent use. As such, these cylinders need to be down-blended in the

X-344 facility to less than 0.96% assay. Forty-one (41) of these cylinders are located at Paducah and require transport to Portsmouth. Current shipping packages are not available. It is preferred for the down-blending to get below 0.711% assay. At this point, the down-blended cylinders can be turned over to DUF6 conversion facility and dispositioned in the same manner as DUF6.

Site Group Description Cylinders MTU Average

Assay Actions

PAD

Unusable Cylinders Greater

Than 0.96% Assay

41 264.49 2.427

Ship to PORTS

Downblend in

X-344

Turnover to DUF6

PORTS

Unusable Cylinders Greater

Than 0.96% Assay 47 15.53 13.577

Downblend in

X-344

Turnover to DUF6

Project Support

Implement the existing or proposed management and operating systems (e.g., project management, integrated safety management, operating procedures, electronic data processing, budget and planning, accounting, purchasing, compensation, labor/payroll, indirect and direct costs, property management, billing and estimating);

Perform activities related to waste management, which include waste generation, packaging and transportation (per DOE requirements), storage, treatment, sampling and analysis, waste minimization, waste certification, and disposal associated with processing and related operations;

Sell the aqueous hydrofluoric acid (AqHF) product;

Assume all environmental, safety and health (ES&H) responsibilities, functions, and activities;

Perform safeguards and security functions associated with oversight/operations at the

Portsmouth & Paducah Sites in accordance with applicable Federal Laws, Executive

Orders, and Departmental Directives;

Maintain nuclear material control and accountability (NMC&A) through use of site program;

Manage uranium ledger/accounts and obligations in compliance with NUREG/BR-006, Nuclear Material Management and Safeguards System (NMMSS) as well as Nuclear

Materials Inventory Assessment (NMIA);

Develop emergency planning hazard surveys and emergency planning hazard assessments;

Develop and implement a compliant records management program; and

Operate and maintain a comprehensive multi-site information technology system to include process control systems complaint with DOE cyber security requirements in a complex threat environment. In addition, complete full upgrades of process control systems on a periodic basis to support cyber security requirements.