HQ003421Q0021 Amendment 0001 Attachment 1 - Questions and Answers.pdf

HQ003421Q0021

Amendment 0001

Attachment 1

Questions & Answers

1) Is there is an incumbent contract or contractor associated to the requirement? If any, please provide the contractor's name and contract number.

Answer: This is a new requirement. There is no incumbent nor a previous contract number available.

2) What is the estimated award date of the resulting contract?

Answer: SCO will move as swiftly as possible to award the resulting contract, but cannot estimate a date due to uncertainty over the number of technically credible bids and the time required for their evaluation.

3) How firm is the 8/11 due date? This is a fairly involved effort and will take some calendar time to gather all the input necessary to provide a reasonable proposal. Specifically, if we cannot make this date, should a bid on our part not be pursued?

Answer: We are extending the due date to August 23.

4) On page 1, below Block 10, it states: “This is a request for information, and quotations furnished are not offers.” Please confirm that this request is a Request for Quotation and not a Request for Information.

Answer: The block 10 selection is an error. This is a Request for Quotation and quotations furnished are offers.

5) Section L.2 requests that offerors include in their proposals “a signed and dated Contractor Acknowledge of Agreement Form in accordance with Section K”. Please identify or provide this form.

Answer: The contractor shall sign block 13 on page 1 of the SF18 Solicitation Form.

6) Can you please provide an estimated date(s) for completion of the project – for both Phase 1 and phase 2? The RFQ states “See Schedule” several times but the schedule does not appear to be attached.

Answer: Task 1 is expected to be completed in no more than one year after award.

7) Does the Government have any specific shipping containers available that have been pre‐ screened for this application that could be provided as GFE for this effort?

Answer: No. The provider is responsible for specifying and providing shipping containers in support of this effort.

8) Does the Government have any specific shipping container preferences based on any prescreen activities with specific commercial entities they would recommend a bidder contact?

Answer: No. No specific shipping container preferences exist other than those necessary to meet the applicable regulatory requirement.

9) What approvals will the SCO require during the Design and License Phase (Phase 1)? Package conceptual design? Package detailed design? Results of criticality analysis?

Answer: The provider shall obtain any NRC and/or DOE package approvals required to transport the unirradiated TRISO fuel compacts “door to door” from the BWXT facility to the INL or ORNL receiving facility.

10) Will there be an approval required from the SCO to proceed to Phase 2 – Package and Transport Answer: Yes. SCO will inform the winning bidder at a future date whether to proceed to Phase 2.

11) Are there any restrictions for multiple transportation packages to be placed on one truck transport to INL or ORNL?

Answer: All transportation provided by the provider will be performed in compliance with all applicable U.S. regulations.

12) How many shipments of TRISO fuel is the SCO planning for Project Pele (is it just the one shipment of 680 kg)?

Answer: This is directly dependent on what the provider proposes as a packaging solution and must be determined by the provider to meet the applicable regulatory requirements. The provider shall provide sufficient transportation packages to transport the unirradiated TRISO fuel compacts from BWXT to INL or ORNL over a period of one month.

13) What is the total number of Pele compacts?

Answer: Maximum of 100,000

14) For Task 1 – Are the costs for the NRC and DOE approvals expected to be in the FFP proposal?

Answer: Yes. It is the responsibility for the provider to include in its proposal any and all costs necessary for NRC/DOE approvals. These costs should be part of the bid due August 23. Costs associated with onsite activities (INL or ORNL) using contractor staff to support fuel unloading and storage are separate from this RFP.

15) Can the NRC and DOE approval costs be a pass‐through cost for which no fee is applied?

Answer: No. Transportation package approval/certification expenses are considered to be part of the expense proposed by the provider as part of their proposed solution. Personnel or labor costs associated with the preparation and submission for NRC/DOE approvals are permissible for‐fee costs.

16) Would an exceptional safety record associated with transportation of nuclear fuel (past or current performance) be scored more favorably?

Answer: This award criteria is lowest price technically acceptable (LPTA). A good safety record is an essential part of “technically acceptable”, but will not result in additional scoring.

17) Will the DOE take title to the transportation containers or will it be rental only? (Section 2.1) Answer: The provider shall provide to SCO on a rental basis for the period of time encompassing the “Initial Rental Term”, as defined in Section 2.1.8 of the SOW, and any extension thereto, the following equipment for the packaging and transportation of unirradiated TRISO fuel compacts from BWXT to INL or ORNL.

18) Will DOE take title to the Spare Parts identified in section 2.1.6 or are the spare parts/consumable parts required to be available as a contingency to avoid shipment delays?

Answer: Spare Parts identified in section 2.1.6 are consumable parts required to be available as a contingency to avoid shipment delays. The vendor should cost the consumable parts appropriately in their proposed solution.

19) Section 2.1.3 – will lifting/rigging equipment (cranes/forklifts, etc.) services be provided at the BWXT location to support the loading of the transportation packages on the vehicle?

Answer: Yes

20) How many days prior to the shipment should the package be provided to BWXT for loading?

Answer: The provider is required to provide technical assistance to assist BWXT in their preparation of the Shipping Facility’s (BWXT) site‐specific transportation package loading procedure(s). This includes determining how far in advance packages should be provided to BWXT for loading.

21) Are we allowed to contact BWXT to obtain information regarding their production schedule of

TRISO fuel and packaging plans for fuel compacts?

Answer: No interactions should be directed toward BWXT. Any questions during the bidding process should be directed at Washington Headquarters Services. Any questions during Phase I should be directed at SCO.

22) Please provide the weight of uranium (UCO, UO2) in each TRISO fuel particle.

Answer: 450 micrograms‐U per particle.

23) Is it anticipated that all 680 kg will be ready to ship at the same time, or do you anticipate shipping in smaller quantities based on the production schedule?

Answer: It would be ideal to ship all at the same time, but it is acceptable to take multiple shipments.

24) Based on the information provided, it appears that the maximum amount of U235 that could be shipped would be 79.2 kgs (400 kgs x 19.8%). Is this correct?

Answer: Yes.

25) Please provide an estimate of the Uranium weight per TRISO fuel compact.

Answer: AGR TRISO is 1‐1.2 grams‐U per compact, but providers should be prepared to ship larger compacts.

26) What is the envisioned handling configuration for loading/unloading the compacts to/from the packaging (e.g., in bags, trays, tubes?).

Answer: No specific handling configuration has been prescribed. The selected provider should propose and provide internal packaging configurations which maximize the utility of their shipping configuration. These internal configurations will need to be confirmed with the loading and receiving facilities to ensure package internals can be handled within these facilities as part of the design process. However, it is anticipated that storage will be done primarily utilizing the shipping package array.

27) Section 2.3 Transportation: “The provider will coordinate with the States in transit and arrange for escorts as required by the NRC Interim Compensatory Measures (ICM).” Question: This material will be categorized as special nuclear material of moderate strategic significance (SNMMSS, often referred to as Cat. II). Per 10 CFR 73.67(e), no escorts are required. Is SCO imposing security requirements in excess of the NRC regulations?

applicable U.S. regulations. No additional requirements are imposed.

28) Section 2.3 Transportation: “A Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) Level VI inspection is performed prior to departure of the transportation packages from BWXT. The provider will coordinate with the State for CVSA Level VI inspection of the loaded shipment.” Question: Per 10 CFR 73.67 (e), CVSA Level VI inspections of vehicles are not required for this category of material. Does BWXT require this inspection in excess of NRC regulations?

29) Section 2.3 Transportation: “The provider will provide shipment tracking within the U.S. in compliance with applicable NRC ICMs.” Question: The NRC ICMs for physical protection of SNM‐ MSS were incorporated into the regulations. Is the requirement here to provide shipment tracking in accordance with 10 CFR 73.67(e)?

30) Will there be shipments to both INL and ORNL, or will only one site by selected to receive shipments?

Answer: Subject to completion of the environmental requirements of NEPA, the Government anticipates that up to one site will be selected to receive shipments. This determination will be made after completion of NEPA environmental analysis and a Record of Decision by Director, SCO.

31) Will there be an intermediate container supplied by the fuel fabricator (BWXT) to package the loose fuel compacts? If so, is it anticipated that this container be shipped to the end user? Please provide a drawing and dimensions of this container, if available.

Answer: No intermediate container is anticipated to be supplied at this time. The provider shall obtain any NRC or DOE package approvals required to transport the unirradiated TRISO fuel compacts. This includes the development of any internal components that are required to transport the unirradiated TRISO fuel compacts. It is anticipated that this intermediate container will be provided to BWXT for initial loading as compacts are completed and will remain at the shipping final destination until the compacts are assembled into fuel rods.

32) On arrival at the end user’s facility, are the individual fuel compacts removed and inspected? If so, is it desired that the fuel compacts be placed in a special container for interim storage? Is this the same container as used in shipping and receiving?

Answer: SCO support staff will be removing and inspecting the fuel compacts on receipt and will be placing the compacts in special containers for interim storage as part of the package content unload/removal process at the destination.

Rental pricing should be provided for an “Initial Rental Term” of up to 30 days. Also, to be provided is the rental term ($/day) if the actual Rental Term exceeds the Initial Rental Term.

33) Is there, or will there be, a New Fuel Vault that would be used to store the compacts at INL or

ORNL? If so, please describe.

Answer: This has not been finalized yet. The rental pricing should be provided for an “Initial Rental Term” of up to 30 days. Also, to be provided is the rental term ($/day) if the actual Rental Term exceeds the Initial Rental Term.

34) Section 2.5 – Will BWXT, INL, and ORNL provide Quality Assurance Program training for provider’s personnel at no additional cost to provider?

Answer: The government can provide a trainer, but the provider would have to pay for their effort.

35) Section 2.7 – is CMMC certification required?

Answer: Yes, this is a DoD requirement in the DFARS.

36) Section 2.7 –What is the period of time after contract award that CUI is expected to be provided?

Answer: At contract award the contractor should be compliant with all CUI standards identified in the proposal and in the contract in order to safeguard CUI.

37) Could a mitigation plan be used as stipulated in Section 2.7, paragraph 6, in order to meet the CUI requirements for receiving, storing and/or generating CUI? The mitigation plan would include obtaining SP 800‐171, Moderate Level self‐assessment certification, while migrating to DoD CMMC Level 3 CUI certification, which would extend over the proposal and a portion of contract award timeframe. The mitigation plan would include complying with DoD 5200.48 for the storage and transmission of CUI as well.

Answer: After contract award the contractor will have to provide SCO a mitigation plan to show how they are safeguarding CUI. If they plan to process Distribution A (public release information) that is comingled with CUI and/or SCO program information, they need to develop a mitigate plan to detail safeguarding of CUI from unauthorized disclosure.

38) Could the mitigation plan include the use of hardcopies of CUI at the beginning of the proposal and project phases and then migrating to electronic CUI compliance with requirements provided by the CSA and approved by the SCO Program Manager and SCO Program Director prior to implementation and use? Current security control requirements are in place for using hardcopy CUI while in the process of implementing the security control requirements for receiving, processing, transmitting and storing electronic CUI. The mitigation plan would be submitted for SCO Program approval to meet the electronic CUI requirements identified in Section 2.7, paragraph 5, prior to sending or receiving information through unencrypted, unclassified electronic communication channels or storing at rest electronic CUI.

Answer: A mitigation plan must be on file prior to the start of any work that involves CUI. If necessary, a mitigation plan template can be provided pre‐award so the provider is prepared to submit it shortly after contract award.

39) In our review of the RFQ, we could not identify any terms associated with government coverage of nuclear liability, or specific insurance requirements for the Contractor. Please clarify these requirements.

Answer: SCO and WHS understand that Price‐Anderson Act or other indemnity authorities associated with unusually hazardous or nuclear risks would apply to this requirement, and will discuss further with the provider as part of any future contract negotiations.

40) Section 3.1 Documentation refers to Task 2.1.6 (Spare Parts). Is this the correct reference?

Answer: This is in error and should refer to Task 2.1.5.

41) Beyond Project Pele, if an estimate is available, how many shipments of TRISO fuel can be expected in the next 10‐15 years?

Answer: This solicitation is only for the Pele prototype project. SCO cannot speculate on how much additional demand there will be for TRISO fuel beyond the scope of this work.