RFI Final.pdf

Request for Information/Sources Sought Notice

89243221RNE000019

8-Axle Railcar Prototype for Transportation of Spent Nuclear Fuel and High-Level Radioactive Waste

I. Introduction

This is a Request for Information (RFI)/Sources Sought Notice (SSN). The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Office of Nuclear Energy (NE), is seeking information and sources for the following potential project: 8-Axle Railcar Fabrication, Testing, and Association of American Railroads (AAR) Approval for Transportation of Spent Nuclear Fuel (SNF) and High-Level Radioactive Waste (HLW) Radioactive Material (HLRM) 1. This notice is for businesses of all sizes. Large and small businesses may submit responses; however, small businesses are particularly encouraged to respond.

The purposes of this RFI/SSN are (1) to obtain industry feedback on the proposed acquisition strategy for a possible procurement award for fabrication and testing of an 8-axle railcar prototype for the transportation of HLRM; (2) to determine if any small businesses are available to perform the work contemplated by DOE and described herein, and (3) to obtain feedback on the attached draft Statement of Work (SOW).

This RFI/SSN is for information and planning purposes only and shall not be construed as being a commitment by the U.S. Government. The U.S. Government will neither pay for information solicited nor reimburse for costs incurred in responding to this RFI/SSN. The information from this notice will help DOE plan an acquisition strategy for a potential procurement. Background information about the contemplated acquisition is presented in the attached SOW.

II. Background

Under the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982, as amended, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is responsible for disposal of spent nuclear fuel (SNF) and high-level radioactive waste (HLW), including their associated transportation. DOE anticipates that rail will be the primary mode used for transport of SNF and HLW because of the size and weight of the SNF containers (known as “casks”), which are certified by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC).

The NRC has approved transport cask designs supplied by various manufacturers. The casks are typically steel cylinders that are either welded or bolted closed. The steel cylinder provides leak-tight confinement of the SNF. The transportation casks that could be used by DOE to transport SNF weigh approximately 80–210 tons.

1 Association of American Railroads AAR S-2043 standard uses the terminology, High-level radioactive material (HLRM) to refer to Spent Nuclear Fuel (SNF) and High-Level Radioactive Waste (HLW). Legal statutes applicable to DOE activities define and use the terms SNF and HLW. Therefore, for the purpose of this RFI, SNF and HLW are synonymous with HLRM.

DE-SOL-0000000, Modification 00

AAR Standard S-2043 (AAR S-2043), Performance Specification for Trains Used to Carry High-Level Radioactive Material is the technical standard railcars must meet to transport SNF and HLW in compliance with AAR’s interchange standards. DOE intends to use AAR S-2043-compliant railcars to transport SNF and HLW casks in the future. DOE has previously fabricated two prototype buffer railcars, one prototype rail escort vehicle, and one 12-axle cask-carrying railcar (known as the Atlas railcar project). These prototypes are currently undergoing testing to confirm they meet the AAR S-2043 standard. This RFI/Source Sought Notice focuses on fabrication and testing of one 8-axle cask-carrying railcar only.

AAR interchange rules require use of railcars that comply with AAR standards. The objective of AAR S-2043 is to provide a cask/railcar/train system that supports safe transportation of SNF casks in the railroad operating environment and allows timetable speeds with no restrictions on meets or passes. Also, AAR free/unrestricted interchange is desired to avoid the need for a special agreement with all railroads concerned for railcar handling between participating railroads. There are no AAR S-2043-compliant railcars available for DOE to lease for its transport needs; therefore, new railcars will be required to transport SNF and HLW on the U.S.

rail network at standard commerce rail speeds. The associated SOW includes the fabrication and testing of a prototype 8-axle cask-carrying railcar, (henceforth referred to as the “Fortis railcar”) in accordance with AAR S-2043, and receipt of railcar conditional approval from AAR’s Equipment Engineering Committee (EEC). The AAR EEC-approved2 design for the Fortis railcar will be provided to the contractor by DOE, along with the associated documentation needed for fabrication and testing.

Currently, a DOE contractor has completed the preliminary design of an 8-axle Fortis railcar prototype. The approval for the fabrication of the prototype from the AAR Equipment Engineering Committee (EEC) is anticipated before the end of the first quarter FY21. It is that Fortis prototype design that will be fabricated and tested. For this potential acquisition, DOE is contemplating the following two options: Option 1 proposes the fabrication and testing work be split into two contracts, allowing bidders to pursue one or both parts; and Option 2 proposes the work be completed under a single contract. Part of the goal of this RFI is to determine the pros and cons of dividing this work scope into two contracts.

• OPTION 1 – The first option divides the prototype construction and testing into two separate contracted activities, identified as Option 1a and Option 1b. Option 1a would be a contract for Fortis railcar prototype fabrication based on a provided prototype design. Option 1b would be a contract for Fortis single-railcar and multi-railcar testing to obtain AAR conditional approval.2 If testing reveals that modifications to the prototype are necessary to achieve AAR approval, either contract (1a or 1b) could include prototype modification support.

This effort is intended to produce a single prototype railcar, not provide for the manufacturing of production railcars. At some future time, large-scale fabrication of railcars may begin under a separate solicitation. The contemplated acquisition is focused on the

2 Throughout this document, “AAR conditional approval” or “AAR approval” means approval by the AAR EEC of compliance with the AAR S-2043 standard.

Fortis railcar. A related buffer railcar as well as an escort railcar were designed and fabricated under a separate procurement. The buffer railcar and escort railcar will be provided by DOE as part of the multi-railcar testing. This procurement does not include any work on any other types of rolling stock, e.g., escort railcar or locomotives, or on any transport casks.

• OPTION 2 – The second option combines the Fortis railcar prototype fabrication and testing activities into one contract. Any prototype modifications that are necessary to achieve AAR approval would also be covered in this potential contract. As in Option 1, this second option does not anticipate the manufacturing of production railcars. At some future time, large-scale fabrication of railcars may begin under a separate solicitation.

Option 2 is focused on a single Fortis cask railcar and its single- and multi-railcar testing.

The buffer railcar and escort railcar will be provided by DOE as part of the multi-railcar testing. As in Option 1, it does not include any work on any other types of rolling stock, e.g., escort railcars or locomotives, or on any transport casks.

III. Request for Information/Sources Sought

PLEASE NOTE THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS; NO SOLICITATION

EXISTS AT THIS TIME.

The different sections below contain specific requests for information. Interested parties may respond to any or all of the specific RFIs. When responding, please clearly state the number of the RFI for which you are responding.

A. General Company Information

QUESTION 1: Please submit the following general company information:

a) Name and address of your company and or companies (if there is a teaming arrangement or joint venture, please specify); and

b) Point of contact (POC). Please include POC’s title, phone number, and email address.

B. Industry Feedback Regarding the Draft SOW

A draft copy of the proposed SOW is attached to this notice. No previous contract exists for this SOW for the fabrication and testing of a Fortis railcar prototype for the transportation of SNF and HLW. The proposed project will result in the fabrication of a prototype cask-carrying railcar designed to carry SNF and HLW in casks to location to be determined at a future date. Each train shipment will consist of a number of cask-carrying railcars, one escort car, one buffer railcar in front of the cask-carrying railcars and another one behind the cask-carrying railcars, and possibly additional buffer cars in between cask-carrying railcars depending on load weights and track quality. Once the preliminary design is approved by

AAR, the railcar will be fabricated and tested at an approved AAR facility. The prototype will be tested according to the requirements of AAR S-2043.

QUESTION 2: Please provide any specific comments regarding the SOW, including:

(in your answer, please reference specific SOW paragraphs or sections)

a) Is the work to be done correctly and adequately defined and are the phase(s) and the deliverables required appropriate.

b) Adequacy of the contemplated period of performance.

c) Adequacy of Attachment A to the SOW.

d) Any specific comments or suggestions regarding how the SOW could be changed to make it more complete or improved.

C. Small Business Availability and Company Capabilities

Thus far, DOE has determined that leasing the necessary AAR S-2043-compliant railcars is not feasible, and that no alternatives to leasing are available. Therefore, DOE has started the process of designing, fabricating, and operating a fleet of railcars to provide the capability to transport casks of SNF and HLW. As a result, it will be necessary to determine the availability of qualified sources.

DOE’s Office of Nuclear Energy (DOE-NE) is conducting this market survey to determine the availability and technical capability of qualified businesses to provide engineering and design services for a Fortis railcar prototype fabrication, testing, and approval. DOE-NE is interested in including: large businesses; small businesses; small disadvantaged businesses (SDB); 8(a) small businesses; woman-owned small businesses (WOSB); veteran owned small businesses (VOSB); service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses (SDVOSB); and Historically Under-utilized Business Zone (HUBZone) small businesses. Further information regarding the background and project objectives is provided below and in the separate SOW document.

For this effort, the starting point will be a preliminary design already reviewed and approved for prototype fabrication by AAR. The design process has included computer modeling in accordance with AAR Standard S-2043. After the preliminary design approval, the associated fabrication (one of the potential tasks of this RFI), must be performed by an AAR approved vendor. A listing of the known current U.S. vendors holding AAR approvals is presented below in Table 1. The subsequent testing must be conducted at an AAR approved independent test facility or must be witnessed by an official AAR observer. The only known AAR approved independent test facility is Transportation Technology Center, in Pueblo, Colorado. This RFI/Sources Sought Notice seeks to confirm this information, as well as to identify sources capable of doing this work, including any small businesses in the various small business categories listed above, that meet these requirements.

DOE anticipates that federally funded research and development centers (FFRDCs) will not be eligible to participate as partners in response to the potential subsequent request for proposals (RFP). However, proposal teams can broadly identify scope of work they would like FFRDCs to perform, with estimated FFRDC costs, and after RFP awards have been made negotiations with FFRDCs can begin.

The Buy American Act, 41 U.S.C. § 8302 (a), and Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR), 48 C.F.R. § 52. 225-1, applies to this program. As appropriate and to the extent consistent with law, recipients of any potential award shall ensure and document that, to the greatest extent practicable, iron and aluminum as well as steel, cement, and other manufactured products (items and construction materials composed in whole or in part of non-ferrous metals such as aluminum; plastics and polymer-based products such as polyvinyl chloride pipe; aggregates such as concrete; glass, including optical fiber; and lumber) used in the project under this potential award shall be produced in the United States. This requirement shall flow down to all sub-awards including all contracts, subcontracts and purchase orders for work performed under the award.

Table 1. AAR-Approved U.S. Vendors (10/21/2020)

Company Location

Greenbrier Central – Paragould Paragould, AR Curry Rail Services Hollidaysburg, PA Ebenezer Railcar Services, Inc. – Blasdell Blasdell, NY Ebenezer Railcar Services, Inc. – West Seneca West Seneca, NY FreightCar America, Inc. – Cherokee Cherokee, AL Gunderson, LLC – Portland Portland, OR Herzog Railroad Services, Inc. – St. Joseph St. Joseph, MO JK - CO LLC – Findley Findley, OH Kasgro Rail Corporation – New Castle New Castle, PA Kimball Railcar Repair Kimball, MN Liberty Railway Services – Pueblo West Pueblo West, CO Trinity Rail Saginaw (Plant 192) Saginaw, TX TTX Company – North Augusta North Augusta, SC Trinity Rail Cartersville (Plant 493) Cartersville, GA Harsco Rail West Columbia, SC Vigor Works LLC Clackamas, OR

All responding firms are requested to identify their firm's size and type of business to the anticipated North American Industrial Classification System (NAICS) code. For this potential acquisition, the identified NAICS code is 541330 – Engineering Services, with a small business size standard of $15 million. Teaming arrangements and joint ventures will be considered, including prime awards to small business concerns, provided that: (1) the prime contract is awarded to an applicable small business that can comply with DOE and AAR requirements; and (2) that the small business prime can comply with FAR § 52.219-14, Limitations On Subcontracting (Jan. 2017), i.e., that at least 50 percent of the cost of contract performance incurred for personnel shall be expended for employees of the small business concern.

QUESTION 3: Please identify your firm's size and type of business, under NAICS 541330 – Engineering Services.

QUESTION 4: Please identify your firm’s qualifications to perform the work contemplated by the SOW (refer to the SOW Section 3 for qualifications, experience and technical expertise identified as being necessary to perform). As part of your response, include a company capability statement overview and how this capability relates to performing the work contemplated by the SOW, with a brief overview of your technical and management expertise relevant to the requirements contemplated by this SOW.

The response to Question 4, including a capability statement, shall be in sufficient detail, but shall not exceed eight (8) pages TOTAL (8 ½ x 11 pages, with 1-inch margins, using 12-point Times New Roman font), and line spacing of 1.15, so that the Government can determine the experience and capability of your firm to provide the requirements above.

Please do not include promotional materials.

D. Proposed Acquisition Strategy

DOE is developing its acquisition strategy for this procurement. Industry input is requested regarding this strategy. This strategy may include the following elements:

1. Solicit competitive proposals from AAR-approved companies as a small business set-aside (assuming there is a reasonable expectation that offers will be obtained from at least two responsible small business concerns offering the products of different small business concerns, and award can be made at fair market prices). This will be done using procedures identified in FAR Part 15.

2. Award a Firm Fixed Price contract for prototype fabrication and award a separate Cost-Plus Fixed Fee contract for prototype testing. Or alternatively, award a single contract that includes one Contract Line Item Number (CLIN) for prototype fabrication at a Firm Fixed Price, and second and third CLINs for single-railcar and multi-railcar prototype testing at a Cost Plus Fixed Fee that is incrementally funded, with provisions for DOE approval before beginning work on each CLIN.

3. Evaluate competitive proposals using the following Best Value Trade Off evaluation criteria:

a. Company technical expertise and capabilities relevant to the requirement. Note that a fabrication company must be an AAR-certified design/manufacturing source (mandatory pass/fail requirement);

b. Technical and management approach to accomplish SOW requirements;

c. Relevant corporate experience and recent/relevant past performance; and

d. Price.

QUESTION 5: Please comment on the appropriateness of the proposed acquisition strategy and offer any suggestions regarding the strategy, including regarding the requirement for AAR approval, as well as the most appropriate contract type and the evaluation criteria.

QUESTION 6: Please comment on the ability to reasonably estimate the costs associated with each phase of the SOW as part of a Request for Proposal, including a description of the constraints or risks that could prevent a contractor from being able to provide a fixed price for the proposed work scope and how DOE could remove or minimize the constraints or risks.

E. Other Comments

Interested parties are invited to provide other relevant feedback to DOE regarding this proposed acquisition.

QUESTION 7: If applicable, please provide any other comments, feedback, or suggestions that were not otherwise specifically addressed in the previous numbered RFIs.

IV. Industry Exchange of Information with DOE

DOE representatives may or may not choose to meet with respondents regarding this RFI/SSN.

Such exchanges may be conducted to get further clarification/information of potential industry capability to meet the requirements.

Respondents are advised that DOE is under no obligation to acknowledge receipt of the information received or provide feedback to respondents with respect to any information submitted under this RFI/SSN. RFI/SSN submissions may be reviewed by Government personnel, FFRDCs, and support contractors to the Government. All submissions become Government property and will not be returned.

V. Questions

Questions regarding this announcement shall be submitted in writing by e-mail to Contracting Officer, Trevor Bluth at bluthtm@id.doe.gov. Verbal or telephone questions or responses will not be accepted. DOE does not intend to publicly post questions related to this RFI/SSN.

However, DOE may, at its discretion, publicly post questions and answers in response to this RFI/SSN. Publicly posted questions shall not contain proprietary or classified information.

VI. RFI Response Submittal Requirements

In addition to the 8-page limit on the company capability statement as specified above, please note the following RFI/SSN response submittal requirements.

1. Only written electronic copies of capability statements will be accepted. The submittal e-mail should contain the following subject line:

Response to Sources Sought Notice – 89243221RNE000019 8-Axle Railcar Prototype for Transportation of Spent Nuclear Fuel and High-Level Radioactive Waste

2. Please submit all information to Trevor Bluth at bluthtm@id.doe.gov by 5:00 p.m.

Mountain Time on or before 02/12/2021.

VII. Contracting Office Address

U.S. Department of Energy – Idaho Operations Office 1955 Fremont Avenue Idaho Falls, ID 83415

Primary Point of Contact:

Trevor Bluth, Contracting Officer email: bluthtm@id.doe.gov

VIII. Summary

The RFI/SSN does not constitute a formal solicitation for proposals.

THIS IS A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI)/SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE ONLY, in accordance with FAR §15.201(e), to identify sources that can fulfill the Government’s requirements, as well as to obtain industry feedback regarding DOE’s proposed SOW and acquisition strategy. Responses to this notice are not offers and cannot be accepted by DOE to form a binding contract. The information provided in the RFI is subject to change and is not binding on the Government. DOE will not provide reimbursement for costs incurred in responding to this RFI. DOE has not made a commitment to procure any of the services/items discussed, and release of this RFI should not be construed as such a commitment or as authorization to incur cost for which reimbursement would be required or sought.

mailto:bluthtm@id.doe.gov mailto:briscoee@mail.nih.gov mailto:bluthtm@id.doe.gov