SRS RFP Questions and Answers PART 2 (Cleared for Release).pdf

SRS AI/Energy Infrastructure Questions and Answers PART 2 (Revision 1)

1 Is NNSA targeting certain power and computing capacity targets for either the AI data center or the new generation?

RFP does not specify a desired data center and generation capacity.

However, NNSA welcomes ambitious applications that satisfy the objective of this RFP to maintain and enhance American leadership in AI and energy generation. SRS has the potential to host installations of up to multiple gigawatts in scale.

2 Can NNSA provide comprehensive site information, including KMZ/parcel maps, available parcel restrictions (size, location, number), and current data packages (geotechnical, volcanic, groundwater, meteorological, cultural, ecological) from previous work like CFPP?

NNSA published Appendix A and .kml files about all ten tracts of land identified on SRS on SAM.gov.

3 Are there known CERCLA-impacted zones within development tracts, and can maps of CERCLA-restricted, historical, or archaeological concern areas be provided?

Sites were selected to avoid known areas with legacy contamination.

Appendix A shows areas of concern across the site. The PNNL Tracs system and a comprehensive study of the archeological resources at SRS are linked from Appendix A and contain additional information.

4 Is this RFP designed to support defense/national security compute, or primarily commercial AI applications?

This RFP is primarily intended for commercial AI workloads, as discussed in the RFP. Please consult the RFP regarding other possibilities that Offerors may wish to include in proposals.

5 Who would own the permitting and construction of offsite improvements if needed?

Permitting and construction of onsite and offsite improvements is the responsibility of the Offeror except in the few cases where the Offeror may utilize an existing permit such as the SRS surface water withdrawal permit or where improvements to existing infrastructure are desired by NNSA. In such cases, NNSA and the Offeror will negotiate an agreement acceptable to both parties.

6 How is waste heat being considered as an efficiency/generation source?

Section 4.4.2(g) of the RFP discusses the use of waste heat in the context of overall efficiency of the power generation / data center cooling efficiency.

Offerors should describe how they plan to use waste heat if they intend to repurpose it to increase overall system efficiency.

7 Identify any additional building performance requirements beyond federal/state/local regulations (e.g., Federal design guidelines, Green Globes, USGBC LEED).

NNSA does not anticipate imposing additional building requirements.

8 What reporting or compliance obligations will lessees have during the lease term?

Successful proposals will have to comply with all Federal, State, and local reporting requirements. In addition, NNSA may require additional reporting requirements that will be negotiated at time of lease.

9 What NAICS and PSC codes will the Lease Agreement align with?

Codes chosen for SAM.gov RFP posting are:

NAICS Code: 51821 – Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services Product Service Code: X1PC - LEASE/RENTAL OF UNIMPROVED REAL

PROPERTY (LAND)

Additionally, the lease agreement may also be aligned with NAICS Codes:

22111 – Electric Power Generation 221113 – Nuclear Electric Power Generation 541715 - Research and Development in Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology).

10 What involvement does NNSA envision NRC will have in nuclear facility licensing for certified and non-certified designs?

Successful proposals will have to comply with the requirements of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission unless the project is proposed to be explicitly developed under DOE authorization where NRC involvement is not required. DOE authorization is only available for nuclear facilities that: (1) advance a DOE/NNSA mission (e.g. R&D under section 31 of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 (AEA) or section 107(a) of the Energy Reorganization Act of 1974 (ERA), national security under section 91 of the AEA); (2) are under contract (including an other transactions agreement) with and for the account of DOE/NNSA; and (3) are not subject to NRC licensing under section 202 of the ERA.

11 Can Offerors submit multiple RFP responses (for multiple categories or across teams)?

See RFP Section 3.4. Offerors may submit multiple RFP responses for multiple configuration categories and/or teams.

12 Will NNSA prioritize certain organization / partnership types?

See RFP page 5. NNSA is open to all organizations and partnerships described in RFP Section 3.4.

13 Can the entity responding to the RFP assign the award/lease to an affiliate?

No. NNSA intends to execute leases with successful Offerors for projects acting on their own behalf, and leases would not be transferable. Note that applicable entities can include joint ventures or other consortium vehicles that include the original Offerors.

14 For unselected applications, will debrief opportunities or an appeals process be offered?

This RFP is for a land lease and is not an acquisition by the government.

FAR does not apply. As stated in Section 4.1(k) NNSA will not offer debriefs or an appeals process to unsuccessful Offerors.

15 Are we able to submit a joint proposal with another organization and go through the process together?

Yes. See RFP Section 3.4.

16 What is "viable" in the context of the project requirement, and what is included in the "project" at this phase?

The requirement states that the Project shall be viable without any commitment or contribution, monetary or otherwise, from the Government, beyond the use of the Property. The "Project" is defined as designing, financing, permitting, developing, constructing, installing, owning, maintaining, operating, and decommissioning AI and/or energy generation infrastructure. Viable in this context implies that the project can proceed and be sustained financially and operationally without direct financial aid or services from the government, apart from the land lease. For more information about Office of Energy Dominance Financing (a.k.a. LPO) and GDO, refer to Section 3.5 of the RFP for more details.

17 What access/restrictions will Offerors and their partners have during the life cycle of a deployment?

See RFP Section 3.3(f). .

18 To what extent are you prioritizing the use of software tools, such as digital twin, predictive analytics, and sustainability?

NNSA is not prioritizing software tools beyond instructions and evaluation criteria stated in the RFP.

19 At what time is the submission due? When does NNSA anticipate announcing the results of this RFP?

Submissions are due on January 9, 2026, at 5 pm Eastern Standard Time.

No specific timeline for selection has been set. In recognition that Offerors may need to apply for interconnection with the utility, Dominion Energy South Carolina (DESC), the government will seek to complete the selection and negotiation processes while leaving adequate time for Offerors to apply for interconnection with DESC by the annual deadline for 2026 set by DESC which has typically been the end of August in years past, but has not yet been announced by DESC for 2026.

20 Was the Industry Day on December 9 virtual, in-person, or hybrid? Will NNSA share the slides presented at the Industry Day?

The Industry Day was hybrid. Slides are being posted with the RFP.

Information shared by presenters is/will be made available via the RFP on SAM.gov.

21 What lease arrangements are possible, and can precedents/examples be shared? What are the minimum/maximum durations for long-term leases?

Long-term leases of up to 50 years are currently in force at SRS. The terms requested in the proposal should be justified by expected duration of the project or economic life of the asset. SRS currently has negotiated similar power generation leases that consist of a 3-year development term, 2-year construction term, followed by a 25-year operational term that allows for two optional 5-year operational term extensions (i.e. total of 40 years for the entire lease). Price is intended to be negotiated with the understanding of any cash lease rate under Fair Market Value must be justifiable as a benefit to the Government.

22 Can a draft lease agreement be provided? NNSA will provide a draft lease agreement to Offerors selected to proceed into negotiations prior to the start of negotiations.

23 Is there anticipated to be a Termination of Lease clause if Power doesn't deliver?

Yes. A Termination of Lease clause is required to be in the lease.

24 Have relevant agencies and labs indicated the amount of compute they hope to procure (MWs, GPU-hours)?

Regarding computing size, the RFP does not specify the desired data center and generation capacity. However, NNSA welcomes ambitious proposals that satisfy the objective of this RFP to maintain and enhance American leadership in AI and energy generation. SRS will consider hosting installations up to multiple gigawatt-scale.

25 Is there an expectation or requirement for a specific percentage of AI infrastructure to be reserved for Federal Government usage?

NNSA has no set federal reserve for government usage. Further, as stated in Section 3.3(c), The Project must be viable without any commitment or contribution, monetary or otherwise, from the Government (potential financing opportunities from DOE’s Office of Energy Dominance Financing (formerly LPO) notwithstanding; see Section 3.5.)

26 What constitutes adequate erosion restoration?

As stated in the RFP, "Selectee(s) are responsible, at their own expense, for all required licensing, permit(s) and all costs related to compliance with applicable laws and regulations." The Selectee is encouraged to perform all due diligence in accordance with State, Local and Federal provisions and permits. Further, prior to signing the lease, the existing condition of the site will be established as indicated in the RFP and Lessees will be required to restore the any erosion resulting from their improvements to the property upon termination of the lease agreement.

27 Are there ongoing monitoring requirements or initiatives?

SRS is required by law to monitor the environmental conditions of the site.

The lease will require that SRS has access to any existing monitoring sites or new monitoring sites that are later required by law that are located on the leased premises.

28 What is the process and criteria for Offerors to propose and secure a specific tract of land within the identified acreage? Are there any restrictions on the size, location, and number of distinct parcels the NNSA may award?

Given that tracts are at NNSA’s sole discretion, how much flexibility will Offerors have in negotiating specific location/size?

NNSA wants selected projects to be successful. Proposals should include detailed proposals for entering a long-term lease for a tract or multiple tracts of identified land that are commensurate with the size of the proposed project(s) located at the SRS. The Offerors’ proposed projects will be considered with the above in mind, and the allotted acreage will be commensurate with the needs of the proposed AI or energy generation project and the regulatory requirements to which SRS must comply, e.g.

Site Safety Basis. The data center and energy components may be co-located, but they are not required to be co-located. See RFP Section 1.0(h).

29 What are the specific concerns or "red flags" regarding non-U.S. technologies in AI infrastructure, particularly from NATO member states or U.S. allied countries?

“Eligible Offerors are limited to those entities that are organized under the laws of the United States, its states, territories, or possessions; have majority domestic ownership and control; and have a physical place of business in the United States.” See page 15 of the RFP.

30 Does the AI infrastructure need to be sited directly at SRS, or can power infrastructure be located at SRS to serve offsite AI facilities in the area?

At least one component of the project, i.e., data center or power generation facility, must be on-site; other component(s) can be off-site.

31 What workload will the data center run? Are AI training and inference required?

The data center facilities are intended for commercial use. NNSA has not agreed to utilize the data center, nor ruled out any particular use of the data center facilities that Offerors may describe in their proposal. Note that this initiative is intended to maintain and enhance American leadership in AI and energy generation to promote economic competitiveness, national security, and scientific advancement, in accordance with the AI Action Plan and EOs 14318, 14179, 14277, 14154, and 14299.

32 If the data center is considered a "Commercial Data Center," can capacity be sold to whomever we like, and are there any restrictions?

Compliance with all State and Federal Laws is expected.

33 Are classified workloads expected or possible within the data center?

See answer to Question 25.

34 Is data center factory fabrication and manufacturing within scope for this RFP?

The scope for this RFP is hosting data center operations and energy generation at SRS.

35 Please provide all relevant NNSA land use plans and documents that describe the “plans, programs, and missions of the NNSA” that will be used to evaluate development compatibility.

All information shared by NNSA is/will be made available via the RFP and Amendments on SAM.gov.

36 Can the government provide overview of special engineering obstacles surrounding the site (i.e. railway lines, bodies of water, wetlands, private landowners, or govt land)?

The railroad adjacent to Sites 6, 7, and 8 is owned by DOE. All other available information is referenced in Appendix A of the RFP. The only private landowner within the boundary of SRS is CSX which owns the land generally about 50 feet to either side of their railroad lines. The following link shows the CSX rail system:

https://www.csx.com/index.cfm/customers/maps/csx-system-map/

37 Are GIS shapefiles available? NNSA has posted Appendix A and .kml files via the RFP on SAM.gov.

38 Provide comprehensive details on water availability, capacity, current rights (including amounts, sources), suppliers, quality characteristics, and any specific usage restrictions or allocations on proposed lands.

Confirm any groundwater use restrictions related to SRS contamination, and if groundwater extraction requires coordination with EPA/DOE.

See Appendix A and SRS presentation on SAM.gov.

39 Will developers leverage federal water rights or secure their own? What is the process for securing water rights under the state of South Carolina?

Offerors may leverage existing water withdrawal permits to the extent that the Offeror’s usage does not disrupt the normal operation and mission of SRS. For example, SRS is permitted to withdraw up to 575,000 gallons per minute from the Savannah River but currently withdraws only about 7,500 gallons per minute. If the Offeror abides by the existing permit restrictions, then they may withdraw water under the existing permit to the extent their withdrawal does not disrupt SRS operations. NNSA may set conditions in the lease agreement for using any existing permit. Obtaining any new permit required by the Offeror, for example for land disturbance or sinking new groundwater wells is the responsibility of the Offeror. A contact for the SC Department of Environmental Services permitting office is available in the RFP listing on SAM.gov.

40 What is the current sewer capacity (type of system, subareas served), and how is wastewater treated/disposed of?

Specifics about existing sewer systems are included in Appendix A and the SRS presentation on SAM.gov.

https://www.csx.com/index.cfm/customers/maps/csx-system-map/

41 What forms of in-kind consideration (e.g., data services, infrastructure sharing) are acceptable?

See RFP. Subject to statutory authority to accept in-kind consideration, the Government may consider other forms of consideration (e.g., in-kind contributions, shared infrastructure access, co-location services, etc.). If an Applicant’s Mitigation Plan relies on compensatory mitigation elsewhere on the DOE site to address unmitigated adverse impacts, the Applicant should also discuss how in-kind consideration will support those compensatory mitigation activities. Applicants may also propose environmental and ecological enhancement projects elsewhere on the DOE site as a form of in-kind consideration.

42 Will any Master Agreements or Contract Vehicles be leveraged to procure this requirement? Would SRS be interested in leveraging a Cooperative Construction Contracting Approach (CCCA) procurement model for this Lease Agreement?

This RFP is for a land lease agreement only. Any other agreements, should they be required by or desirable to the government, will be treated as separate from this RFP and may be subject to the Federal Acquisition Regulations.

43 Prior to any construction, can the government provide guarantees on the status of the site and if unforeseen conditions are found, be responsible for either remediation or preparing a new site?

The Offeror(s) and Government must reach an agreement with respect to the physical appearance and condition of the Property and must prepare and execute a Physical Condition Report as described in Section 3.1 (l) evidencing their agreement prior to execution of the Lease Agreement.

Further Section 3.1(l) states: In coordination with the DOE/NNSA Field Office, Offeror(s) / Selectee(s) must conduct a baseline survey of the site in accordance with accepted standards and methods and develop a Physical Condition Report to establish the physical, environmental and ecological condition of the land.

Prior to commencement of the construction term, NNSA will provide a representation and warranty that, based on the Physical Condition Report, all remediation action necessary to protect human health and the environment with respect to Hazardous Substances (as defined in 42 U.S.C. 9601(14) on the Leased Premises has been taken, is currently on-going, or is being monitored. If, after the execution date of the Lease, any additional remedial action for conditions existing before the execution of the Lease is found to be necessary, NNSA at its discretion shall conduct the remedial action at its own expense in accordance with applicable laws, or otherwise work with the Lessee(s) on a resolution that may include termination of the lease if necessary.

All tracts of lands offered throughout this RFP were selected to minimize past practices and known environmental, cultural and geological impediments.

44 Does NNSA have preferred entities for contracting capacity within the data center?

This RFP is for the lease of land only.

45 What are NNSA/federal security requirements that apply to the site, including baseline fencing, access control, emergency protocols, manning, and badging? What areas require access control (DC infrastructure, site/gate, all campus infrastructure)?

Government security clearance is not required to work onsite at the Offeror’s facilities. Offerors may implement additional access requirements for their facilities that are aligned and coordinated with SRS safety, security and emergency management directives. The Offeror's facilities on their leased premises must be isolated from the remaining site with an access-controlled fence.

Anyone entering the site for a period of up to 10 days per year will be required to obtain a visitor badge. Anyone requiring site access for a period longer than 10 days will be required to obtain an Uncleared Personal Identification Verification (UPIV) badge and complete the General Employee Training (GET) course. Individuals with only a Visitor badge must be always escorted by another person with a minimum of a UPIV badge.

Foreign nationals requesting access to the site must be cleared with additional processes and must be always escorted outside of the Offeror’s facility. Access to certain areas of the site is prohibited to individuals without appropriate security clearance.

The UPIV badging process is designed to ensure that individuals requesting access to the site are who they say they are. This process is different and less stringent than the process for obtaining security clearance. Typical reasons for denial of a UPIV badge include but are not limited to certain felony convictions and outstanding arrest warrants. GET must be completed prior to receiving a UPIV badge and a refresher course is required annually.

GET focuses on safety, security and emergency issues related to working at

SRS.

Most of the ten available tracts are completely within the barricaded portion of SRS. Guards at the barricades will inspect the badges of individuals entering the site and all persons and vehicles are subject to search when either entering or leaving the SRS. Guards have policing authority and may issue citations, seize contraband or detain individuals violating laws and site policies or regulations.

46 Provide information on existing energy infrastructure at SRS tracts, including drawings/mapping, SRS’s current load-serving entity, transmission capacity, import/export capacity of existing transformers, and how power is obtained for

SRS.

See Appendix A and SRS presentation on SAM.gov.

47 What is the anticipated load for AI infrastructure and other planned uses (cooling, transmission, storage, ancillary facilities) across all seasons/environmental impacts? What is the maximum MW allowed?

The RFP does not specify an anticipated load. There is no maximum or minimum requirement. NNSA welcomes ambitious proposals that satisfy the objective of this RFP to maintain and enhance American leadership in AI and energy generation. SRS has the potential to host installations of up to multiple gigawatts-in scale installations.

48 What is the existing Dark Fiber situation for the site, and is latency information available?

Are there existing underground conduit or fiber infrastructure in utility corridors, and can NNSA provide access/ROW for new conduit, identifying areas requiring BLM engagement?

DC Blox, Segra, AT&T, Quest and ESNet among other companies have long-haul fiber passing near SRS. Offerors should contact carriers directly for additional information.

49 Is connection to the power grid a requirement? Could energy be supplied from facilities outside the parcel?

A “behind-the-meter” connection between the generation facility and data center is allowed. However, any connection to the grid from on or offsite will require coordination with Dominion Energy SC.

50 What other power/energy sources are being explored or preferred by SRS for AI infrastructure support beyond nuclear? What criteria define "innovative" energy solutions?

NNSA welcomes proposals that include any source of energy generation and/or storage.

51 Are there opportunities to discuss using BESS for energy storage?

NNSA welcomes proposals that include any source of energy generation and storage, including those proposals that include multiple technologies in a phased approach that shorten the lead time required to bring a data center online.

52 Are behind the meter / islanded power options permitted?

Islanded (self-contained) AI and energy projects are permitted to apply.

NNSA does not have a preference between islanded and grid-connected projects, but all proposals should include new energy generation.

53 Is NNSA open to a single energy source paired with multiple AI data centers?

Yes, this type of partnership is allowed.

54 Will innovative approaches to data center cooling systems be considered given AI workload demands?

Innovative data center cooling approaches are within the scope of this RFP and creative solutions are encouraged. See the RFP for information.

55 Which server cooling methods are planned (air, direct-to-chip, immersion, hybrid), which facility cooling technologies are planned (chillers, dry coolers, geothermal loops)? Is EMI/RF shielding required?

NNSA is not specifying such details for this RFP.

56 How can emerging disruptive technologies (e.g., high-temperature superconductors) integrate into this opportunity?

Proposals should include innovative approaches.

57 Would you consider a Turnkey Design Build Operate Maintain funding approach funded by industry and offered as an AI as a Service approach?

This RFP is for a land lease. The Government is not making an acquisition.

The expectation is the Offeror will design, construct, own and operate the facility on land leased from DOE to provide commercial services in support of the goal of AI and Energy dominance by the United States.

58 Clarify NNSA’s jurisdiction over land use, building siting, and permitting (exclusive federal vs. shared state/local), and list all applicable local laws, regulations, ordinances, and building codes.

Within the leased premises, the Offeror has jurisdiction over building design and must obtain all permits and licenses required by law by either engaging the regulatory authorities directly or working with SRS where the Offeror desires to utilize an existing SRS permit, e.g., surface water withdrawal.

Any activity that will or might reasonably impact any SRS missions or operations including property or infrastructure outside the leased premises must go through the SRS Site Use Permitting system described in the RFP.

59 What NNSA-specific building codes or land use regulations and United Facilities Criteria requirements apply, and what are NNSA’s specific expectations or processes for site/building plan review and approval?

Development and construction on the Property will be subject to NNSA security requirements. The specific tracts assigned will be at the sole discretion of the Government based on negotiations with successful Offerer(s). The siting of any Project(s) shall not have direct impacts to the mission of NNSA, and NNSA will make the final determination on the siting of the Offeror’s project.

60 What federal domestic sourcing requirements, if any, will apply to the proposed projects?

As discussed on RFP page 15, NNSA shall review proposals for foreign ownership, control, and influence. NNSA in its sole discretion may reject Offerors based on security risks discovered. Offerors must provide a foreign affiliations disclosure and certification using the link on RFP page 16. The Government may also consider the degree to which the proposed Project plans to use domestic entities or component and/or services from the domestic supply chain, to complete the Project in determining which proposal(s) to select for subsequent negotiations.

61 Will the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR)/Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation (DFAR) apply to this project?

No.

62 Regarding decommissioning, what constitutes "original status," what are restoration requirements, who determines adequacy, and is the lessee responsible for associated labor and costs?

The process is explained in the RFP Section 3.1(l).

63 What NNSA guidelines for hazardous material storage (e.g., chemicals, batteries, fuel) apply to the site? Can the government clarify the extent of our responsibilities regarding hazardous material handling or disposal?

Hazardous material handling and disposal is the responsibility of the Lessee. No lands or services are offered by NNSA on the SRS for these activities.

64 What NNSA setback requirements related to safety or blast impact apply to the site?

Commercial facility setback requirements will be governed by the regulatory bodies with oversight for that industry. Setbacks distances protective of NNSA facilities and operations will be considered during siting discussions but in most cases have already been taken into consideration for those tracts offered through the RFP.

65 What does NNSA think the NEPA review will consist of, and can additional details on the NEPA process for this site be provided? Is NNSA considering categorical exclusions (10 CFR Part 1021 or Section 4336(c))? Will the lease agreement be contingent on NEPA completion, or can interim actions proceed prior to full NEPA approval?

See RFP Sections 2.2 and 3.1(m).

66 What are typical timeframes for completing categorical exclusions, Environmental Assessments, and Environmental Impact Statements when NNSA is the lead agency?

What is the estimated timeline for full NNSA EIS's for data center developments?

The level of NEPA review and its associated timeline will depend on the complexity and details for each specific project, including any necessary coordination with other agencies that have a decision-making role. In accordance with the NEPA statutory requirements, unless NNSA extends the deadline in consultation with the Offerer, NNSA would complete an EA within one year and an EIS within two years from the start date as determined in accordance with section 107 of NEPA (42 U.S.C. § 4336a(g)).

67 Is a specific standard required for pre-construction Environmental Site Assessment (ESA), and would a pre-lease ESA satisfy?

American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) Standard 1527 applies.

American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) International Standard E1527-21 entitled “Standard Practice for Environmental Site Assessments:

Phase I Environmental Site Assessment Process” is the required standard.

NNSA is required to conduct an ESA in conjunction with the lease prior to allowing the Selectee(s) full control of the site.

68 What project opposition is anticipated? NNSA is not aware of any opposition. State and local government officials and congressional representatives have voiced support for this initiative.

69 For data centers with energy generation development where another federal agency (e.g., NRC) has jurisdiction, will NNSA be the lead agency? If the NRC licensing route is chosen, will NNSA require an environmental impact assessment in addition to NRC requirements?

NRC will be the lead agency when siting a commercial nuclear facility on the SRS. NNSA NEPA will cover preliminary site exploration and characterization efforts.

70 What is the methodology for selection (best value, technology)? Is a multiple award expected or a single award? If multiple, how will land parcels be distributed and prioritized?

See RFP Section 5.0. Multiple awards are possible as an outcome of this RFP. NNSA anticipates that there may be multiple AI data center or energy generation infrastructure facilities, with each located on a different tract of the Property, and that the size of each tract of land will depend on the proposed AI data center or energy generation infrastructure technology to be deployed. NNSA envisions leasing approximately 250 to 450 acres of the total acreage described in Appendix A as a result of this RFP. The Government may decide to allow development on any, all, or none of the tracts proposed by Offerors responding to this RFP.

71 If applying solely as a generation asset, is the full application required? Can companies partner with multiple teams and/or submit multiple applications?

To be considered, proposals must be complete and follow all instructions in the RFP. Companies may partner with multiple teams and/or submit multiple proposals.

72 What does selection following the RFP mean, and what are the next steps? Will an attendee list be shared?

This RFP is the solicitation for a land lease. If a proposal(s) is selected to move forward in the process, then NNSA will attempt to negotiate terms of a land lease. If it is determined by either the selected Offeror or NNSA that negotiations will not be successful, then negotiations will be terminated.

NNSA at its discretion may seek negotiations with other selected Offerors or terminate the RFP without signing a land lease. A list of entities that participated at Industry Day is posted on SAM.gov.

73 What are the citizenship requirements, if any, for this project?

NNSA shall review proposals for foreign ownership, control, and influence.

NNSA in its sole discretion may use this information to reject Offerors based on discovered security risks. Offerors must provide a foreign affiliations disclosure and certification available at:

https://www.energy.gov/ia/transparency-foreign-connections. The RFP does not specify citizenship requirements for personnel.

74 What are the positions/labor categories (LCATs) the government considers "Key Personnel"?

There are no LCATs.

75 Are there benchmarks or goals for water efficiency and carbon reduction?

NNSA is not applying numerical benchmarks or goals for water efficiency or carbon reductions through this RFP.

76 What does the down-select process look like for the approval of proposals?

See RFP Section 5.0.

77 What is NNSA preferred methodology for determining a "commercial rate" for land lease? How to price commercial land lease?

NNSA anticipates using fair market value.

78 Regarding the BLM-DOE Memorandum of Understanding (2016) for ROWs, can DOE clarify support and engagement expectations?

DOE/NNSA owns all the land within the boundaries of SRS except for the CSX railroad ROW described in Question 36. Existing ROWs for electricity transmission infrastructure are currently under a lease agreement with Dominion Energy SC. Use of existing transmission ROWs will require coordination with Dominion Energy and approval of NNSA. Use of ROWs not under lease agreement with Dominion Energy SC and newly proposed ROWs will be considered using the SRS Site Use Permitting process described in Section 2.1(f).

79 What LPO and GDO opportunities are applicants eligible for, and what can't LPO finance? Does the RFP preclude DOE financial participation in infrastructure improvements?

See RFP Section 3.5.

80 If a development consortium builds an AI data center and power generation, will NNSA purchase power from it? Will federal dollars be used to buy Data Center capacity?

South Carolina law gives Dominion Energy SC the exclusive right to sell power within the region where SRS is located. Offerors may discuss the possibility and implications of entering into a data services agreement with NNSA, e.g., providing computational resources to NNSA or NNSA-affiliated researchers or other relevant collaboration models. However, the proposed Project must be viable without any direct data services agreement or financial contribution by NNSA.

81 Will LPO loans cover GPUs as integral components of a data center, making them eligible "equipment" Project Costs?

The Office of Energy Dominance Financing (EDF), formerly the Loan Programs Office (LPO), offers loan and loan guarantees to support energy deployment (RFP Section 3.5.1). For further questions on eligibility of programs, please contact EDF at https://www.energy.gov/EDF.

82 Will vendors have site access for due diligence (geotechnical, land surveys) prior to lease execution (duration, restrictions, permitted individuals)? Will the vendors be required to be in SRS’s approved vendor list for these projects?

These activities will be allowed after Offeror's selected to move into the negotiation process are determined. Offerors will need to be registered in SAM.gov and follow the qualifications of the RFP. Since the RFP is for a land lease, the SRS approved vendor list is not relevant.

83 Will there be a related procurement process for a Project Management Officer (PMO) provider to help NNSA/SRS coordinate execution of selected projects?

NNSA does not anticipate assigning a Project Management Officer (PMO).

NNSA will provide a point of contact to help address issues requiring coordination between lessees and NNSA, however this person may not be acting in the traditional role of project manager, 84 What are the expected timeframes for development and operations, and how do they align with funding opportunities? What are the anticipated deployment timeline preferences or commissioning date "goals"?

What are the overall project milestones and what does success look like over five years?

NNSA seeks proposals that can articulate rapid and realistic development timeframes. Offerors may propose any timeframe for each phase. See RFP Section 4.4.2 on requirements for describing the Project Plan.

85 Can NNSA provide estimated timelines for accelerated permitting processes?

Permitting timelines will depend in part on the nature of the project described in the selected application. For more information on DOE's NEPA process, which has been revised to improve the efficiency of permitting, please see DOE's NEPA implementing procedures (June 2025 revision).

The SC Department of Environmental Services has been able to accelerate the permitting process under certain conditions. Offerors should discuss this possibility directly with the regulator. A point of contact is available on the SAM.gov RFP listing.

86 What is the target date to start building? If a project plan includes multiple phases, is there a maximum allowed timeline for later deployment phases?

NNSA seeks proposals that can articulate rapid and realistic development timeframes. See RFP Section 4.4.2. There is no maximum allowed timeline for later deployment phases; however, timelines will factor into the evaluation decisions.

87 How does SRS envision participating in the project (deployment, operations, findings, commercialization)? Will awarded bidders have a dedicated NNSA project manager?

See answers to Questions 79 and 80 above.

88 What are the quality control measures, and are they the contractor's responsibility? Who determines what "adversely affects" means, and what is the approval process for potentially impactful activities?

NNSA anticipates that applicants will be responsible for their own quality control plans. NNSA has the sole authority to make determinations as to what constitutes an adverse effect on the adequate protection of health and safety; site security; or environmental, operational, or land use constraints.

89 Will NNSA provide guidance/templates for emergency response planning?

There is an active regional and site emergency management program. All selectees will be required to integrate with this program and provide the necessary information to assist them with integration.

90 Will SRS’s agreement with Dominion Energy SC be leveraged for temporary construction/permanent data center power?

See RFP Sections 4.4.2(i), (j) and (k)

91 Will NNSA assist with obtaining real property rights, permitting, etc., for energy infrastructure on non-NNSA land serving the NNSA parcel?

No. This RFP is for the lease of land only.

92 Are applicants required to use NNSA/contractor services for construction/permitting on SRS? Who is the primary POC at SRS for project requirements?

Offerors are not required to use NNSA or NNSA contractors to build at the site. An NNSA PoC will be identified at the appropriate time. See Question 79.

93 What site services (including fire, medical, telecom, fiber, water/sewer tie-ins) are potentially available via Interface Agreements, and how is "full cost recovery" priced/estimated?

All interface agreements will be concluded during lease negotiations.

Based on the requirements of each tenant, SRS will determine whether the current infrastructure can support all tenants. If the current infrastructure can support all tenants without modification, then each tenant will receive the level of infrastructure requested. Using water infrastructure as an example, the cost of the water to each tenant will be equal to their share of the operations and maintenance cost of water system. The rate will be determined by dividing the total operations and maintenance cost by the total water consumption of all users of the system to establish a rate per gallon of water used. Each tenant will then be charged monthly the established rate for the number of gallons used. The rate will be established annually based on the estimated operations and maintenance cost. At the end of the year, the actual cost for maintenance and operations will be determined for the year and the amount charged to each tenant adjusted up or down to cover only the actual maintenance and operations cost. Other infrastructure cases may be different depending on the nature of the infrastructure, e.g. security services.

If it is determined that the current infrastructure must be upgraded to support the demand of a new tenant or a significant change in the demand from an existing tenant, the tenants whose demand is creating the need for system upgrades will bear the entire cost of the system upgrades in addition to their share of the normal operations and maintenance cost. Once the system upgrades are complete all tenants will share the normal operations and maintenance cost as described above.

94 How will NNSA weigh Tribal and local community input regarding water use, particularly in drought years?

The terms and conditions of SRS water withdrawal permits are subject to the South Carolina Drought Response Act.

95 Will federal labor rate standards (e.g., Davis- Bacon) be required? Are there any union labor requirements or local hiring requirements we should be aware of?

The Davis-Bacon Act may be applicable to a resulting agreement. There are no union labor requirements or local hiring requirements currently.

However, SRS has Project Labor Agreements including SRNS, SRMC and SRPPF applicable to Davis-Bacon Act covering work occurring on the SRS.

96 Are there specific NNSA or federal cybersecurity frameworks (e.g., NIST, CMMC) that must be followed for AI infrastructure?

NNSA is not specifying any cybersecurity frameworks for this RFP at this time, though Offerors should meet the security requirements of their customers for the compute. If Offerors propose Federal use cases for the compute, then there will be additional requirements. Offerors’ Security Plans should reflect industry best practices based on the technologies and use cases envisioned for the AI infrastructure. Note that EO 14299 directs DOE to “designate AI data centers, located at or operated in coordination with Department of Energy (DOE) facilities, as critical defense facilities.”

97 Will NNSA allow armed security onsite? Centerra-SRS, a subsidiary of Centerra Group, LLC, is contracted by NNSA to provide armed security support services for SRS. Centerra security services for Offeror’s facilities will be negotiated in a manner like other existing infrastructure negotiations, then agreements included in the lease.

The services Centerra provides to SRS are listed in the Industry Day presentation linked to SAM.gov.

98 From a national security perspective, are there Foreign Ownership, Control, or Influence (FOCI) considerations with potential partnerships. Are we allowed to leverage our non-US capabilities (remote) for any of the scope since this will be leased property of the Selectee(s)?

If security interests are involved, yes, there are FOCI considerations with potential partnerships. See RFP Pages 15 & 16.

99 Are National Labs certifications required to perform work? i.e., Utrain or Xtrain for site specific?

NNSA does not anticipate requiring National Laboratory certifications for these projects.

100 What matchmaking may NNSA facilitate for companies who may be interested in joining / forming consortia to seek leases of land at

SRS?

NNSA is facilitating formation of consortia only by providing the list of Industry Day registrants. NNSA will not take on the task of matching data center proposals to energy generation proposals.

101 Will this program include cryptocurrency mining facilities or data centers engaging in dual use AI/crypto operations?

NNSA has not ruled out any particular use, however, this initiative is intended to maintain and enhance American leadership in AI and energy generation to promote economic competitiveness, national security, and scientific advancement, in accordance with the AI Action Plan and EOs 14318, 14179, 14277, 14154, and 14299. Per page 14 of the RFP, favorable consideration will be given to projects that propose new integrated AI infrastructure.

102 Is NNSA thinking about its role in helping mitigate long lead times in equipment like transformers, switchgear, and advanced chips for developers — for example, using policy tools or bulk procurement approaches?

Helping mitigate long lead times is not within the scope of this RFP. This RFP is only for the leasing of Federal land. The DOE Office of Energy Dominance Financing (formerly LPO) has indicated a willingness to discuss ways that it can help mitigate the impact of long lead time equipment purchases.