7A--notice of intent to sole source 12 month resfracpro simulation software subscri

Notice of Intent to Sole Source 12 month ResFracPro simulation software subscription, licensed on an hourly basis.

In accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 13, Simplified Acquisition Procedures, the Department of Energy (DOE), National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) intends to award a purchase order on a sole source basis to ResFrac. NETL requires a simulation software that can provide fully coupled hydraulic fracture, reservoir, and geomechanics reproduction. The ResFrac is the sole distributor of the ResFracPro simulation software, and it is the only type of software commercially available where subsurface physics are inherently coupled and fluid flow through the matrix and fracture propagation occur simultaneously. The coupling of the physics allows for enhanced realism of subsurface processes compared to other numerical solutions, which solve these physics in separate codes. Conventional reservoir simulators calculate temperature changes of the working fluid (CO2) during injection, and some packages can calculate thermal stresses. However, these codes do not truly model the fracture mechanical opening and propagation, effects with proppant distribution within fractures, etc. Conversely, a frac simulator could do fracture propagation and proppant transport, but not the calculation of thermal stresses or compositional effects of using CO2. This is considered a sole source to ResFrac as to the best of the NETL’s knowledge, based on market research conducted, ResFrac is the only known source that can offer this specific software’s capabilities. No known potential alternate sources exist which could satisfy NETL's requirement.

This notice of intent is not a request for quote/proposal. Any interested party that believes it can meet the NETL requirement described herein may identify themselves and must provide evidence of their capability to fulfill the requirement being requested by 1:00 PM ET on April 13, 2024. Responses must be submitted in writing to the purchasing agent, Rebekah Parks, via email at rebekah.parks@netl.doe.gov no later than the time and date noted above. Telephone responses and requests will not be received.

A determination by the Government not to compete this requirement based on responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Information received will be considered solely for determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement.