Fabricate and Install Underwater Saw in the NIST Reactor Spent Fuel Pool

Amendment 0003 is to document additional questions and responses to the solicitation.

Amendment 0002 is to document additional questions and responses to the solictation. In addition, Amendment 0002 provides drawings referenced in Amendment 0001 and site visit photos.

For drawings 3-4 Rev 3, 3-5 Rev 9, and 4-3 Rev 4 referenced in Amendment 0001, request for these must be made in writing and forwarded via email to the primary and/or the secondary point of contact. 

Amendment 0001 is to document questions and responses to the solicitation. In addition, Amendment 0001 also provides the list of attendees at the site visit.

Solicitation for the NBSR Underwater Saw is hereby attached.

The National Institute of Standards and Technology's (NIST) mission is to promote U.S. innovation and industrial competitiveness by advancing measurement science, standards, and technology in ways that enhance economic security and improve quality of life.

Spent irradiated fuel assemblies and regulating rods (shim arms) from the NIST reactor (NBSR) are stored in the NBSR spent fuel pool prior to disposal. The pool is filled with about 33,000 gallons of water (ASTM Type II demineralized water). The dimensions of the storage area of the pool are 10 feet wide, 20 feet long and 18 feet deep. The storage area is serviceable by a 2-ton overhead crane. The crane has an electric lift but is manually positioned.

Fuel and shim arm assemblies are cut into predetermined sized pieces prior to packaging and shipping. Currently, Reactor Operations uses two saws to perform the cutting, one for fuel assemblies and one for shim arm assemblies. The saws are stored outside of the pool. When needed, they are lowered into the pool and connected to their power source (3 phase power and compressed air). Cutting is cumbersome because the fuel elements and shim arms are stored vertically prior to being cut but must be laid down horizontally in the saw in order to be cut. Cutting in the proper place is extremely important so that the uranium in the fuel element and the cadmium in the shim arm are not disturbed. Because of this, proper loading of the saw has to be checked, re-checked and monitored before and during the cutting process. After the cutting process, the saw has to be cleaned and decontaminated before being returned to its storage place. The machining debris also has to be collected and stored for disposal. Some of the debris is collected by the saw's filter but most is scattered on the pool floor and has to be vacuumed up.

The objective of this procurement is to simplify this process by having a new saw designed and built that can cut both fuel element and shim arm assemblies in a vertical position; be easily loaded and unloaded; be located permanently in the pool; and be able to contain and collect the machining debris at NIST NSBR in Gaithersburg, Maryland.

The North American Industrial Classification System (NAICS) code applicable to this project is NAICS code 541330. The Small Business Size Standard is $15,000,000 in annual receipts. This requirement is 100% set-aside for small business. Contracting by Negotiation procedures shall be utilized under the authority of FAR Part 15.

The competitive Request for Proposals (RFP), amendments, and all questions and answers related to this procurement shall be made available through the Internet at HTTP://WWW.FEDBIZOPPS.GOV under RFP number SB1341-17-RP-0009.

A site visit will be included in this solicitation. Details on the site visit will be posted with the solicitation.

Potential offerors shall be responsible for obtaining this solicitation and related amendments, if any, from www.fbo.gov after the solicitation has been posted. It is, and will continue to be, the responsibility of each potential offeror to monitor www.fbo.gov for any amendments or other information related to the solicitation.

Any communications regarding this acquisition must be made in writing and forwarded via email to donald.collie@nist.gov, and shall identify the solicitation number, company name, company address, as well as point of contact email address and phone number.

NIST anticipates posting the solicitation approximately fifteen (15) days after the date of publication of this notice.