Management and Operating Contractor for the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory (FNAL)

THIS IS A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) ONLY.  No solicitation is available.  This RFI is released pursuant to FAR Part 10 and FAR 15.201, Exchanges with Industry, for the purpose of conducting market research. 

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is currently in the acquisition planning phase for a contractor to manage and operate the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory (FNAL) located in Batavia, IL.  FNAL was established in 1967 and is funded primarily by DOE’s Office of Science (SC).

FNAL is a single-purpose laboratory that leads the nation in the construction and operation of world-leading accelerator and detector facilities and in developing the underlying technology for particle physics research.  The primary mission of FNAL is delivering breakthrough science and technology in the area of high energy particle physics.  To carry this out, FNAL has a staff of approximately 2,100 employees, consisting of both direct hires and augmented personnel, and a current annual budget of approximately $614 million.  FNAL is located on a federally owned 6,800-acre site which houses approximately 370 buildings. 

The purpose of this notice is to request information from interested parties regarding perceived barriers to competition associated with this acquisition.  This market research will assist SC with identifying and minimizing barriers to competition, identifying and mitigating risks, developing the acquisition strategy, and identifying appropriate Request for Proposals (RFP) terms and conditions. 

Due to the preliminary stage of this acquisition, there is only a draft Statement of Work (SOW) available at this time which is attached for information. 

Responses to this notice should include the following information as appropriate and applicable:

(1)  Business name; business size status (e.g., large, small, 8a, etc.); and a point of contact, including a telephone number and an email address.

(2)  Identify any major ambiguities, challenges and risks in performing the scope provided in the draft SOW.  Based on the draft SOW, identify key information needed to augment and/or address in the subsequent RFP.  Define targeted information on current performance challenges that is essential to advise an interested party.

(3)  Describe any concerns you perceive as barriers or significant risks that would prevent qualified companies from submitting a proposal to the subsequent RFP (e.g., a perceived competitive advantage by one or more other prospective offerors, the incentive structure in SC M&O contracts, partnering arrangement, etc.).    

(4)  Based on the concerns identified above, describe any suggestions that could help mitigate those perceived barriers or significant risks.  Also, describe any perceived barriers or significant risks you might perceive as too difficult to reasonably mitigate (if any). 

(5)  This contract will require execution of the largest project management portfolio in the Office of Science, substantial interface with international partners, and modernization of business and operational systems/processes.  Identify any information regarding these challenges and expectations that would be pertinent to provide to interested parties to promote an understanding of the requirements.

(6)  Describe partnering arrangements (as appropriate) which might facilitate your submission of a proposal or mitigate perceived barriers to formulating a successful proposal.

All interested parties are invited to submit a response to this RFI.  Interested parties are not required to respond to all items. Submissions can include responses to one or all of the items above.  While there is no specific format required, responses should be no more than five (5) pages with a font no smaller than size 12.  Responses should be submitted to FNALcompetition@science.doe.gov.  The subject of the email should read “Request for Information”.  Submissions in response to this notice do not commit an interested party to submit a proposal, nor does failure to submit a response preclude an interested party from submitting a proposal.  RFI’s should be submitted no later than 5:00 p.m. Central Time on February 23, 2023.  

DOE reserves the right to use any and all information submitted by, or obtained from, an interested party in any manner DOE determines is appropriate, including, but not limited to, the creation of a competitive solicitation.  Interested parties should not include any classified, business confidential, and/or proprietary information in their responses.  DOE personnel may contact parties responding to this notification to clarify responses as part of this market research process.

It is the intent of DOE to ensure the solicitation process is transparent and current.  Future information regarding the solicitation, including questions and answers, if appropriate, will be posted on the competition website at https://science.osti.gov/Acquisition-Management/M-and-O-Competitions.  This website will be the primary distribution medium used to disseminate information relating to this competition as it becomes available.  Offerors are responsible for frequently monitoring the website for information, notices, and updates regarding the solicitation.

DOE looks forward to engaging with the community, industry, and other interested parties in a transparent and collaborative manner throughout the solicitation process for a contractor to manage and operate FNAL.  

THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS AND SHALL NOT BE CONSTRUED AS A COMMITMENT BY THE GOVERNMENT TO AWARD A CONTRACT AT THIS TIME.

Place of Performance: 
Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory 
Kirk Road and Pine Street
Batavia, IL 60510-5011
United States