CBD<99> COMMERICAL SECTOR PROVISION OF IRRADIATION SERVICES FOR PRODUCTION OF PLUTONIUM-238 FOR USE IN ADVANCED RADIOISOTOPE POWER SYSTEMS FOR FURTURE SPACE MISSIONS
Commerce Business Daily
COMMERICAL SECTOR PROVISION OF IRRADIATION SERVICES FOR PRODUCTION OF
PLUTONIUM-238 FOR USE IN ADVANCED RADIOISOTOPE POWER SYSTEMS FOR FURTURE
SPACE MISSIONS
Category : <99> (Miscellaneous)
Address : U.S. Department of Energy, Oakland Operations Office, 1301 Clay
Street, Room 700N, Oakland, CA 94612-5208
Sol. no. :
Contact : Tyndal Lindler, Contracting Officer, 510 637-1885 WEB: click here
to download a copy of the responses to questions,
http://www.oak.doe.gov (Select OAK Procurement). E-MAIL: click
here to contact the contracting officer via,
tyndal....@oak.doe.gov.
Due : 18 Feb, 1999
DUE 021899 POC Tyndal Lindler, Contracting Officer, 510 637-1885 WEB:
click here to download a copy of the responses to questions,
http://www.oak.doe.gov (Select OAK Procurement). E-MAIL: click here to
contact the contracting officer via, tyndal....@oak.doe.gov. I.
PURPOSE: The Department of Energy (DOE), Office of Nuclear Energy,
Science and Technology is currently preparing an Environmental Impact
Statement(EIS)for the proposed production of Pu-238 for use in advanced
radioisotope power systems for future space missions. As initially
conceived, the EIS would have addressed only alternatives in which DOE
nuclear reactors would irradiate neptunium-237 (Np-237) targets to
produce Pu-238. During the EIS scoping meetings, however, representatives
of the commercial light water reactor sector expressed interest in
providing these irradiation services. Accordingly, DOE is considering
this commercial sector irradiation service initiative in order to explore
whether commercial irradiation is a potential reasonable alternative for
the production of Pu-238 and to determine the potential for cost
savings. This is not a request for proposals, but rather an attempt to
obtain information and to identify private sector entities interested in
performing this irradiation service. This initiative extends only to
irradiation services and not to any of the other functions reviewed in
the EIS, i.e., storage of Np-237, target fabrication and chemical
processing activities associated with Pu-238 production. In accordance
with its responsibilities under the National Space Policy issued in
September 1996 and consistent with its nuclear charter under the Atomic
Energy Act of 1954, as amended, DOE is proposing to establish a reliable
domestic supply source for Pu-238 to meet the radioisotope-fueled power
requirements for future space missions. Pu-238 is not weapons grade
plutonium. DOE's existing inventory of Pu-238 available for space
missions (approximately 9 kgs purchased primarily from Russia) will be
exhausted by about 2004. Though additional firm missions cannot be
specified at this time, some future space missions will require
Pu-238-fueled radioisotope power systems over the planning horizon of the
next 20 to 25 years. A production rate of 2-5 kgs of Pu-238 per year
would be sufficient to meet these projected long-term requirements. DOE
anticipates that Np-237 oxide powder (used to produce pellets which are
placed into targets and subsequently irradiated) would be stored and the
Np-237 targets would be fabricated at a DOE site. Under this commercial
scenario, these targets would then be shipped to a commercial light
water reactor for irradiation. The private entity would then ship the
irradiated targets back to the DOE site for chemical processing. Pu-238
production operations that fall under the scope of this possible
commercial sector initiative include: receipt of Np-237 targets from a
to-be-determined DOE site (either the Radiochemical Engineering
Development Center in Oak Ridge, TN, or the Fuels and Materials
Examination Facility at the Hanford site in WA); irradiation of Np-237
targets to produce Pu-238 with Pu-236 impurity levels of less than 2ppm
and consistent with production goals of 2 to 5 kgs/year; and, storage,
packaging, and shipment of irradiated targets back to a to be-determined
DOE site for chemical processing. Depending on the nature of the
responses to this request for expressions of interest and on subsequent
determinations by DOE, the Department may publish a formal solicitation
for competitive proposals in the future. Any award would be made based
upon an evaluation of proposals received pursuant to the evaluation
criteria as stated in the formal solicitation. II.AREAS OF DOE INTEREST:
The DOE is seeking Expressions of Interest by the commercial light water
reactor sector in providing services for the irradiation of Np-237
targets associated with the production of Pu-238 for use in advanced
radioisotope power systems for future space missions. Expressions of
Interest should be structured to address: 1)Current experience in
performing the work described above. The Expression of Interest must
demonstrate reasonable knowledge of a sound, scientific approach and an
appreciation of technical, cost, and regulatory risks. 2)Probability of
success, clarity of objectives, and quality of approach. The approach
should be based on well-defined objectives, milestones, and deliverables.
The approach should contain a reasonable and practical plan for providing
the maximum private sector participation on a financial and managerial
basis. 3)Description of environmental impacts, community impacts,
regulatory status/history, and procedures for safeguarding sensitive
nuclear materials at interested facilities. 4)Estimation of costs to
perform irradiation services consistent with desired Pu-238 production
rate goal of 2-5 kgs/year. III.EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST FORMAT: The length
of the Expression of Interest should not be more than 15 pages (double
spaced) using 12-point type font. While the responder may determine how
best to use the 15 pages, we recommend the following format: SECTION I
-Summary; SECTION 2 -- Comments on commercial involvement in DOE's Pu-238
production operation with specific reference to items 1 through 4 above;
SECTION 3 -- Qualifications and experience of respondents in Pu-238
production operations or operations of similar complexity and nuclear
operations. When describing similar work which has been performed,
include the name of the organization, contract number, and name and
telephone number of the organization's contracting officer. PROPRIETARY
INFORMATION: If the Expression of Interest contains information that is
privileged or confidential and which the respondent does not want
disclosed to the public or used by the Federal Government for any purpose
other than this Notice, the respondent should place the following notice
on the Expression of Interest. "Notice: The data contained in the pages
of this Expression of Interest have been submitted in confidence and
contain trade secrets or commercial or financial information that is
confidential or privileged, and such data should be used or disclosed
only for purposes of consideration of this response. This restriction
does not limit the Government's right to use or disclose data obtained
without restriction from any source, including the respondent." The
respondent should mark the pages that are considered "Proprietary
Information". SUBMISSION: Each submittal should consist of an original
and three photocopies, and be mailed to Tyndal Lindler, Contracting
Officer, U. S. Department of Energy, Oakland Operations Office, 1301 Clay
Street, MS 700N, Oakland, CA 94612-5208. DOE will not consider
attachments or appendices. Respondents may submit questions within 10
days of the Commerce Business Daily notice being published. Questions may
be submitted by e:mail to tyndal....@oak.doe.gov or by fax to (510)
637-2004. Responses to questions will be provided on the DOE Home Page
www.doe.gov. The original copy of the Expression of Interest shall
contain all documents that bear original signatures. DOE is under no
obligation to pay for any costs associated with the preparation or
submission of Expressions of Interest in response to this Notice. DOE
reserves the right to respond or not respond to any portion, all, or none
of the Expressions of Interest submitted in response to this Notice.
Posted 01/04/99 (W-SN284770). (0004)