Cincinnati — The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today issued a Draft Request for Proposal (RFP) seeking a contractor to perform Depleted Uranium Hexafluoride (DUF6) Operations at the two DUF6 conversion facilities at Portsmouth, Ohio, and Paducah, Kentucky.

A cost plus award fee contract with firm-fixed-price contract line items is anticipated. The total estimated value of the contract ranges from $400 million – $600 million with a base period of performance of three years and one two-year option period.

These facilities will convert DOE’s inventory of DUF6, located at the Portsmouth and Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plants, into a stable chemical form that will be acceptable for transportation, reuse, or disposal. A related objective is to provide cylinder surveillance and maintenance (S&M) of the DOE inventory of DUF6, low-enrichment uranium hexafluoride (UF6), natural assay UF6, and empty and heel cylinders in a safe and environmentally acceptable manner.
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The following is additional information on the Draft RFP:

Operation of Depleted Uranium Hexafluoride (DUF6) Conversion Facilities Project

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Environmental Management Consolidated Business Center (EMCBC) is currently in the acquisition planning stage for the potential award of a contract for the continuation of the Portsmouth Paducah Project Office Operation of Depleted Uranium Hexafluoride (DUF6) Conversion Facilities on DOE property at Paducah, Kentucky and Portsmouth, Ohio. The conversion facilities were designed and constructed to convert DOE’s inventory of DUF6 at the Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant and the Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant, to a more stable uranium oxide form for reuse, storage, and/or transportation and disposition. The Contractor shall continue to provide cylinder surveillance and maintenance (S&M) services for the DOE inventory of DUF6, low-enrichment uranium (LEU) hexafluoride (UF6), normal UF6, and empty and heel cylinders in a safe, compliant and environmentally acceptable manner.

The activities within the scope of this procurement include, but are not limited to, providing S&M for the DUF6 conversion facilities and associated equipment, operating the conversion facilities to convert the DUF6 from the inventory at Paducah and Portsmouth to uranium oxide at the conversion facilities; reusing, storing, transporting and/or and disposing of the DUF6 conversion process end-products; selling the aqueous hydrofluoric acid (AqHF) product; and, providing S&M services for the cylinder storage yards. Babcock & Wilcox Conversion Services, LLC is the incumbent contractor and its contract will expire on January 2016.

In accordance with FAR Part. 19.502-1, the Department of Energy (DOE) has determined that this acquisition will NOT be set-aside for Small Businesses and will be conducted on a FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION basis using FAR Part 15 procedures. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) number is 325180 Other Basic Inorganic Chemical Manufacturing, with a size standard of 1,000 employees.

The current anticipated schedule for the acquisition can be found at the DOE Acquisition Forecast website, http://hqlnc.doe.gov/Forecast, Opportunity ID DE030-16-0001. The Documents Library page of this website will be periodically updated to include project information to familiarize interested parties with the project and related contract requirements.

Interested parties may submit questions to duf6@emcbc.doe.gov

Contracting Officer: Wilmari Delgado – 513-246-0566
Contract Specialist: Jodi Gordon – 513-744-0977

Website: https://www.emcbc.doe.gov/SEB/DUF6/