Loren Data's SAM Daily™

FBO DAILY ISSUE OF JUNE 24, 2006 FBO #1671
SOURCES SOUGHT

A -- REQUEST FOR EXPRESSION OF INTEREST PRECONCEPTUAL ENGINEERING SERVICES FOR THE NEXT GENERATION NUCLEAR PLANT (NGNP) PROTOTYPE TO PRODUCE PROCESS HEAT, HYDROGEN AND ELECTRICITY, AT THE INL

Notice Date

6/22/2006
 

Notice Type

Sources Sought
 

NAICS

541330 — Engineering Services
 

Contracting Office

Department of Energy, Idaho National Laboratory (DOE Contractor), Idaho National Laboratory, 2525 Fremont P.O. Box 1625, Idaho Falls, ID, 83415-3920
 

ZIP Code

83415-3920
 

Solicitation Number

Reference-Number-PROC34
 

Response Due

7/14/2006
 

Archive Date

7/29/2006
 

Description

I. INTRODUCTION Battelle Energy Alliance (BEA), Management & Operating Contractor of the Idaho National Laboratory (INL), is requesting an expression of interest from prospective candidates (teams, consortiums, join ventures, etc.) to provide pre-conceptual engineering services for the Next Generation Nuclear Plant (NGNP) prototype that produces process heat, hydrogen and electricity. This expression of interest shall serve as a method of screening potential candidates, targeting qualified entities to receive a formal Request for Proposal (RFP). Participation in the pre-conceptual design activities described herein neither pre-qualifies nor dis-qualifies the prospective vendor for later design work for NGNP. II. PURPOSES The purpose of this request for expression of interest includes identifying commercial energy industry entities interested in participating in the development and design of the NGNP prototype. The qualified responders will receive a formal Request for Proposal for the scope of work summarized herein. The purposes of initiating the pre-conceptual design work described herein include: Assisting in focusing the technical scope and priorities of research & development activities for the NGNP. Providing a basis for subsequent development of the technical and functional specifications for the prototype facilities for NGNP. This request for expression of interest (and subsequent RFP) is consistent with the Phase I scope of work defined for the NGNP Project in the Energy Policy Act of 2005. Phase I will define the initial design parameters for the NGNP, select the principal hydrogen production technology, and conduct supporting research and development. III. BACKGROUND The Department of Energy has selected the Idaho National Laboratory (INL) as the lead national laboratory for nuclear energy research. Per the terms of the Energy Policy Act of 2005, Title VI, Subtitle C, Section 662, INL, under the direction of the DOE, will lead the development of the NGNP by integrating, conducting, and coordinating all necessary research & development activities and by organizing project participants. INL will be responsible for conducting site and project related procurements and coordinating project efforts with industry and the international community. There is a national strategic need to promote further reliance on safe, clean, economical nuclear energy. In the 2003 State of the Union Address, President Bush launched a new National Hydrogen Fuel Initiative to provide domestically produced clean-burning hydrogen to the transportation sector as an alternative to imported oil. The combination of these two objectives, to promote nuclear energy and to produce clean-burning hydrogen, can be met simultaneously with the development of new advanced reactor and hydrogen generation technology. The Department?s mission need is to develop this combined technology that will enable the continued use of secure, domestic nuclear energy, and establish a greenhouse-gas-free technology for the production of hydrogen, thereby supporting both the President?s agenda for a hydrogen economy and the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE?s) strategic goal to promote a diverse supply of energy. IV. GENERAL DESIGN SERVICES NEEDED The INL is seeking to select Engineering Services for pre-conceptual design work to focus and prioritize research & development work, and in preparation for Conceptual Design on the NGNP. The pre-conceptual design work will include evaluation of a range of design parameters and alternatives, and based on the justification for the parameters and alternatives so-developed, prepare a pre-conceptual design for the NGNP prototype facilities. The design parameters and alternatives to be evaluated will include thermal power level, reactor outlet and inlet temperatures, primary and secondary system pressures, reactor design (e.g., pebble bed compared to prismatic block), power conversion concept (e.g., direct compared to indirect cycle, power conversion machinery concept), process heat transfer and transport concepts (e.g., intermediate heat exchanger concepts, heat transport media), and hydrogen production capability. An important purpose of the evaluation of parameters and alternatives is to determine the most appropriate configuration of the prototype to enable subsequent commercialization of NGNP technologies (e.g., scaling and licensing considerations). Research & development needs deemed necessary to select such parameters and alternatives will be identified. The subcontractor shall conduct concept design studies as described above to define the commercial scale prototype reactor, electrical power generation system, process heat transfer and transport systems, and the hydrogen generation plant for the NGNP using very high temperature reactor technology. The subcontractor shall also provide input regarding the appropriate overall licensing strategy that should be followed for the NGNP prototype. The pre-conceptual design shall establish the basic reactor geometry and layout; perform reactor physics, thermal fluids studies, and heat balance and emissions calculations; provide subsystem identification and relative sizing (heat exchangers, pumps, compressors, piping, structural, etc.) including balance of plant support facilities; provide general site layout, subsystem/plant interfaces, etc. The modular reactor design shall be based on a single module capacity. The optimal size and design temperature for the reactor type shall be determined for a ?commercial scale prototype reactor? for electrical power generation and optimal hydrogen production efficiencies and other industry applications of high temperature process heat. The smallest practical hydrogen plant to demonstrate production as a commercial prototype shall be recommended. The nuclear system concept designs shall include concept design layout for the optimal sized hydrogen production plant for commercial scale demonstration for the NGNP and shall specifically address separation distance required if any, between the nuclear plant and the hydrogen plant, based on safety and licensing requirements. The overall nuclear system design work shall assemble current research & development, design information and information status (what is known and what is unknown) into a single report. This work will include industry literature research on: current and emerging technologies for very high temperature reactors, hydrogen and electricity production, other industry high temperature process heat applications study, the site study at the INL, capital cost estimates, operating cost estimates, life cycle cost estimates, economic analysis, and project schedule, all at a pre-conceptual design level of detail. Information from the concept designs will: provide a foundation to define the next level of technical and functional requirements, provide NGNP management with important information required to make decisions mandated in the Energy Policy Act of 2005, provide NGNP program management with geometric data, identification of critical Structures, Systems, and Components (SSC) and data that are needed to further direct and focus planned research and development in the areas of reactor safety and design methods, fuels, materials, and licensing. An RFP will be issued with work scope identified along with preliminary contract terms and conditions. The Subcontractor(s) will be selected based on scored weighted selection criteria that may include but not be limited to: technical and administrative capabilities, experience and qualifications of key management and engineering personnel of the Subcontractors proposed team, related work experience and references, rates and fees, ability to staff the work, resources, extent and limits of cost share proposals (proprietary proposals/agreements, value-in-kind, e.g., existing applicable studies, designs or concepts, etc.) and similar other criteria. V. SUBMITTAL REQUIREMENTS Candidates shall provide brief statements of qualifications in the following areas: 1) A description of current knowledge or capabilities related to Pebble Bed and Prismatic reactor system design, Hydrogen plant design and balance of plant design. 2) Demonstrated ability to integrate specialty disciplines and industry expertise to provide for an integrated pre-conceptual design for a concept reactor(s), power generation and hydrogen production plant. Specialties shall include but not be limited to reactor design, Brayton cycle turbomachinery, controls, hydrogen production, and balance of plant engineering and design. 3) The vendor must also be able to effectively identify and evaluate technology development status and needs. 4) A minimum of three references who represent a direct client of your (lead) firm that can validate past history regarding reactor engineering and design services, ability to assemble and integrate highly specialized design elements and performance satisfaction. 5) An indication of whether the firm possesses the capability to design a commercial scale prototype NGNP modular reactor, including examples of past design efforts. 6) A statement to describe candidate?s Quality Program Plan with a discussion on how it is or could be ?qualified? to ASME NQA-1, 2000, requirements for engineering design services. Failure to provide the requisite submittals may result in the candidate being determined ineligible for receipt of a formal RFP. Again, it is the intent of this expression of interest to only solicit formal proposals (through the RFP process) from candidate firms who can and will provide all submittal requirements identified within this EOI and to those firms who, through the evaluation of provided submittals, indicate that they possess the resources and capabilities to successfully perform the required tasks. Please provide your expression of interest to the undersigned by Close-of-Business, July 14, 2006. If you have questions or need additional information, please contact Robert T. Crowton on Extension (208) 526-7746 or email robert.crowton@inl.gov. Technical questions must be submitted in writing (U.S. Mail or email).
 

Place of Performance

Address: 2525 Fremont, P.O. Box 1625, Idaho Falls, ID

Zip Code: 83415-1303

Country: USA
 

Record

SN01075381-W 20060624/060622220551 (fbodaily.com)
 

Source

FedBizOpps Link to This Notice
(may not be valid after Archive Date)

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