U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Division of Contracts, Attn: BPC, Mail Stop T-7I2, Washington, D.C. 20555

A -- FIELD STUDIES AT THE APACHE LEAP TUFF SITE SOL RS-RES-95-041 DUE 031795 POC Mary H. Mace, Contracting Officer, 301/415-7314 /Paulette Smith, Contract Negotiator, 301/415-6594 The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) intends to negotiate a contract on a sole source basis with the University of Arizona (UAZ) to conduct field experiments and analyses of flow and transport phenomena associated with partially-saturated, heterogeneous, and fractured tuff. This proposed contract is related to work begun at the University of Arizona under Contract No. NRC-04-90- 051. The research effort will focus on investigations of: the role of fractures and fracture zones in flow and transport thru unsaturated, fractured rock above the water table and subject to perched water development; the use of isotopes and geochemical models to determine the rate and pathway of solute flux in unsaturated, fractured tuff; the mechanisms and conditions which affect ground- water flow and transport in unsaturated, fractured tuff; field methods, instrumentation and experiments for developing datasets that permits testing of alternative conceptual models for flow and transport in heterogeneous, unsaturated, fractured rock; and stochastic continuum models and scaling theory for predicting gas and liquid flow in matrix-fracture systems. The proposed period of performance is 4 years. This action is being pursued on a sole source basis because UAZ possesses a unique field site which has been developed for conducting the required testing and data collection. The UAZ research team, Drs. Randy Bassett, Shlomo P. Neuman, and Peter J. Wierenga also possess the acquired knowledge, experience and insights for developing the experimental test designs and their implementation as required. No other source outside the Department of Energy laboratories and contractors have access to an acceptable and developed test site. In addition, since this proposed effort is for the completion of prior research begun by the UAZ research team at their field site, it is expected that award to any other source would result in substantial duplication of cost to the NRC that is not expected to be recovered through competition. Interested respondents must submit written capability statements and resumes demonstrating as a minimum: 1. Extensive knowledge and experience in developing and implementing experimental designs and tests for collecting pneumatic, hydraulic and transport information in heterogeneous, unsaturated, fractured rock using field tests at various support scales. 2. Extensive knowledge and experience in conducting field tests for investigating the role of fractures and fracture zones in flow and transport thru unsaturated, fractured rock above the water table and subject to perched water development 3. Extensive experience and expertise in sampling and analyses of isotopes using appropriate field and laboratory methods and geochemical models to determine the rate and pathway of solute flux in unsaturated, fractured tuff. 4. Knowledge and experience with NRC regulatory requirements for disposal of high-level radioactive waste in unsaturated, fractured rock particularly those dealing with potentially adverse and favorable site characteristic criteria. 5. Access to a field site in which field experiments and data collection can be performed for: investigating mechanisms and conditions which affect ground-water flow and transport in unsaturated, fractured tuff; testing of field methods, instrumentation and characterization strategies; and evaluating alternative conceptual models for flow and transport in heterogeneous, unsaturated, fractured rock. 6. Thorough understanding of the phenomena affecting ground-water flow and radionuclide transport in unsaturated fractured rock and knowledge of work to date by DOE and NRC. 7. Absence of organizational conflict of interest. Telephonic responses and responses providing insufficient information for evaluation will not be considered. See numbered Note 22. (0030)

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