U.S. Department of Energy, Savannah River Operations Office, Contracts Management Division, P.O. Box A, Aiken, South Carolina 29802

B -- HISTORY OF THE SAVANNAH RIVER SITE (SRS) POC A. Sistrunk, Contract Specialist, (803) 725-8123. The DOE at the Savannah River Site (SRS), Aiken, South Carolina, intends to release a solicitation on or about September 30, 1996, inviting submission of applications to preserve the history of the SRS; applications are expected to be due November 8, 1996. This project is intended to record respondent data regarding inception of the site in the early 1950s to the present. The grantee will conduct research and compile available material and educate the public on the scientific and/or cultural heritage of the SRS. SRS was constructed during the early 1950s to produce basic materials used in nuclear weapons, primarily tritium and plutonium-239. Five Reactors were built to produce nuclear materials by irradiating target materials with neutrons. Also built were support facilities including two chemical separations plants, a heavy water extraction plant, a nuclear fuel and target fabrication facility and waste management facilities. Irradiated materials moved from the reactors to one of the two chemical separations facilities - the next step in the production process. In these facilities, known as ``canyons'', the irradiated fuel and target assemblies were chemically processed to separate useful products from waste. After refinement, nuclear materials were shipped to other DOE sites for final use. SRS produced about 36 metric tons of plutonium from 1953 to 1988. SRS has adjusted to meet declining defense requirements. All five production reactors are permanently shut down, a reflection of the end of the Cold War. Until fresh supplies of tritium are available, recycling and reloading of tritium to keep the nation's supply of nuclear weapons is a continuing site mission. Interested parties should note that funds are not presently available for this project. Expressions of interest should be made in writing or be transmitted via facsimile (FAX) to (803) 725-8573. Telephonic requests will not be accepted. (232)

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