U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Division of Contracts, Attn: Linda Wise MS-T-7I2, Washington, D.C. 20555

B -- ORPHAN SOURCE RECOVERY PROGRAM POC Contact: Mary H. Mace, Contracting Officer, 301/415-7314, Paulette Smith, Contract Negotiator, 301/415-6594 This synopsis is not a request for proposals. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is seeking a contractor to provide an ongoing, readily available capability for the recovery and transfer or disposal of discrete "orphaned" radioactive material -- referred to as an orphan source -- that may be causing a health and safety risk to members of the public. Examples of orphan sources include licensed and/or unlicensed radioactive material in any of the following conditions: o In an uncontrolled condition which requires removal to protect the public health and safety from a radiological threat; o Controlled or uncontrolled, but for which a responsible party cannot readily be identified; o Controlled, but for which the continued security of the material cannot be assured; or o In the possession of an unlicensed person who did not seek to possess the material. This recovery may require the contractor to travel to the location of the material and recover, package, and deliver (or arrange for this service) the material for transport to an authorized licensee or licensed near-surface disposal facility. The contractor may also be requested to identify potential recipients (other authorized licensees or acceptable disposal sites) or attempt to identify the sealed source and/or device (by isotope, activity, model number, serial number, manufacturer, or other identifying marks on the sealed source or device) in which the material is contained. In addition, the contractor would be expected to be available to respond to an identification of an orphan source in as little as 24-48 hours, depending upon the health and safety threat posed by the material. Types of radioactive material that may need to be recovered: o Byproduct material (possibly also plutonium and depleted uranium shielding), as defined in the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended, with a waste classification of C or less, as defined in Section 61.55 of 10 CFR Part 61; o The above radioactive material contained in sealed sources, either unshielded or contained in devices, and in various conditions (possibly even damaged). In some cases, the sealed source may be leaking and/or breached; o Unsealed radioactive material in a discrete condition (contained within a small area, such as activated metals or a sealed source that has been breached, but is contained); and o Radioactive material which cannot initially be well-defined, such as unidentified isotope, activity, form, or condition. Capabilities that would be required: o "On-demand" responses to identification of an orphan source that would require recovery and transfer or disposal; o Appropriate license(s) and/or authorization(s) that would allow recovery of a broad range of the radioactive materials, as outlined above, possessed by authorized and unauthorized persons; o Ability to package and transport radioactive material, including: o knowledge and understanding of DOT and NRC packaging and transport regulations and requirements; o ability to prepare and transport Type A andType B shipments, and determine which type shipment would be appropriate or required; o access to both Type A and B shipping containers, and o a quality assurance program approved in accordance with 10 CFR Part 71, Subpart H, and applicable Agreement State equivalents (i.e., authorization to package and transport Type B shipments from within NRC jurisdiction and from any Agreement State). o Knowledge of the requirements for, and ability to prepare, radioactive material for disposal in a licensed near-surface land disposal facility (low-level waste disposal site); o Ability to respond to locations within all 50 states and territories of the United States; o Ability to separate, if needed, sealed sources from the devices in which they may be installed for disposal purposes; and o Decontamination and clean-up ability would only be required for activities directly associated with the contractor's recovery activities. Other factors that may or may not be required, but which would be helpful: o Familiarity with sealed sources, and the devices in which they may be installed, for identification purposes and an ability to perform an analysis of the sealed source and/or device for the following: o isotope(s) identification; o activity determination; o determination of identifying markings (such as model number, serial number, manufacturer's logo or trademark, etc.) on the sealed source and/or device. This may require varying degrees of cleaning of the sealed source or device and magnification of identifying markings, such as micro-engraving (no greater than 50X magnification, typically 10X); and o rough dimensions (typically to within 10% accuracy; sealed sources may be as small as 1.0 mm x 1.0 mm (0.039" x 0.039"). o Ability to photograph (under magnification, if necessary) sealed source or device identifying markings for transmittal to NRC for identification purposes; and o Means to identify interested parties who may want or be authorized to accept the radioactive material for reuse (i.e., determine potential alternatives to disposal). Examples include other licensed users, radioactive material sealed source and device manufacturers, waste brokers, and sealed source and device service companies. Interested firms should submit written capability statements. The capability statements shall address the capability to conduct recovery and transfer or disposal activities discussed above. It is not a requirement for interested firms to show capabilities in the "other factors" areas discussed above, but capabilities in all areas are preferred. Respondents should send the requested information to the attention of Ms. Paulette Smith at the address shown above. Closing date for capability statements is twenty-one (21) days after issue date of this solicitation. This synopsis is not a request for proposal. Sources deemed capable will be considered if procurement ensues.***** Posted 09/30/98 (W-SN256616). (0273)

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