U.S. DOE, National Energy Technology Laboratory-Morgantown, P.O. Box 880, Morgantown, WV 26507-0880

A -- LARGE-SCALE EQUIPMENT TESTS FOR PIPELINE UNPLUGGING SOL DE-RP26-00NT40708 POC Vicky L. Shears, Contract Specialist, 304/285-4083; D. Denise Riggi, Contracting Officer, 304/285-4241; George Bellas, COR, 412/386-6184 WEB: DOE/NETL Business Page, http://www.netl.doe.gov/business/solicit/. E-MAIL: Click here to contact the contract specialist., vshear@netl.doe.gov. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL), formerly the Federal Energy Technology Center (FETC), intends to issue a Request for Proposals (RFP) No. DE-RP26-00NT40708 entitled "Large Scale Equipment Tests for Pipeline Unplugging." The purpose of this program is to conduct field tests of selected technologies for detecting, reaching and unplugging blockages within waste transfer pipelines. The field tests shall be conducted on at least one of three Large-Scale Test Beds located at the Florida International University (FIU), Hemispheric Center for Environmental Technology (HCET) in Miami, Florida. The technologies selected shall have a potential for application in a nuclear environment. The offeror shall prepare a test plan, in coordination with the FIU-HCET, that will define a technology specific test case that will provide the basis for the demonstration of the offeror's technology under standardized, non-nuclear conditions at FIU-HCET. The offeror shall select oneor more of the available Test Beds and may suggest modification of the Test Bed to best demonstrate equipment performance. Selected technology contractors shall be responsible for demonstrating and optimizing the operation of their technologies. The contractors shall demonstrate the performance of their equipment or technologies to achieve the following tasks: 1) Detect blockages in single and double-wall waste transfer pipelines through the ground, 2) Provide a mechanism to deliver equipment to a blocked location within the pipeline or initiate a process for unplugging (potentially at great distance from the access point), 3) Dislodge the blockage within the pipeline and 4) Demonstrate potential application in a nuclear environment (equipment easily decontaminated). The results of the technology demonstration will become part of reports submitted to DOE by FIU-HCET. These reports will assist DOE's Tank Focus Area technical teams or site managers in the selection of the most efficient, cost-effective, and safest technologies to unplug high-level radioactive waste transfer pipelines based on their site-specific needs. An information package requesting comments on the draft technical requirements and planned contracting method will be made available on the NETL internet site by March 22, 2000 at http://www.netl.doe.gov/business/solicit. A two week period will be allowed for comments. Paper copies of the information package may be requested in writing at the above office address, via fax at 304/285-4083 or via e-mail at vshear@netl.doe.gov. Please address your request to the attention of Vicky L. Shears. Comments, suggestions, and/or questions are encouraged. The solicitation will be available around mid-April 2000. The exact date and time for the submission of proposals will be indicated in the solicitation; however, at least a 30-day response time is currently anticipated. The solicitation will be available via electronic format from the NETL internet site or via paper copies by request in writing, by fax or bye-mail. The use of the electronic format is encouraged. Potential offerors who would like to be notified as soon as the solicitation is available should register at http://www.netl.doe.gov/business/. Provide your e-mail address and click on the heading "Environmental Management" and subheading "Industry Programs." Once you subscribe, you will receive an announcement by e-mail that the solicitation has been released to the public. Those prospective offerors who obtain a copy of the solicitation through the internet should check the location frequently for any solicitation amendments. It is anticipated that four to five fixed priced contracts will be awarded with an average total estimated cost from $70,000 to $100,000. See Note 2 for set-aside information. For purposes of this solicitation a small business is defined as having 500 or less employees. The Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) Code is 8731. Posted 03/20/00 (W-SN436160). (0080)

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