C -- DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT OF THE SAVANNAH RIVER SITE HIGH LEVEL WASTE SALT PROCESSING FACILITY

Notice Date

September 22, 2000

Contracting Office

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

ZIP Code

29802

Solicitation Number

N/A

Response Due

October 19, 2000

Point of Contact

Charlene Smith (803) 725-7644 (Contractual); W. F. Spader (803) 208-7409 (Technical)

E-Mail Address

click here to contact Charlene Smith via e-mail (charlene-nmn.smith@srs.gov)

Description

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Savannah River Operations Office, is seeking Expressions of Interest from the private sector to manage and conduct the design, construction, and start up of the High Level Waste (HLW) Salt Processing Project (SPP) at the Savannah River Site (SRS) near Aiken, South Carolina. The SPP is a complex, large-scale project to separate key radionuclides (primarily cesium [Cs-137], strontium [Sr-90], and entrained plutonium [Pu], uranium [U], and neptunium [Np]) from highly radioactive salt wastes currently stored at SRS. After separation, the key radionuclides will be immobilized within stable glass canisters at the Defense Waste Processing Facility (DWPF) for ultimate disposal in a geologic repository. The remaining decontaminated salt solution will be sent to the Saltstone Facility and solidified as Saltstone grout for safe, on-site disposal. Initial plans to utilize existing HLW tanks (approximately one million gallons) to process salt waste via a precipitation reaction proved to be unsuccessful. This process, known as the In-Tank Precipitation (ITP) Process, was suspended and an intensive effort was initiated to identify an alternative. Three potential technologies have been identified as alternatives for salt processing: (1) The Caustic Side Solvent Extraction process employs an adsorption filtration step to remove the Sr-90, U, Pu and Np from the waste with monosodium titanate (MST). The adsorption media (MST) is transferred to DWPF for incorporation into the glass. A solvent extraction process follows where a sparingly soluble organic diluent material carries an extractant that will complex with the cesium ions in the caustic salt solution. The separated cesium can then be stripped back into an aqueous phase and transferred to DWPF for incorporation into the glass. The decontaminated salt solution can then be sent to the Saltstone Facility. (2) The CST Non-Elutable Ion Exchange process employs an adsorption filtration step to remove the Sr-90, U, Pu and Np from the waste with monosodium titanate (MST). It then removes the Cs-137 by adsorption on crystalline silicotitanate (CST) resin in an ion exchange column. The decontaminated salt solution is then solidified and disposed as Saltstone grout. The adsorption media (both CST and MST) is transferred to DWPF for incorporation into the glass. (3) The Small Tank Tetraphenylborate Precipitation (TPB) process is based on simultaneous chemical precipitation and adsorption reactions under controlled conditions in continuous stirred tank reactors. Sodium Tetraphenylborate is used to precipitate cesium and monosodium titanate (MST) to adsorb Sr-90, U, Pu and Np. Filtration and washing is employed to separate Cs-137, Sr-90, Pu, U, and Np solids from salt solution. The solids are processed through an organic removal step then transferred to DWPF for incorporation into the glass. The decontaminated salt solution is then transferred to the Saltstone Facility to be solidified and disposed as Saltstone grout. The work on the ITP process was previously performed by the Westinghouse Savannah River Company (WSRC) under the existing management & operating (M&O) contract for integrated management of SRS. Research and development work on the replacement process has been and continues to be performed by various Department of Energy laboratories and WSRC under the M&O contract. Management of the research activities has been assumed by the DOE Office of Science and Technology (EM-50) Tank Focus Area (TFA). The TFA reports to the Technical Working Group, which is under the direction of the DOE Office of Project Completion (EM-40). Currently, the three technologies under consideration are being evaluated in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process in a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS). Work under the contemplated contract will commence following resolution of the remaining key uncertainties associated with high technical risks, designation of a preferred alternative, completion of conceptual design details, and issue of a Conceptual Design Report (CDR). Under the new contract, design responsibility for the Salt Processing Facility will be transferred to the new contractor with the completed CDR. DOE is committed to conduct a streamlined acquisition process that provides for full and open competition for this design and construction contract. DOE plans to initiate early discussions to improve the acquisition strategy for the new design and construction contract and enhance competition. To achieve these objectives, DOE has established two initial pre-solicitation meetings for this acquisition. The first event will be a general discussion meeting between DOE, the private sector, and other parties interested in providing their input on this acquisition. This meeting is scheduled for Thursday, October 12, 2000 at the North Augusta Community Center, 101 Brookside Drive, North Augusta, South Carolina from 5:00 to 8:00 P.M. Interested parties desiring to express their views, opinions, or provide information at the general discussion meeting will be limited to fifteen minutes per person/organization. In addition, interested parties may express their views, opinions, or provide information in writing to Charlene Smith, Contracting Officer, U.S. Department of Energy, Savannah River Operations Office, Contracts Management Division, P.O. Box A, Aiken, South Carolina 29802. The second event will be a series of one-on-one meetings between DOE and prospective bidders, and will be scheduled during the week of November 13 through 17, 2000, in Washington, D.C. Each meeting is expected to be approximately two hours in length and should be preceded by a written Expression of Interest to include: (1) the firm's relevant experience in planning, managing, and executing large scale (>$500M) petrochemical, hazardous, and/or nuclear waste management projects and (2) the firm's response to the proposed areas for discussion at the industry information exchanges discussed in Section V. of the Acquisition Concept Paper posted on the website described below. Information on each foreign national participating in the one-on-one meetings should be submitted with the Expression of Interest and should include name, citizenship, employer, title, date of birth, and place of birth. Each interested firm should provide a written Expression of Interest in letter form, not to exceed five pages, no later than October 19, 2000, to Charlene Smith, Contracting Officer, U.S. Department of Energy, Savannah River Operations Office, Contracts Management Division, P.O. Box A, Aiken, South Carolina 29802. DOE has established a Salt Processing Project website at http://www.srs.gov/general/srtech/spp/index.html. This website will be the sole distribution medium for the solicitation and will be used to provide acquisition information, including project background, research and development information (technology roadmaps, test plans, test reports), technology selection, specifics on the upcoming meetings, the project acquisition plan, solicitations, amendments or clarifications, and other related information. Interested firms are strongly encouraged to frequently check this website for new information. No paper copies or diskette copies of this solicitation will be distributed by the agency. Participation in the meetings described in this Notice will not be a precondition to submitting an offer in response to a formal Request for Proposals issued by DOE. The decision to issue a Request for Proposals for the work described in this Notice is solely within the DOE's discretion. This is not a formal Request for Proposals; it is a request for Expressions of Interest only.

Record

Loren Data Corp. 20000926/CSOL008.HTM (W-266 SN499940)