SPENT FUEL TRANSPORTATION

This is a SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE for market research purposes. THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS OR A REQUEST FOR QUOTATIONS. This notice is for planning purposes only and shall not be misunderstood as a Request for Proposal or a Request for Quotation or as an obligation on the part of the National Institute of Standards & Technology (NIST) for conducting a follow-on acquisition. NIST does not intend to award a contract on the basis of this notice, or otherwise pay for the information requested. No entitlement or payment of direct or indirect costs or charges by NIST will arise as a result of submission of responses to this notice and NIST use of such information. The National Institute of Standards and Technology's (NIST's)owns and operates a 20 MW nuclear test reactor, National Bureau of Standards Reactor (NBSR), the purpose of which is to provide high intensity neutron beams for the pursuit of scientific research. The NBSR produces approximately 28 spent fuel elements each year. The Government anticipates the need for a Contractor to transport the spent fuel elements to the Department of Energy (DOE) Savannah River site (SRS). It is anticipated that the contractor would provide transportation, packaging cask(s) under valid Certificates of Compliance issued by the nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) certified for use with spent fuel from the NBSR, tools and equipment, administration of passage and escort of the shipment, Organizing routes, Managing interagency interactions, Providing security measures, Compliance with all regulatory requirements, Providing appropriately cleared personnel, Package testing and QA requirements, Provide appropriate Plans and Procedures and Proof of delivery. NIST is seeking responses from all responsible sources, including large, and small businesses. The small business size standard for the applicable NAICS code of 484230 is 27.5 million dollars. Please include your company's size classification and socio-economic status in any response to this notice. After results of this market research are obtained and analyzed, NIST may conduct a competitive procurement and subsequently award a Purchase Order. If at least two qualified small businesses are identified during this market research stage, then it is anticipated that any competitive procurement that results from this notice will be conducted as a small business set-aside. Additionally, if a qualified 8(a) small disadvantaged business is identified during this market research, NIST may conduct a direct award in accordance with FAR 6.302-5, Circumstances Permitting Other Than Full and Open Competition, Authorized or Required by Statute. The following information is required to be provided as part of the response to this sources sought notice: 1. Relevant documentation which demonstrates your company's experience transporting spent fuel elements. Any other relevant information that is not listed above which the Government should consider in finalizing its market research. Responses are limited to a total of five (5) pages of letter size paper with single spacing. Responses must be received via email to [email protected] not later than 28 March, at 2:00 PM Eastern Time.