U.S. Department of Energy, Oakland Operations Office, 1301 Clay Street, Room 700N, Oakland, CA 94612-5208

99 -- A PRIVATIZATION EFFORT FOR RADIOISOTOPE POWER SYSTEM ASSEMBLY AND TEST OPERATIONS POC Sandra R. Silva, Contracting Officer, (510) 637-1878 E-MAIL: click here to contract the Contracting Officer via e-mail, sandie.silva@oak.doe.gov. DESCRIPTION: Expressions of Interest are sought concerning the possible privatization of the DOE's Radioisotope Power System Assembly and Test Operations currently located at the Mound Site in Miamisburg, Ohio. DATES: This Notice is effective on the date of publication and will remain effective for 30 days, through April 2, 1998. Responses may be submitted at any time during the 30 day period. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: I. Purpose II. Areas of DOE Interest III. Expressions of Interest Format. I. PURPOSE: The Department of Energy (DOE), Office of Nuclear Energy, Science and Technology, is considering the privatization of its Radioisotope Power System Assembly and Test operations. DOE is considering this privatization initiative because of the potential for cost savings generally associated with private sector operations. This is not intended to be a solicitation for proposals. Instead, it is an attempt to obtain information and to identify interested private sector participants inthe possible privatization of these operations. The radioisotope power system operations are currently conducted in government-owned, contractor-operated facilities at the DOE-owned Mound Site in Miamisburg, Ohio. Miamisburg is located 5 miles south of Dayton, Ohio. The Mound Site performs operations associated with the assembly of heat sources, the assembly of the heat sources into a radioisotope power systems, performance and acceptance testing of the completed radioisotope power systems, and the delivery of the radioisotope power systems to the customer. The radionuclide used in these systems is plutonium-238; DOE considers plutonium-238 a Category III special nuclear material (SNM) with a low attractiveness level. For purposes of this Notice of Interest, DOE has no preference if the privatized operations are conducted at the Mound facility or at a privately owned facility. If the privatized operations are relocated from the Mound Site, some DOE equipment used in the current operations could be made available for use at the new site. The privatized facilities may perform work for commercial entities on an noninterference basis with DOE operations and DOE program requirements. Radioisotope power system assembly and test operations that fall under the scope of this possible privatization include, but are not limited to: receipt, storage, packaging, and shipment of encapsulated plutonium-238 heat sources; the assembly of heat sources using the encapsulated plutonium-238; the assembly of radioisotope power systems; the performance and acceptance testing of the radioisotope power systems; the delivery of the radioisotope power systems to the customer; and maintenance of several Type B shipping packages and associated support equipment (including hardware). The assembly of heat sources using encapsulated plutonium-238 and subsequent assembly of radioisotope power systems is generally performed in an inert atmosphere. Performance and acceptance testing of the radioisotope power systems generally include: vibration testing; determination of the radioisotope power system's mass properties; thermal vacuum testing to simulate performance in high vacuum environment; determination of the magnetic field generated by the radioisotope power system; and determination of the radioisotope power system's radiation field. Test operations also include the qualification and long-term (50,000+ hours) life testing of radioisotope power systems. Operations are supported by a number of necessary and required capabilities, to include: metrology; non-radioactive analytical chemistry; nondestructive testing; destructive testing; machining; forming, welding and weld development; and various non-radioactive material compatibility testing. Welding, weld development, machining, and forming may involve refractory and precious metals. Depending on the nature of the responses and subsequent determinations by DOE, a formal solicitation for competitive proposals may be published in the future, and award may be made based upon an evaluation of proposals received pursuant to the evaluation criteria as stated in the solicitation. II. AREAS OF DOE INTEREST The DOE is seeking Expressions of Interest for privatization of the radioisotope power system operations at the Mound Site or at some alternate site. Expressions of Interest should be structured to address: 1) Current experience in performing or obtaining the work described above. The Expression of Interest must demonstrate a reasonably knowledgeable approach and an appreciation of risks. 2) Probability of success, clarity of objectives, and quality of approach. The approach should be based on well-defined objectives, milestones, and deliverables for privatizing the operations. The approach should contain a reasonable and practical plan for providing the maximum private sector participation on a financial and managerial basis. 3. Appropriateness of the facilities to environmental impacts, community impacts, regulatory nature, and safeguarding of sensitive nuclear materials should be described. III. EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST FORMAT - The length of the Expression of Interest should not be more than 15 pages (double spaced) using 12-point type font. It is left to the responder to determine how best to use the 15 pages, however, it would facilitate review if the Expression of Interest is divided into the following sections: SECTION 1 -- Summary; SECTION 2 -- Comments on privatization of the DOE Radioisotope Power System Operations; SECTION 3 -- Qualifications and experience of respondents in Radioisotope Power System Operations or operations of similar complexity and nuclear operations. When describing similar work which has been performed, include the name of the organization, contract number, and name and telephone number of the organization's contracting officer. PROPRIETARY INFORMATION -- If the Expression of Interest contains information that is privileged or confidential and which the respondent does not want disclosed to the public or used by the Government for any purpose other than this Notice, the respondent should place the following notice on the Expression of Interest. "Notice: The data contained in the pages of this Expression of Interest have been submitted in confidence and contain trade secrets or commercial or financial information that is confidential or privileged, and such data should be used or disclosed only for purposes of consideration of this response. This restriction does not limit the Government's right to use or disclose data obtained without restriction from any source, including the respondent." The respondent should mark the pages that are considered "Proprietary Information". Submission -- Each submittal should consist of 4 copies, one original and three photocopies, and mailed to Sandra R. Silva, Contracting Officer, U. S. Department of Energy, Oakland Operations Office, 1901 Clay Street, Room 700N, Oakland, CA 94612-5208. Attachments/appendices will not be considered. Respondents may submit questions within 10 days of the CBD notice being published. Questions may be submitted by e:mail to sandie.silva@oak.doe.gov or by fax to (510) 637-2004. Responses to questions will be provided on the DOE Home Page on or about March 16, 1998. The original copy of the Expression of Interest shall contain all documents that bear original signatures. DOE is under no obligation to pay for any costs associated with the preparation or submission of Expressions of Interest in response to this Notice. DOE reserves the right to respond or not respond to any portion, all, or none of the Expressions of Interest submitted in response to this Notice. (0061)

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