U.S. Department Of Energy, Document Control Specialist, Washington, DC 20585

V -- REQUEST FOR COMMENTS ON A REVISED DRAFT RFP FOR WASTE ACCEPTANCE AND TRANSPORTATION SERVICES FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY SOL DE-RP01-98RW00320 POC Contracting Officer, (202) 426-0067 The Office of Civilian Radioactive Waste Management (OCRWM) is responsible under the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982, as amended (NWPA), for accepting and transporting spent nuclear fuel (SNF) from commercial nuclear reactor sites to a federal facility for storage or disposal. The Standard Contract for Disposal of Spent Nuclear Fuel and/or High-Level Radioactive Waste (10 CFR Part 961) details the arrangements between the Department of Energy (DOE) and the owners and generators of SNF (Purchasers) for the Department to accept the SNF at the Purchaser's sites for transport to a federal facility. Section 137 (a)(2) of the NWPA requires the utilization of private industry to the "fullest extent possible" in the transportation of SNF. OCRWM anticipates seeking competitive proposals for commercial SNF acceptance and transportation services, including the provision of storage equipment, in accordance with the final version of this revised draft Request for Proposals (RFP). In May 1996, OCRWM published in the Federal Register (61 FR 26508) and the Commerce Business Daily, a Request for Expressions of Interest and Comments on a previous draft Statement of Work for these services. In July 1996, comments were received from interested parties at a presolicitation conference. In December 1996, OCRWM issued a draft RFP that requested comments on all aspects of its proposed contracting approach embodied in that draft document. In February 1997, OCRWM held another presolicitation conference to receive additional comments and questions on the first draft RFP. The draft RFP has been extensively revised to reflect the public review and comments received as a result of these activities. Comments and suggestions included input from industry, utilities and other interested parties. DOE is seeking further comments on all aspects of the proposed contracting approach embodied in this revised draft RFP to use the innovative powers of the marketplace for meeting DOE's mission objectives. Comments in response to this Notice should be received by the Department no later than February 13, 1998. Written Comments should be sent to: Contracting Officer, U.S. Department of Energy, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20585, Attention: HR-542, Headquarters Procurement Operations, Draft RFP# DE-RP0198RW00320. For further information contact the Contracting Officer on (202)426-0067 or (202)426-0076 or fax (202) 426-0168. OCRWM is interested in receiving comments relating to this revised draft RFP, especially with regard to the following areas: 1. Contracting refinements concerning financing and business aspects, as in structuring the procurement to provide sufficient financial incentive and appropriate risk balancing mechanisms between DOE and contractors in order for industry to provide efficient waste acceptance and transportation services. 2. Mitigation of delays which may occur during Phase C that are beyond the control of the contractor and/or Department. 3. Technical details assoicated with the logistics of waste acceptance and transportation services. 4. Potential extensions of the contract durations of Phase A and Phase B for up to one year each. 5. Mechanisms and refinements for economic price adjustments over the duration of the contract period. 6. Any other areas, terms or conditions that DOE should consider in formulating this acquisition. DOE will consider and may utilize all information recommendations and suggestions provided in response to this Notice. Respondents should not provide any information that they consider to be privileged or confidential or which the respondent does not want disclosed to the public. DOE does not intend to respond to comments, either to individul commentors or by publication of a formal Notice. Several RFP reference documents have been placed in the DOE Forrestal Building Public Reading Room that are listed in the revised draft RFP. Also, copies of all comments received as a result of this notice will be placed in theDOE Public Reading Room at the end of the comments period, as were copies of previous comments received on the December 1996 draft RFP. Each submittal should consist of one original and three photocopies. If possible, DOE may place all comments on the OCRWM Home Page at the end of the comment period. This Notice should not be construed as: (1) a commitment by the Department to enter into any agreement with any entity submitting comments in response to this Notice, (2) a commitment to issue any RFP concerning the subject of this Notice, or (3) an RFP. DOE anticipates that the revised draft RFP will be available on the internet within two weeks of the date of this notice on the "Current Business Opportunities at Headquarters Procurement Operations" Home Page located at address http://www.pr.doe.gov./solicit.html. It will also be available on the OCRWM Home Page, Waste Acceptance, Storage and Transportation Section, located at http://www.rw.doe.gov/. Interested parties that do not have the electronic capability to download the revised draft RFP may submit a written request to the Contracting Officer at the address listed above. Offerors who have previously submitted written comments on the December 1996 draft RFP or placed their names on the mailing list at the OCRWM Spent Nuclear Fuel Tranportation Workshop held on August 12-13 1997, in Reston Virginia, will be mailed a copy of the revised draft RFP. (0330)

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