M--Rare Isotope Accelerator (RIA)

The mission of the Nuclear Physics program is to foster fundamental research in nuclear physics that will provide new insights; advance our knowledge on the nature of matter and energy; and develop the scientific knowledge, technologies, and trained manpower that are needed to underpin the Department of Energy's missions for nuclear-related national security, energy, and environmental quality. To accomplish this mission, the Nuclear Physics program proposes to construct the Rare Isotope Accelerator (RIA) facility as a national priority. This facility would provide intense beams of rare isotopes (i.e. short-lived radioactive nuclei not normally found on earth) for a wide variety of studies in nuclear structure, nuclear astrophysics, and fundamental interactions. RIA would allow the Nuclear Physics program to achieve its goals in major scientific thrusts of basic nuclear physics research. These major scientific thrusts are identified in five scientific questions articulated in the Department of Energy/National Science Foundation Nuclear Science Advisory Committee's 2002 Long-Range Plan for Nuclear Science. RIA directly responds to three of the five questions, namely: "What is the structure of nucleonic matter," "What is the nuclear microphysics of the universe," and "Is there new physics beyond the Standard Model?" The proposed RIA facility would embody the best features of both in-flight and isotope-separation-on-line (ISOL) techniques and provide both re-accelerated and fast beams. It is envisioned that the proposed RIA would be driven by a highly flexible superconducting linear accelerator (linac), which would provide a high-power, 400 MeV/nucleon beam of any stable isotope from hydrogen to uranium onto production targets. The broad assortment of short-lived secondary beams needed for the experimental program would be variously produced by the most effective combination of a number of techniques: projectile fragmentation, target fragmentation, fission, and spallation. After separation, the selected rare isotopes would, in many instances, be accelerated and directed to fixed-target experiments. Experiments with stopped and trapped isotopes would also make up a major component of the scientific program. The RIA facility would also include several experimental areas and a suite of instrumentation that would allow the community of facility users to perform the forefront experiments needed to shed light on the most important scientific issues. The ultimate objective is to provide a unique research facility that will fully exploit the scientific potential of RIA, as a research tool, in support of the national objectives embodied in the DOE mission and assigned to the Office of Science. To reach this objective, DOE will select the organization judged best able to: i) operate and manage RIA as a national user facility and maximize its research, educational and related benefits for the Nation; ii) provide a site suitable to be considered the preferred site; and iii) lead the design, construction, and commissioning of RIA. The contractual relationship between DOE and the entity will be a DOE Management & Operation (M&O) contract. Selecting the M&O contractor with the capabilities described above will provide a preferred site linked to a contractor capable of leading the effort to design the scientific features and infrastructure that, in turn, drives the requirements for the associated civil works of the total facility. The selection of a site will not be considered final until the NEPA process is completed, a record of decision is issued, and, in the event a non-FFRDC is selected, the new site will be established as a FFRDC. To maximize the fairness, no offeror will be allowed to use Federal funds to prepare their proposal in response to the request for proposal.