Severe Transportation Accident Technical Peer Review

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) intends to negotiate a sole source contract with Dr. Miles Greiner, of the University of Nevada-Reno, to perform an independent technical peer review of analyses completed by the NRC of severe transportation accidents involving long duration fires. The period of performance will be from the date of award to August 31, 2010. The NRC staff has reviewed historical transportation accidents involving long duration fires to ensure that transportation packages for radioactive materials would survive real-life accidents and that the regulations for fire resistance of packages in 10 CFR Part 71 are adequate. The Division of Spent Fuel Storage and Transportation (SFST) has published several NUREG/CR reports on the reviews done of the Baltimore tunnel fire (that occurred in July, 2001) and the Caldecott Tunnel fire (that occurred in April, 1982). Two severe transportation accidents are currently under review: The April 27, 2007, gasoline tanker truck accident on the Interstate 880/580 junction (the "MacArthur Maze") in Oakland, California and the October 12, 2007, series of collisions in an Interstate 5 truck by-pass tunnel (the "Newhall Pass") in Santa Clarita, California. The results from these studies are expected to be available by the end of calendar year 2009. Based on the staff's involvement with the radioactive material packaging and transportation community for over 30 years, no other member this community could be identified that has the depth and breadth of knowledge and experience in the area of thermal analysis of radioactive material transportation packages and spent nuclear fuel, the testing and modeling of severe fires, and the performance of transportation packages in severe, long duration fires than Dr. Greiner. More importantly, none could be identified that has met the criteria for independence that Dr. Greiner has. The authority for negotiating on a sole-source basis is made under the authority of 41 U.S.C. 253(c)(1) and Federal Acquisition Regulation 6.302-1 which provides for limiting competition in those situations where the supplies or services are available from only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy the agency requirements. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code is 541690, Size Standard: $7.0B. This notice of intent is neither a request for proposal nor a solicitation of offers. A determination not to compete this proposed procurement based on responses to the notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Information received will normally be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement. Any response to this notice must show clear and convincing evidence that competition would be advantageous to the Government. In doing so, interested sources must submit technical capabilities and any other information that demonstrates their ability to meet the NRC's needs. Detailed capabilities must be submitted to the above address not later than 15 calendar days from the date this announcement appears in the Federal Business Opportunities. Telephonic responses and responses providing insufficient information for evaluation by the NRC will not be considered.