Technical Assistance for Probabilistic Flood Hazard Assessment Senior Technical Review Board

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) proposes to enter into a non-competitive Time and Materials contract with Nilesh C. Chokshi for the project entitled, "Technical Assistance For Probabilistic Flood Hazard Assessment Senior Technical Review Board". The proposed period of performance for this contract is three years. The statutory authority permitting Other Than Full and Open Competition is 41 U.S.C. 253(c)(1), as implemented by FAR 6.302-1 (b)(1), which provides for limiting competition in those situations where the services are available from only one responsible source and no other type of services will satisfy NRC's requirements. The designated North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code is 541690 - Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services. Background The agency is currently reviewing two Integrated Assessments containing probabilistic risk-based analyses and anticipate that three more IAs will be submitted for review in the next fiscal year. This is a challenge for staff not only because the reviews are "first-of-a-kind" for the NRC, but also because the staff is refining guidance, tools and probabilistic methodology as these initial reviews are performed. To do so, the NRO Hydrology and Meteorology Review Branch (RHM) within the Division of Licensing Safety and Environmental Review (DLSE) has developed a two- tiered review approach. In this approach, a project-specific technical review team performs the PFHA reviews. A separate group of experts, known as the Senior Technical Review Board (STRB), provide technical and regulatory guidance to the project teams throughout the review process. Because of the newness of these reviews and this process to the Agency, the individuals selected for the STRB must able to step into the role with little training. To do so, the individuals must understand a broad range of issues including (but not limited to); the events which necessitated natural hazard reanalysis (Fukushima) and the industry and Agency response to the events (the NTTF and related guidance), hydrologic flood causal mechanisms and evaluation techniques, probabilistic methodology, seismic hazard analysis methodology and implementation of the SSHAC process, plant systems and engineering, statistical analysis and coding, overall NRC structure and the Agencies guidance development process. Populating the STRB with a technical authority with such unique qualifications is vital to ensuring the completion technically sound reviews that comply with applicable guidance and methodology in an efficient manner and will promote the overall success of the team and Agency. Because of the broad nature of his experience and recognized expertise Mr. Chokshi is singularly qualified to lead this STRB. Acquisition Purpose and Objective The purpose of this acquisition is to obtain technical assistance and support from a recognized technical authority to function as a member of the Probabilistic Flood Hazard Assessment (PFHA) Senior Technical Review Board (STRB). The STRB is a key decision-making body providing guidance and oversight to a number of project-specific technical teams within the Agency that are performing first of a kind, complex probabilistic flooding hazard reviews for operating reactor sites as required by NTTF Recommendation 2.1. As a member of the STRB, this authority will use technical knowledge and specific experience in applying existing probabilistic methodology to developing flooding assessments at licensed nuclear facilities in a manner consistent with the established regulatory framework, existing guidance and previous Agency actions. As a member of the STRB, the authority sought in this acquisition will specifically; - Guide project specific technical teams in resolving technical issues in the complex and emergent field of probabilistic flood hazard analysis, - evaluate technical team products and make recommendations for consistency with established probabilistic seismic hazard analysis methodology, - Ensure that technical team products and results are aligned with applicable NTTF R2.1 guidance and established industry and Agency probabilistic flooding assessment methodology (e.g., NEI 16-05, COMSECY-15-0019), - Provide advice regarding project team products and aid development of PFHA guidance documents and User Needs documents, and - Assist in public meetings with licensees and their flooding experts. Specific outcomes of the actions listed above include, but are not limited to, establishment of methodology and guidance to be used by the Agency for future PFHA reviews by technical staff, development of consensus regarding industry practice for flooding assessments. All work by the contractor needs to be fully documented in writing so the material can be preserved for knowledge transfer/knowledge management purposes for current and future NRC employees. The contractor shall not have any affiliation with commercial nuclear power plants and must be conflict of interest free. Request for copies of this solicitation will not be honored unless the respondent provides evidence showing their capability to perform the required services. Detailed capability statements must be submitted to Sharlene McCubbin, Contract Specialist via e-mail at Sharlene.mccubbin@nrc.gov no later than July 25, 2018 (i.e. 15 calendar days from the date this announcement was posted).