SRSCRO October 2020 Update

Integrated Mission Completion Contract (IMCC)

The US Department of Energy (DOE), Office of Environmental Management (EM) released a final Request for Proposal) RFP on Thursday, October 1, 2020 for the Savannah River Site (SRS) Integrated Mission Completion Contract (IMCC) Procurement.

Per the RFP, the SRS IMCC contractor will provide a comprehensive risk-based methodology to the legacy cleanup project, such as the dispositioning of radioactive liquid waste through the Salt Waste Processing Facility followed by vitrification of the high activity component at the site's Defense Waste Processing Facility and using existing SRS facilities to receive, store, and disposition aluminum-clad Spent Nuclear Fuel. Critical scope covered under this contract includes, but is not limited to, Project Management and Support Services, Liquid Waste Stabilization/Disposition and Nuclear Materials Management and Stabilization.

The Nuclear Materials Management and Stabilization scope has evolved significantly since the initial concept of the IMCC strategy was released in 2019. At that time, the new IMCC was to replace the Savannah River Site Liquid Waste Contract and could also include some portions of SRS Management and Operating (M&O) Contract, i.e., Nuclear Materials Management and Stabilization.

More specifically, the scope at that time, included the SRS liquid-waste portfolio as well as operations at L-Basin and H-Canyon. Outwardly, this process made sense at the time by combining L-Basin, H-Canyon and liquid waste services at SRS: L-Basin, a nuclear storehouse, feeds the disposition work at H-Canyon, which in turn generates the only new waste that is directed into the SRS liquid waste system.

Keep in mind, DOE had just canceled a multi-year acquisition process for the next liquid waste contractor during this timeframe. The canceled solicitation was mired in competitor protests and an unfair evaluation, according to the U.S. Government Accountability Office. DOE said the original solicitation was “no longer beneficial to the SRS mission”. So, DOE cited changes (i.e., including some portions of SRS M&O Contract) to the overarching approach.

However, the Nuclear Materials Management and Stabilization scope is not as specific and does not mention H-Canyon or L-Basin operations. The regulatory and scope requirements for this section (Nuclear Materials Management and Stabilization) are undergoing review and are subject to change. Any Task Order(s) in support of this scope is not anticipated to be issued before FY24.

The new IMCC is anticipated to be an Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract with an estimated contract ceiling of approximately $21 billion over a 10-year ordering period, which includes the issuance of task orders that shall not exceed five years beyond the end of the Contract ordering period.

New for SRS, EM is pursuing a streamlined selection process under EM’s End-State Contracting Model (ESCM) for this procurement, which focuses on the most discriminating evaluation elements of key personnel, past performance, management approach, and cost to support a qualifications-based selection of the offeror team that represents the best value to the government. The streamlined ESCM also shifts focus on post-award partnering to determine the most appropriate requirements and technical approach to achieve the greatest amount of cleanup progress.

The current final RFP still contains the requirements for a Community Commitment Plan, which was described in detail in the SRSCRO August 2016 newsletter. A Site Tour for interested parties in support of the anticipated Savannah River Site (SRS) Integrated Mission Completion Contract (IMCC) procurement was scheduled for October 21, 2020. However, no mention of a separate one-on-one Industry Day or Community Day is specified. In previous procurement activities these presentations provided interested stakeholders a site overview and technical discussion of the major elements of scope for the anticipated procurement and encourage industry/community to present their thoughts and suggestions on the procurement.

New Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program (ARDP)

On October 13, 2020, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced it has selected two U.S.-based teams to receive $160 million in initial funding under the new Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program (ARDP). ARDP, announced in May 2020, is designed to help domestic private industry demonstrate advanced nuclear reactors in the United States.

DOE is awarding TerraPower LLC (Bellevue, WA) and X-energy (Rockville, MD) $80 million each in initial funding to build two advanced nuclear reactors that can be operational within seven years. Both projects incorporate a range of design features that will not only enhance safety, but make them affordable to construct and operate, paving the way for the United States to deploy highly competitive advanced reactors domestically and globally.

The awards are cost-shared partnerships with industry that will deliver two first-of-a-kind advanced reactors to be licensed for commercial operations. The Department will invest a total of $3.2 billion over seven years, subject to the availability of future appropriations, with our industry partners providing matching funds.

Congress appropriated $160 million for the Fiscal Year 2020 budget as initial funding for these demonstration projects. Funding beyond the near-term is contingent on additional future appropriations, evaluations of satisfactory progress and DOE approval of continuation applications.

ARDP Has Three Phases – this is Phase 1 - Applicants to the ARDP can receive support through three different development and demonstration pathways:

· Advanced reactor demonstrations, which are expected to result in a fully functional advanced nuclear reactor within 7 years of the award.

· Risk reduction for future demonstrations, which will support up to five additional teams resolving technical, operational, and regulatory challenges to prepare for future demonstration opportunities.

· Advanced reactor concepts 2020 (ARC 20), which will support innovative and diverse designs with potential to commercialize in the mid-2030s.

ECA Announces New Initiative: The Role for Local Governments in Support of New Nuclear Development

Energy Communities Alliance (ECA) Board of Directors created a unique self-funded, one-year initiative to define the role of local governments in supporting the development of the new nuclear technologies. With growing bipartisan support for nuclear energy in Congress, new federal demonstration projects led by Department of Energy (DOE) and the Department of Defense (DOD), and notable investment from the private sector, local governments want to be meaningfully engaged - and prepared - to match the strengths and needs of our communities with new nuclear opportunities.

ECA communities are knowledgeable about and, in many ways, driven by the nuclear missions they already host. These local governments are eager to fill vital roles, from establishing new U.S.-based manufacturing and supply chains to promoting creation of training programs at local community colleges around existing nuclear sites. Local leaders want to highlight not only what they have done but what they can and want to do to ensure the U.S. is a leader in new nuclear development around the world.

To focus our work, ECA formed the New Nuclear Subcommittee, led by Rebecca Casper, Mayor of the City of Idaho Falls, ID, and identified the three core questions the subcommittee will address:

· What do communities need to know to attract and support new nuclear development/missions?

· What and how should communities communicate to industry, national laboratories, state and federal governments about local resources and development opportunities?

· What hurdles and challenges will communities face and who can we work with to overcome them?

As a first step, ECA’s New Nuclear subcommittee intends to host a series of educational webinars to facilitate interaction and develop a shared understanding of the outlook for developing technologies, messaging and advocacy strategies, national security implications, and supply chain impacts and needs. ECA will also develop written resources to support education and outreach in communities on specific issues including understanding priorities and timelines, federal and state regulatory requirements, community and workforce needs related to siting, potential cost-sharing and public/private partnership opportunities. ECA expects new issues to be identified through on-going discussions throughout the project year. Information on future events and webinars can be found on the ECA Event page here.

In This Issue

Integrated Mission Completion Contract

New Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program

ECA Announces New Initiative: The Role for Local Governments in Support of New Nuclear Development

Spotlight

Nuclear Science Week is significant to the region. This community is at the forefront of important scientific advances, and Nuclear Science Week provides the perfect opportunity to celebrate and learn. A special insert of the Aiken Standard highlights regional innovations.

Super-Hero Fun Facts

1. Superman was supposed to be a bald character, obsessed with dominating the world.

2. We know that the Hulk is green. But did you know that originally the Hulk was supposed to be grey in color? Since green looked better in print, the color of the Hulk was changed to green.

3. Superman is a vegetarian. Before 2005 the writers of Superman did not think about this. Since Superman’s senses are sharper than a human’s, he is aware of when a life aura ends. So, he was made a vegetarian.

4. Michael Jackson came very close to owning Marvel Comics because he wanted to play the role of Spider-man. We would have had a break-dancing Spidey then!

5. Captain America’s Shield beats up villains and provides justice. However, this round shaped shield was originally supposed to be heraldic-shaped. Since this was in use by a patriotic character of a rival comic, Captain America’s shield was made round.

6. What if your favorite X-men character, Wolverine was to be named after a rodent? Yes, Wolverine was originally the Badger who was supposed to battle with the Hulk.

7. The 2009 Amazing Spider-man comic has Spidey meet President Barrack Obama, and they even share a fist bump.

8. Who is Batman’s favorite enemy? Yes, the Joker. The Joker was supposed to die just after the first Batman series. But writers saw potential in the villain and brought him back to mess around with Batman.

9. Wonder Woman was made out of clay by her mother and was brought to life by the Greek Gods.

10. In 1989, Marvel comics introduced a superhero whose only superpower was that he couldn’t die, Mr. Immortal. He tried killing himself, but was unsuccessful every time.

11. Marvel Comics was first known as Timely Comics set up in 1939 by Martin Goodman. Stan Lee became editor in chief in 1941 when he was aged 18, and stayed in the role until 1972.

12. Marvel once owned the rights to the word "Zombie".

13. The first black superhero to have his own comic was Marvels Luke Cage in 1972

14. The world's biggest selling comic book is X-Men #1 (1991). It sold almost 8 million copies.

15. Northstar, a French-Canadian mutant, is Marvels first openly gay superhero. He came out in Alpha Flight #106 (1992).

16. The use of the word "Werewolves" in comics was forbidden by the comics code authority.

17. Marvel almost went Bankrupt in1996.

18. In 1963 the Kennedy administration asked DC Comics to involve Superman in their health & fitness program.

19. Batman first appeared in Detective Comics #27 (May 1939), now worth approx. $351,000.

20. Superman’s middle name is Joseph. That would be Clark Joseph Kent and not Kal Joseph El.

21. Aquaman's Atlantean name is Orin and his Earth name is Arthur.

22. The Justice League was formerly known as The Justice League of America.

23. The Flash gave his super powers to himself. During the "Crisis on Infinite Earths" crossover comic, he ran so fast that he turned into pure energy, traveled back in time and hit himself as the very bolt of lightning that gave him his super powers in the first place.

24. Batman has appeared in more than 6,250 comic books, more than any other comic character.

25. Aquaman's arch enemy, Black Manta, only became a super villain because Aquaman failed to rescue him when he was captured by pirates.

The 2020 SRSCRO meeting schedule is available here.

Closing Thoughts

"For most of history, Anonymous was a woman." -- Virginia Woolf

"Skepticism, like chastity, should not be relinquished too readily." -- George Santayana

"Nothing fails like success." -- Gerald Nachman

"As long as people will accept crap, it will be financially profitable to dispense it." -- Dick Cavett

"Here's a rule I recommend: Never practice two vices at once." -- Tallulah Bankhead

"The trouble with being punctual is that nobody's there to appreciate it." -- Franklin P. Jones

"Boys will be boys, and so will a lot of middle-aged men." -- Kin Hubbard

"By all means marry; if you get a good wife, you'll be happy. If you get a bad one, you'll become a philosopher." -- Socrates

Contact Information

SRSCRO, PO Box 696, Aiken, SC 29802

Staff:

Rick McLeod | President/CEO | 803.508.7402

Mindy Mets | Director of Regional Workforce Programs |803.508.7403

Amy Merry | Administrative & Business Manger | 803.508.7401

Kim Saxon | Assistant Coordinator | 803.508.7656

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