The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) on Tuesday began collecting data from potential vendors for the upcoming decommissioning of the SM-1A reactor at Fort Greely, Alaska.
The Army Corps emphasized that it is not yet taking bids, but is only seeking capability statements from companies that might perform the work. The eventual contract is expected to be worth $150 million to $200 million, according to the notice on a federal procurement website.
“By way of this sources sought notice, the USACE [Baltimore District] intends to determine the extent of capable firms that are engaged in providing the services described hereunder,” the notice states. “The responses to this notice will be used for planning purposes for upcoming procurements.”
Decommissioning the retired reactor will involve planning, engineering design, construction, demolition, decommissioning, waste disposal, and related operations, the Army Corps said. It will require personnel with training in a long list of specialties, including air and groundwater monitoring; packaging, transport, and disposal of radiological and hazardous materials; radiation safety; industrial hygiene; geotechnical investigations and design; and computer-aided drafting and scanning.
Potential vendors have until 11 a.m. Eastern time on July 9 to respond to the sources-sought notice, by email to Contract Specialist Leigha Arnold, at [email protected]. They should cite the notice number W912DR20R0045.
Respondents will have up to 10 pages, front and back, to describe their recent work in areas including nuclear reactor decommissioning and disposal; hazardous, toxic, and radioactive waste services; meeting cost control, performance, and other expectations from government and commercial clients; obtaining permits; and conducting decommissioning and demolition in a tight space and near an active facility.
The SM-1A reactor operated from 1962 to 1972, generating power and heating steam for utilities at the Army base about 6 miles south of Delta Junction and 5 miles northeast of Anchorage. The decommissioning contract is scheduled to be awarded in fiscal 2022, with work carried out from fiscal years 2022 to 2028.
