The Department of Energy on Tuesday announced the release of the final request for proposals for companies interested in taking over operation of depleted uranium hexafluoride (DUF6) conversion plants in Paducah, Ky., and Portsmouth, Ohio. The department will select the operating contractor from the submitted proposals. It projects the value of the cost-plus award fee and firm-fixed-price contract at $400 million to $600 million over a five-year term. According to a DOE press release, “The activities within the scope of this procurement include, but are not limited to, providing S&M for the DUF6 conversion facilities and associated equipment, operating the conversion facilities to convert the DUF6 from the inventory at Paducah and Portsmouth to uranium oxide at design throughput of the conversion facilities, reusing and/or transporting and disposing of the DUF6 conversion process end-products and wastes, selling the aqueous hydrofluoric acid (AqHF) product, and providing S&M services for the cylinder storage yards.” Proposals are due no later than Nov. 6.
BWXT Conversion Services is the present manager of both plants through a contract due to expire next fall. The sites are converting more than 700,000 metric tons of DUF6 that was a byproduct of uranium enrichment at gaseous diffusion facilities at the Portsmouth and Paducah sites.
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