The United States Department of Energy (DOE), National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) issues this Notice of Intent to Award a sole source contract to Westinghouse Government Services LLC, located in South Carolina, for fabrication of Tritium Producing Burnable Absorber Rods (TPBARs). This sole source synopsis published for informational purposes only. In accordance with the Competition in Contracting Act, 41 U.S.C. 3304(a)(3), Use of Non-Competitive procedures, as implemented by FAR Subpart 6.302-3, other than full and open competition is authorized when it is necessary to award a contract to a particular source to maintain a facility, producer, manufacturer, or other supplier available for furnishing supplies or services to achieve industrial mobilization. The Government intends to solicit and negotiate with only one source using this authority. The NAICS code for the acquisition is 334517, Irradiation Apparatus Manufacturing, and the Product Service Code is 4470, Nuclear Reactors.

Contractor shall provide all labor and material necessary to procure or fabricate all required components, materials, and equipment to assemble the TPBARs in accordance with the drawings and specifications provide by the Designer of Record, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), and in accordance with applicable regulations and statutes of which DOE is required to comply. The Government anticipates a period of performance of 10-years.

This notice of intent is not a request for competitive proposals and no solicitation is forthcoming. However, in accordance with FAR 5.207(c)(16)(i), all responsible sources may submit a bid, proposal, quotation or an exception to the intent to procure on a sole source basis, which shall be considered by the agency if received by 12:00 pm Mountain Time, Thursday, October 20, 2022.

A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed contract based upone responses to this 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, if it is received by the established due date and time indicated below. If a vendor source takes exception to the Government's intent to sole source this requirement, they must (1) provide the basis for disagreement with this assertion, (2) demonstrate how they are qualified and capable of meeting NQ-1 requirements, meeting Security requirements which have classified components, and obtaining required NRC and TVA certifications for production of TPBARs, (3) demonstrate how they have the requisite expertise to meet the scope of this requirement without interruption (including transition) in order to maintain a constant production of TPBARs in support of the national security mission, and (4) demonstrate how a competitive procurement and a change in supplier will not result in a break or interruption of production, and will not adversely impact the Tritium Readiness program.

Submission of any information in response to this notice is purely voluntary. The Government assumes no financial responsibility for any costs incurred. Responses must be in writing, by email to Amber Doan, Contracting Officer, at amber.doan@nnsa.doe.gov. The email shall contain the following subject line: Response to Notice of Intent - TPBAR Fabrication. Please submit all responses no later than 12:00 pm Mountain Time, Thursday, October 20, 2022. Only information/inquiries received by this date will be considered.