MODIFICATION
R -- Technical Engineering Services and Policy Support
- Notice Date
- 8/8/2002
- Notice Type
- Modification
- Contracting Office
- Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Office of Administration, Division of Contracts and Property Management, 11545 Rockville Pike, Rockville, MD, 20852-2738
- ZIP Code
- 20852-2738
- Solicitation Number
- RS-ACR-02-300
- Response Due
- 8/26/2002
- Point of Contact
- Joyce Fields, Senior Contract Specialist, Phone (301) 415-6564, Fax (301) 415-8157,
- E-Mail Address
-
jaf1@nrc.gov
- Description
- This is the Performance Work Statement and Evaluation Criteria for RS-ACR-02-300, ENTITLED: TECHNICAL ENGINEERING SERVICES AND POLICY SUPPORT PERFORMANCE WORK STATEMENT 1. Background: The Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards (ACRS) provides the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) with independent reviews of, and advice on, the safety of proposed or existing reactor facilities and the adequacy of proposed safety standards. The ACRS reviews the power reactor request for license renewal and power uprates; fuel cycle facility license applications; and the safety-related NRC regulation and guidance relating to these facilities. On its own initiative, the ACRS may conduct reviews of specific generic matters or nuclear facility safety-related items. The committee also advises the Commission on safety-related policy issues and performs other duties as the Commission may request. Upon request from the Department of Energy (DOE), the ACRS reviews and provides reports on U.S. naval reactor designs, and also advises DOE with regard to the hazards of DOE nuclear activities and facilities consistent with the Energy Reorganization Act of 1974, as amended. Upon request, the ACRS is required to provide advice to the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board in accordance with Public Law 100-456. Pursuant to Public Law 95-209, the ACRS prepares a report to Congress annually describing the results of studies on NRC-sponsored reactor safety research. In performing its activities, the ACRS evaluates such items as the suitability of proposed sites with respect to the effect the proposed plant may have on the public health and safety, and the effect of various features on the safety of the nuclear plants. Among these features are engineered safety features; plant security provisions and safeguards for protecting special nuclear material; the competence of the design, construction, and operating organizations; the training and qualification of operating personnel; the quality assurance program; operating and emergency plans; and periodic test and inspection programs. The ACRS advises the Commission on standard reactor design applications and industry initiatives directed at establishing design standards, as well as the test and analysis programs to support certification of those designs. The ACRS also gives advice to the Commission with regard to the safety of operating facilities, prioritization and resolution of generic safety issues, and implementation of the requirements resulting from their resolution. The ACRS provides advice and support to the Commission in developing risk-informed regulations. The Advisory Committee on Nuclear Waste (ACNW) was established by the Commission in June 1988 to provide the Commission with independent reviews of, and advice on, nuclear waste facilities, including application to such facilities of 10 CFR Parts 60 and 61 (disposal of high-level radioactive wastes in geologic repositories and land disposal of radioactive waste) and other applicable regulations and legislative mandates such as the Nuclear Waste Policy Act, the Low-Level Radioactive Waste Policy Act, and the Uranium Mill Tailings Radiation Control Act, as amended. The ACNW has recently, at the request of the Commission, been advising on site decommissioning issues. The ACNW is, like the ACRS, subject to the NRC regulations set forth in 10 CFR Part 7. The primary focus of the ACNW's work is currently on waste disposal facilities. In performing its work, the ACNW reviews and reports on those areas of concern referred to it by the Commission and will undertake other studies and activities on its own initiative related to areas of regulatory activity identified by the Commission. Both the ACRS and ACNW have a history of recommending innovative and risk-based approaches to regulatory problems. A specific example of this is that the ACRS endorsed the development of an NRC quantitative safety goal policy and developed the first set of quantitative safety goals for nuclear power plants (NUREG-0739). These safety goals were the basis for the later NRC work on the development of an NRC Safety Goal Policy. A second example is that the ACNW, in the period between 1990 and 1994, reviewed the EPA standards for deep geologic disposal of high-level radioactive waste (40 CFR Part 191) and provided its recommendations on critical regulatory issues addressed in the standards. The National Research Council has arrived at similar positions on many of these issues in its recent report on the technical basis for such standards. The National Research Council study was done in accordance with Section 301 of the Energy Policy Act of 1992. Both advisory committees have a significant role in the review and resolution of key technical issues associated with regulation of nuclear power plants and the safe disposal of radioactive waste. The operations of the ACRS and the ACNW are governed by the provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act. The operational practices of both committees are designed to encourage the public, industry, Indian nations, State and local governments, and other Federal agencies to become involved in Committee activities. The ACRS/ACNW office is a Commission-level office. The ACRS and the ACNW report directly to the Commission and the members are appointed by the Commission. The functions of appointing, removing, and supervising the ACRS/ACNW staff are, under the Energy Reorganization Plan No. 1 of 1980, the responsibility of the Chairman of the ACRS. The ACRS and ACNW membership (currently 11 ACRS members and 5 ACNW members)comprises individuals with a wide variety of engineering and scientific expertise. The membership currently includes individuals with expertise in geosciences, radioactive waste treatment, environmental engineering, nuclear engineering, risk assessment, chemistry, facility operations management, severe accident phenomena, materials science and metallurgy, thermal hydraulic and heat transfer, and mechanical, civil, and electrical engineering. Consultants are engaged to provide technical assistance on specific issues when required. ACRS members are appointed for four-year terms and normally serve no more than three terms. ACNW members are appointed for four-year terms and normally serve no more than two terms. 2. Objective: The contractor will provide timely, high quality professional engineering and scientific work to support activities of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission's (NRC) Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards and Advisory Committee on Nuclear Waste (ACRS/ACNW). Specific assignments will be made by the ACRS Chairman, the Executive Director ACRS/ACNW, or the Associate Director for Technical Support ACRS/ACNW. 3. Estimate of Effort: The contractor will provide services on a fixed priced fully loaded hourly basis. It is estimated that the hours of 2,087 for a 12-month period will be provided by contractor personnel on a full time basis. 4.Options and Surge Periods: This performance work statement (PWS) includes in addition to a base 12 month period, two (2) separate 12 month option periods. However, NRC reserves the right not to exercise any of the option periods. Travel and the performance of work will sometimes be required outside of the normal NRC business hours. 5. Key Contractor Personnel: The proposed and assigned contractor's personnel under this contract shall be deemed as key contractor personnel and the contractor shall therefore obtain review and approval by the NRC Contracting Officer or the NRC Contracting Officer's Representative prior to assigning or substituting the proposed contractor key personnel. In the event of temporary (in excess of 15 calendar days) absences (such as but not limited to contractor personnel's time off, illness and vacation leave) the contractor shall as requested by the NRC immediately provide as interim coverage a qualified substitute contractor employee for the period of time during the key contractor employee's absence. Replacements of key contractor personnel are subject to the ACRS/ACNW Executive Director's approval. 6. Government Furnished Equipment, Facilities and Service: The NRC will provide the contractor, at the site of ACRS/ACNW office, with government furnished space, work desk, office supplies and the information technology IT equipment (computer equipment, printers, fax machines, copier, telephone), IT services and IT access (e.g., Internet and E-mail) necessary to provide the required services. The contractor is responsible for providing the equipment and services necessary for work not performed at an NRC office. The contractor and the contractor's personnel, consultants, and subcontractors are prohibited from misuse, abuses, and from using the government furnished equipment, services, or access for personal use. The Government will provide information and train the contractor personnel on NRC agencies unique features of NRC furnished equipment, facilities, and services. 7. Contractor Responsibilities and Scope of Work: The services performed under this contract are provided by the contractor as an independent contractor in performing the requirements set forth herein. The contractor is responsible for the management, supervision, benefits, employment, termination, oversight, and decision on assignment of the contractor's personnel. The contractor is responsible for its personnel's proper conduct and performance under this Performance Work Statement. A. Non-Disclosure/Confidentiality Agreement: The contractor's personnel, consultants, and subcontractors will handle or have access to files or information that includes internal for official use only information, scientific, technical and proprietary information that is subject to the Trade Secrets Act, and the Economic Espionage Act. Unless provided with written permission by the NRC, neither the contractor nor any of its personnel, consultants, or subcontractors shall disclose or use this information or provide this information to anyone outside of the NRC. The assigned contractor's personnel, consultants, and subcontractors will be required to sign a non-disclosure/confidentiality agreement and have the necessary qualifications for obtaining an NRC "L-type" clearance. B. Non-Personal Services: The contractor and the contractor's assigned personnel, consultants, and subcontractors shall understand and acknowledge that the service provided under this order to ACRS/ACNW and/or NRC do not and will not create an employer-employee relationship between the government and these individuals. These individuals shall not address or identify themselves as NRC employees. The contractor's assigned personnel, consultants, and subcontractors will be required to sign a Non-Personal Services Understanding Agreement. C. Application of ACRS/ACNW Operating Procedures and applicable Laws, Regulations, Manuals, Directives and Handbooks: In performing any and all services, the contractor personnel, consultants, and subcontractors will apply the applicable laws, NRC regulations, and ACRS/ACNW and NRC operating manuals, handbooks, and directives in the performance of their work. D. Scope and Task Areas: The range of the contractor's technical support to ACRS/ACNW that shall be provided under this contract include the following: As assigned, preforms independent analysis of technical and technical policy issues in support of ACRS or ACNW review activities. Examples of these tasks, which would be assigned consistent with the individual's expertise, are: Evaluation of the lessons-learned from events which have occurred at nuclear facilities. Analysis of technical and technical policy issues associated with power uprates, license renewals, and applications of risk-informed and performance-based regulation. Evaluation of licensing issues and research needs associated with the licensing of new reactors. Identification and evaluation of emerging technical or technical policy issues associated with operating experience, the introduction of new technology, or licensing initiatives. Evaluation of technical issues associated the NRC review of DOE's application for the licensing of the proposed Yucca Mountain repository. Evaluation of technical issues associated with proposed decommissioning initiatives. (Assignments will be made to suit the needs of the ACRS and ACNW during the time for which this contract is in effect. Representative examples are (1) the analysis of plant aging and design margins issues, (2) the identification of safety issues associated with a proposed new facility, (3) analysis of plant operating experience as part of the evaluation of a particular safety issue, (4) development and use of surrogate safety criteria, (5) evaluation of proposed regulatory initiatives, and (6) performance assessment issues associated with waste disposal facilities.) Provides technical staff support to ACRS and ACNW member activities associated with the conduct of ACRS and ACNW meetings and participates in these meetings. This will include identification and analysis of technical issues relevant to the review and working closely with the cognizant member, NRC staff, and other involved stakeholders in the coordination of this activity. Attends technical meetings as assigned, analyzes the insights obtained from the discussions, and provides reports to the cognizant ACRS and ACNW members and ACRS/ACNW staff. Arranges and provides technical support for conferences, symposia, and working groups sponsored by the ACRS or ACNW. E. Experience, Skills and Standards of Performance: The desired experience and skills and expected standards of performance are as follows; Thorough knowledge of general engineering principles, theory, and practices in the general field of engineering and sciences, with an advanced knowledge of nuclear power plants and nuclear waste management technology. These skills are comparable to those achieved by graduate level training coupled with extensive work experience in specialized areas of nuclear power plant or nuclear waste management technology. Recognized expertise and extensive work experience in an area of nuclear power plant or nuclear waste management technology of particular relevance to high priority issues currently under review by the ACRS or the ACNW. Examples are (1) probabilistic risk assessment, (2) human performance, (3) facility reliability and design margins assessments, (4) materials performance, (5) accident consequence analysis, (6) thermal/hydraulic analysis, (7)structural analysis, (8) decommissioning, and (9) performance assessment of nuclear waste disposal/storage facilities. Thorough knowledge of design features and operating characteristics of NRC-licensed nuclear reactors. Working knowledge of NRC regulations, criteria, standards, guides, and policies. Working knowledge of evolutionary and advanced reactor designs currently under consideration in the United States and foreign countries. Working knowledge of the designs of existing and proposed waste disposal and waste storage facility sites in the United States and foreign countries, and a general knowledge of waste management practices utilized in the United States Working knowledge of research and development work in the field of nuclear power reactor development and nuclear waste management conducted by NRC and other government and industry organizations. Demonstrated ability to effectively communicate complex technical information to engineers and scientists employed in the nuclear energy field. Ability to participate in discussions with ACRS and ACNW members and consultants, the NRC and DOE staff, and members of various other government and nongovernment organizations to develop and evaluate information needed in ACRS and ACNW reviews. Demonstrated ability to perform independent analysis of technical and technical policy issues and effectively communicate the results to qualified professionals. Work performed must be of high quality, timely, completed with minimal supervision, and effectively coordinated with the involved individuals. Skills and ability to perform at the expected level can be demonstrated by the successful completion of the requirements for advanced degrees in relevant fields, relevant work experience, publications, or successful completion of complex work assignments. Recommends: To the Executive Director and the Associate Director for Technical Support as to resources (technical expertise, analysis tools, etc.) required for support of emerging technical and technical policy issues requiring ACRS or ACNW review. To the responsible ACRS or ACNW member as to topics for ACRS and ACNW review and approaches to the review and resolution of the associated technical and technical policy issues. EVALUATION CRITERIA The government will award to the responsible Offeror whose offer conforms to the solicitation and is most advantageous to the government, cost or price and technical factors listed below considered. For this solicitation, technical/management quality is more important than cost or price. Cost realism will also be considered. As proposals become more equal in their technical merit, the evaluated cost or price becomes more important. The technical evaluation factors listed below are in descending order of importance: 1.Personnel qualifications, Availability and Experience (40 points) Advanced degrees in relevant fields, relevant work experience, and publications. Experience and skills as described in Section E. Individuals preforming work must be available on essentially a full-tim basis 2.Contractor Past Performance (40 points) Successful completion of complex work assignments as described in proposals. Successful completion of work assignments similar to those described in Section D, as demonstrated by bibliographies, list of accomplishments, publications, references, etc. 3.Overall Understanding of the Statement of Work (20 points) Clarity and completeness of the technical proposal in demonstrating the Offeror's understanding of the needs expressed in the statement of work and ability to meet the solicitation's technical requirements. Total 100 points
- Place of Performance
- Address: U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, 11545 Rockville Pike, Rockville, Maryland 20814
- Country: United States
- Country: United States
- Record
- SN00136635-W 20020810/020808214008 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
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