SOURCES SOUGHT
A -- Sources Sought for Development of Computational Framework for the xLPR Version 2.0 Probabilistic Fracture Mechanics Code
- Notice Date
- 12/15/2011
- Notice Type
- Sources Sought
- NAICS
- 541690
— Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services
- Contracting Office
- Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Office of Administration, Division of Contracts, 12300 Twinbrook Parkway, Rockville, Maryland, 20852-2738, United States
- ZIP Code
- 20852-2738
- Solicitation Number
- RES-12-055
- Archive Date
- 1/14/2012
- Point of Contact
- Carol Greenwood, Phone: 301-492-3694
- E-Mail Address
-
Carol.Greenwood@nrc.gov
(Carol.Greenwood@nrc.gov)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- Synopsis The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is conducting a market survey and analysis to determine the range of available sources that exist and assess their capabilities to potentially assist the NRC with project work described below. The NRC does not intend to award a contract on the basis of this notice or to otherwise pay for the information solicited. The purpose of this announcement is to request that potential sources submit information regarding their capabilities to perform work for the NRC free of Organizational Conflict of Interest (OCOI). For information on NRC OCOI regulations, visit NRC Acquisition Regulation Subpart 2009.5, entitled "Organizational Conflicts of Interest" (http://www.nrc.gov/about-nrc/contracting/48cfrch20.html). All interested parties, including all categories of small businesses are invited to submit a response to the questions below and submit the capability information as described below. Submission of additional materials such as glossy brochures or videos is discouraged. The Government will not reimburse respondents for any costs associated with submission of the requested information. Telephone inquiries or responses are not acceptable. Responses by facsimile to 301-492-3437 or by email to Carol.Greenwood@nrc.gov are acceptable or responses may be mailed to: U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Attn: Carol Greenwood, Mail Stop TWB01-B10M, Washington, DC 20555-0001 Background NRC Standard Review plan (SRP) 3.6.3 describes Leak-Before-Break (LBB) assessment methodologies that are acceptable to the NRC staff. Specifically, it describes a deterministic assessment procedure that can be used to demonstrate compliance with the 1OCFR50 Appendix A, General Design Requirement (GDC) 4 requirement that the primary system pressure piping exhibit an extremely low probability of rupture (xLPR). SRP 3.6.3 does not allow for assessment of piping systems with active degradation mechanisms. However, it is known that Primary Water Stress Corrosion Cracking (PWSCC) is occurring in systems that have been granted LBB exemptions to remove pipe-whip restraints and jet impingement shields. Recent activities have been undertaken to demonstrate that public safety is maintained despite a deviation from the SRP 3.6.3 prohibition against active degradation mechanisms. These activities include the following: • Qualitative arguments have been made that the great majority of observed cracking is of limited extent and shallow depth. These factors tend to mitigate the risk of piping rupture. • PWSCC mitigation activities have been implemented (e.g. reduction of mechanical stresses via the application of weld overlays or inlays over the PWSCC-susceptible welds), and • Re-definition, and reduction, of the design-basis break size from the so-called double-ended guillotine break (DEGB) in recognition of its extremely low likelihood. Given recent advances in probabilistic methodologies, performing a probabilistic analysis of primary system piping that fully addresses and quantifies uncertainties and directly demonstrates compliance with GDC 4 may be more appropriate. A robust probabilistic software tool will facilitate meeting this goal, and result in improvement in licensing, regulatory decision-making and design. The tool would be comprehensive with respect to known challenges, vetted with respect to scientific adequacy of models and inputs, flexible enough to permit analysis of a variety of in-service situations and adaptable to accommodate evolving and improving knowledge. As a test of the program feasibility, a pilot study was first conducted. The xLPR pilot study was focused on the PWSCC issue in pressurizer surge nozzles in PWRs. Dual versions of the pilot study xLPR code (Version 1.0) were generated to investigate the appropriate probabilistic framework to be used in this effort. The same basic deterministic modules were used in each code, but the probabilistic framework was developed using the commercial software (GoldSim) and open source software (SIAM). In addition, an initial software quality assurance and configuration management structure was developed and implemented in the pilot study. The results from the pilot study included: • The project team demonstrated that it is feasible to develop a modular-based probabilistic fracture mechanics code within a cooperative agreement while properly accounting for the problem uncertainties • The project team demonstrated that the cooperative management structure was promising, but recommends a code development leader be selected and the PIB be restructured as an advisory committee • Based on the framework code comparison, a cost analysis, and long term prospects, the xLPR project team recommended that the future versions of xLPR be developed using GoldSim commercial software as the computational framework Based on these results from the pilot study, this project is aimed at the development of Version 2.0 of the xLPR code using the GoldSim framework. Capabilities Sought The NRC is seeking to identify sources capable of producing the computational framework for the xLPR Version 2.0 code using the GoldSim software. Specific capabilities requirements are listed below. 1. Expertise in the development of uncertainty characterization methodologies 2. Expertise in the development of advanced uncertainty propagation methodologies 3. Expertise in the development and use of large scale optimization and uncertainty estimation software 4. Expertise in discrete mathematics applications including scientific computing, parallel algorithms, logistics and scheduling. 5. Expertise in advanced numerical algorithms: Krylov Subspace methods, preconditioning methods, finite element discretization, time integration methods, and iterative solvers. 6. Access to supercomputing facilities and advanced software architectures 7. Expertise in probabilistic computer code development within a multi-organizational structure 8. Experience in leading the multi-organizational development of modular software. 9. Expertise in code development within a robust quality assurance environment including a. model verification and validation efforts, b. advancement of modeling capability to incorporate new science and technology into the system model, c. maintaining software and data to support the overall model, and d. use of Subversion for configuration management. 10. Expertise in the development of complex GoldSim models using advanced coding and stochastic techniques. 11. Expertise in the flow and development of the xLPR Version 1 and 2 models. 12. Experience and knowledge of primary system piping fracture issues, 13. Experience and knowledge of NRC regulations as it pertains to extremely low probability of rupture. Requirements for responding to this notice Each respondent should: 1. Provide organization specific information including: organization name, address, email address, web site address and telephone number, type of organization (e.g., small or other than small under NAICS 541690, 8(a), service-disabled veteran-owned, etc.), and how long the organization has been in operation. 2. Describe experience, projects, and publications that demonstrate the respondent's capabilities in the aforementioned areas. 3. Describe qualified organization personnel that may provide technical services in these areas on behalf of the respondent meet all of the qualifications specified above. 4. Describe any schedule or resource issues that may constrain the respondent's submittal of a detailed formal proposal in response to a request issued within six months of the date of this notice and execution of the efforts described herein, in the event that work were to be requested to begin within one year of the date of this notice. 5. Address any known or potential conflicts of interest that the organization may have in performing the types of work described in this notice. 6. Provide any other documentation or evidence that the respondent believes demonstrates its appropriate qualifications and capabilities.
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