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Department of Energy Issues Request for Proposals

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today announced the issuance of a final Request for Proposals (RFP) for the competitive selection of an approximated $2.54 billion, five-year management and operating contract for Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), a DOE Office of Science multi-program research facility located near Chicago, Illinois.

"Argonne lab contributes expert scientists and unique leadership in basic research, which helps the U.S. maintain our global competitiveness," said Office of Science Director, Dr. Raymond L. Orbach. "Through this contracting process, DOE seeks the best possible management of this laboratory to sustain our cutting-edge scientific resources."

The RFP includes provisions to facilitate competition, encourage superior science and achieve excellent management performance. Selection criteria include the potential contractor's experience and past performance in both science and business management; key personnel, including the proposed laboratory director; strategy for fulfilling DOE's mission for the laboratory; management strategy and approach to achieving excellence in both world-class scientific research and development, as well as in operations and business management; and the value added by the contractor. Significant changes from the draft RFP and other items of interest are highlighted for offerors in the final RFP's executive summary. The changes include a maximum annual total available fee of $5.3 million and revised provisions relating to workforce transition and contractor benefits and pensions.

Interested entities will have until June 2, 2006, to submit proposals to a Source Evaluation Board made up of DOE business and technical experts. The board will hold a pre-proposal conference in the vicinity of the laboratory on May 10, 2006, to answer any questions offerors may have about the RFP.

DOE expects to award the contract before the current agreement with the University of Chicago expires at the end of September 2006. Including a maximum of a two-month transition, DOE expects the selected contractor to assume full responsibility for the operation of the laboratory by October 1, 2006.

ANL funding for FY 2007 is projected to be $508 million, provided by the Office of Science, other DOE programs, as well as other government agencies and private industry. Areas of research include the physical sciences, energy science and technology, nanotechnology, computing sciences, environmental sciences and biosciences. Argonne also performs limited research in support of national security.

DOE's Office of Science operates research facilities at Argonne that attract scientists from all over the world, such as the Advanced Photon Source, Intense Pulse Neutron Source, Argonne Tandem-Linac Accelerator System, Center for Nanoscale Materials; Electron Microscope Center; Atmospheric Radiation Measurement Climate Research Facility; and Transportation Technology Research and Development Center.

Source: U.S. Department of Energy