Special notice of intent to award a contract extension on a sole source basis for the management and operation of the National Nuclear Security Administration’s Y-12 National Security Complex (Y-12) and Pantex Plant (Pantex). Description: This is a special notice of intent to award a contract extension on a sole source basis in accordance with FAR 6.302-1, “Only One Responsible Source and No Other Supplies or Services Will Satisfy Agency Requirements” to Consolidated Nuclear Security, LLC (CNS) for the combined management and operation of Y-12 and Pantex for periods up to three years and for the continued management and operation of the Y-12 portion for periods up to five years. The combined Management and Operating (M&O) structure for Y-12 and Pantex will be separated during the first two to three years of this extension and a new Pantex stand-alone M&O contract awarded. Therefore, the extension will be structured with a minimum of 2 years of combined M&O of Pantex and Y-12 and an option for a third year of combined operations. After award of the new Pantex M&O contract, the CNS contract scope will only include M&O of Y-12. To allow for sequential solicitation of the new stand-alone Y-12 M&O contract, the CNS contract extension will include two one-year options for management and operation of Y-12 beyond the initial three-year Y-12 base. This sequenced approach to awarding two new M&O contracts will allow NNSA to retain the critical services required to carry out its national security missions without interruption. This contract extension is necessary while NNSA develops a new acquisition strategy to manage Y-12 and Pantex under separate contracts and revises the documents to reflect the significant change to the requirements. This decision will result in the termination of the prior award and cancellation of the solicitation for the combined management and operation of Y-12 and Pantex (89233222CNA000003). Extending the contract will allow DOE’s National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) continuity of operations while implementing a new acquisition strategy for operating and managing Y-12 and Pantex with distinct M&O contracts. Y-12 and Pantex are currently managed and operated under a single contract. Pantex, near Amarillo, Texas, is charged with maintaining the safety, security, and effectiveness of the nation’s nuclear weapons stockpile. Work performed at Pantex includes support of the nuclear weapons life extension programs; nuclear weapons dismantlement; the development, testing and fabrication of high explosive components; and interim storage and surveillance of plutonium pits. Y-12, in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, is the nation’s only source of enriched uranium nuclear weapons components and provides enriched uranium for the U.S. Navy. Y-12 provides materials science, precision manufacturing and stores enriched uranium. Y-12 also supports efforts to reduce nuclear proliferation risk and performs work for other government agencies. The current contract may be viewed at the following web site: https://www.energy.gov/nnsa/nnsa-production-office-contract. The applicable North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for this acquisition is 561210. The extension is being sought to continue the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) Y-12 and Pantex mission while NNSA completes its follow-on competition. Uninterrupted continuity of performance is essential in the development, testing, and fabrication of high explosive components and interim storage and surveillance of plutonium pits, and nuclear and non-nuclear production requirements and deliveries to the Department of Defense that are vital to the Nation’s security. In addition, any disruption would severely impact NNSA’s ability to support the life extension programs, provide critical data required to certify the safety and reliability of the enduring nuclear weapons stockpile, and to meet dismantlement commitments to Congress and the President. This special notice of intent to award a contract extension on a sole source basis is neither a request for proposal nor a solicitation for offers. No contract will be awarded on the basis of offers received in response to this notice. Responses to this notice may be submitted via e-mail to
[email protected] by May 31, 2022, 4:00 pm Eastern Time. Interested sources may identify their interest and capability to respond to the requirement. Response to this notice is not required.