38 -- Presentation of Qualifications and Concepts To Design-Build/Own/Operate/Maintain (D-BOOM) A Steam and Electrical Generation Power Plant

UChicago Argonne, LLC an Illinois limited liability company, operator of Argonne National Laboratory (Argonne) acting under a prime contract with the U.S. Department of Energy for operation of Argonne National Laboratory is performing a market survey to evaluate obtaining services which are the subject of this Request For Information (RFI). Argonne currently owns and operates a steam plant that was built in the 1940s and expanded in the early 1960s (for plant comfort heat with minimal process steam and no power generation). The Laboratory is currently operating a five boiler steam plant that is approaching 60 years old. Boiler Nos. 1 through 4 were originally designed to fire coal (85,000 pounds per hour) and were converted to natural gas in the 1970s. Boiler No. 5, has dual fuel capabilities permitted for natural gas and coal (170,000 pounds per hour on natural gas and 110,000 pounds per hour on coal - limited by the emission control equipment) and is limited to 12,000 tons of coal per calendar year. The limit was self-imposed to avoid becoming a major hazardous pollutant source which would affect the Laboratory as a whole. The plant header pressure to the campus is 190psig. All power is purchased off the grid. The annual electrical load profile is relatively flat and averages 260 million kilowatt hours with peak demands of 43 megawatts. Laboratory growth and modernization over the next ten years is expected to increase the peak electrical demands to 100-120 Megawatts. The annual steam generation averages 700 million pounds. The load profile varies with the seasons and weather patterns; winter steam loads (November through March) average 78 million pounds per month; summer loads (April through October) average 42 million pounds per month. Present hourly peak steam loads of recent years have peaked at 188,000 pound per hour, but could reach an hourly quantity of 250,000 pounds per hour. The modernization program may diminish steam loads by an estimated 30%. It should be noted that these projections are largely dependent on Federal funding. The chiller systems capacities are as follows: The Advanced Photon Source (APS) has a total of 9,600 tons; the Central Chilled Water Plant has 4,300 tons, the Building 364 system has 2,200 tons - these are all electrical driven with the exception of one steam 1,500 ton absorber in Building 212. Please provide your qualifications for similar Power Plant Projects that generate either full or partial electrical load utilizing "state of the art" technology alternatives, fuel diversification and financing alternatives. Integrating a "test bed" for the development of advanced and emerging energy technology is also a desirable factor. Argonne is currently evaluating the option of a developer/designer/builder, owner-operator, which includes maintaining and selling steam and electrical power back to Argonne. The target for formal presentations is the end of May 2008. Selected firms will be provided the opportunity to present their qualifications and concepts to the Laboratory.