Request for Information - DOE Cleanup to Clean Energy Power Generation at the Department of Energy Savannah River Site

Introduction:

THIS IS A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI).  This RFI is issued solely for information and planning 

purposes and does not constitute a solicitation.

The Department of Energy (DOE) is working toward the goal of using 100% carbon-free energy (CFE) at 

all DOE sites by the year 2030.  The Savannah River Site (SRS) is one of the largest consumers of 

electricity within the DOE complex.  The Site is located on 310 square miles (approximately 200,000 

acres) of DOE owned and largely forested land in western South Carolina along the Savannah River 

near the town of Jackson, SC.

SRS will focus on offsetting the annual electricity consumption by generating an equivalent amount 

of electricity using any CFE technology, e.g., solar, small modular reactors, geothermal, and wind, 

that can deliver carbon-free energy in the form of electricity to the electric grid.  To fully 

offset the typical amount of electricity consumed, it is estimated that SRS would need to offset 

approximately 180,000 MWh annually by 2030 and 360,000 MWh annually by 2032.

Savannah River Site would also like to consider opportunities for energy storage in addition to CFE 

generation.  Ultimately, SRS would like to generate as much of carbon-free energy as SRS resources 

can support without impacting the site’s primary mission. The Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 

and Department of Energy Acquisition Regulation (DEAR) will be used for this acquisition along with 

NAICS code 221114 Solar Electric Power Generation.

Due Date for Responses:  12:00pm on Friday, November 17, 2023

Point of Contact: Jeff Hynds (jeff.hynds@srs.gov)

Project Description:

Four tracts of land have been initially identified as potential locations for CFE power generation. 

These four tracts are indicated on the included map.  Each tract is 2000+ acres of reasonably flat 

ground.  Each tract could be developed with access to the site from a public road.  The four tracts 

that have been identified may not necessarily be the optimum locations for some CFE technologies.  

Other tracts of land more suitable to different CFE technologies can be considered as required.  

DOE may decide to lease part or all the available land, or award leases to one or multiple entities.

In exchange for favorable lease terms and a waiver of property taxes, the selected firm would 

provide the U. S. Government with the number of Energy Attribute Certificates (EACs) commonly referred to as Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) required to fully offset the typical annual power consumption of approximately 360,000 MWh, to the extent permitted by law.  Disposition of any additional Renewable energy credits created by CFE generation at SRS beyond the number required to offset SRS consumption would be solely at the discretion of the CFE installation owner.

A long-term lease agreement is anticipated.  The Department of Energy is anticipating a turnkey 

agreement with the selected firm managing and financing all tasks related siting, designing, 

environmental permitting, including NEPA, construction, interconnection, licensing, operation, and 

maintenance of the CFE facility or facilities on land leased from DOE.  At the end of its useful 

life, the selected firm shall be responsible for removal and proper dispositioning of all equipment 

and restoration of the site.  The selected firm will be required to set aside funding during the 

period of the lease, such that there are sufficient funds available to restore the land at the end 

of the lease period.

It is anticipated that the selected firm will own and operate the finished CFE facility upon 

completion of construction. The selected firm will produce EACs by operating the CFE facility and 

will provide the required number of EACs to SRS each year of the lease agreement between SRS and 

the firm.

It is the responsibility of the selected firm to negotiate and establish agreements with the off- 

taking utility.  Interconnection to the off-taking utility’s power grid and any associated costs 

are the responsibility of the selected firm.  The CFE facility will not supply power directly to 

the SRS onsite grid.  If the CFE facility power generation is not isolated from the SRS onsite 

power grid, then the selected firm may be responsible for the additional maintenance and operations 

to ensure the CFE facility does not interfere with the SRS mission.

All the currently identified tracts of land can be accessed directly from an existing State or 

Federal highway without passing through an SRS barricade.  The selected firm will construct a fence 

around the entire CFE facility and maintain controlled access to the facility.

The facility will be located within the state of South Carolina and must meet all applicable state 

and federal regulations.  It is anticipated that the selected firm will have experience in 

compliance with state and federal regulatory reviews and permitting projects on federal land, the 

National Environmental Policy Act, National Historic Preservation Act, and Endangered Species Act.

The electricity market in South Carolina is a “regulated monopoly” managed by the South Carolina 

Public Service Commission (https://www.psc.sc.gov).  The region where SRS is located is assigned to 

Dominion Energy South Carolina (https://www.dominionenergy.com/south-carolina), formerly South 

Carolina Electric and Gas Company. The Southeast Energy Exchange Market (https://southeastenergymarket.com) provides 

opportunities for 15-minute energy trading in this area.

Capability Statement:

The following request is designed to provide information to the Department of Energy of any 

prospective developer of CFE power generation facilities with capabilities to execute the 

requirements as described above.

Please provide in your response to the following:

1.   Offeror's Name, Address, Point of Contact, Phone Number, and E-Mail Address.

2.   Offeror's interest in bidding on the solicitation when it is issued.

3.   Offeror's business size certified status, number of years in business, and your DUNS number.

4.   Offeror's capability statement demonstrating the Offeror's ability to perform comparable work. 

The statement should include a brief description of the three (3) most recently completed and 

comparable projects.  For each project include the customer’s name, offeror’s scope within the 

project, project duration, size of the CFE facility, location of the facility and whether the 

offeror retained ownership of the operating CFE facility.

5.   Offeror’s experience in compliance with state and federal regulatory reviews and permitting 

projects on federal land, the National Environmental Policy Act, National Historic Preservation 

Act, and Endangered Species Act, to address such elements as ecological, environmental, and 

cultural considerations associated with ground-disturbing and visual-affecting activities. 

Information in this item can be consolidated with item #4 above if applicable.

6.   What is the preferred contract/lease length for this type of contractual arrangement?

7.   Do you have any other suggestions or comments to improve future solicitations?

Disclaimer:

This RFI is issued solely for information and planning purposes and does not constitute a 

solicitation. Responses to this notice are not offers and cannot be accepted by the Government to 

form a binding contract.  SRS is not seeking proposals through this RFI and will not accept 

unsolicited proposals. Respondents are solely responsible for all expenses associated with 

responding to this RFI.  Not responding to this RFI does not preclude participation in any future 

procurement, if conducted.  No proprietary information should be included in any submittal.

How to Respond:

ALL interested Offerors should notify in writing via e-mail by 12:00pm EST on Tuesday, January 2, 

2024. Submit your response and information by e-mail to: Jeff.Hynds@srs.gov with the subject line 

“SRS CFE RFI Response”. Responses are limited to 10 pages (11-point font, 1-inch margins). Please 

include contact name(s), address, phone, and e-mail. Any questions regarding the RFI should be 

included in the RFI response. These questions will be addressed after the

RFI response due date with a FAQ document to everyone submitting a response.