# Nickel Plating/Coating for the Tritium Technology Program Canonical: https://abierto.us/opportunities/01182024 - Solicitation number: 01182024 - Notice type: Sources sought (first published as special notice) - Status: Closed. Deadline was February 16, 2024 at 7:00 PM EST - Department: Department of Energy - Contracting office: PNNL Contracts - DOE Contractor (899043) - NAICS: 332813 Electroplating, Plating, Polishing, Anodizing, and Coloring - Product or service code: J059 Maintenance, Repair and Rebuilding of Equipment: Electrical and Electronic Equipment Components - County: Kern County (FIPS 06029). https://abierto.us/counties/kern-county-ca-06029 - First posted: January 18, 2024 - Last posted: January 18, 2024 - SAM.gov: https://sam.gov/workspace/contract/opp/d3095f344fc44eefa9dca771f1954201/view ## Description The Tritium Technology Program (TTP) at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), operated by Battelle Memorial Institute, Pacific Northwest Division procures components for the assembly of Tritium Producing Burnable Absorber Rods (TPBARs) for production of tritium (T2) for the National Nuclear Security Administration’s (NNSA’s) Tritium Modernization Program (TMP). TPBARs are designed to absorb neutrons and act as one of the nuclear reaction moderators within a Commercial Nuclear Reactor (CNR). The neutron absorption reactions result in the formation of T2, which is the radioactive isotope of hydrogen that contains 2 additional neutrons and has a half-life of ~12.3 years. Two of the TPBAR components outlined in this Statement of Work (SOW), Full-Length Getter Plated Getter Tube (FLG) and Getter Disk, are made from a zirconium-based substrate which is proven to be a good hydrogen absorbing material due to its ability to combine with hydrogen to form a metal hydride. The problem with zirconium as a hydrogen absorbing material is the natural formation of zirconium oxide on its surface which does a really good job of preventing hydrogen ingress. As a result, these TPBAR components require nickel plating/coating on the Zr-4 substrate to prevent the formation of Zr-oxide on the surface of the components. The nickel layer serves the purposes of 1.) Acting as a catalyst to dissociate T2 into T, and 2.) Allow T to diffuse into the Zr-4 for gettering as a Zirconium-tritide (Zr-T). As detailed in Section 2.5 below, the Zr-4 tubes and disks will be provided to the Contractor as Government Furnished Materials. In addition to plating/coating of the long, thin FLGs (~160” long, ~0.008” wall thickness),) and small Getter Disks (~5/16” Diameter, ~5/32” thick), the Contractor will also be required to perform heat treatment of components as well as perform unique acceptance testing in order to meet all requirements of the drawing and specification. See attached sources sought doucment and draft Statement of Work for more information. Interested parties who consider themselves qualified to perform the services outlined in the attached sources sought document and draft Statement of Work must submit a response by 4:00pm PST on February 16, 2024 to Katie.Henderson@pnnl.gov. ## Publications - January 18, 2024: Special notice, due January 22, 2024 at 11:00 AM EST. Notice 2a02a53769604511afe67044d7b8b804. https://sam.gov/workspace/contract/opp/2a02a53769604511afe67044d7b8b804/view - January 18, 2024: Sources sought, due February 16, 2024 at 7:00 PM EST. Notice d3095f344fc44eefa9dca771f1954201. https://sam.gov/workspace/contract/opp/d3095f344fc44eefa9dca771f1954201/view ## Points of contact - Katie Henderson, Katie.Henderson@pnnl.gov, 509-375-4395 --- Source: SAM.gov Contract Opportunities bulk extract. Confirm deadlines on SAM.gov before responding. Cite https://abierto.us/opportunities/01182024.