The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) intends to award a one-year noncompetitive contract extension to Jefferson Science Associates, LLC (JSA) for the management and operation of Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility (TJNAF) under contract DE-AC05-06OR23177. Following this one-year non-competitive contract extension DOE will conduct a full and open competition for the management and operation of TJNAF. This action is being taken in accordance with FAR 6.302-3, which allows agencies to use noncompetitive procedures when it is necessary for the agency “to establish or maintain an essential engineering, research or development capability to be provided by an educational or other nonprofit institution or a federally funded research and development center.” The current contract expires on May 31, 2024. This extension will cover the period of June 1, 2024, through May 31, 2025.

TJNAF is a national laboratory and DOE sponsored Federally Funded Research and Development Center (FFRDC). The primary mission of TJNAF is delivering breakthrough science and technology in the area of nuclear physics. TJNAF conducts research in nuclear physics sciences in addition to producing superconducting radiofrequency (SRF) accelerator modules and operating unique facilities and equipment. TJNAF is a leader in quark nuclear physics and SRF technology and serves as a resource to researchers both nationally and internationally. TJNAF’s present core capabilities are Nuclear Physics, Accelerator Science and Technology, and Large-Scale User Facilities/Advanced Instrumentation.

It is anticipated that the contract competition will commence during the first quarter of FY 2024. It is the intent of DOE to ensure the solicitation process is transparent and current. A pre-solicitation notice will be issued subsequent to the competition kickoff, at which time interested sources will be invited to submit Expressions of Interest.