Request for Proposals: Artificial Intelligence Infrastructure and Energy Generation on DOE Land at the Oak Ridge Reservation

Questions & Answers / Clarifications

This document provides responses to questions submitted by potential offerors regarding the "AI DATA CENTER & ENERGY GENERATION INFRASTRUCTURE" Request for Proposal (RFP) No. DE-ORR-0037830.

• Incumbent/Contract Type: This is a Request for Proposals to lease land for private sector development, not a construction or service contract. There is no incumbent performing these services.
• Document Access: RFP documents (RFP and Sample Ground Lease) are available for download from the sam.gov website. For download difficulties, contact Ryan Fuesting or Matt Reardon via email.
• Page Limits: Each section of the RFP response should not exceed 10 pages. Specific forms like the Past Performance Reference Information Form are limited to 10 pages per project, with a maximum of 3 examples.
• Lease Term: Ground lease terms are negotiable, with suggestions of a 20-30 year base term plus renewal options. Offerors must justify their requested lease term.
• Mergers & Acquisitions: Transfer or assignment of the lease interest requires Government consent, which shall not be unreasonably withheld. Changes in ownership of the Lessee are permissible if the Lessee remains in control and performs lease obligations.
• Nuclear Facility Licensing: DOE will not engage in NRC application processes. Offerors must comply with NRC requirements unless the project is explicitly developed under DOE authorization where NRC involvement is not required.
• Teaming: DOE will post a list of Industry Day attendees on sam.gov. No specific teaming list will be established by DOE.
• Power Generation: Offerors are encouraged to propose creative solutions for phasing in power generation to meet data center needs. This could be on DOE land or a separate location.
• National Historic Preservation: Direct negotiations with signatory parties to the National Historic Preservation Act Section 106 Memorandum of Agreement are required.
• Power Requirements: The RFP does not specify desired data center or generation capacity; ambitious applications are welcomed.
• Backup Power: DOE will not direct or provide guidance on backup power requirements. The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) is a resource for assistance. Natural gas is an option for fuel source, but DOE has no preferred source.
• Land Transfer: DOE is offering a ground lease. Land will not be transferred by deed for Site Area A. For Site Area B, the K-25 building footprint remains government-owned, but surrounding acreage may be conveyed.
• Collaboration: Offerors may discuss data or power services agreements with DOE, but the project must be viable without direct DOE financial contribution. DOE is open to innovative proposals for collaborating on research.
• Foreign Ownership, Control, or Influence (FOCI): Refer to Q&A 23 for restrictions.
• Proposal Submission: Proposals should be submitted as a zip file. Multiple emails may be used if necessary, with each referencing the previous package.

These clarifications address specific requirements, submission details, and potential ambiguities within the original RFP, guiding offerors on proposal content, structure, and submission procedures.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document is a Load Profile Questionnaire designed to gather information from potential industrial or commercial customers regarding their projected electricity usage and operational characteristics. This data is used by TVA Economic Development to understand the power requirements for new or expanding facilities.

• Project & Site Information: Includes project name, NAICS code, latitude/longitude coordinates, and site control details.
• Power Projections: Requires details on the date permanent electrical facilities are needed, minimum power for production, construction power needs, required voltage, and a ramp-up schedule for peak demand, average demand, average monthly usage, load factor, and power factor over a 10-year period.
• Economic Projections: Asks for projected year-year capital investment and full-time direct employees, along with average wage/salary.
• Operation Characteristics: Inquires about load interruptibility, use of on-site/backup generation, potential for excess power agreements, ability to operate outside TVA peak hours (with specific peak hour definitions provided for summer and winter), description of discrete load pieces, days/hours of operation, shift schedules, planned outages/shutdowns, and demand consistency.

Potential bidders should complete this questionnaire accurately to provide TVA with the necessary data to assess their power needs. This information is crucial for understanding the feasibility and requirements of locating a facility in the TVA service territory and for planning necessary electrical infrastructure. The data collected will inform discussions about power availability, costs, and potential economic development incentives.

Other / Unclassified

This document provides a link to the Presentations and Question & Answer portion of an Industry Day event. The Industry Day was held on Wednesday, October 15, 2025, in relation to Request for Proposal (RFP) No. DE-ORR-0037830 for AI Data Center & Energy Generation Infrastructure.

This document is relevant to potential bidders as it directs them to resources that may contain important information discussed during the Industry Day. The linked content likely includes details about the project, requirements, and answers to vendor questions, which can aid bidders in understanding the opportunity and preparing their proposals.

Solicitation / RFP / RFQ

This document outlines the Request for Proposal (RFP) process for the rapid development of AI Data Center and/or Energy Generation Infrastructure in Oak Ridge. It details two proposed sites on the Oak Ridge Reservation: Site A and Site B, and discusses potential project configurations involving AI data centers and supporting energy projects.

• Site A: 95 acres west of Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), owned by DOE's Office of Science. Utilities available include electricity, natural gas, water, and sewer. Land use controls prohibit groundwater and residential use, and landscape/topography requires clearing.

• Site B: 150 total acres, owned by DOE's Office of Environmental Management. Includes a National Historic Preservation footprint (~83 acres with restrictions) and the K-25 Building footprint (part of Manhattan Park National Historical Park). Additional 67 acres are available. Utilities include electricity, natural gas, water, sewer, and fiber optic connectivity. Considerations include restrictions on the K-25 footprint, potential agreements with other parties, prohibition of groundwater use, and the need for DOE approval for excavations.

• Potential Project Configurations: Options include using Site A for AI data centers and Site B for energy projects, using either or both sites for AI data centers with a supportive energy effort, or using Site B for AI data centers and/or energy generation infrastructure.

• The RFP process will involve ranking and selecting proposed projects based on an integrated assessment of factors.

• Evaluation Factors:

  • Top Tier (Factors 3 & 5): Return to the Government (consideration for lease agreement) and Financial Capability (clear and credible financial strategy).
  • Second Tier (Factor 4): Organizational Structure, Experience, and Past Performance.
  • Third Tier (Factors 1 & 2): Project Description (narrative overview, rationale, land tract, conceptual layout) and Project Plan (approach, schedule, milestones, construction, approvals, security, power/compute efficiency, reliability, utilities, interconnection, grid integration, water/community impact, workforce, mitigation, risk management).

• Proposal Due Date: Proposals must be received by Ryan Fuesting at ryan.fuesting@science.doe.gov no later than 4:00 pm EST, Monday, December 1, 2025.

• Questions: All questions must be in writing. General RFP questions and Site A inquiries to ryan.fuesting@science.doe.gov. Site B inquiries to matthew.reardon@emcbc.doe.gov.

• Not specified in this document.

• The RFP can be located on SAM.gov by searching DE-ORR-0037830.

• Updates and Questions & Answers will be posted on SAM.gov.

• A recording of the industry day meeting is available on YouTube at @usdoeoakridge.

Other / Unclassified

This document is a list of attendees for an Industry Day held on October 15, 2025. The Industry Day was related to the "AI DATA CENTER & ENERGY GENERATION INFRASTRUCTURE" initiative under Request for Proposal (RFP) No. DE-ORR-0037830. The list includes various companies, organizations, and institutions that participated.

For potential bidders, this document provides insight into the organizations that have shown interest in the AI Data Center & Energy Generation Infrastructure opportunity. This information can be useful for identifying potential partners, competitors, or understanding the market's engagement with this specific RFP.

Ground Lease Agreement

This document is a draft Ground Lease Agreement between the United States Department of Energy (Lessor) and a "TBD, Lessee" for a portion of the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) site. The purpose of the lease is to allow the Lessee to design, finance, permit, develop, construct, install, own, maintain, operate, and decommission an Artificial Intelligence (AI) data center or energy generation infrastructure. The proposed "Project" includes data center facilities with IT equipment, cooling, energy supply, transmission, storage, and other ancillary facilities.

• Construction and operation of an AI Data Center and related improvements.

• Compliance with all applicable laws, regulations, environmental, safety, and health requirements.

• Maintenance of the Facility in good, safe, sanitary, and tenantable condition.

• Management and disposal of all wastes, including hazardous materials.

• Obtaining all necessary permits, licenses, and authorizations.

• Adherence to NEPA and DOE's NEPA regulations.

• Protection of the environment and cultural resources.

• Term: TBD years, commencing on the Lease Commencement Date.

• Rental Consideration: TBD.

• Lessor: United States Department of Energy.

• Lessee: TBD.

• Premises: A tract of land described in Exhibit A - Legal Description, located at ORNL.

This document is a lease agreement, not a solicitation for proposals. Specific submission requirements for the lease itself are detailed within the document, including requirements for financing, permits, and construction plans.

Not applicable, as this is a lease agreement.

• The document is a draft and subject to further negotiation and approval.
• The lease is subject to existing and future easements and rights-of-way.
• The Lessee is responsible for all costs associated with the construction, operation, and maintenance of the AI Data Center.
• The document includes numerous exhibits detailing specific aspects of the lease, such as legal descriptions, hazardous substances, construction plans, project costs, and more.