Expression of Interest - Commercial Extraction of Nickel from Radiologically Contaminated Nickel Ingots

Expression of Interest (EOI)

This document is an Expression of Interest (EOI) from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) seeking industry input on operationally mature technologies for the potential commercial extraction and reuse of approximately 9,700 tons of elemental (pure) nickel ingots stored at the Paducah Site. The goal is to produce a high-purity nickel product that can be released for commercial use, adhering to DOE Order 458.1 regarding Radiation Protection of the Public and the Environment.

• Technologies must support the commercial extraction and reuse of nickel ingots.

• The resulting nickel product must be high purity and meet release requirements under DOE Order 458.1.

• Waste generated must meet the Waste Acceptance Criteria of a Treatment, Storage, and Disposal Facility authorized to receive DOE waste.

• Proposed facilities will be vendor-owned and financed, sited on or adjacent to DOE property in Paducah, KY.

• Operations will be under DOE oversight authority or NRC/agreement state regulatory authority.

• Industry input is sought for operationally mature technologies.

• Submissions will be evaluated in two parts: a technical package and an economic/market package.

• The technical package will assess feasibility, safety risks, environmental risks, regulatory compliance, and waste management.

• The economic/market package will assess economic feasibility, revenue generation, legal considerations, product quality, and yield.

• Questions on the EOI must be submitted to Jennifer Stokes at EOI@pppo.gov.

• Responses (offers) must be submitted electronically to Jennifer Stokes at EOI@pppo.gov.

• EOI Issued: November 21, 2025

• Submit Technical Package: February 19, 2026

• Submit Economic/Market Package/Revise Technical Package: 90 days after Technical Package submission

• Evaluate Packages: Within 60 days of submission

• Responses due: February 19, 2026, by 3:00 pm EST

• The Paducah Site is a former Uranium Enrichment facility, covering 3,556 acres.

• It has undergone significant cleanup and deactivation, with 180 facilities demolished.

• The site includes a 615-acre Limited Area with numerous structures, railroad track, roads, and process piping.

• DOE seeks to validate its assumptions or understand alternatives for a final execution approach.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document, "Ingot sample data.docx", appears to be an attachment or supporting data file for the opportunity. It contains information related to the composition of ingots.

• Table 4.8 lists elements found in the ingots.

Bidders should review this table to understand the elemental composition of the ingots, which may be relevant to material specifications, quality control, or testing requirements for the opportunity.

Questions & Answers / Clarifications

This document provides answers to vendor questions regarding the EOI for Nickel Ingot procurement.

• Security Clearances: Not required for individuals working on this project as the nickel ingots are not classified.
• Building Use: Offerors must assume construction of any process/technology submitted; retrofitting existing buildings is not permitted.
• Site Visits: "Windshield tours" of the DOE Paducah Site can be arranged by contacting Zachary Boyarski at zachary.boyarski@pppo.gov prior to the Feb. 19 proposal submittal.
• Foreign National Access: Site visits for foreign nationals require 90 days' prior notification and are dependent on the country of origin.
• Tonnage: 9,700 U.S./short tons equates to 8,800 metric tons.
• Nickel Value: Proposals must address how any potential revenue from the nickel will be utilized (e.g., offsetting construction or remediation costs).
• Ingot Composition: Radiological data is in Attachment 2 of the EOI; non-radiological data is in the "Ingot sample data" attachment.

Questions and comments were to be submitted no later than 10 calendar days prior to the submittal date. The provided answers clarify requirements for the EOI.

Expression of Interest (EOI)

This Expression of Interest (EOI) from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) seeks industry input on commercially mature technologies for the extraction and reuse of approximately 9,700 tons of radiologically contaminated nickel ingots. These ingots are stored at the Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant in Paducah, Kentucky, and originated from smelting nickel barrier and other components used in uranium enrichment equipment. The goal is to produce high-purity nickel for commercial release, potentially supporting initiatives like grid-scale batteries and the nuclear power industry.

• Technology Focus: Commercially mature metal refining technologies capable of selectively extracting elemental (pure) nickel from volumetrically contaminated ingots.
• Product Quality: Produce high-purity nickel with residual contamination levels comparable to naturally occurring levels in commercially traded nickel.
• Readiness Level: Technologies should be at a readiness level that allows for possible deployment without significant research and development.
• Scale: Processing capabilities for hundreds to thousands of tons per year.
• Waste Management: Generate waste that meets the Waste Acceptance Criteria of a Treatment, Storage, and Disposal Facility authorized to receive DOE waste.

Respondents are requested to submit a Technical Package and an Economic/Market Package. The Technical Package should detail the proposed process, its maturity, product quality assurance, processing approach, production yield, and safety/hazard mitigation. The Economic/Market Package should demonstrate the business case, including economic feasibility, potential revenue generation, and market analysis.

• Response Due Date: February 19, 2026.
• Facility Assumption: DOE assumes any processing facility would be vendor-owned and financed, potentially sited on or adjacent to DOE property in Paducah, KY.

Not specified in this EOI. The focus is on technological and economic viability.

• The nickel ingots are unclassified.
• Attachment 1 provides historical information and physical characteristics of the ingots.
• Attachment 2 provides data on the anticipated levels of radiological contamination.
• This EOI is voluntary and does not commit DOE to a future solicitation or contract award.