Amendment #4 to RFA: DE-FOA-0000001

The Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program is responsible for managing naval used nuclear fuel. The program generates approximately 1 metric ton of heavy metal per year and has a total inventory of about 42 metric tons. The fuel is stored in sealed stainless-steel canisters and is transported to the Naval Reactors Facility for examination, processing, and packaging. The canisters are then stored in reinforced concrete overpacks. The program is looking for ways to safely manage and dispose of the naval used nuclear fuel. Key points about the opportunity include: • The design of naval fuel is classified and must be protected throughout its lifecycle. • The inventory of naval UNF includes a wide variety of fuel assembly configurations. • Naval fuel assemblies are solid metal with weights ranging from a few hundred pounds to over a ton. • The program maintains equipment to move loaded overpacks within the facility and to transfer canisters from concrete overpacks to a shielded metal cask for rail transport. • The M-290 shipping container is the shielded metal cask planned for rail transport of naval UNF.