How to bid on spent fuel cell shipments for NIST

What NIST is buying

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) needs specialized trucking to move spent nuclear fuel from its reactor in Gaithersburg, Maryland, to the Department of Energy’s Savannah River Site near Aiken, South Carolina.

The RFP covers one base shipment, due by December 31, 2028, and an option for a second shipment, due by December 31, 2030. The work may suit transportation firms with experience handling specialized shipments.

Key dates and the deadline

The solicitation was published October 29, 2026. Responses are due November 23, 2026, at 10:00 AM ET. The due date was extended from November 5, 2026.

Plan to submit by the stated deadline. The solicitation description notes that Amendment 02 provides answers to initial questions and that another amendment with answers to pending questions will follow.

Who this opportunity suits

This opportunity is relevant to transportation vendors that can provide specialized trucking for spent nuclear fuel. The shipment route is from NIST’s reactor in Gaithersburg to the Savannah River Site near Aiken, South Carolina.

How to access the solicitation

Click “View the original posting” to open the opportunity on the portal. If the first click takes you to the portal homepage, click it again to go to the bid.

You may need a free account to view the solicitation documents, though some bids do not require one. Review the solicitation and its related attachments for the full details.

Prepare a clear, competitive response

Read the solicitation and attachments carefully, including the amendments and any question-and-answer documents. Check that your response addresses the base shipment and clearly states how you would handle the optional second shipment.

Build your response around the stated route and completion dates. Allow time to check your submission for completeness and submit it before the deadline.