Alaska Gas Hydrate Project In accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 6.103-1, the US Department of Energy (DOE), National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL), intends to issue a contract on a sole source basis to ASRC Consulting and Environmental Services (ACES) for services related to the Alaska Gas Hydrate Research and Development (R&D) Project. The NAICS Code for this procurement is 213112 Support Activities for Oil and Gas Operations. The small business size standard is $47.0 million. This procurement action is intended to meet the congressional direction provided in the Joint Explanatory Statement for Division B – Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2026, within Title III – Department of Energy - Energy Programs – Fossil Energy – Oil, Gas and Critical Minerals – Advanced Production Technologies. This section of the Joint Explanatory Statement indicates: “The Department is directed to plan for a follow-on test, using the technical insights gained from the joint production test with the Japan Organization for Metals and Energy Security. The follow-on test shall include identification of technical adjustments to improve the likelihood of achieving commercial production rates and to extend reservoir evaluation over a longer period. The Department is directed to preserve the capability to restart testing at the current site for no less than six months after the date of enactment of this Act, and longer if practicable, to maintain optionality for a follow-on test.” The referenced congressional language directs DOE to the specific test site, “current site”, developed under prior Hydrate Production testing (site located at the Kuparak 7-11-12 pad of the Prudhoe Bay Operating Unit, North Slope of Alaska) ACES provides exclusive access to the referenced “current site”. Site is inclusive of 4 existing wells referred to as Production Test Wells (PTW) 1 and 2, and monitoring wells designated as GeoData Well (GDW) and Stratigraphic Test Well (STW), along with surface facilities remaining in possession of ACES. The State of Alaska permits only one operator to drill and operate wells at the North Alaska Slope for the purpose of R&D activities or for hydrocarbon production Accordingly, the Prudhoe Bay Unit working owner’s group (who is leased the property by the state of Alaska and represented by Hilcorp North Slope, LLC) only allows one operator to perform these functions. ACES possesses the exclusive ability to conduct the required operations. Authorization for operations at the site are designated within LONS 22-004 entitled “ASRC Consulting and Environmental Services, LLC, Kuparuk State 7-11-12 Pad, Methane Hydrate Production Test Program, Lease Plan of Operations Decision.” That authorization specifically indicates for ACES, “The Alaska Department of Natural Resources, Division of Oil and Gas (Division), in accordance with Alaska Statute 38.05 and Alaska Oil and Gas Leasing Regulations (11 AAC 83) grants a…