The BWX Technologies-led group won a $45-billion liquid-waste cleanup contract at the Department of Energy’s Hanford Site in Washington state will file court papers early this week defending its eligibility for the award.
In an order dated Saturday, May 20, U.S. Court of Federal Claims Judge Marian Horn gave the winning bidder, Hanford Tank Waste Operations & Closure, until 12:00 p.m. Eastern time Monday to answer an assertion by Atkins-led Hanford Tank Disposition Alliance, the losing bidder, that the awardee was not properly registered with the federal System for Award Management (SAM.gov).
The schedule approved by the judge also calls for the government to weigh in on the issue of SAM registration by noon Tuesday.
The Atkins-led protester alleges the winning group, which also includes Amentum and Fluor, lacked a SAM registration that complied with Federal Acquisition Regulation, which rendered it “ineligible for contract award,” according to a public filing.
The bid protest by the losing joint venture of Atkins, Jacobs and Westinghouse Government Services was filed under seal with the Federal Claims Court to protect business secrets, meaning much of the court record is not open to public view. The Atkins-led venture opted not to pursue its protest with the Government Accountability Office, where most DOE weapons complex contract challenges are filed.
BWXT-led Hanford Tank Waste Operations & Closure, a team that also includes subcontractors DBD, DSS Sustainable Solutions USA, INTERA and Longenecker & Associates, has intervened in the Federal Claims Court Case filed against the U.S. Government.
