The Department of Energy intends to extend its existing paramilitary security contract with a Centerra company at the Savannah River Site in South Carolina for up to two years, according to a recent notice.
The Savannah River Operations Office plans to keep on longtime security provider Centerra Group, up to 24 months, which translates to Oct. 7, 2024, the DOE said in a notice published Wednesday, July 13, on the federal procurement website, SAM.gov.
“This extension will consist of a four-month base, and five four-month option periods,” DOE said in the notice, adding this should provide time for transition to a new follow-on contract.
Organizing the extra time into four month segments is the same approach DOE took in October 2021, when it announced the potential 12-month extension for Centerra, which stretched the current deal until early October 2022.
Centerra has been providing Security Services for Safeguard of Special Nuclear Material since October 2009 under a contract that also includes protection of people, facilities and secrets at the sprawling federal complex along the South Carolina-Georgia state line. The business is currently valued at $1.02 billion, according to a DOE website updated July 12.
DOE did not disclose the value of the potential 24-month extension in last week’s notice.
DOE’s Office of Environmental Management extended Centerra after the award of a planned 10-year, follow-on security contract to a Securitas CIS joint venture fell through In February 2021.
DOE reconsidered the award after contract challenges were filed with the Government Accountability Office. Eventually, the agency canceled the award to Securitas and said it was taking “corrective action” on the procurement.