The Energy Department Office of Environmental Management could tap the brakes on a trio of major procurements due to the ongoing national emergency surrounding the 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19).
Due to travel restrictions and other uncertainty spawned by the outbreak, the Environmental Management Consolidated Business Center (EMCBC) said in a special notice Saturday it might slow procurement plans for Idaho National Laboratory (INL) cleanup, the Savannah River Site Integrated Mission contract in South Carolina, and a stand-alone operations and maintenance contract for Savannah River National Laboratory.
The Energy Department distributed timetables for the solicitations “for planning purposes” only, according to the notice on a federal procurement website. The agency is leaving the door open to delays depending on the seriousness of the outbreak, saying it wants “high-quality proposals” and “robust” competition.
A final request for proposals for the Idaho Cleanup Project would occur “no sooner than” May 15, the notice says. A draft RFP was issued Feb. 11, followed by an industry day and sites tours during the week of Feb. 25. The Energy Department is considering a potential 15-year, $6.4 billion remediation agreement to replace Fluor Idaho’s nearly $2 billion, five-year deal that runs through May 2021. The new contract would also replace Spectra Tech’s roughly five-year, $45 million award for spent fuel management at INL and Fort St. Vrain in Colorado.
A draft RFP on the work scope for the SRS Integrated Mission Contract, which would primarily replace the liquid waste contract held by Amentum-led Savannah River Remediation, could be issued around April 15. A final RFP would then follow no earlier than June 1. A site tour would be held during either May or June, DOE said. A draft performance work statement was issued for the contract Feb. 3.
A draft RFP for Savannah River National Laboratory operations could be out next month, with a final RFP due in June. The laboratory is managed through the $14.9 billion site-wide management award held by Fluor-led Savannah River Nuclear Solutions, an agreement that will be in place at least through September and DOE could exercise options to prolong the SRNS deal another two years. The Energy Department issued a preliminary statement of work in December, followed by a notice of intent/sources sought for the stand-alone contract on Jan. 14 and an industry day on Jan. 16.
Any questions or comments should be emailed to EMCBC Procurement Director Tamara Miles [email protected].
Speaking of schedules, Energy Department officials Monday afternoon cancelled a planned conference call with the press to discuss the Office of Environmental Management’s strategic vision through 2030.
