There’s a good chance of a protest against the recent win by a BWX Technologies team of an Energy Department contract for radioactive waste tank closure at the Hanford Site in Washington state, two industry sources said this week.
One one source said he would expect a challenge if for no other reason that one of the losing bidders includes Atkins and Amentum, which comprise incumbent Hanford tank vendor Washington River Protection Solutions (WRPS).
The Department of Energy scheduled virtual debrief sessions for the losing bidders for Thursday and today, a third industry source said earlier in the week. During these briefings, DOE officials explain the thinking behind a contract award. Those companies then have 10 days to file any protest against the procurement decision with the Government Accountability Office. No notice of a bid protest had been posted to the GAO website as of deadline Friday.
Washington River Protection Solutions’ roughly $7.8 billion contract is currently slated to expire Sept. 30.
The DOE Office of Environmental Management on May 14 announced the potential 10-year, $13 billion contract at the former plutonium production complex in Washington state to Hanford Works Restoration, comprised primarily of BWXT and Fluor. Two small businesses, Austin, Texas-based Intera and Richland, Wash.-based DBD International (or Different by Design), are also part of the team.
Sources have indicated that one of the rival bidder groups is comprised of Atkins, Amentum, and Westinghouse. The third bidder team is believed to include Jacobs.
“This contract award demonstrates that BWXT’s nuclear operations and waste management capabilities are key differentiators for Hanford’s programs that are of critical importance to the nation and the State of Washington,” said BWXT President and CEO Rex Geveden in a Monday press release.
Hanford Works Restoration will manage the 177 underground tanks that hold about 56 million gallons of radioactive waste generated by decades of plutonium production for the U.S. nuclear arsenal. The contractor will also build facilities to pretreat and feed low-level waste to the low-activity waste facilities at the Waste Treatment Plant being constructed by Bechtel. The plant is due to begin treating low-activity waste by 2023.
While Amentum is the lead partner in Washington River Protection Solutions, it ceded that position to Atkins in the new tank joint venture. That means Atkins will have a final say on any bid protest.
Atkins declined any comment on potential bid protests Friday morning. Jacobs could not immediately be reached for comment.
