The Energy Department Office of Environmental Management on Friday released the key sections of a draft request for proposals (RFP) for the next Tank Closure Contract at the Hanford Site in Washington state.
In particular, the agency is looking for industry feedback on its master indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contract option, which it has suggested for the upcoming tank contract. It also wants to know if the structure of certain task orders is clear. Hundreds of documents are now available on the Tank Closure procurement website.
The Tank Closure documents do not constitute a full draft RFP. For reference, interested vendors are encouraged to review the Hanford Central Plateau Cleanup Contract for sections – including packaging and inspections – which have not been posted with the tank solicitation.
Interested parties have until Jan. 28 to submit comments on the draft RFP sections and task orders. Comments should be sent to [email protected].
The Energy Department said Dec. 31 it plans to issue the final RFP within 45 days, which roughly translates to Feb. 14. At the time the agency said it was separating the previously single Tank Waste Cleanup Contract into two solicitations for the next contract round – one for tank closure, and a future award for operation of the Waste Treatment Plant being built by Bechtel.
Tank-farm manager Washington River Protection Solutions will remain on at least until September after receiving a one-year, $629 million extension last fall to its 10-year, $6.3 billion contract. With DOE not expecting to issue a tank award before mid-2020, the AECOM-led contractor might be in line for another extension for management of 56 million gallons of radioactive and chemical waste inside 177 underground tanks.
A new contractor would be expected to take charge of the job within 60 days after issuance of a notice to proceed.
A vendor site tour and briefing on the Tank Closure Contract are scheduled for today.
