Nuclear Security & Deterrence Monitor Vol. 27 No. 21
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Morning Briefing

Article of 7

March 17, 2014

EARLY DEPARTURE OF OAK RIDGE PRO FORCE OFFICIAL WON’T TRIGGER PENALTIES

By ExchangeMonitor

Provisions in the new National Strategic Protective Services Oak Ridge protective force contract with the Department of Energy don’t include automatic penalties to the contractor for the early departure of key personnel, though a DOE spokesman said yesterday that NSPS could have its fee reduced if the departure of General Manager Greg McDowell adversely affected the company’s performance. NSPS said last week that McDowell was resigning for “personal” reasons and would leave the company in September, about six months after NSPS took over as the new Oak Ridge protective force contractor. Language in the Request for Proposals for the contract says, “Key personnel shall not be removed, replaced or diverted by the Contractor for reasons under the Contractor’s control within the first two years of the period of performance.” The RFP suggested that the contractor would be required to obtain approval from the contracting officer for any key personnel changes.

DOE spokesman Michael Koentop confirmed that Koentop’s departure would not trigger an automatic penalty but emphasized that the Department would still hold NSPS accountable for managing the Oak Ridge protective force. “There are provisions in the contractor’s performance evaluation plan that allow us to withhold fee if the contractor’s performance is negatively affected by changes in performance of the contract, which could include the satisfactory management of the contract,” Koentop said. “As stated by NSPS, Mr. McDowell will remain with NSPS long enough to ensure a seamless transition and ensure that the company’s protective force and administrative leadership team continue to effectively execute the contract. We have full confidence that NSPS will follow through with that plan.”

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