GAO dismisses Bechtel group protest, but stay tuned on PPPO award

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) this week dismissed a bid protest by a Bechtel-led group over a potential $2.3-billion Department of Energy contract awarded to an Atkins Nuclear Secured-led team, — but that might not be the final word, sources said.

Sources told Exchange Monitor GAO’s dismissal of the protest by Bechtel-led Mission Operations Alliance could set the stage for a “corrective action” on the November contract won by the Atkins-led team. 

The long-term Operations and Site Mission Support contract for the Portsmouth Site in Ohio and the Paducah Site in Kentucky also includes running depleted uranium hexafluoride (DUF6) conversion plants.

In a Tuesday notice published on its website, GAO dismissed the bid protest. But sources said Wednesday DOE is expected to take corrective action, which could include a re-evaluation of the original selection decision. DOE could always stick with its initial award decision, one source said. 

The contract winner Mission Conversion Services Alliance consists of Atkins Nuclear Secured, Westinghouse Government Services, and Jacobs Technology, which is now part of Amentum.

The final request for proposals was issued in April 2022. Mid-America Conversion Services, which is led by Atkins, currently does the DUF6 work at Portsmouth and Paducah.

AtkinsRéalis declined comment. DOE and Bechtel did not immediately respond to Wednesday emails seeking comment.