Brian Bradley
WC Monitor
10/30/2015
The Government Accountability Office on Oct. 23 released the record of decision for its Sept. 21 denial of a protest by Gaithersburg, Md.-based Advanced Technologies and Laboratories (ATL) International of a $44.6 million contract to Piketon, Ohio-based Wastren Advantage for analytical services and testing at the Hanford Site’s 222-S Laboratory. ATL, the incumbent contractor for 222-S analytical services and testing, filed protest documents in June and in August. In its decision, GAO stated that, contrary to ATL’s claim that Wastren’s proposal “took exception” to the solicitation’s requirement to submit proposals on a fixed-price basis, Wastren’s proposal was not contingent on particular circumstances. GAO also denied an ATL protest that challenged the Energy Department’s evaluation of Wastren’s past performance, finding the department’s evaluation of the company was “reasonable and consistent with the stated evaluation criteria.”
Congressional auditors further denied ATL’s assertion that DOE applied an unstated evaluation criterion during source selection. Specifically, ATL contended DOE applied an “unstated evaluation criterion” when it assessed as a weakness the ATL proposal’s failure to describe the company’s benefits management plan, according to the released decision. The department “found that the proposal failed to understand the complexities of managing and administering a complicated benefits plan,” the decision states.
The contract is for a base period of three years with one two-year option. The contract is currently in a transitional phase, as Wastren hopes to start full performance on Nov. 21. It includes firm-fixed-price, labor hour, and cost reimbursement elements. Any DOE-approved surges of additional work at the analytical facility will be covered through a reimbursement of costs. Pension and benefit costs also will be reimbursed. An incentive fee will be available for certain line items in the contract, according to the request for proposals. The primary firm-fixed-price nature of the contract will allow the department to shift cost risk from the government to the contractor during execution of the work included in the contract, DOE has said.
"WAI is thrilled to be working with DOE and the Hanford community to successfully complete the transition of the 222-S Laboratory Facility,” said Wastren President and CEO Steve Moore. “The process is on schedule and once complete, this contract will add to our growing list of nuclear facility operations within the DOE complex. We understand the importance this facility provides to the Hanford Operations and look forward to playing our part in the Hanford mission and community.”
ATL did not respond to requests for comment this week.
