The Energy Department has proposed extending the Washington River Protection Solutions tank waste management contract at the Hanford Site in Washington state for up to one year.
In a notice filed Thursday on a federal business opportunities website, DOE and its Office of River Protection at Hanford announced a proposed contract extension potentially from Oct. 1, 2018, through Sept. 30, 2019.
The notice says DOE “intends to extend the tank operation contract” with WRPS and the announcement is not a formal request for proposals. But contractors who believe they are capable of carrying out the duties within the required timeframe can submit documentation to DOE within 15 days.
Washington River Protection Solutions received its 10-year, $6.1 billion contract in May 2008. It expires on Sept. 30. The Energy Department expects to issue a new contract by the third quarter of fiscal 2019, but it has yet to issue a draft request for proposals for the Hanford tank work.
Contract duties include management and upkeep of 177 waste tanks and modifying tank farms for feeding the Low-Activity Waste Pretreatment System (LAWPS). LAWPS is designed to remove radioactive cesium and solids from Hanford waste tanks. The pretreatment system would help the Waste Treatment Plant start to vitrify low-activity waste as early as 2022
The contractor is also charged with designing and building a system to retrieve waste from single-shell tanks and placing the waste into double-shell tanks.
“WRPS as the incumbent contractor is the only contractor who has unique qualifications to continue the necessary activities at the DOE Hanford site without a break in service until award is made of the on-going competitive procurement,” DOE said in the notice.
Washington River Protection Solutions is a limited liability corporation owned by AECOM and SNC-Lavalin subsidiary Atkins, with Orano (previously AREVA) as its primary subcontractor.
