The Department of Energy Wednesday rolled out its much-anticipated solicitation for a new long-term operations and management contract potentially worth $3 billion at its Waste Isolation Pilot Plant near Carlsbad, N.M.
The final request for proposals (RFP) is for up to 10 years, starting with a four-year base followed by six one-year options, the DOE Office of Environmental Management said in a press release.
Winner of the procurement would replace Nuclear Waste Partnership, a joint venture made up of Amentum and BWX Technologies, which has Orano as a key subcontractor.
“It is our policy not to comment on business development opportunities,” Amentum spokesman Keith Wood said in an email when asked if the company anticipates competing in the solicitation. A BWXT spokesman, Jud Simmons, also declined comment.
Nuclear Waste Partnership is in the latter stages of a nine-year, $2.7-billion contract scheduled to sunset on Sept. 30, which would point toward a likely extension of the incumbent while the solicitation plays out. The contract will also include a 90-day transition period.
Actual proposals are due by July 19, according to the cover letter for the RFP. Questions on the document are due by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on June 12 (which is a Saturday) and should be emailed to [email protected].
The DOE’s Environmental Management Consolidated Business Center will then answer the questions online although the questioners will not be identified. The DOE contracting officer for the solicitation is John Blecher.
WIPP is the nation’s only underground disposal site for defense-related transuranic waste. In addition to coordinating with DOE-approved generators of this waste to ensure shipments meet WIPP criteria, the prime contractor must also work with other contractors and oversee major infrastructure subcontracts, such as one for the Safety Significant Confined Ventilation System. The system is meant to provide 540,000 cubic feet per minute of air to underground workers.
The prime contractor will also be required to assign at least 20% of the annual contract value to small business, according to the special contract requirements.
