Weapons Complex Vol. 25 No. 26
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Weapons Complex Monitor

Article 19 of 19

June 27, 2014

Wrap Up: In Congress, In DOE, In The Industry

By Kenny Fletcher

WC Monitor
6/27/2014

IN CONGRESS

Rep. Mike Turner (R-Ohio), the former chairman of the House Armed Services Strategic Forces Subcommittee and an advocate of National Nuclear Security Administration reform efforts, announced late last week that he will seek to become chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee. The current chairman, Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.), has reached his six-year limit for serving on the committee. Turner currently chairs the House Armed Services Tactical Air and Land Forces Subcommittee. “Government must be held accountable to the people it serves. As a senior member of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, I know that there is a tremendous opportunity for innovation and for the development of a more efficient, effective, and transparent government. We must conduct responsible oversight and adopt meaningful reform to eliminate and prevent waste, fraud, and mismanagement,” Turner said. Reps. John Mica (R-Fla.) and Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah) are also believed to be in the running to head the oversight panel, according to a report from The Hill magazine.

IN DOE

The Department of Energy awarded this week a $6 million contract to Synergy Solutions, Inc., an 8(a) small disadvantaged business, for technical and administrative support at the Denver Federal Center’s Building 55. “Synergy is honored to be supporting DOE EMCBC under this new award. We look forward to providing superior service to this important customer over the next several years,” the company said in a statement. The firm fixed-price contract has a five-year performance period. Building 55 is used for operation of the DOE Office of Environmental Management Consolidated Business Center’s Classification Office, its support functions, and the maintenance and management of classified and litigation records from the former Rocky Flats Environmental Technology Site. Work under the contract includes security services, documents and record management, classification and declassification activities, information resource management and facility management. Incumbent PM Tech’s contract is set to expire Sept. 16.

The Department of Energy this week awarded a $2.9 million task order to KPMG LLP to perform audit services for DOE’s Portsmouth/Paducah Project Office in Lexington, Ky. The task order has a two-year performance period. “KPMG will provide audit services that include, incurred costs audits, disclosure statement reviews and cost impact evaluations of the Portsmouth/Paducah Project Office,” states a DOE release.

IN THE INDUSTRY

North Wind Group announced this week that it has brought on Mark Swantko as its new Eastern Regional Business Development Manager. As part of the new position, Swantko will be based in Knoxville, Tenn., and will lead marketing and business development for the company and its six subsidiaries in 31 eastern states. Swantko was most recently a vice president at EnSafe and Director of Sales at CH2M Hill. “As North Wind continues to grow Mark’s expertise will help us expand even further into the eastern U.S.,” North Wind President Chris Leichtweis said in a statement. “He brings a winning track record and great industry reputation to North Wind. We are proud to welcome him to our team and look forward to continued growth ahead.”

Hanford tank farms contractor Washington River Protection Solutions has been recognized with Voluntary Protection Program Star Status for excellence in occupational safety and health protection. WRPS earned start status, the highest level of Department of Energy certification, based on the results of a DOE assessment earlier this year. It found that WRPS’s safety performance exceeded the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and DOE standards, said Tom Fletcher, DOE assistant manager for the tank farms. VPP star flags were awarded in WRPS safety meetings this week. “Our Employee Accident Prevention Councils, the Hanford Atomic Metal Trades Council safety representatives and our safety and health staff work cooperatively to address workforce issues and encourage continuous improvement,” said Dave Olson, WRPS president.

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Weapons Complex Vol. 25 No. 13
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Weapons Complex Monitor

Article 18 of 18

June 09, 2014

WRAP UP: IN CONGRESS, IN DOE, IN THE INDUSTRY

By Martin Schneider

WC Monitor
3/28/2014

IN CONGRESS

The Congressional appropriations process may go faster this year than in previous years, according to House Energy and Water Appropriations Subcommittee Chairman Mike Simpson (R-Idaho). The Appropriations Committee is making an effort to hasten the pace of its effort to try and complete spending bills by the beginning of Fiscal Year 2015 in October—something that has not happened in recent years. “I will say this is an accelerated hearing schedule we are having throughout all the Appropriations bills because we are actually going to try something new this year in both the House and the Senate and that is to do our job and do it on time,” Simpson said this week during a subcommittee hearing on DOE’s applied energy budget requests. “We are trying to get appropriations done so you know what your budgets will be when the first of the fiscal year rolls around. We are having accelerated hearings in all of the subcommittees so it makes a lot of conflicts going on for our members as we try to get this done, and I think the hearing schedule is that the middle of April we will be done with that, and then we will start marking up appropriations bills to try and get them to the floor. Of course, a lot of it depends on the floor time that is available in the House and Senate.”

IN DOE

Monica Regalbuto may have a long wait to be confirmed by the Senate as the Department of Energy’s Assistant Secretary for Environmental Management, but she’s filling part of the time on the Red Team examining alternatives to the Uranium Processing Facility planned for the Y-12 National Security Complex. WC Monitor has learned that Regalbuto has been added to the Red Team, which is chaired by Oak Ridge National Laboratory Director Thom Mason. The Red Team is expected to complete its work by April 15. Regalbuto was nominated to head up DOE’s cleanup program earlier this month. She currently serves as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Fuel Cycle Technologies, and is on assignment at DOE from Argonne National Laboratory, where she is a senior chemical engineer. Regalbuto also was a member of an expert team assembled last year by then-Secretary of Energy Steven Chu to examine technical issues associated with the use of so-called “black cells” at the Hanford Waste Treatment Plant.

The Department of Energy has exercised a contract option to keep S.M. Stoller (now a wholly owned subsidiary of Huntington Ingalls Industries) in place as the support services contractor for the Office of Legacy Management through June 30. The total amount of the ceiling increase is approximately $47 million, according to DOE. While Stoller’s contract was initially set to end in September 2012, it has been repeatedly extended because of the lengthy process that is still underway to award the follow-on contract. DOE initially awarded the contract to Portage last April, but that decision was protested to the Government Accountability Office by WAI-Stoller Services, LLC, and Navarro Research and Engineering. In response, DOE chose last May to take corrective action by re-evaluating the eight bids submitted for the contract, and in late January, the Department announced that Portage had once again been selected as the winner of the contract. However, that announcement was soon followed by new protests to the GAO from the WAI-Stoller team and Navarro, which are still pending.

IN THE INDUSTRY

Babcock & Wilcox executive Jeff Stevens has been named acting President and Project Manager of B&W Conversion Services, LLC, effective March 31. BWCS, made up of B&W and URS, is responsible for the Department of Energy’s two depleted uranium hexafluoride (DUF6) conversion plants at the Paducah and Portsmouth sites. Stevens replaces George Dials, who is leaving B&W at the end of this month. Stevens currently holds the title of Director of Environmental Management Programs at B&W Technical Services Group. Prior to joining B&W last year, Stevens worked for EnergySolutions, during which he was on the board of Uranium Disposition Services, the previous contractor responsible for the DUF6 plants, according to BWCS spokeswoman Nan Kilkeary.

Perma-Fix Environmental Services announced this week that John Lash will take over as interim Chief Operating Officer, pending board approval. Lash, who has been serving as Perma-Fix’s Senior Vice President of Operations for the Treatment Segment, will replace James Blankenhorn, who has been hired by URS to serve as Recovery Manager at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant and to aid efforts to get WIPP back into operation following last month’s truck fire and radiation release incident. “We are very pleased to announce the promotion of John Lashto Chief Operating Officer,” Perma-Fox CEO Lou Centofanti said in a statement. “Since joining Perma-Fix Environmental Services in 2001, he has been a valuable member of the senior management team. He has had direct oversight of our facilities and remediation activities, and has cultivated very strong relationships with our key clients. Moreover, he has a solid reputation in the industry. We look forward to his ongoing contributions in this new role.”

CRC Technologies, Inc. has won a new two-year subcontract worth $12 million from Fluor-B&W Portsmouth, LLC, the D&D contractor for the Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant. Work to be performed under the subcontract will focus on cost estimating, project controls, and technical writing. Since 2010, CRC has supplied over 60 technical professionals performing 75,000 man-hours during both contract transition and project execution, primarily under the leadership of Steve Beck, CRC Director of Project Controls, according to a company release issued this week. “Collectively, the CRC team—which includes Project, Time & Cost, Gate 6, Peak Solutions, and InSolves—provides an integrated technical resource to FBP, combining more than 70 years of relevant corporate experience to aid in the successful completion of the Portsmouth D&D project,” the release says.

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Weapons Complex Vol. 25 No. 11
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Weapons Complex Monitor

Article 13 of 13

June 09, 2014

WRAP UP: IN CONGRESS, IN DOE, IN THE INDUSTRY

By Martin Schneider

WC Monitor
3/14/2014

IN CONGRESS
This year’s set of House Cleanup Caucus briefings on the Department of Energy’s cleanup program is scheduled to get underway March 27, with an overview presentation from DOE cleanup chief David Huizenga. The briefing is scheduled to be held in Room 1324 of the Longworth House Office Building in Washington beginning at 9 a.m. The schedule for the remainder of this year’s briefings, which will focus on individual cleanup sites, is set to be announced soon.

IN DOE

The Department of Energy is seeking applicants for the Savannah River Operations Office’s Deputy Manager position through April 4, according to a posting on the USAJobs website. Zack Smith last held the position before leaving early this year for a post at EnergySolutions. “This position serves as the alter ego and assists the Manager, SR, in providing overall leadership, direction, and oversight of assigned contractor and Federal activities associated with the Environmental Management stewardship mission performed at the Savannah River Site,” states the job posting.

IN THE INDUSTRY

Alliant Corp. has won a new two-year subcontract worth approximately $12 million from Fluor-B&W Portsmouth, LLC, the D&D contractor for the Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant. Work to be performed under the subcontract will focus on estimating and project controls support services, according to an Alliant release issued this week. “Collectively, Alliant and its team have over 63 years of corporate experience providing estimating and project controls support services in a staff augmentation environment,” the release says.

Mark Haub is taking over as Pro2Serve’s Chief Financial Officer/Treasure, the company said this week. Haub replaces Paul Martin, who retired in early March. Haub has more than 20 years of experience as a financial official. “Paul Martin succeeded in establishing the CFO role as a critical element of Pro2Serve’s continuing growth and success over the last 15 years,” Pro2Serve Chief Executive Officer Barry Goss. “We conducted an extensive search to find a senior-level financial professional like Mr. Haub with the proven expertise and diversity of experience needed to continue and expand upon this performance record.”

KeySource Inc. announced two new hires this week. Justin Von Mizener has been named as Vice President and a principal business leader for KeySource subsidiary KSI, LLC. Von Mizener previously served in “project management and talent acquisition leadership roles” at DeNuke Contracting Services, S.M. Stoller Corporation and Navarro Research & Engineering, according to KeySource. Beth Park has joined KeySource as Project Director for Executive Recruiting at KeySource HCI, LLC. She previously served as “Director of Project Management for a Cleveland-based executive recruiting and consulting services firm,” and has also held leadership positions with Dow Chemical Company and United Technologies Corporation, according to KeySource.

Washington Closure Hanford and its subcontractor employees have reached 3 million hours without a lost work day injury for the third time since beginning work on the River Corridor Closure Project in 2005. “We look forward to enhancing our strong safety culture by continuing to focus on safe work practices, disciplined operations and looking out for one another as we continue toward completion of our contract,” said Scott Sax, Washington Closure president, in a release issued this week. Washington Closure has completed 90 percent of the work under its contract. It has demolished 297 of 321 buildings, cleaned up 473 of 591 waste sites and disposed of 9.6 million tons of contaminated material in the Environmental Restoration Disposal Facility.

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Weapons Complex Vol. 25 No. 2
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Weapons Complex Monitor

Article 18 of 18

June 02, 2014

WRAP UP: IN CONGRESS, IN DOE, IN THE INDUSTRY

By Martin Schneider

WC Monitor
1/17/2014

IN CONGRESS

Lawmakers are backing the Obama Administration’s Fiscal Year 2014 budget request for the Department of Energy’s Office of Legacy Management in the omnibus spending bill for the remainder of this fiscal year unveiled this week. Under the bill, LM would receive approximately $177 million. Congress is expected to approve the omnibus bill by the end of this week.

IN DOE

Terry Spears has been named acting deputy manager of the Department of Energy’s Savannah River Operations Office following Zack Smith’s recent departure from the post to work for EnergySolutions. “Terry Spears has more than 35 years of Federal Service with DOE and the Department of Defense,” Savannah River Operations Office Manager Dave Moody said in a message to employees late last week. “He has held several key positions at DOE-SR. As Assistant Manager for the Waste Disposition Project, he provided sound Federal executive direction for the safe management, treatment and disposition of highly radioactive waste, low-level radioactive and transuranic waste. The Liquid Waste program has achieved several significant milestones under his leadership.”

IN THE INDUSTRY

AMEC is proposing to acquire Foster Wheeler in a deal that could be worth approximately $3.2 billion, the two companies announced earlier this week. The deal would involve a combination of cash and AMEC stock that would value each share of Foster Wheeler stock at approximately $32.40, according to a Foster Wheeler release. Foster Wheeler would also pay a one-time dividend of $0.40 per share prior to the deal being finalized. Foster Wheeler has agreed to not solicit any other proposals through Feb. 22, but the deal with AMEC still needs to undergo various approvals before it is completed. “Other than with respect to non-solicitation of alternative proposals, no binding agreement has been entered into between the Company and AMEC with respect to any business combination, and the execution of definitive agreements with respect thereto is subject to mutual agreement of definitive terms, mutual due diligence and approval by each of the Company’s and AMEC’s board of directors, among other things,” the Foster Wheeler release states, adding, “Accordingly, readers are cautioned that there can be no assurances that any transaction will ultimately be agreed between Foster Wheeler and AMEC, or what the definitive and binding terms of any such transaction would be.”

Vista Engineering Technologies this week received ISO 9001 certification, which entailed a five-day audit of the comapny’s quality and management systems at its Richland, Wash., and Loveland, Colo., offices that identified no findings, according to a company release. “Achieving and maintaining ISO 9001 certification requires continuous process improvement aimed at providing total customer satisfaction,” Vista Engineering President and CEO Phillip Ohl said in the release. “Our NQA-1 nuclear quality assurance program has been implemented for many years, but achieving this certification demonstrates our commitment to meeting quality standards accepted throughout the world, as our company expands into the international market.”

EnviroIssues has won a new Department of Energy contract for facilitation of the Hanford Advisory Board. The company has provided services to DOE for the past 17 years. Its new contract is valued at about $1.4 million and runs for two years with an option for a third year. DOE evaluated proposals and received input from two advisory board members before determining that EnviroIssues would provide the best value to the government, according to DOE.

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RadWaste Vol. 7 No. 20
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RadWaste Monitor

Article 5 of 5

May 30, 2014

Wrap Up: In Congress, In DOE, In the Industry

By Jeremy Dillon

RW Monitor
5/23/2014

IN CONGRESS

House Energy and Water Development Appropriations Subcommittee Chairman Mike Simpson (R-Idaho) handily won this week the Republican primary for the Idaho House 2nd District, an election that had gained national attention due to a strong challenge by a Tea Party-backed candidate. “I’m grateful for the tremendous outpouring of support by the voters of the Second District. I look forward to continuing to share my proven record of delivering results for Idaho as we move on to the General Election,” Simpson said in a statement. “I continue to be deeply honored to represent the people of Idaho in Congress and will continue to fight for Idaho.” Unofficial tallies had Simpson taking somewhere in the range of 60 percent of the vote, according to local reports. Simpson will face Democrat candidate Richard Stallings, a former U.S. Rep. for the 2nd District from 1984 to 1992, in the November election.

IN DOE

The Department of Energy has extended the deadline for compatibility statements by a month for the design of railcars for the transport of high-level waste. The original due date was June 2, but the new due date has been moved to July 2. DOE issued a Request for Information/Sources Sought Notice intended to “solicit ideas from all sources on how DOE should acquire the capability to transport casks of commercial used nuclear fuel, (2) to determine if any small businesses are available to perform the work contemplated by DOE and described herein, (3) to obtain feedback on the attached draft Statement of Work (SOW), and (4) to obtain industry feedback on the proposed acquisition strategy for this procurement.” The Statement of Work attached to the notice included work descriptions of railcar design, prototype fabrication, testing, and approval, but DOE does not anticipate awarding a contract for the manufacturing of production railcars at this time. The focus of the RFI is on cask cars and buffer cars, not escort cars, locomotives, or transport casks, the notice said. The designs must meet the Association of American Railroads requirements for shipping HLRM, the notice said.

IN THE INDUSTRY

Exelon President and CEO Christopher Crane will serve as the Nuclear Energy Institute’s Chairman of the Board of Directors, NEI announced this week. Donald Brandt, chairman of the board, president and CEO of Pinnacle West Capital Corp. and Arizona Public Service Co., will serve as vice chairman of the board. NEI also announced that 10 new members were elected to the board while four members were re-elected. According to NEI, members of the board and its executive committee typically serve three-year terms, and officers are elected annually.

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