CONTRACTING
DOE re-evaluating Hanford tank farm contract after protests were dismissed
ECA Staff | 7/30/2020
Last week the Government Accountability Office dismissed bid protests from two contractors over the award of the tank closure contract at Hanford. DOE had originally awarded the contract to a BWXT- and Fluor-led team last December.
The Department of Energy (DOE) is now planning to reconsider the 10-year, $13 billion contract through a corrective action, which is a voluntary decision that can entail “a re-evaluation of proposals, a new award decision, an amendment to a solicitation, or other actions.”
Earlier this year, ECA monitored a challenge on a separate contract for environmental cleanup contract at Hanford that was denied by GAO. In the case of the tank closure contract, GAO dismissed the protest, which usually occurs if a federal agency chooses to take corrective action.
The current tank closure contract is held by Washington River Protection Solutions, which expires on September 30, 2020. The final outcome for the new contract is still unclear and will depend on the actions DOE takes in its corrective action process.
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MANHATTAN PROJECT
Summer 2020 marks several Manhattan Project milestones
ECA Staff | 7/30/2020
This summer marks the 75th anniversary of the end of World War II and several Manhattan Project related events.
The Superintendent of the Manhattan Project National Historical Park noted, "Manhattan Project National Historical Park preserves and interprets the nationally significant sites, stories, and legacies of the Manhattan Project, the United States’ atomic weapons program during World War II. The summer of 2020 marks 75 years since the culmination of the Manhattan Project, when atomic weaponry was first tested in New Mexico on July 16, 1945 and then dropped on the cities of
Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945."
The park is facilitating several activities and events to mark these milestones. This month the park is accepting "paper cranes with messages of peace" from the public "[t]o celebrate these values and recognize the historical trauma of the atomic bombings." The messages will be archived in a time capsule and will be opened on the 100th anniversary.
Additionally, the park sites are hosting virtual and in-person commemoration activities. For example, at Los Alamos, visitors can take a self-guided walking tour or participate in "virtual learning adventures" to learn more about the County's role in the Manhattan Project.
“As we approach the 75th anniversary of the use of atomic bombs during World War II, we take pride in the Hanford Site’s contribution to the Manhattan Project," said David Reeploeg, Executive Director of Hanford Communities and Vice President for Federal Programs for TRIDEC. "This is an opportunity to reflect on the extraordinary technological achievement, the tireless efforts of people across the country, as well as the tremendous ramifications of the development and deployment of
nuclear weapons."
LEGISLATIVE
NATIONAL NUCLEAR SECURITY ADMINISTRATION
HANFORD SITE
OAK RIDGE
Read about DOE's High Level Waste Interpretation
Have questions about DOE’s recent high-level waste (HLW) interpretation? Download ECA’s Key Points and FAQs on the issue to better understand what ECA believes are the potential benefits of implementation.
Interested in learning more? Read the ECA report “Making Informed Decisions on DOE's Proposed High Level Waste Definition” at www.energyca.org/publications
Stay Current on Activities in the DOE World
Read the latest edition of the ECA Bulletin, a regular newsletter providing a detailed brief of ECA activities, legislative news, and major events from across the DOE complex. Have suggestions for future editions? Email bulletin@energyca.org.
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Learn More about Cleanup Sites with ECA's DOE Site Profiles
ECA's new site profiles detail DOE's 13 active Environmental Management cleanup sites and national laboratories, highlighting their history, missions, and priorities. The profiles are a key source for media, stakeholders, and the public to learn more about DOE site activities, contractors, advisory boards, and their surrounding local
governments.
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