After clearing regulatory review, the BWX Technologies-led Nuclear Laboratories Partners of Canada will take over as management contractor of Canadian National Laboratories this week.
AECL selected the Nuclear Laboratories Partners of Canada to be the preferred bidder in June. Nuclear Laboratories Partners of Canada is composed of BWXT, Amentum and Kinectrics. Battelle Memorial Institute is also involved as a subcontractor.
In a Monday emailed statement Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (AECL) told Exchange Monitor the contract award is expected to be completed on Dec. 11. AECL said the award was initially expected to close Sept. 13. But final approval was delayed due to “outstanding regulatory reviews from the Competition Bureau”, according to the statement.
The Competition Bureau is an independent law enforcement agency that protects and promotes competition for the benefit of Canadian businesses and customers.
AECL told the Monitor that the Competition Bureau informed the organization that it does not intend to challenge the proposed transaction.
With the deal coming to a close, Canada National Laboratories will soon transition from its current management team of Canadian National Energy Alliance to Nuclear Laboratories Partners of Canada, AECL said. Canadian National Energy Alliance, which is made up of AtkinsRéalis, Jacobs Engineering and Fluor Federal Services, managed the Canadian National Laboratories for the past 10 years.
AECL said working-level teams at the laboratories will remain unchanged.
According to BWXT, the contract is valued at C$1.2 billion ($881 million US$) per year on average and will be for six years. Additionally, the contract will have extension periods that can be exercised based on performance for up to a total of 20 years.
Under the contract, the Canadian consortium will manage all of AECL’s sites and assets, including the Chalk River Laboratories and environmental remediation projects in Port Hope, Ontario.