The Department of Energy and Salt Waste Processing Facility contractor Parsons have agreed to defer resolution of a dispute over the return of $20 million in provisional fee until after the completion of contract discussions, which are expected to take several more months. DOE first demanded the return of the fee in an April letter because DOE believed Parsons would breach its cost ceiling for the SWPF due to the contractor’s new estimate that increased the total project cost more than $400 million. The contractor, however, balked at returning the fee, claiming that DOE did not have a legal basis for the recovery DOE has not formally withdrawn its demand letter for the return of the fee, but both parties have agreed to wait until contract discussions are complete. The Department originally gave a deadline in mid-June for repayment, threatening to withhold payments on contractor invoices if payment was not received. After that date passed without repayment, DOE gave a July 16 deadline to repay the fee or dispute the demand. Both Parsons and DOE Savannah River officials declined to comment on the fee issue.