Savannah River Nuclear Solutions has submitted a response to the National Nuclear Security Administration over the agency’s concerns with how the Waste Solidification Building project at Savannah River is being managed, but is so far keeping quiet on the details. “In reference to the NNSA Letter on SRNS Performance on the Waste Solidification Building Project, SRNS has submitted a response to the NNSA Contracting Officer and is waiting for their review and response,” Barbara Smoak, a spokeswoman for the Fluor-led contractor, said in a written response, declining to release a copy of the SRNS letter. Last month, the NNSA sent SRNS a strongly worded letter accusing the contractor of being “negligent” in its management of the Waste Solidification Building project, outlining a variety of significant performance concerns and warning SRNS that it would be directed to return $12 million in fee paid for the project. “I am interested in your view of why I should not conclude that SRNS’ repeated delay in taking prompt and effective corrective action to address obvious and serious delays in subcontract performance does not rise to the level of gross negligence or willful misconduct, warranting disallowance of costs,” an NNSA contracting officer wrote in the June 12 letter.
SRNS’ quiet approach would seem to be at odds to the strong defense contractor President and CEO Dwayne Wilson promised to employees soon after the NNSA letter was made public by NW&M Monitor. “While we are in the process of preparing our response to a number of allegations raised by the Department, we take exception to claims that our behavior was negligent or inappropriate in any way. In fact, we will refute these statements in our reply. SRNS has operated in good faith with the Department,” Wilson wrote. “While I’m disappointed in NNSA’s approach to working to resolve issues surrounding WSB, I welcome the scrutiny and remain very proud of the work this company performs on a daily basis for the Department and our nation.”