Kenneth Fletcher
WC Monitor
5/29/2015
Wastren Advantage won late this week the Department of Energy’s new $44.6 million contract for operation of Hanford’s 222-S Laboratory. The small business set-aside contract received four bids, and includes a two-year base period and three one-year option periods that would cover an estimated 15,000 to 25,000 laboratory analyses each year. “We very excited to have been chosen by DOE to support the Hanford site at the 222s Lab facility,” WAI President Steve Moore said in a written response. “We have a great team and look forward to expanding our role at the site beyond the work we are currently doing for WCH at ERDF. We’re very honored by the award and look forward to supporting the EM mission and the Hanford community.”
The new contract is set to be a hybrid type, with Fixed-Price with Award Fee, Labor-Hour, and Cost Reimbursement Contract Line Items (CLINS). Wastren won over incumbent contractor Advanced Technologies and Laboratories. “I am saddened [by] DOE’s decision,” ATL President Jou Hwang said in a written response, noting this is the first time the contract included a fixed-price component. “The unreasonable low price of the awardee seems being a decision factor, in the light of best value.” He noted that ATL has earned greater than 98 percent of its performance-based fee in recent years. “We hope ATL staff can be valued [in] future opportunities to support DOE,” he said.
