Wrap Up: In DOE, In The Industry

By Mike Nartker

WC Monitor
6/6/2014

IN DOE

The Department of Energy later this month plans to hold an industry day event for the new Paducah infrastructure services contract. During the week of June 23, DOE plans to hold “a pre-solicitation conference, site tour, and one-on-one sessions with interested parties,” according to a recently posted notice. A draft Request for Proposals for the new contract is expected to be issued prior to the event, DOE said.

Dennis Yates, the Department of Energy’s Savannah River Operations Office facility representative, has been named “DOE Facility Representative of the Year.” Facility representatives focus on safety oversight and evaluation of contractor activities. “Dennis has made a vital impact on safe operations at SRS, as well as ensuring the HB-Line facility is operated safely,” Patrick McGuire, Assistant Manager for Nuclear Material Stabilization Project, Savannah River Operations Office, said in a statement.

IN THE INDUSTRY

Karen Wiemelt has been named the Soil and Groundwater Remediation Project vice president for CH2M Hill Plateau Remediation Co. at Hanford. She starts work at Hanford in Sept. 15. Mark Cherry has been acting vice president since the retirement of Bob Popielarczyk. Wiemelt now is CH2M Hill senior vice president of nuclear global business development. She has 25 years of experience in environmental engineering, project management and nuclear operations.

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Weapons Complex Vol 25 No 20
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Weapons Complex Monitor

Article 13 of 13

May 16, 2014

Wrap Up: In DOE, In The Industry

By Mike Nartker

WC Monitor
5/16/2014

IN DOE

The Department of Energy late this week issued a draft performance work statement for the planned new Paducah infrastructure support services contract. According to a DOE notice issued May 14, the Department expects to issue a draft Request for Proposals for the procurement within the next 30 days, and a presolicitation conference is “tentatively scheduled” for the week of June 16. DOE is not taking comment on the draft performance work statement at this time. The new contract is being set-aside for small businesses and is expected to run for up to five years, with a one-year base period and four one-year option periods. DOE has said the contract is estimated to be worth $40-60 million.

Steven Croley was confirmed by the Senate this week as the Department of Energy’s new General Counsel. Croley, who was nominated to the GC position last summer, previously served in various roles at the Office of the White House Counsel and the Domestic Policy Council, according to a DOE release. “Dr. Croley brings to the Department leadership team both extensive experience representing the interests of the United States and wide-ranging interests in energy and environmental issues,” Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz said in the release. “I thank the Senate for approving his nomination, and I look forward to his advice and counsel. I also thank Anne Harkavy for serving as Acting General Counsel in his stead. Her leadership has proven to be invaluable in recent months.”

IN THE INDUSTRY

George Dials has joined the staff of Los Alamos National Laboratory as a senior executive advisor, WC Monitor has learned. Dials previously headed up B&W Conversion Services, LLC, which manages the Department of Energy’s two depleted uranium hexafluoride conversion plants, from late 2010 until he left Babcock & Wilcox this spring. He also previously served as president and CEO of B&W Y-12, LLC. Los Alamos did not return calls for comment late this week

Bechtel has provided awards to two of its subcontractors at the Hanford Waste Treatment Plant. Performance Contracting, Inc. of Lenexa, Kansas, won “Subcontractor of the Year,” while Dominion Engineering, Inc. of Reston, Va., won “Small Business of the Year,” according to a company release issued this week. “Our subcontractors, vendors, and suppliers help strengthen the critical work we do through performance, value, and innovation,” Craig Albert, president of Bechtel’s government services business unit, said in the release. “These awards recognize those who met our high standards for quality and who went above and beyond for mission delivery.”

Advanced Technologies and Laboratories International has been awarded the Voluntary Protection Program Star for the third consecutive time for its safety program at the Hanford 222-S Laboratory. The Department of Energy program recognizes excellence in occupational safety and health protection. “This achievement would not have been possible without support from the Office of River Protection’s leadership, as well as our strong working relationship with the 222-S Lab facility steward, Washington River Protection Solutions,” said Jou Hwang, ATL project director.

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Weapons Complex Vol 25 No 17
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Weapons Complex Monitor

Article 15 of 17

April 25, 2014

Wrap Up: In DOE, In The Industry

By Mike Nartker

WC Monitor
4/25/2014

IN DOE

The Department of Energy is gearing up for an inquiry into an allegation of a hostile work environment within the DOE Office of Acquisition and Project Management. DOE issued a solicitation this week seeking a contractor to provide “fact finder services” to look into a “recent allegation” of a hostile work environment filed by a federal employee in OAPM’s Office of Corporate Services, which is headed by Director Barry Ross. The solicitation notes that there are approximately 54 staff members in the office. According to the solicitation, work is scheduled to be performed May 5-June 5. It is unclear why DOE is looking to bring in an outside contractor to examine the allegation; the Department declined to comment on the matter this week.

IN THE INDUSTRY

As part of a reorganization of URS’ Global Management and Operation Services Group, executives Duane Schmoker and Jim Hall will be leaving the company, WC Monitor has learned. Schmoker, vice president of the energy and science strategic business unit, has been with URS and its legacy companies for 23 years and will be leaving in early May. Hall works in business development for GMOS. URS declined to comment this week.

Michelle Reichert is no longer a candidate to serve as the next president of B&W Conversion Services, LLC, as she has taken a position with Bechtel-led Consolidated Nuclear Security, LLC, the new managing contractor for the Y-12 and Pantex sites. Reichert previously served as BWCS deputy project manager and director of environment, safety and health before being moved to Pantex in the summer of 2013 by B&W to serve as deputy general manager there. Her past experience at BWCS, the managing contractor for the Department of Energy’s depleted uranium hexafluoride conversion plants, helped to position her as a possible candidate to fill the vacancy left by George Dials, who departed from BWCS and B&W in early April. This week, though, CNS announced that Reichert will serve as its Pantex operations manager. B&W declined to comment on the search for a new BWCS president this week. Since Dials’ departure, BWCS has been headed on an acting basis by Jeff Stevens, vice president of operations for B&W Technical Services Group.

Paducah cleanup contractor LATA Environmental Services of Kentucky has reached a new safety milestone, with workers having surpassed 2.5 million work hours without having a lost workday resulting from a job-related injury or illness. The last lost workday case occurred in November 2010, according to a company release issued this week. “We could not have achieved this most auspicious milestone without having the steadfast commitment to safety by our workforce,” LATA Kentucky Environment, Safety, and Health (ES&H) Manager Dave Kent said in the release. “Our employees carefully plan and execute the work. And for doing so, they receive the ultimate payoff, being able to go home to their families the same way they arrived—free of occupational injury and illness.”

Bechtel this week promoted Peggy McCullough to Senior Vice President. McCullough currently serves as Bechtel National’s Project Director at the Hanford Waste Treatment Plant, and she had held the title of principal vice president since 2000. Prior to moving to the Hanford vit plant, she served in Australia as project director of the Daunia Coking Coal Project in Queensland, which Bechtel said was completed under budget and ahead of schedule.

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