EM recently awarded Oak Ridge cleanup contractor UCOR approximately $27.5 million for its performance from Nov. 1, 2021 through May 22, 2022, amounting to 85% of the available fee for the evaluation period.
Office of Environmental Management
October 4, 2022
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UCOR continued deactivation on the old Column Exchange (COLEX) equipment outside the Alpha-4 facility at the Y-12 National Security Complex during the cleanup contractor’s most recent fee evaluation period. The COLEX equipment had been used for lithium separation, a process requiring large amounts of mercury. UCOR’s efforts outside the Alpha-4 facility recovered 1.7 tons of mercury, preventing a large environmental release.
OAK RIDGE, Tenn. – EM recently awarded Oak Ridge cleanup contractor UCOR approximately $27.5 million for its performance from Nov. 1, 2021 through May 22, 2022, amounting to 85% of the available fee for the evaluation period.
The Oak Ridge Office of EM (OREM) issued its fee determination scorecard for UCOR for the seven-month period after completing its evaluation of the contractor.
EM releases information relating to contractor fee payments — earned by completing the work called for in the contracts — to further transparency in its cleanup program.
UCOR received “excellent” ratings for project management and business systems, quality and safety culture, and regulatory and stakeholder activity; a “good” rating for operations management; and “high confidence” for cost and schedule incentive, according to the scorecard.
Following are significant accomplishments by UCOR during the evaluation period:
- Completed work $129 million under budget.
- Recovered 1.7 tons of mercury from Alpha-4, bringing the total amount of mercury recovered at Alpha-4 to approximately 7 tons. This decreased the risk of release, moved the facility closer to demolition preparation, and reduced the mercury vapor at the facility, all of which will reduce the cost of demolition preparation and further improve worker safety.
- Advanced cleanup of excess contaminated facilities at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the Y-12 National Security Complex and continued actions required to close the East Tennessee Technology Park (ETTP).
- Adapted to changing conditions resulting from COVID-19-pandemic related supply chain issues and staff shortages.
- Awarded about 73% of its subcontracts to small businesses — surpassing its goal of 65% — and exceeded four of five small business socioeconomic goals.
- Streamlined review and approval processes to enable accelerated transfer of excess ETTP land to the community.
While UCOR continues to be responsive to incidents and improve work planning and controls, OREM noted additional improvements are needed related to electrical hazards and asbestos.
View the full fee determination scorecard for UCOR here.
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