EM Awards Portsmouth Contractor 85% of Fee for Late 2019 Through Early 2021

LEXINGTON, Ky. – EM’s Portsmouth/Paducah Project Office (PPPO) recently awarded its Portsmouth Site decontamination and decommissioning contractor nearly $30.1 million, or about 85% of the total fee available for the evaluation period of October 2019 through March 2021.

Fluor-BWXT Portsmouth’s (FBP) quality and effectiveness performing and managing the contract at the former Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant cleanup site in southern Ohio was “very good,” and the prime contractor was rated “satisfactory” in the categories of environment, safety, health, and quality, and regulatory work, according to EM’s evaluation criteria.

“FBP, for the most part, met or exceeded expectations during this period and, with active EM oversight, supported timely completion of multiple mission priorities simultaneously,” PPPO Acting Manager Joel Bradburne said.

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.

EM’s evaluation noted that, although improvement is needed in monthly forecasting, FBP’s overall cost and schedule management was effective. It added that the contractor exceeded expectations in accelerating progress on key mission priorities while managing pandemic shutdown and return-to-work activities.

FBP coordinated On-Site Waste Disposal Facility (OSWDF) construction, building demolition, and engineered soil excavation activities at the site to achieve the first waste placement in the disposal cell. EM’s evaluation also noted FBP continued to perform well on small-business utilization as well as safety, although some improvement is needed with the latter. FBP continues to effectively coordinate an integrated and independent ambient air-monitoring program with the State of Ohio.

FBP met most of its performance-based incentive goals supporting progress toward initial demolition of the X-326 uranium-enrichment process building, deactivation of the X-333 Process Building, and liner and water detention and treatment systems installation leading to startup of the OSWDF.

Evaluations determine the portion of contractor fee to be paid based on performance. EM’s cost-plus-award-fee contracts are designed to provide incentive for excellence. In determining the awards, EM considers overall performance along with completion of specific EM mission objectives. The results are summarized on a scorecard, and metrics are set in accordance with a performance evaluation and measurement plan.

The latest award fee scorecard for FBP and other information about its contract is available here.