NWP Awards Subcontract in Support of Ventilation System Work

October 22, 2020

NWP Awards Subcontract in Support of Ventilation System Work

CARLSBAD, N.M., October 22, 2020 – Nuclear Waste Partnership (NWP) awarded a $3 million subcontract to Kiewit US Contractors Co. to support construction of the Safety Significant Confinement Ventilation System (SSCVS) at the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP).

According to NWP President and Project Manager Sean Dunagan, the subcontract allows progress to continue on the ventilation system while NWP works with DOE to finalize a larger subcontract to complete construction of the SSCVS.

“Kiewit US Contractors Co. provides the manpower, technical expertise and capacity, quality control, and similar previous experience to support the critical effort required to keep the SSCVS project moving forward,” said Dunagan. “We are pleased to a have a company with Kiewit’s reputation to help complete this critical project.”

Kiewit US Contractors Co. Senior Vice President, John Jennings stated, “Kiewit and its affiliate companies are excited to have the opportunity to partner with NWP and complete the construction of the new WIPP Ventilation System.” Kiewit understands the importance of the safe and efficient completion of the SSCVS project and how it will support the Department of Energy’s mission for the WIPP facility.”

In late August, NWP terminated for convenience a $135 million subcontract with Critical Applications Alliance for construction of the SSCVS. NWP determined that termination of the subcontract was necessary to ensure the quality, safety, and timely completion of the ventilation project.

The scope of the Kiewit subcontract includes continued construction of the Salt Reduction Building, concrete finish work, and procurement activity in support of the SSCVS. Kiewit was previously awarded a $500,000 time-and-materials contract to assist with transition efforts.

The SSCVS, the largest containment fan system among DOE facilities, provides a modern air supply system designed to run continuously in unfiltered or HEPA filtration mode. The system will provide approximately 540,000 cubic feet per minute (cfm) of air to the underground, significantly more than the 170,000 cfm provide by the current ventilation system.

The increased airflow will allow simultaneous mining, rock bolting, waste emplacement, maintenance, and experimental scientific operations.

NWP is the management and operating contractor at WIPP, the nation’s first permanent geologic repository for defense transuranic nuclear waste, which began disposal operations in 1999. NWP is an Amentum-led partnership with BWXT and Orano.