Washington, D.C. -- The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today awarded a $2.5 billion management and operating (M&O) contract to USA Repository Services (USA-RS), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the URS Corporation. USA-RS will be supported by principal subcontractors: Shaw Environmental and Infrastructure, Inc., and AREVA Federal Services, Inc.

“If we are to meet growing energy demand and slow the growth of greenhouse gas emissions, nuclear power must be a larger part of our energy mix; it is a mature technology with significant potential to supply large amounts of safe, reliable, emissions-free base load power. In order to ensure that such an expansion can occur, the United States must have a permanent repository for the disposal of spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste,” said Secretary of Energy Samuel Bodman. “This contract will enable our national repository program to move forward by securing the necessary management and operations expertise needed as we begin the Nuclear Regulatory Commission licensing proceedings.”

USA-RS will provide mission support to the Office of Civilian Radioactive Waste Management (OCRWM) for the Yucca Mountain Project. As awarded, this contract has a five-year period of performance with a potential five-year option period. If fully exercised, this contract will continue through March 31, 2019.

Key scope activities under this new M&O contract are:

• providing management expertise and support for the completion of repository design;
• addressing questions or requests for additional information from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) on the DOE’s License Application and supporting DOE’s activities in the subsequent NRC licensing process;
• operating the Yucca Mountain site; and
• providing construction management and integration support.

After the transition activities are completed, USA-RS will assume responsibility for full performance on April 1, 2009. A website providing information on the new contract will be set up prior to transition and will be accessible from the OCRWM website.