DOE'S award fees at Rocky Flats do not adequately reflect ES and H problems

Despite the persistance of significant environmental, safety, and health problems at the Rocky Flats plant, it's contractor has received substantial monetary awards from the Department of Energy for operating the plant. During fiscal years 1986 through 1988, approximately $26.8 million was received in award fees - about 84 percent of the total award fees that were available under the contract with DOE. This report identified a number of problems that raise concerns about how the award process is being administered: significant ES and H deficiencies have been downplayed in the evaluation process; the process has placed more emphasis on production rather than on ES and H performance; and the evaluations have not been reviewed by DOE headquarters organizations that have important roles in the conduct of activities. This report recommends that DOE restructure its award fee process to provide a clear understanding to its contractors what they will be losing in award fees for certain types of ES and H problems