September 2016

Assessment of the Uranium Processing Facility Project Engineering Processes

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Nuclear Safety and Environmental Assessments, within the Office of Enterprise Assessments (EA), conducted an independent assessment of engineering processes at the Uranium Processing Facility (UPF) Project in Oak Ridge, Tennessee.  This assessment was part of a recent EA initiative to increase focus on conduct of engineering by contractor organizations at DOE nuclear facilities.  The UPF is in the preliminary design phase, with an approved Conceptual Safety Design Report and with Critical Decision 2/3 for final design and construction of the key elements scheduled to occur in fiscal year 2017.  Bechtel National, Incorporated (BNI) is the principal contractor for the UPF design effort, with staffing support and specialized technical support contributed by other contractors under basic ordering agreements.  The design effort is approximately 60% complete.