The following is an edited version of an article that appeared in the August 31, 2017, edition of the Department of Energy Office of Environmental Management's EM Update newsletter.
Bechtel National Inc. (BNI) and the Vit Plant were lauded by the Department of Energy Office of Environmental Management (EM) for achieving federal cost savings of more than $7.8 million in procurements and subcontracts in fiscal year 2016 (FY16).
The Vit Plant's $7,841,000 savings exceeded its FY16 goal of $3.1 million by 152 percent. The savings resulted from BNI’s strategic negotiations with vendors and use of EM-sponsored eProcurement and eSourcing tools, which allow contractors to obtain bids from different suppliers via an online portal.
It was the second consecutive year EM commended BNI for surpassing its SSI goal. WTP saved $3.4 million in fiscal year 2015.
Ralph Holland, head of EM contracting activity, thanked the Vit Plant team for its commitment to EM’s Strategic Sourcing Initiative (SSI). BNI saved $7.1 million in the SSI, the second-highest FY16 total of all participating EM prime contractors.
The SSI initiative applies an organized, systematic, and collaborative approach to acquire commonly used goods and services. It enables EM contractors to partner with companies to develop optimal solutions, share best practices, and create a strategic sourcing community.