Department of Energy: Alternative Financing and Contracting Strategies forCleanup Projects

摘要

The Department of Energy's (DOE) Environmental Management program faces themonumental task of cleaning up the environmental problems created by nearly a half century of nuclear weapons production. The Office of Environmental Management, proposed a 'privatization' approach with two key elements: fixed-priced contracts and private financing of the construction of waste treatment facilities. Concerned about whether privatization will achieve the goals expected by the Department, the Chairman and Ranking Minority Member of the Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development, House Committee on Appropriations, asked GAO to determine (1) what conditions need to be present in order to successfully use fixed-price contracting for Environmental Management's privatized cleanup projects, (2) what alternative financing approaches could be used for Environmental Management's privatization contract, and (3) how alternative financing methods for Environmental Management's privatization projects might affect budget scoring.