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30 Hanford workers will be laid off in the coming week, says Washington state

This photo from Aug. 13, 2019, shows a sign at the Hanford Nuclear Reservation near Richland. The Department of Energy said Thursday that Bechtel National earned $5.8 million, or 74% of the incentive pay available for its work on the $17 billion vitrification plant in the center of the Hanford site in Eastern Washington. (Associated Press)
By Annette Cary Tri-City Herald

KENNEWICK – Hanford contractor Mission Support Alliance plans to lay of 30 workers as its Department of Energy contract expires.

The layoffs are set for Thursday, the last full business day before the expiring contract held by Mission Support Alliance transitions to a new 10-year contract awarded to Hanford Mission Integration Solutions.

Many employees at Hanford work 10-hour shifts Mondays through Thursdays.

Typically, most employees transition to new contractors at Hanford, with the new contractor bringing in new management.

Mission Support Alliance employed just over 1,900 employees at the end of September, which was the end of fiscal 2020 for DOE.

No one who could comment for the contractor could be reached late Friday afternoon. The layoff announcement was posted online by the Washington Employment Security Department.

Mission Support Alliance, which has held the sitewide services contract since May 2009, is owned by Leidos Integrated Technology and Centerra Group. The new contractor has largely the same ownership – Leidos, Centerra and Parsons Government Group.

Robert Wilkinson, the president of Mission Support Alliance, also will be the president of Hanford Mission Integration Solutions.

The new contract covers the services needed by DOE and other contractors performing cleanup work to operate the 580-square-mile nuclear reservation.

It includes security and emergency services, land management, information technology and management of the HAMMER training center.

It also covers utility and road services, including maintenance and upgrades to support the upcoming operation of the $17 billion vitrification plant in the center of the site.