Bid protest by Atkins-Jacobs-Westinghouse competing team is key factor in megacontract dispute, but neither the judge, companies nor U.S. Energy Dept. will comment on the invalidated contract or on what will happen next.

Giant 10-year O&M contract combines functions of two awards originally planned—one to manage millions of gallons of radioactive waste stored underground at the former weapons site and the other to operate its multi-billion-dollar waste treatment plant awaiting startup.

Cause of sudden death was not disclosed of exec who led the $17B Hanford nuclear waste vitrification plant project, but Bechtel has named company veteran Brian Hartman as new project director.