Judge OK’s Small Business Lawsuit Against Hanford Contractors

A Federal judge has ok'd the continuation of a lawsuit filed against Washington Closure Hanford and other larger contractors and sub-contractors, over allegations they bid on contracts meant for smaller firms.

The Federal government set aside millions of dollars in cleanup work aimed at attracting smaller firms to help in the effort to get rid of the waste at the nation's largest hazardous clean up site.

The suit, brought by Savage Logistics - small firm that sought Hanford work - claims Washington Closure and other larger firms conspired to created facades of small businesses to they too could big on these projects. In winning these bids, they fraudulently 'shoved' aside the smaller firms.

The suit claims some of the contracts were awarded to companies that had no experience in the field they bid for. It also claims in one case, the company that won had no employees, no equipment, and no experience in handling nuclear or related waste!

The Federal government joined Savage later in much of the lawsuit.