Carlsbad Revises Economic Development RFP to Align with DOE-Amended O&M RFP for WIPP

    CARLSBAD, NM, August 13, 2011 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Recognizing that the United States Department of Energy has modified the Maintenance and Operations Request for Proposals to exclude the community support provisions, it has become necessary to amend the Carlsbad Community Economic Development Request for Proposal (#CDOD 2012-01). This amendment will align our process closer to the amended process of the U.S. Department of Energy. "We recognize that the Department (of Energy) removed this item from the proposal because it had no bearing on the bid process," said John Heaton, who chairs the Carlsbad committee that produced the community RFP. "It has now become clear that DOE believes Carlsbad has taken its economic future into its own hands," Heaton added, "the Department, by amendment to the process, has freed the community and contractors to make their own agreement without the worry of compromising the DOE procurement process."

This RFP process was initiated by the community to provide contractors (many of whom were already approaching different groups and leaders in the community with economic development proposals) a single, above-board procedure to address the community's economic development needs. Although Carlsbad's community support is always strong for WIPP, this process allows the community and the Carlsbad Department of Development the ability and tools to work for the retention of current funding levels as well as the expansion of core mission of WIPP in a logical and organized manner. The expansion of WIPP beyond its current mission is vital to the well-being of the nation as well as Carlsbad and Eddy County. As our organization and community move forward to keep the current mission funded and working at its current level, we are continually trying to secure political and financial support to maintain and for additional waste streams for WIPP. To accomplish this, we must have an able and willing corporate partner to help us achieve these goals which are mutually beneficial to the community and the contractor. "We have had a history of community and economic development support from our current contractor," stated Eddy County Commissioner Jack Volpato. "It is our desire that whoever wins the O&M contract is also engaged with the community and its future needs," Volpato added.

"It is critical to Carlsbad's and our nation's future that WIPP remain strong and viable. By working closely with the newly named M&O contractor, Carlsbad and Eddy County are one step closer to this critically important goal," said Mayor Dale Janway.

The amended community RFP changes the community's proposal submittal date to October 14th, 2011, after the opening of the WIPP O&M bids by the DOE. In addition, it changes the community's RFP opening date to thirty (30) days after the award of the WIPP O&M contract by the DOE.

The Carlsbad Department of Development promotes the economic and general welfare of the citizens of the City of Carlsbad and South Eddy County, New Mexico.

Website: http://www.developcarlsbad.org

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