Independent Examination of Cost Proposal for Non-Nuclear Modification and Supplemental Maintenance

At the request of the Tennessee Valley Authority's (TVA) Supply Chain, we examined the cost proposal submitted by a company for performance of nonnuclear modification and supplemental maintenance services. Our examination objective was to determine if the company's cost proposal was fairly stated for a planned 5-year, $386 million contract. In our opinion, the company's cost proposal was overstated. Specifically, we found (1) the application base for the company's proposed markup rate for the recovery of general and administrative (G&A) costs did not reflect TVA's intent, (2) the company's proposed markup rate for the recovery of workers' compensation and general liability costs exceeded the markup rate provided for in TVA's request for proposal (RFP), and (3) the company's proposed markup rate for the recovery of noncraft payroll tax costs was overstated compared to recent actual costs. We estimated TVA could avoid about $54.29 million over the planned $386 million contract by (1) requiring the company's G&A markup rate to be applied to unburdened noncraft wages to more accurately reflect TVA's intent for reimbursing G&A costs, (2) negotiating revised workers' compensation and general liability insurance markup rates to comply with the RFP requirements, and (3) revising the contract to provide for reimbursement of actual noncraft payroll tax costs. (Summary Only)