Opportunity
Federal Register #OSHA-2022-0010
OSHA Permanent Variance for KBR Wyle Services, LLC Commercial Diving at NASA NBL
Buyer
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), Department of Labor
Posted
August 21, 2026
Identifier
OSHA-2022-0010
This notice announces OSHA's grant of a permanent variance to KBR Wyle Services, LLC for commercial diving operations at NASA's Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory (NBL). - Government Buyer: - Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), Department of Labor - Office of Technical Programs and Coordination Activities - OEMs and Vendors: - NASA (facility operator) - KBR Wyle Services, LLC (variance recipient) - Products/Services Requested: - No products or equipment are being procured or awarded - Service: Permanent variance for commercial diving operations - Allows KBR divers to remain awake and near decompression chambers for 10 minutes post-dive (instead of 1 hour) when diving on nitrox within no-decompression limits - KBR divers must follow NASA's NBL Safety Program, medical examination protocols, and strict communication, recordkeeping, and notification requirements - Unique/Notable Requirements: - KBR divers receive identical training and medical clearance as NASA divers - The variance is intended to provide safety equivalent to or greater than OSHA's standard - Applies only to KBR's diving operations at NASA's NBL and is non-transferable - No procurement of goods or services; this is a regulatory variance
Description
This notice announces that OSHA has granted a permanent variance to KBR Wyle Services, LLC, allowing them to operate under modified standards for commercial diving operations at NASA's National Buoyancy Laboratory (NBL). The variance permits KBR divers to follow the same alternate diving standard approved for NASA employees, which includes modified requirements for decompression chamber use and observation periods. The variance is effective from August 21, 2026, and remains in effect until modified or revoked. KBR contends that the variance provides a workplace at least as safe as OSHA's standard and that their divers undergo the same training and medical clearance as NASA divers.