With a proven track record of excellence in science and technology, the University of California (UC) has 60 years of experience in leading the nation's nuclear weapons research and development programs. Bechtel National, joined by BWX Technologies Inc., and Washington Group International, brings a best-in-class business management and industrial operations lineup to Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL).
Bechtel National provides world-class program and project management, facilities management, safety and environmental management, and robust government business systems. As premier managers of complex, high-consequence nuclear and national security operations, BWXT and Washington Group will ensure safe and secure, effective and efficient nuclear facilities operations.
Together, the UC-Bechtel led team will combine unparalleled scientific achievement with efficient business management, while ensuring safe, secure and effective nuclear facilities operations. Going forward, this partnership will provide Los Alamos National Laboratory with strong management that delivers superb quality, accountability and dedication, demonstrated by experience, to both management and scientific operations. This partnership allows strong management to be in place, ensuring that critical science and technology remains the underpinning of the laboratory's mission.
"This agreement brings together the expertise of the largest public research institution in the world with a seasoned team of contractors, led by Bechtel, to put in place a strong management and operations team that will ensure the continued excellence of the laboratory's scientific mission," said UC President Robert C. Dynes. "This new management team builds on the strengths of each organization and applies them to the important national security work at the lab.
"The university recognized it needed to make major changes in how it manages LANL, and bringing in industrial partners with the skill sets of Bechtel National, Washington Group, and BWXT will accomplish this," Dynes added.
"Through this new management structure, Bechtel National, with its substantial experience throughout the DOE and NNSA complex, will implement the necessary changes, policies and procedures to support world-class science at LANL," Bechtel National President Thomas Hash said. "Operations run in a safe and secure manner will ensure that the premier science and technology that has come from this lab for the past 60 years will continue."
In a joint statement, BWXT President and COO John Fees and President of Washington Group Energy and Environment Preston Rahe said, "As we improve operations -- including safeguards and security, nuclear operations, and environment, safety, and health -- we believe the university will be able to take the science and technology, as well as national security programs at the laboratory to the next level of performance."
In late March, UC announced it would also partner with a consortium of New Mexico institutions to form the Advanced Studies Institute at Los Alamos National Laboratory. These institutions include the University of New Mexico, New Mexico State University and New Mexico Institute for Mining and Technology. The agreement with these institutions solidifies the role of New Mexico universities as part of a bid to compete for the LANL contract.
While UC continues to prepare for the competition, the university's final decision regarding participation will be made by the UC Board of Regents following the release of the final request for proposals.
BACKGROUND ON THE COMPETITION PROCESS
Los Alamos National Laboratory -- The contract to manage LANL expires Sept. 30, 2005. On April 30, 2003, then-U.S. Secretary of Energy Spencer Abraham announced that the DOE would compete the management and operations contract for Los Alamos National Laboratory. On Dec. 1, 2004, the DOE's National Nuclear Security Administration released the draft request for proposals (RFP). The draft RFP was amended on Feb. 18 and April 5, 2005. A final RFP is expected in the near future. The deadline for submission of bids is expected to be 90 days after the release of the final RFP. According to DOE, a source evaluation board made up of DOE technical and business experts will review the proposals submitted and provide recommendations to the source selection official.
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
The University of California, chartered in 1868, is a system of 10 campuses with a mission of teaching, research and public service. With 208,000 undergraduate and graduate students, UC is the world's premier public university. UC has five medical schools, three law schools, and the nation's largest continuing education program. Forty-nine researchers affiliated with UC have been awarded Nobel Prizes; 17 of the Nobel Prizes have been won since 1995. In addition, UC has 358 members in the National Academy of Sciences, and UC affiliated researchers have received 48 Medals of Science since Congress created the award in 1959.
UC manages three national laboratories on behalf of the Department of Energy. Today, Lawrence Livermore and Los Alamos national laboratories each employ more then 8,000 UC staff and have combined annual budgets exceeding $3.8 billion, while Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory has approximately 4,000 employees and an annual budget of nearly $500 million. The university was recently awarded a five-year contract from DOE to continue management of Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.
The national laboratories are major sources of scientific and technical strength for the nation in fields ranging from national security, to basic physics, biotechnology, climate studies, computer development, materials science, energy, and the environment. The laboratories contribute to the country's economic competitiveness through research partnerships with industry and engage in math and science education for students and teachers at all levels.
For more news and information about the University of California: www.universityofcalifornia.edu
BECHTEL
Bechtel is a global engineering, construction and project management company with more than a century of experience mastering complex projects in challenging locations. Privately owned, with headquarters in San Francisco, the company has 40,000 employees working in 50 countries. Bechtel National, Inc. is supporting national security and U.S. intelligence and defense efforts, developing new technologies to fight terrorism, monitoring the consequences of terrorist acts, designing emergency response programs, and training both military and civilian responders nationwide. Additionally, BNI has broad capabilities and extensive experience in the management of complex, multisite, environmental programs, including environmental cleanup projects at several DOE sites in the United States.
BNI's national security work includes managing and operating the Nevada Test Site and its affiliated facilities for the National Nuclear Security Administration. BNI is also a partner in management of NNSA's Y-12 National Security Complex in Tennessee and the Pantex Plant in Texas, as well as the Savannah River Site in South Carolina. Among its Department of Defense contracts, BNI manages the Kwajalein missile range and supports non-proliferation efforts in the former Soviet Union for the Defense Threat Reduction Agency. BNI's portfolio also includes over 15 years of government laboratory management and support experience
For more news and information about Bechtel National, Inc.: www.Bechtel.com
BWX TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
BWX Technologies, Inc. (BWXT), headquartered in Lynchburg, VA, is the nation's premier manager of complex, high-consequence nuclear and national security operations. Responsible for the operations of the Pantex Plant in Texas and Y-12 National Security Complex in Tennessee, along with nuclear operations at the Idaho National Laboratory, BWXT has a long history in nuclear manufacturing and operations, both in the Department of Energy (DOE) and at its unique, highly secure, privately owned and operated nuclear manufacturing and laboratory facilities. A supplier of nuclear products and services to the U.S. government and commercial clients for over 50 years, BWXT has unparalleled experience in nuclear safeguards and security and has been recognized as a model by the DOE. With more than 11,000 employees nationwide, BWXT manages complex, high-consequence nuclear and national security production facilities and is a principal supplier of nuclear components and advanced energy products, delivering both value and customer confidence.
For more news and information about BWX Technologies, Inc.: www.bwxt.com/
BWXT Public Relations: 1-434-522-5076 / 1-434-522-5158.
WASHINGTON GROUP INTERNATIONAL
Washington Group International, with headquarters in Boise, ID, provides the talent, innovation, and proven performance to deliver integrated engineering, construction, and management solutions for businesses and governments worldwide. A contractor for the U.S. Department of Energy and its predecessor agencies since the Manhattan Project, Washington Group is a leader in providing safe, disciplined operations, risk management and comprehensive environmental services for its customers. Its long history of successful DOE operations continues today with: management and operation contracts at the Savannah River Site, the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant, the West Valley Demonstration Project and its partnership in the Battelle Energy Alliance for operation of the Idaho National Laboratory. Washington Group also is involved in closure contracts at the Weldon Spring Remedial Action Project, Miamisburg Closure Project, Rocky Flats Environmental Technology Site and the recently awarded Hanford River Closure and Idaho Cleanup Project, as well as technical support and consulting projects at Los Alamos, Lawrence Livermore and Sandia national laboratories, DOE's Hanford Site, Pantex Plant and Oak Ridge complex.
For more news and information about Washington Group International: www.wgint.com
For media inquiries contact: Jack N. Herrmann of Washington Group International Inc., 1-803-502-9791.
# # #