Todd Jacobson
NS&D Monitor
2/20/2015
Rep. Ben Ray Lujan (D-N.M.) wants a New Mexico-based consortium to run at least one of the nuclear weapons laboratories in his state, and he urged the state legislature, Gov. Susana Martinez (R), New Mexico universities and local industry this week to consider making a run for one of the contracts to run the labs. Lockheed Martin’s contract to run Sandia National Laboratories expires in 2016, and Los Alamos National Laboratory’s contract runs out in 2017, though Bechtel and University of California-led Los Alamos National Security, LLC, could still earn additional award-term extensions to further stretch out its deal. “As we look to the future of the labs and the impact they have on New Mexico, I believe that we should seek a greater role in shaping that future,” Lujan said in a Feb. 19 speech during a joint session of New Mexico’s state legislature.
Lujan said he wanted the legislature to consider a “joint memorial” between lawmakers, Martinez, universities, and the business community to study “how we can make this happen so that New Mexico can take a leadership role in the operations of New Mexico’s national labs.” Notably, the University of New Mexico has expressed interest in playing a role in a bid for Sandia, but when the lab was competed a decade ago (for the first and only time), there was never an effort to put together a New Mexico-centric bid. “We as a state should set a goal of having a New Mexico-led consortium as prime contractor for one or both of our national labs,” Lujan said. “If not in this next round, then certainly in the next. It will change the way those dollars flow through New Mexico, having New Mexico at the front of what will be happening day in and day out.”
Lujan expressed frustration that companies based elsewhere were running the labs. “Too many dollars that are coming to New Mexico are simply passing through and not staying here at home,” he said. “An essential part of that effort is improving coordination between all the stakeholders who have an important role to play. We need a holistic approach with labs, local businesses, investors, the education community, and more all working together toward a common goal that is putting New Mexico first.” Lujan also said he was working with the Department of Energy, the National Nuclear Security Administration, and the Department of Commerce to create programs to “engage businesses, venture equity, angel investors, universities, and regional entrepreneurs to develop capabilities the labs and the region need.”
