November 02, 2014

N.M. Urges EM to Keep Local Business Incentives in LANL Cleanup Contract

By ExchangeMonitor

As the Department of Energy moves cleanup work at Los Alamos National Laboratory from the National Nuclear Security Administration to the Office of Environmental Management, members of New Mexico’s Congressional delegation are urging EM to keep requirements aimed at local businesses. DOE is developing a plan for transferring the cleanup work at LANL from NNSA to EM after a waste drum processed at the lab was linked to a radiation release. “We write to strongly encourage EM to maintain all regional requirements from NNSA’s existing prime contract that help maximize economic opportunities for local workers and businesses,” states the letter from Democratic New Mexico Sens. Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich and Rep. Ben Lujan (D-N.M.).

Under the current M&O contract at LANL there are several provisions aimed at supporting local businesses and communities. “For example, all businesses with subcontracts greater than $5 million are required to include a regional community development plan. The contract also requires that procurement provide a five percent pricing preference for subcontracts placed through the Supply Chain Management Center. These unique provisions have incentivized many environmental restoration companies to invest in Northern New Mexico communities,” the lawmakers write. “We ask that EM also include community engagement as an evaluation criterion for any prime contract proposals for managing EM work at the Los Alamos site.”

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