National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)

South Carolina has hit the restart button on a multimillion-dollar fine over a missed plutonium disposition deadline at the Department of Energy’s Savannah River Site (SRS). A 2003 agreement between the state and DOE requires the federal government to process 1 metric ton of plutonium at SRS through the Mixed Oxide Fuel Fabrication Facility (MFFF), […]

The Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) in New Mexico has completed construction of its Transuranic Waste Facility (TWF) and the readiness process has begun, an individual familiar with the project said this week. The facility is expected to begin receiving waste by next spring or summer. The facility is intended for storage of newly generated […]

The Department of Energy made significant advances in nuclear security and nonproliferation operations during the eight years of the Obama administration, as well as in cleaning up the legacy of its Cold War nuclear weapons operations, Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz said Thursday in his Cabinet Exit Memo. American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funding “accelerated the […]

The management and operations contractor for two key U.S. nuclear arms sites improved its performance significantly in fiscal 2016, according to the National Nuclear Security Administration. However, Consolidated Nuclear Security will need to take another step forward to ensure it stays on the job past the initial term of its contract. CNS has since July […]

Sandia Corp. has received the highest marks among the National Nuclear Security Administration’s (NNSA) nuclear weapons labs in the agency’s newly released fiscal 2016 performance evaluations. Each national laboratory contractor was rated in six performance areas, each carrying a different weight, which were used to determine the award fees the contractor would receive for the […]

The National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) in December hosted a preproposal conference for interested bidders for the protective force services contract at the Nevada National Security Site. Contract incumbent Centerra Group was among several companies that sent representatives to the meeting at the NNSA’s Nevada Field Office and site visit on Dec. 12 and 13. The others participants were ADC, […]

The Department of Energy (DOE) might not have enough heavy water to meet its long-term nuclear weapons and non-weapons activity needs, according to a newly released audit report from the DOE Inspector General’s Office. Heavy water for the National Nuclear Security Administration’s (NNSA) weapons activities is stored primarily at the Y-12 National Security Complex in Tennessee […]

South Carolina has hit the restart button on a multimillion-dollar fine over a missed plutonium disposition deadline at the Department of Energy’s Savannah River Site (SRS). A 2003 agreement between the state and DOE requires the federal government to process 1 metric ton of plutonium at SRS through the Mixed Oxide Fuel Fabrication Facility (MFFF), or remove […]

President Barack Obama on Dec. 23 signed the fiscal 2017 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) into law, following Congress’ approval of the conference version of the bill earlier in the month. The bill authorizes nearly $619 billion in spending through the end of the budget year on Sept. 30, though the actual funding the Defense […]

National Security Technologies (NSTec) and Honeywell Federal Manufacturing & Technology (FM&T) have received the highest marks across the nuclear complex in newly released National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) contractor performance evaluations for fiscal 2016. Each contractor was rated in six performance areas, each carrying a different weight, which were used to determine the award fees […]

South Carolina has hit the restart button on a multimillion-dollar fine over a missed plutonium disposition deadline at the Department of Energy’s Savannah River Site (SRS). A 2003 agreement between the state and DOE requires the federal government to process 1 metric ton of plutonium at SRS through the Mixed Oxide Fuel Fabrication Facility (MFFF), or remove […]

The contractor managing construction of the Mixed Oxide (MOX) Fuel Fabrication Facility at the Department of Energy’s Savannah River Site in South Carolina intends to issue a solicitation for a fixed-price subcontract to install HVAC ductwork and supports for the MOX project. CB&I AREVA MOX Services said in a Dec. 28 presolicitation notice that the […]

The Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) in California should enhance its communications and information management processes to enhance emergency management, the Department of Energy’s Office of Enterprise Assessments (EA) found in a newly released report. EA assessed the lab’s program with test scenarios for personnel of LLNL managing contractor Lawrence Livermore National Security (LLNS). One […]

The Department of Energy’s Savannah River Site in South Carolina should improve its tritium enterprise training program and address its maintenance backlog, DOE’s Office of Enterprise Assessments (EA) found in a newly released report. The EA assessment of SRS’ tritium facility safety system management found that site contractor Savannah River Nuclear Solutions’ site-wide technical training program does […]

The National Nuclear Security Administration’s (NNSA) Office of Chief Information Officer is extending for up to six months its contract with Metrica Team Venture for information technology support services. A Dec. 23 notice said the agency will modify the San Antonio, Texas, company’s task order for additional IT and cybersecurity services in a one-month base […]

President Barack Obama on Dec. 23 signed the fiscal 2017 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) into law, following Congress’ approval of the conference version of the bill earlier in the month. The bill authorizes nearly $619 billion in spending through the end of the budget year on Sept. 30, though the actual funding the Defense […]

The National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) will extend for up to six months a contract with TechSource Inc., for technical, liaison, and analytical support services for the agency’s Office of Systems Engineering and Integration. A Dec. 30 notice said the NNSA would extend the contract for an initial three months, ending March 17, 2017, with the […]

The Department of Energy (DOE) might not have enough heavy water inventory to meet its long-term nuclear weapons and non-weapons activity needs, according to a newly released audit report from the DOE Inspector General’s Office. Heavy water for the National Nuclear Security Administration’s (NNSA) weapons activities is stored primarily at the Y-12 National Security Complex in […]

The National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) in December hosted a preproposal conference for interested bidders for the protective force services contract at the Nevada National Security Site. Contract incumbent Centerra Group was among several companies that sent representatives to the meeting at the NNSA’s Nevada Field Office and site visit on Dec. 12 and 13. The others participants were ADC, […]

The National Nuclear Security Administration said Thursday it had sealed follow-on agreements with three companies to complete its share of funding for their respective molybdenum-99 production projects. The deals ensure that SHINE Medical Technologies, NorthStar Medical Radioisotopes, and General Atomics will each receive the full $25 million from the agency for development of technologies to […]

The Energy Department is still looking to restrict airborne drones from flying above the Savannah River Site and other “sensitive” facilities, but has not yet filed a request with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). From June 19 to July 22, SRS employees reported 12 drone sightings over key areas of the site. These included: the Mixed […]

Lyle Cary has been named the new vice president of safeguards, security, and emergency services at the National Nuclear Security Administration’s Pantex Plant in Texas and Y-12 National Security Complex in Tennessee, the sites’ management and operations contractor announced Wednesday. Ken Freeman, currently serving in that role, is set to retire at the end of […]

The newly awarded management and operations contract for the Sandia National Laboratories will incorporate governance initiatives to boost transparency, improve project management, and increase engagement between the Department of Energy and its contractors, according to the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA). The semiautonomous DOE agency announced on Dec. 16 it had awarded the new contract […]

The Savannah River Site’s security contractor earned $5.66 million out of a possible $5.92 million, or 95.5 percent, of its performance award fee for fiscal 2016. The Department of Energy highlighted Centerra-Savannah River Site’s efforts in keeping employees safe and cutting costs in the 12-month period ending Sept. 30. Contractors earn award fees each year by […]

Lyle Cary has been named the new vice president of safeguards, security, and emergency services at the National Nuclear Security Administration’s Pantex Plant in Texas and Y-12 National Security Complex in Tennessee, the sites’ management and operations contractor announced Wednesday. Ken Freeman, currently serving in that role, is set to retire at the end of […]

The National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) is looking for U.S.-based entities that can help it attract and maintain nuclear experts in a talent pool supporting the U.S. nuclear enterprise. A sources sought solicitation released earlier this month is aimed at interested parties for a project that would involve “maintaining a smaller, but still vibrant, community […]

Several New Mexico lawmakers on Friday highlighted the need to focus on workforce recruitment and retention efforts at the Sandia National Laboratories, just hours after the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) announced it had awarded a new management and operations contract for the facility to a subsidiary of Honeywell International. Sen. Tom Udall (D-N.M.), Sen. Martin […]

At the last minute Dec. 9, after deadline for last week’s issue of Nuclear Security & Deterrence Monitor, the Senate passed a stopgap spending bill that will keep the federal government open and funded at fiscal 2016 levels through April 28. An earlier stopgap bill, known officially as a continuing resolution, was set to expire at […]

The National Nuclear Security Administration on Friday said it had awarded the management and operations contract for the Sandia National Laboratories (SNL) to National Technology and Engineering Solutions of Sandia (NTESS), a wholly owned subsidiary of Honeywell International. Northrop Grumman and the Universities Research Association consortium will support NTESS under the contract, which, with all […]

The Department of Energy’s Savannah River Site (SRS) in South Carolina has processed 2 kilograms of plutonium since beginning its program in September to permanently dispose of 6 metric tons of excess non-pit material, according to DOE. The site said Sept. 30 its personnel had begun downblending the material at the site’s K Area Complex. After dilution, […]