The University of Texas affirmed its interest in managing the Los Alamos National Laboratory for the next 10 years last week, but has apparently ruled out partnering with fellow Lone Star State university system Texas A&M.
On Thursday, a day after the Department of Energy (DOE) rolled out its final request for proposals for a 10-year contract to manage the Los Alamos National Laboratory, University of Texas put out a press release saying the Austin-based institution is “deeply engaged in developing the most responsive, thoughtful plan possible for future management of the Laboratory.”
The same day, the Houston Chronicle reported the University of Texas has decided not to partner with Texas A&M — the College Station, Texas-based alma mater of DOE Secretary Rick Perry — as part of its bid.
University of Texas in September announced it would spend $4.5 million to evaluate DOE’s request for proposal for the next Los Alamos National Laboratory Management and Operations Contract.
Spokespersons from Texas A&M did not reply to requests for comment Friday for Weapons Complex Morning Briefing.
DOE released the final solicitation for the next Los Alamos management contract Wednesday. The contract includes a five-year base and five one-year options. The lab management portion of the pact will cost more than $21 billion over 10 years, including a little more than $10 billion in the base period, according to NNSA estimates bundled with the final solicitation. That excludes some $2 billion worth of work funded by agencies other than Energy over the life of the contract.
On top of that, the new prime contractor could earn as much as $50 million a year in fees, according to the solicitation.
DOE is taking current prime Los Alamos National Security off the job as a result of several high-profile nuclear safety and management lapses at the lab. The current prime is a partnership of University of California and Bechtel, with industry teammates AECOM and BWX Technologies. The University, which managed the lab solo from World War 2 to the first decade of the new millennium, has all but confirmed it will bid on the follow-on contract. The institution’s industry partners have not said whether they will bid or not, though BWX Technologies says it is evaluating the latest solicitation.