DOE INSPECTOR GENERAL RAISES ISSUES FOR SANDIA INFRASTRUCTURE WORK

A program that supports Sandia National Laboratories’ life extension work received a clean bill of health from the Department of Energy’s Inspector General, though the IG highlighted a host of potential challenges facing the program in the future. In a report released Friday, the IG noted that Sandia’s Readiness in Technical Base and Facilities (RTBF) Program met or exceeded its performance measures, receiving an “excellent” rating during the lab’s Fiscal Year 2012 Performance Evaluation Review. The program is responsible for maintaining the facilities and infrastructure used for life extension and other mission work at the lab. But potential problems loom on the horizon. “According to lab officials, budget constraints have impacted the Subprogram’s ability to maintain staffing levels, equipment needs, and major recapitalization projects for the Capabilities,” the IG said. “According to Subprogram officials, current funding levels will likely not be sufficient to sustain the present operations level in the future. The Subprogram and NNSA are aware of these challenges and are considering how best to address them.”