The National Nuclear Security Administration plans to host the teams bidding to run the Los Alamos National Laboratory for the next 10 years for face-to-face meetings next week, an official with one bidder said late Wednesday.
“[B]idders will be receiving feedback on their proposals this week,” Kim Budil, vice president for national laboratories for the University of California (UC), told a panel of the university’s Board of Regents in a meeting webcast from Los Angeles. “[A]pproximately one week later, [the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)] will be conducting oral discussions with the teams,” Budil said, citing a procurement note the NNSA had not published online at deadline Wednesday for Weapons Complex Morning Briefing.
By Budil’s reckoning, the agency’s procurement is “fast-paced,” but still proceeding about on time for the May award the NNSA anticipated in its December solicitation. Assuming none of the losers lodge a protest, the winning bidder would begin transitioning to take over management of the lab on June 1. Incumbent Los Alamos National Security, which is led by UC, will be on the job until Sept. 30.
Besides UC, the University of Texas System has confirmed it is bidding on the contract, which including options is expected to cost the NNSA more than $20 billion over 10 years. The contractor could earn up to $50 million in annual fees. Texas A&M University has also confirmed it is seeking a role, though whether as a bid leader or teammate is not clear. Neither university has identified its bidding partners.
The other partners in Los Alamos National Security are Bechtel National, AECOM, and BWX Technologies. Among the incumbents, BWXT has confirmed it wants a role on the next lab management team. Bechtel has declined to discuss whether it bid, though sources say the company has partnered with Purdue University of Indiana on a proposal. A source said AECOM is not bidding on the follow-on deal.
