The National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) awarded Lawrence Livermore National Security (LLNS), the management and operations contractor for the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in California, 89 percent of its award fee – $20.98 million of the available $23.63 million – for its performance in fiscal 2015.
The contractor received an “Excellent” rating on four of the six goals: managing the nuclear weapons mission; DOE and Strategic Partnership Project mission objectives; science, technology, and engineering; and leadership. It received a “Very Good” rating for global nuclear security threat reduction and operations and infrastructure.
LLNS received 92 percent of the award fee – $8.7 million – for management of the nuclear weapons mission. The evaluation said the lab significantly improved the shot rate at its National Ignition Facility, setting a new record of 356 shots for the year, including 266 experiments in high-energy density and inertial confinement fusion for the Stockpile Stewardship Program. The National Ignition Facility, the world’s highest-energy laser, uses laser beams to create extreme temperatures and pressures similar to those inside nuclear weapons during detonation. The evaluation also said the lab effectively staffed workloads for warhead life-extension projects and that for the most part it completed weapons surveillance and test activities on schedule and within budget.
The contractor received 93 percent of the award fee – $2.2 million – for science, technology, and engineering. The evaluation said researchers won a record-breaking number of awards – 10 NNSA Defense Programs Awards of Excellence in particular – and increased their publication and patent rates. Other accomplishments included development of an “uncrackable” nuclear weapons code using weapon radiation fields to create a control number intended to prevent unauthorized use, as well as workforce development through the Laboratory Directed Research and Development Program, which supported over half of the postdocs working at the lab. “LLNL is successfully integrating the best and brightest postdocs and fellows into the DOE/NNSA programmatic work,” the evaluation said.
LLNS received 88 percent of the award fee – $2.08 million – for its work on reducing global nuclear security threats. The evaluation said the lab offered “high-quality” support on the recovery and repatriation of four radioisotope thermoelectric generators from Antarctica to Russia for disassembly and disposition and provided nuclear safeguards engagement support in North Africa, South America, and Southeast Asia. The lab also supported the Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty Organization by participating in training and tests, including a field test in Vienna, Austria, that simulated an on-site inspection under the treaty using infrared and radiation monitoring techniques.
The NNSA gave the contractor 81 percent of the award fee – $4.78 million – for operations and infrastructure. The evaluation noted that “institutional funding shortfalls” and an increase in preventive maintenance activities have caused growth in the deferred maintenance and work order backlogs at the lab. The evaluation noted a significant water line failure at one of the lab’s facilities in 2015, which led to a loss of thousands of gallons of water and was caused in part by “a dysfunctional work environment in the Maintenance and Utilities Services Department.”
LLNS received 91 percent of the award fee – $1.08 million – for the Department of Energy and Strategic Partnership Project mission. The lab supported the Department of Homeland Security by conducting research and offering guidance on the use of radiological search and interdiction systems in the event of a radiological or nuclear release, and generally worked within budget and schedule.
Finally, the contractor received 91 percent of the award fee – $2.15 million – for leadership. The evaluation said personnel changes were well coordinated and that the lab “continued to provide improved transparency, communication, and customer focus.”
LLNS is made up of Bechtel National, the University of California, BWX Technologies Government Group, AECOM, and subcontractor Battelle. Its contract with the NNSA, which has been worth between $1.3 million and $1.9 million per fiscal year over the last several years, expires at the end of September 2020.
Lawrence Livermore spokeswoman Lynda Seaver said by email, “We’re very proud to see our work recognized by NNSA. These ratings reflect tremendous accomplishments for our Laboratory, such as the record number of NIF shots in FY15, and are indicative of the Lab’s strong capabilities in applying science and technology to meet critical national security needs.”
