AT SAVANNAH RIVER
On Thursday afternoon, S.C. Gov. Nikki Haley’s Nuclear Advisory Council played host to U.S. Energy Department official Pete Hanlon, the assistant deputy administrator for the National Nuclear Security Administration’s Office of Material Management and Minimization, according to the Aiken Standard. Hanlon spoke about a recent study that priced the nation’s plutonium disposition program, which includes SRS’ Mixed Oxide Fuel Fabrication facility, at $51 billion with an estimated completion of 2044. The figure is based on if MOX was to be funded at $500 million per year. The study was conducted by Aerospace Corp., a California-based nonprofit corporation that operates a federally funded research and development center. Aerospace based a large part of its analysis on technological risks.
IN THE AIR FORCE
The Air Force is seeking sources as part of a market research effort to determine whether responsible vendors exist to build and test an additional Minuteman 3 Missile Procedures Trainer (MPT) at Vandenberg AFB, Calif., the service announced on July 7. The MPT is a computer-driven simulator that provides instruction and practice to trainees in classified Minuteman launch control center (LCC) procedures. The effort could be competitive and/or a total small business set-aside contract, according to the announcement. The task would include selecting and buying commercial products and assembling them to replicate existing MPT components/assemblies, according to the notice. While the sources sought notice may be followed by an RFP, the Air Force is not accepting questions about the sources sought notice at this time. The Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center did not respond by press time to an NS&D Monitor request for more details.
