The Department of Energy has announced that the National
Nuclear Security Administration is seeking comments on a
draft “request for proposal” to compete the management
and operation of Los Alamos National Laboratory, an NNSA
weapons lab in New Mexico.
It said the RFP includes “unique contract clauses intended
to redefine the federal-contractor relationship, to
transition to industrial standards and best practices, to
capitalize on private sector expertise, and to increase
contractor accountability and efficiencies,” as well as
an incentive-provision to extend the award up to 15 years
beyond the planned five-year term.
Another clause would retain LANL’s current workforce,
minus the lab director and upper-level management, with
comparable pay and benefits, according to DOE.
It said the semi-autonomous agency receives about $2.1
billion annually and has been run by the University of
California since 1943.