LLNL - The True Story -

Did performance failures associated with the near fatal electrical incident at LANSCE this year constitute a significant or “First Degree” performance failure with respect to the contract’s Environmental, Safety and Health terms and conditions? 

A complimentary article on the CBT and Stockpile Stewardship: http://thebulletin.org/new-push-comprehensive-nuclear-test-ban-treaty8830 But with this comment on NIF: One would never have known that the cornerstone of stockpile stewardship, Lawrence Livermore’s National Ignition Facility, came in more than 300 percent over budget, five years behind schedule, and has still failed to achieve its promised goal of “ignition” (the point where more energy comes out of a fusion reaction than goes in).

The NNSA to contractor door keeps revolving http://www.nv.doe.gov/library/newsreleases/NSTec%20Names%20New%20President.pdf

LANL still having trouble with financial records RECOMMENDATIONS We recommend that the Manager, Los Alamos Field Office, direct the Contracting Officer to: 1. Make a determination regarding the allowability of questioned costs identified in this report and recover those costs determined to be unallowable; and  2. Ensure that LANS can determine the accurate and complete universe of insurance expenses.  http://energy.gov/sites/prod/files/2015/10/f27/OAS-V-15-06.pdf

Driver's licenses issued by New Mexico are about to become a lot less useful, and residents can blame the state's insistence on issuing the IDs to illegal immigrants.  The federal Department of Homeland Security informed state officials last week that a two-year effort to reconcile tough federal ID requirements with the granting of licenses to illegal immigrants based on dubious documents failed. Beginning on Jan. 10, state driver’s licenses will no longer be accepted at federal facilities, and eventually, state IDs won’t be enough to get bearers on board commercial flights. http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2015/10/29/grounded-new-mexico-driver-licenses-fail-feds-test-thanks-to-illegal-immigrant/?intcmp=hpbt3

What do folks think about LLNS buying out ex-employee TCP1 pensions with a lump sum? I'm on the fence about what to do. October 28, 2015 at 8:41 AM     Anonymous  said... "What do folks think about LLNS buying out ex-employee TCP1 pensions with a lump sum? I'm on the fence about what to do." Please provide a link to the reference document on this TCP1 option. October 28, 2015 at 8:54 AM     Anonymous  said... I have searched and there is no online information about this. It applies only to terminated vested plan participants, which according to the annual funding notice would be 384 people. In the mail I received a 23 page packet: It reads: "Lawrence Livermore National Security LLC (LLNS) recently announced a limited-time program that allows you to receive the value of your vested pension benefit right away - either as a lump sum payment or a monthly annuity payment - if you act before October 29, 2015. During this limited opportunity your ...

I'm beginning to think that Liberalism is really brain damage, that men actually believe this left wing garbage is amazing. http://www.nationalreview.com/article/426129/poll-says-students-support-censoring-politically-incorrect-speech

  Interesting reminder on the internal LLNL news website today... Based on the very last paragraph I wonder if the LANS team is about to splinter for the next LANL bid. ----- Employee reminder about commenting on management contracts With the possibility of competition for the management and operation of other facilities within the NNSA complex, employees should be aware of the Laboratory's guidelines on avoiding conflict of interest -- especially if they are asked to provide information regarding the facility up for bid or receive a request to participate on a team seeking an award. Any employee asked to help prepare a bid/proposal in response to competitive solicitation must be sure not to disclose non-public information about Lab operations, such as material marked "confidential/proprietary," "business sensitive," "OUO," or similar information. In addition, bid and proposal costs incurred as a result of competitive solicitation are not allowabl...

 LANL worker charged with DWI - Albuquerque Journal, Oct 23rd A Los Alamos National Laboratory subcontractor employee was charged with driving while intoxicated for colliding with a bus early in the morning. According to a report from the Los Alamos Police Department, 51-year-old Richard Atencio, of Española, went into the northbound lane of N.M. 4 in his black Dodge pickup and struck a Los Alamos County Transit bus just after 6:30 a.m. on Oct. 1 near White Rock. Atencio was found in his truck at the bottom of a hill, breathing but not conscious or responding to medics. He was flown to Christus St. Vincent Regional Medical Center after initially being treated at the Los Alamos Medical Center. All three people on the bus, including the driver, were unharmed. Atencio was identified by a LANL badge found in his truck. The badge was immediately returned to lab officials per their request.

Radioactive materials stolen from LANL ( Albuquerque Journal, Oct 22nd ) Federal officials are investigating the theft of radioactive materials from an area at Los Alamos National Laboratory set aside for contaminated waste – among them a bandsaw that registered 500 times the allowable limit of contamination. Individuals who take property from the lab typically move it to their homes, garages or outbuildings, according to a federal court filing. In 2015, there have been 76 thefts of lab property by LANL personnel, according to the document. The Los Alamos Police Department has looked into 13 reported thefts from various lab areas, including the contaminated storage yard. The individual suspected of removing the items has not been criminally charged, according to a record check. A spokesman for LANL referred questions to the FBI, which did not respond to a request for comment.

Thief steals radioactive items from Los Alamos National Lab - KQRE, Oct 13th LOS ALAMOS, N.M. (KRQE) – Not a very smart thief, stealing lab tools contaminated with radiation from Los Alamos National Laboratory. Investigators believe a LANL contractor might have done just that, and put the public at risk in what is just the latest problem with theft at the high security lab. Los Alamos Police are calling the man a “person of interest,” but not a suspect. Richard Atencio, an employee of Compra Industries, had total access to LANL’s Technical Area-54, which is a radioactive waste storage area. The incident started as a theft, but quickly turned into a full-on HAZMAT situation last month.

  Anonymous  said... Did NNSA make the right decision? Lots of whispers in the hallways that LANL was informed this week about the contract status. Stay tuned to see how the decision gets spun. October 23, 2015 at 10:56 AM     Anonymous  said... what was the decision? October 23, 2015 at 1:00 PM     Anonymous  said... I'm guessing no-bid, because the NNSA aparatchiks are too lazy and incompetent to manage a real competition. October 23, 2015 at 3:26 PM     Anonymous  said... Hearing that LANS is out and will not bid again. UC is also out. Another crazy rumors is that LANS will terminated in Jan and LANL will be under some kind temporary NNSA management for a year or two. In any case it seems pretty clear that this end for LANS. October 23, 2015 at 4:45 PM     Anonymous  said... Oh great! NNSA is going to run LANL? Revenge of the D-students! October 23, 2015 at 5:17 PM   ...