A new structure?

The new structure for the bid being developed by UC and Bechtel/AECOM It appears the talks between UC and Bechtel and developing a new structure. This structure would be to break the Operations and Projects PADs away from the Science/Technology/Security making each partner responsible for the management, performance, and fee. How would this effect Weapons PAD and program???

WIPP gets contract extension.

WIPP three year extension granted to BWXT / AECOM existing contractor.

http://news.morningstar.com/all/business-wire/BWIPREM20170928005158/bwxt-joint-venture-awarded-three-year-928-million-contract-extension.aspx

LANL violations

No comment yet from NNSA on latest LANL crit safety violation in pit production facility In 2016, LANL was the only one of the Department of Energy’s nuclear facilities to receive a failing “red,” or does not meet safety expectations, safety rating for criticality. No comment has been available from the DOE’s National Nuclear Security Administration, of which the Los Alamos lab is part. The DNSFB’s recent report says that on Aug. 18, the crew that had cast the pit shell moved it “into a location that already contained plutonium metal,” exceeding plutonium limits. When too much plutonium is put in close quarters, a criticality reaction can take place. In this case, the violation was discovered three days later when the shell was moved again. The DNFSB report said “this was the first shell cast in the facility in about four years and the second time that a restarted operation encountered conduct of operations issues related to the criticality safety of material movements shortly 

LANS gets 6 month extension to run EM contract

It is starting to appear that the current team of LANS will get to keep all the contracts for the future.

https://energy.gov/em/articles/doe-extends-los-alamos-national-laboratory-cleanup-bridge-contracthttps://energy.gov/em/articles/doe-extends-los-alamos-national-laboratory-cleanup-bridge-contract

Notice of violation

"Worker Safety and Health Enforcement Preliminary Notice of Violation issued for violations of 10 C.F.R. Part 851 relating to electrical safety.

On August 17, 2017, the National Nuclear Security Administration issued a Preliminary Notice of Violation (WEA-2017-01) to National Security Technologies, LLC, for violations of the Department of Energy’s worker safety and health program requirements (10 C.F.R. Part 851) associated with implementation of the electrical safety program and an electrical shock event that occurred at the Nevada National Security Site."

"...The incident occurred during preventive maintenance work on electrical equipment at the U1a Complex, involving multiple crews, crafts, and locations.  The electrical shock occurred while an employee was using a damp rag to clean the inside of an energized 5kV splice box..." 

https://energy.gov/sites/prod/files/2017/08/f35/Preliminary%20Notice%20of%20Violation%2C%20National%20Nuclear%20Security%20Technologies%2C%20LLC.pdfhttps://energy.gov/sites/prod/files/2017/08/f35/Preliminary%20Notice%20of%20Violation%2C%20National%20Nuclear%20Security%20Technologies%2C%20LLC.pdf

Ploy?

Was it all a ploy by the communications consultants to moderate the critical blog? One story is that the LANS team wanted to hold down negative comments as the re-compete heats up and that they were successful by spamming the blog with drivel. 

Draft RFP q&a

https://nnsa.energy.gov/aboutus/ouroperations/apm/majcontrsolicitation/los-alamos-national-laboratory-management-and

Contains the following:

Questions and Answers to Draft RFP, second set, Q&A's 12 thru 110 (yes 110), posted 9/20/17

List of interested parties - Notable attendees include University of Texas and University of California; Leidos, Bechtel and General Dynamics - notably missing:  Lockheed

Readers will be interested in the clarification of (1) current employees have right of first refusal and (2) pension considerations are covered by ERISA and NNSA anticipates new contractor will continue current pension plans for retirees and future retirees.  All years of service and leave balances carry forward to new contract.