• About
    • About Us
    • What We Cover
  • Advertise
    • Advertise
    • Our Advertisers
  • Contact
  • Donate
  • Send News

Oak Ridge Today

  • Home
  • Sign in
  • News
    • Business
    • Community
    • Education
    • Government
    • Health
    • Police and Fire
    • U.S. Department of Energy
    • Weather
  • Sports
    • High School
    • Middle School
    • Recreation
    • Rowing
    • Youth
  • Entertainment
    • Arts
    • Dancing
    • Movies
    • Music
    • Television
    • Theater
  • Premium Content
  • Obituaries
  • Classifieds

NNSA changes security contract competition, including at Y-12

Posted at 5:02 pm August 13, 2012
By John Huotari 2 Comments

As the fallout from a July 28 security breach at the Y-12 National Security Complex continues to roil the plant, federal officials announced Monday they have canceled part of a proposal to combine protective force services at Y-12, the U.S. Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge Office, and the Pantex Plant near Amarillo, Texas.

The current contract competition will be revised to remove the National Nuclear Security Administration’s portion of the protective force services from the solicitation, according to an NNSA announcement. That includes the part of the contract competition that would provide protective force operations at Y-12 and Pantex.

The security services, or protective force operations, are now expected to be included in a consolidated management and operating contract covering both Pantex and Y-12.

But that amendment will only be issued to those who have already submitted proposals, and the due date for revised proposals will be extended to an undetermined date.

The portion of the contract competition that solicits security services for Oak Ridge National Laboratory, the Oak Ridge Office, and the East Tennessee Technology Park will remain active.

“Further information regarding this change will follow via an amendment,” the NNSA said in an announcement posted online.

The NNSA had expected to combine protective force services at Pantex, Y-12, and ORO to improve performance, transition to a consolidated contract and merge protective force operations at geographically dispersed nuclear facilities, cut costs, and increase efficiencies.

That proposal presumably changed after the July 28 intrusion into the high-security Protected Area on the west end of Y-12 by three anti-nuclear weapons activists, including an 82-year-old nun, a 63-year-old Catholic worker, and a 57-year-old house painter. Sneaking into the plant in the early morning, the trio allegedly crossed fences, cutting through three of them, before splashing human blood and spray-painting slogans on the Highly Enriched Uranium Materials Facility, where bomb-grade uranium is stored.

The penetration of the Protected Area, where deadly force is authorized, has raised questions about security at Y-12, the nation’s main production facility for many nuclear weapons components. It’s also led to a string of personnel changes, including at the plant’s management and operating contractor B&W Y-12 and security contractor WSI Oak Ridge. Nuclear operations have been temporarily halted, and all employees have had to undergo more security training.

WSI Oak Ridge is the current security contractor at Y-12, but the company’s contract ends Nov. 30.

Under a separate contract, WSI Oak Ridge also provides security services for ORNL, ETTP, and the U.S. Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge Office.

Filed Under: U.S. Department of Energy, Y-12 Security Breach Tagged With: consolidated management and operating contract, contract competition, National Nuclear Security Administration, Oak Ridge Office, Pantex Plant, protective force services, security breach, WSI Oak Ridge, Y-12 National Security Complex

Comments

  1. disgusted with it all says

    August 14, 2012 at 8:24 pm

    Just like the the federal air traffic controllers…..sleeping, breach of duty, ineptitude…what do we expect? Seems the federal workers/unions/contracts are the kiss of death to productivity, accountability, and responsibility. Good Bye jobs – Thanks for a job well done at a time when we most need it.

    Reply
    • Tj says

      August 14, 2012 at 10:00 pm

      Airport TSA is also a joke. It’s all about control. Getting us accustomed to martial law.

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recent Posts

  • Anderson County Chamber Headquarters Dedication Set for October 17
  • ORISE announces winners of 2025 Future of Science Awards
  • SL Tennessee Supports New Anderson County Chamber Headquarters
  • ORAU 2025 Pollard Scholarship recipients announced
  • Democratic Womens Club Hosts State Rep. Sam McKenzie
  • Flatwater Tales Storytelling Festival Announces 2025 Storytellers
  • Laser-Engraved Bricks Will Line Walkway of New Chamber Headquarters
  • Democratic Womens Club to Discuss Climate Change, Energy and Policy
  • Estate Jewelry Show at Karens Jewelers Features Celebrity Jewelry
  • Keri Cagle named new ORAU senior vice president and ORISE director

Search Oak Ridge Today

Copyright © 2025 Oak Ridge Today