National Nuclear Security Administration Archives

TVC Summit next week includes House majority leader

May 22, 2013 By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Eric Cantor

Submitted

Business, community, and political leaders and senior decision-makers will convene at the 2013 Tennessee Valley Corridor Summit next week to discuss issues that are critical to the economic engine of the Tennessee Valley, a press release said.

Hosted by Third District Rep. Chuck Fleischmann, the two-day meeting themed “Securing America’s Future” will focus on energy and environment, innovation and entrepreneurism, public and private partnerships, and advanced manufacturing, the release said.

The Summit will be held at the Y-12 National Security Complex’s New Hope Center in Oak Ridge on May 29-30. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Anderson County, Business, Federal, Government, National Nuclear Security Administration, Oak Ridge, Oak Ridge, Top Stories, U.S. Department of Energy, Y-12 National Security Complex Tagged With: advanced manufacturing, Andy Page, Aspen Network of Development Entrepreneurs, Bill Johnson, Bob Raines, Chuck Fleischmann, DOE, DOE Oak Ridge Office, economy, energy, entrepreneurship, environment, Eric Cantor, House Majority Leader, innovation, John Morris, Lamar Alexander, Mark Whitney, National Nuclear Security Administration, Neile Miller, NNSA, Oak Ridge Associated Universities, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Pete Lyons, Phil Roe, public/private partnerships, Randall T. Kempner, Securing America’s Future, Tech 20/20, Tennessee Valley, Tennessee Valley Corridor Summit, Thom Mason, TVA, U.S. Department of Energy

Ernest Moniz sworn in as energy secretary

May 21, 2013 By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Ernest Moniz

Ernest Moniz was sworn in as the nation’s 13th Secretary of Energy by Deputy Energy Secretary Daniel Poneman in a Tuesday morning ceremony.

Moniz was confirmed by the U.S. Senate in a 97-0 vote on May 16.

The Tuesday morning ceremony for U.S. Department of Energy employees kicked off a busy first day that includes briefings on energy and national security as well as remarks to the 2013 Energy Efficiency Global Forum, a press release said. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Top Stories, U.S. Department of Energy Tagged With: Bates Linear Accelerator Center, Daniel Poneman, Department of Physics, DOE, Energy Secretary, Ernest Moniz, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, MIT, MIT Energy Initiative, MIT Laboratory for Energy and the Environment, National Nuclear Security Administration, physics, professor, Secretary of Energy, swearing-in, U.S. Department of Energy, U.S. Senate

Microwaves could melt uranium at UPF, help remove carbon impurities

May 15, 2013 By John Huotari Leave a Comment

A microwave operator handles the crucible that holds the material as it is melted. Microwave technology is the preferred method for melting materials because of the ease of removing carbon impurities from the metal. (Photos courtesy B&W Y-12)

New microwaves that can melt metal and help remove carbon impurities from uranium could be used in the proposed Uranium Processing Facility at the Y-12 National Security Complex.

Y-12 doesn’t plan to use any of its traditional ovens, known as vacuum induction melters, or VIMs, in the UPF, officials said. Those ovens use electric currents and a magnetic field to melt metal.

But it’s easier to “float out” carbon impurities in microwaves because they don’t stir molten metals the way the traditional ovens do, Y-12 officials said. Carbon contaminants in uranium castings could be reduced by 30 percent.

Y-12 melts and casts uranium to combine it into hollow cylinders for storage, make parts for the nation’s nuclear weapons stockpile, and supply nuclear fuel for the U.S. Navy. Microwaves could eventually be used for all three tasks. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Top Stories, Y-12 National Security Complex Tagged With: carbon, casting, Ellen Boatner, impurities, John Gertsen, melting, metals, microwave, National Nuclear Security Administration, naval nuclear fuel, nuclear weapons stockpile, production microwave, UPF, uranium, uranium cylinders, uranium processing facility, vacuum induction melter, VIM, Y-12 National Security Complex

B&W team says it’s the best choice for Y-12, Pantex contract

May 13, 2013 By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Y-12 National Security Complex (Submitted photo)

One of the two teams that did not win the $23 billion contract to manage and operate two nuclear weapons plants in Tennessee and Texas said newly released federal documents show it had the best bid.

The contract to manage the Y-12 National Security Complex in Oak Ridge and Pantex Plant in Amarillo, Texas, was awarded to Consolidated Nuclear Security LLC, of Reston, Va., on Jan. 8. The consolidated contract, the first ever for the National Nuclear Security Administration, is expected to save money.

But the two losing teams—Nuclear Production Partners LLC of Lynchburg, Va., and Integrated Nuclear Production Solutions LLC of Oak Ridge—filed bid protests. On April 29, the U.S. Government Accountability Office upheld those protests in part. The GAO questioned whether the NNSA had properly evaluated the expected savings, and the agency recommended that the contract procurement be re-opened and more information requested from the bidders. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Business, Federal, Government, National Nuclear Security Administration, Oak Ridge, Top Stories, Y-12 National Security Complex Tagged With: Babcock and Wilcox Co., Bechtel National Inc., bid protests, bidding teams, bids, CNS, consolidated contract, Consolidated Nuclear Security LLC, GAO, Integrated Nuclear Production Solutions LLC, Jason Bohne, National Nuclear Security Administration, NNSA, NP2, Nuclear Production Partners LLC, nuclear weapons plants, Pantex Plant, procurement, Ralph White, SEB, Source Evaluation Board, U.S. Government Accountability Office, Y-12 National Security Complex

After GAO upholds protests, NNSA to request more info from Y-12, Pantex bidders

May 8, 2013 By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Y-12 National Security Complex (Submitted photo)

After one federal agency upheld parts of two bid protests, a second one on Wednesday announced it will request more information from the three teams that submitted bids on a contract to manage and operate two nuclear weapons plants in Tennessee and Texas.

In January, the National Nuclear Security Administration announced it had awarded a contract valued at about $23 billion to Consolidated Nuclear Security LLC, or CNS, to manage and operate the Y-12 National Security Complex in Oak Ridge and Pantex Plant near Amarillo, Texas. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Business, National Nuclear Security Administration, Oak Ridge, Top Stories, Y-12 National Security Complex Tagged With: CNS, Consolidated Nuclear Security LLC, GAO, National Nuclear Security Administration, NNSA, nuclear weapons plants, Pantex Plant, U.S. Government Accountability Office, Y-12 National Security Complex

CNS will offer more details on proposed cost savings at Y-12, Pantex

April 29, 2013 By John Huotari Leave a Comment

The team that won the $22.8 billion contract in January to manage two nuclear weapons facilities in Tennessee and Texas will provide more details on how it proposes to save $3.27 billion during the next decade, a company spokesman said Monday.

Consolidated Nuclear Security LLC, or CNS, won the contract to manage and operate the Y-12 National Security Complex in Oak Ridge and the Pantex Plant near Amarillo, Texas.

But the two losing teams filed protests, and in a decision announced Monday, the U.S. Government Accountability Office upheld parts of the protests. The GAO raised questions about whether the National Nuclear Security Administration, which announced the contract award to CNS on Jan. 8, had properly evaluated the costs savings proposed by bidders. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Anderson County, Business, Federal, Government, National Nuclear Security Administration, Oak Ridge, Top Stories, Y-12 National Security Complex Tagged With: Bechtel National, CNS, Consolidated Nuclear Security LLC, GAO, Jason Bohne, National Nuclear Security Administration, NNSA, Pantex Plant, Ralph O. White, U.S. Government Accountability Office, Y-12 National Security Complex

Parts of Y-12, Pantex contract protests upheld; GAO says procurement should be re-opened

April 29, 2013 By John Huotari Leave a Comment

The U.S. Government Accountability Office has upheld parts of two protests filed over the January award of a five-year contract to manage and operate the Y-12 National Security Complex, pictured above, and Pantex Plant near Amarillo, Texas. (Submitted photo)

A federal agency has upheld parts of two protests challenging a five-year contract to manage two nuclear weapons plants in Tennessee and Texas.

The U.S. Government Accountability Office also recommended re-opening the contract procurement, raising questions about the status of the $22.8 billion contract awarded to Consolidated Nuclear Security LLC, or CNS, in January. CNS was one of three bidding teams who competed for the contract to manage and operate the Y-12 National Security Complex in Oak Ridge and Pantex Plant near Amarillo, Texas.

At the heart of the GAO decision, announced Monday, were questions about proposed savings. In particular, the agency seemed to question whether the National Nuclear Security Administration, which awarded the consolidated contract to CNS on Jan. 8, had properly evaluated the expected savings.

“NNSA failed to follow the publicly stated solicitation criteria, which provided that the agency would evaluate the feasibility and size of each offeror’s proposed cost savings resulting from the consolidation of the management and operation of these sites,” Ralph O. White, GAO managing associate general counsel for procurement law, said in a statement released Monday afternoon. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Federal, Government, National Nuclear Security Administration, Top Stories, Y-12 National Security Complex Tagged With: B&W Y-12, Babcock and Wilcox, Bechtel National Inc., CNS, consolidated contract, Consolidated Nuclear Security LLC, cost savings, Fluor, GAO, Integrated Nuclear Production Solutions LLC, Jacobs, Josh McConaha, Lockheed Martin Services Inc., National Nuclear Security Administration, NNSA, Nuclear Production Partners LLC, Pantex Plant, Ralph O. White, U.S. Court of Federal Claims, U.S. Department of Energy, U.S. Government Accountability Office, Y-12 National Security Complex

B&W Y-12 names Kevin Corbett as VP of quality assurance

April 25, 2013 By Y-12 National Security Complex Leave a Comment

Kevin Corbett

Kevin Corbett has been named B&W Y-12 vice president of quality assurance. He is replacing Janice Christman, who will be retiring from the Y-12 National Security Complex at the end of April.

With 32 years of experience, Corbett has managed quality programs on projects and installations for the U.S. Department of Energy and National Nuclear Security Administration, the Department of Defense, and the Department of State, as well as commercial nuclear power facilities and large-scale infrastructure programs valued at more than $20 billion.

“The B&W Y-12 team certainly will benefit from Kevin’s broad range of experience,” said B&W Y-12 President and General Manager Chuck Spencer. “With quality being a key component of everything we do at Y-12, Kevin’s expertise will help us ensure quality is an integral part of our culture.” [Read more...]

Filed Under: Top Stories, Y-12 National Security Complex Tagged With: B&W Y-12, B&W Y-12 Vice President Quality Assurance, Bechtel, Chuck Spencer, Janice Christman, Kevin Corbett, National Nuclear Security Administration, U.S. Department of Defense, U.S. Department of Energy, U.S. Department of State, vice president of quality assurance, Y-12 National Security Complex

DOE Oak Ridge Nuclear Energy manager to retire

April 18, 2013 By U.S. Department of Energy Oak Ridge Office Leave a Comment

J.T. Howell (Photo courtesy US DOE/Lynn Freeny)

J.T. Howell, manager of the Nuclear Energy Oak Ridge Site Office, will retire from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge Office on May 3 after 33 years of federal government service.

Howell has held his current position since 2011, responsible for advancing DOE’s nuclear energy programs in Oak Ridge; Portsmouth, Ohio; and Paducah, Ky. His responsibilities also include oversight of leases, agreements, and technology development and deployment between the DOE and the United States Enrichment Corporation to ensure a secure and viable domestic supply of enriched uranium for the United States defense purposes. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Oak Ridge Office, Top Stories, U.S. Department of Energy Tagged With: DOE, enriched uranium, J.T. Howell, National Nuclear Security Administration, Nuclear Energy, Nuclear Energy Oak Ridge Site Office, nuclear nonproliferation, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Oak Ridge Office, U.S. Department of Energy, United States Enrichment Corporation

Guest column: New fence was needed to improve Y-12 security

April 18, 2013 By Chuck Spencer Leave a Comment

Chuck Spencer

Much has been made of the decision at the Y-12 National Security Complex to improve security by extending one of our security fences. As the president and general manager of B&W Y-12, the management and operating contractor for the National Nuclear Security Administration, I believe it’s important that a few of the facts surrounding this change be understood.

In case you haven’t been following this matter, we moved the boundary fence (also known as the 229 boundary) closer to our main entrance. This was done in response to recent trespassing events at Y-12 in order to strengthen our security posture. The response to this decision has been overwhelmingly positive among the vast majority of the people who take interest in Y-12’s operations. We are gratified by that support. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Guest Columns Tagged With: 229 boundary, B&W Y-12, Chuck Spencer, demonstrations, fence, National Nuclear Security Administration, security, trespassing, Y-12 National Security Complex

NNSA: President’s budget request includes $326M for UPF at Y-12

April 17, 2013 By John Huotari Leave a Comment

The proposed Uranium Processing Facility at the Y-12 National Security Complex is pictured above. (Submitted image)

President Barack Obama’s budget request for the fiscal year that starts Oct. 1 includes $326 million for the Uranium Processing Facility project at the Y-12 National Security Complex, federal officials said this week.

The president’s proposed budget, which still has to be considered by Congress, was released last week. The National Nuclear Security Administration released details on Monday.

The NNSA has also posted highlights of the president’s budget request. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Federal, Government, National Nuclear Security Administration, Top Stories, Y-12 National Security Complex Tagged With: 9212, budget request, contracting, dismantlement, engineering, highly enriched uranium, LEP, life extension programs, National Nuclear Security Administration, NNSA, nonproliferation, President Barack Obama, science, security, supercomputing, Tennessee, U.S. Navy, UPF, uranium processing facility, weapons activities, Y-12 National Security Complex

B&W Y-12 names Carl Strock as UPF project director

April 8, 2013 By Y-12 National Security Complex Leave a Comment

Carl Strock

Retired Lt. Gen Carl Strock has been named Uranium Processing Facility project director for B&W Y-12 at the Y-12 National Security Complex.

He reports to Jim Haynes, B&W Y-12 deputy general manager for projects.

Strock is Bechtel’s former manager of global construction. He joined Bechtel in 2007 after retiring as head of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers after serving in the U.S. Army for more than 36 years. [Read more...]

Filed Under: National Nuclear Security Administration, Top Stories, Y-12 National Security Complex Tagged With: B&W Y-12, Bechtel, Bridget Correll Waller, Carl Strock, Jim Haynes, John Eschenberg, National Nuclear Security Administration, U.S. Army, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, uranium processing facility, Y-12 National Security Complex