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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

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

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

Trespassing at Y-12 costs U.S. government thousands of dollars, NNSA says

April 7, 2013 By John Huotari 1 Comment

There is a greater threat of trespassing at the Y-12 National Security Complex, the National Nuclear Security Administration said last week when it announced plans for a new fence that would block a traditional protest area at the plant’s main entrance.

And the costs of responding to those threats are increasing, the NNSA said.

“Responding to these illegal acts of trespassing has cost the U.S. government thousands of dollars of additional expenses above and beyond what we have to spend to protect the plant during major protests,” the NNSA said in a statement released by spokesman Steven Wyatt on Saturday. “The security-related costs required to respond to protests is very large, but we cannot discuss our specific costs.” [Read more...]

Filed Under: National Nuclear Security Administration, Special Sections, Top Stories, Y-12 National Security Complex, Y-12 Security Breach Tagged With: costs, fence, National Nuclear Security Administration, NNSA, protest, security breach, Steven Wyatt, trespassing, Y-12 National Security Complex

Y-12 fence that blocks protest area to remain up for now; judge questions lawsuit jurisdiction

April 5, 2013 By John Huotari 8 Comments

The temporary fence erected at the main entrance to the Y-12 National Security Complex encloses an area, pictured above, that has been used for protests and vigils for years. Despite a court challenge Friday, the fence will stay up for now.

KNOXVILLE—The temporary fence that blocks a traditional protest area at the Y-12 National Security Complex will stay up for now.

A group that has used the grass field and small parking lot for protests and vigils near the Y-12 entrance at Bear Creek and Scarboro roads had sought to have the fence removed before an annual spring demonstration on Saturday. Workers started erecting it on Monday.

But the arguments about the fence and its alleged violations of the protesters’ First Amendment rights took a surprise turn in U.S. District Court in Knoxville on Friday.

District Judge Curtis L. Collier quickly raised a question about whether the court has jurisdiction to address the complaint filed Wednesday by the Oak Ridge Environmental Peace Alliance, its board members, and people affiliated with the nonprofit organization. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Federal, Government, National Nuclear Security Administration, Top Stories, U.S. Department of Energy, Y-12 National Security Complex Tagged With: Curtis L. Collier, fence, First Amendment, Francis L. Lloyd Jr., John E. Eldridge, National Nuclear Security Administration, NNSA, Oak Ridge Environmental Peace Alliance, OREPA, protests, Ralph Hutchison, Suzanne H. Bauknight, trespassing, U.S. Attorney, U.S. Department of Energy, U.S. District Court, William C. Killian, Y-12 National Security Complex

Government should remove fence around Y-12 protest area by Saturday, group says in federal lawsuit

April 4, 2013 By John Huotari 2 Comments

A coalition including the Oak Ridge Environmental Peace Alliance has asked a federal judge to order the removal of a temporary fence that encloses an area at the entrance to the Y-12 National Security Complex that has been used for protests and vigils for years.

A new fence erected this week at the Y-12 National Security Complex allegedly violates their First Amendment rights, and a coalition that includes the Oak Ridge Environmental Peace Alliance wants the federal government to remove it before an annual spring demonstration on Saturday.

In a complaint filed Wednesday, the coalition also asks the U.S. District Court in Knoxville to deny the government from ever blocking a small area near the plant’s main entrance. That area includes a grassy field and small parking lot near the green Y-12 sign at the intersection of Bear Creek and Scarboro roads, and it has been used for protests and vigils for about 25 years.

The National Nuclear Security Administration announced plans to erect the fence along Scarboro Road last week, citing three trespassing incidents involving five people in the past year, including the July 28 security breach. Workers started setting up a temporary version of the fence on Monday. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Top Stories, Y-12 National Security Complex Tagged With: Bear Creek Road, fence, First Amendment, National Nuclear Security Administration, NNSA, Oak Ridge Environmental Peace Alliance, OREPA, Scarboro Road, U.S. District Court, Y-12 National Security Complex

Workers erect fence around Y-12 area once used for protests

April 1, 2013 By John Huotari 3 Comments

After several recent trespassing incidents, workers put up a new temporary fence at the Y-12 National Security Complex on Monday. An Oak Ridge peace group objects to the fence because it encloses an area traditionally used for protests.

Workers started erecting a temporary fence at the Y-12 National Security Complex on Monday, enclosing an area that has traditionally been used for protests by an Oak Ridge nonprofit group.

Federal officials said they are installing the fence along Scarboro Road after three trespassing incidents involving five people in the past year. In one of those incidents, three anti-nuclear weapons activists penetrated a high-security area and splashed human blood and spray-painted slogans on the Highly Enriched Uranium Materials Facility, where bomb-grade uranium is stored.

On Thursday, the National Nuclear Security Administration said recent events have shown a greater threat of trespassing, and the response costs are increasing. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Special Sections, Top Stories, Y-12 National Security Complex, Y-12 Security Breach Tagged With: fence, National Nuclear Security Administration, New Hope Center, NNSA, Oak Ridge Environmental Peace Alliance, OREPA, protests, Scarboro Road, trespassing, Y-12 National Security Complex

Oak Ridge peace group has vigil today despite plans for fence at Y-12

March 31, 2013 By John Huotari 3 Comments

The government’s decision to erect a new fence in front of the Y-12 National Security Complex could affect plans for an annual spring demonstration next Saturday, but the Oak Ridge Environmental Peace Alliance announced it will have its weekly Sunday vigil today.

The group said the decision by the National Nuclear Security Administration to close off the area immediately outside the Y-12 gates at the intersection of East Bear Creek and Scarboro Roads is “aimed at preventing demonstrations and peace vigils by the Oak Ridge Environmental Peace Alliance and others.” [Read more...]

Filed Under: Top Stories, U.S. Department of Energy, Y-12 National Security Complex Tagged With: Bear Creek Road, demonstration, fence, National Nuclear Security Administration, New Hope Center, NNSA, Oak Ridge Environmental Peace Alliance, OREPA, peace vigil, protest, Ralph Hutchison, Scarboro Road, Steven Wyatt, trespassing, U.S. Constitution, Y-12 National Security Complex

Y-12 to install new fence to reduce trespassing

March 28, 2013 By John Huotari 3 Comments

OREPA Protest at Y-12 National Security Complex

A new fence at the Y-12 National Security Complex would enclose this field near the entrance at Bear Creek and Scarboro roads, and the nonprofit organization that organizes demonstrations and vigils here plans to challenge the fence.

After three trespassing incidents involving five people in the past year, the National Nuclear Security Administration announced plans on Thursday to extend the boundary fence at the Y-12 National Security Complex along Scarboro Road.

The new fence will be relatively close to the road, an NNSA spokesman said. A field traditionally used for protests near the Y-12 sign at the entrance on Bear Creek Road would be behind the fence. The new fence would run along Scarboro Road from Bear Creek Road to New Hope Road, and it would also enclose New Hope Center, which is often used for public events.

The new fence, which would run along the U.S. government property line, is expected to be in place by April 4, the NNSA said.

“Events of the past several months have shown that there is a greater threat of trespassing on the site, and the costs for responding to this threat are increasing,” the NNSA said in a Thursday afternoon press release. ”Y-12 is taking conservative and appropriate measures to make such illegal actions more difficult.” [Read more...]

Filed Under: National Nuclear Security Administration, Special Sections, Top Stories, Y-12 National Security Complex, Y-12 Security Breach Tagged With: B&W Y-12, boundary fence, fence, July 28 security breach, National Nuclear Security Administration, New Hope Center, NNSA, Scarboro Road, trespassing, Y-12 National Security Complex