WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, the Department of Energy's National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) announced that it has released a request for information (RFI) on ways to improve its current contracting structure for the nuclear weapons complex, particularly at its production plants. NNSA, which officially posted the RFI today on the Federal Business Opportunities' website www.fedbizopps.gov, is seeking input and comments from the contracting community and other interested parties.

Currently, NNSA oversees each of its eight nuclear weapons complex sites through eight different, separate management and operating contracts. NNSA is evaluating alternatives to this current contracting model and is seeking to identify a contract arrangement - especially at its Kansas City Plant, Y-12 National Security Complex and Pantex Plant, all of whose contracts expire in 2010 - that will help to improve performance, reduce cost and stimulate interest and competition within the contracting community.

Responses to NNSA's RFI could include, but are not limited to, consolidation of management and operating contracts, use of other types of contracts on a single or multiple facility basis, use of function-based contracts (e.g. construction, information technology) applicable to two or more sites, and transfer of work scope from one or more current contracts to other existing or new contracts.

In an effort to meet today's national security requirements and be responsive and able to handle tomorrow's national security needs, NNSA is working to transform to a future nuclear weapons complex that is smaller, safer, less expensive and that leverages the scientific and technical capabilities of NNSA's workforce.

NNSA would like input from the contracting community and other interested parties, including other federal agencies, on potential contracting alternatives and associated risks and costs for achieving NNSA's mission while promoting vigorous, full and open competition.

For more information, NNSA has established a website at www.doeal.gov/mocontracts/.

The sites in NNSA's nuclear weapons complex are: Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico; Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in California; Sandia National Laboratories in New Mexico and California; Pantex Plant in Texas; Y-12 National Security Complex in Tennessee; Kansas City Plant in Missouri; Nevada Test Site in Nevada; and Savannah River Site in South Carolina (includes only tritium operations).

Established by Congress in 2000, NNSA is a separately organized agency within the U.S. Department of Energy responsible for enhancing national security through the military application of nuclear science. NNSA maintains and enhances the safety, security, reliability and performance of the U.S. nuclear weapons stockpile without nuclear testing; works to reduce global danger from weapons of mass destruction; provides the U.S. Navy with safe and effective nuclear propulsion; and responds to nuclear and radiological emergencies in the United States and abroad.

Media contact(s):
NNSA Public Affairs (202) 586-7371