The NNSA’s Policy System is established under the authority of Section 3212(d) of Public Law 106-65, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2000, as amended. This law gives the NNSA Administrator authority to establish Administration-specific policies.
Department of Energy Directives
DOE Directives are the primary means to establish, communicate, and institutionalize policies, requirements, responsibilities, and procedures for multiple Departmental elements, including NNSA, and as such provide the building blocks for NNSA operations. DOE Directives are located on the DOE Directives page.
National Nuclear Security Administration Policies and Supplemental Directives
NNSA uses NNSA Policies (NAPs) and Supplemental Directives (SDs) as its primary means to establish, communicate, and institutionalize policies, requirements, responsibilities, and procedures specific to NNSA elements and contractors. NAPs impart policy and requirements unique to the Administration or provide short-term notices until more formal direction can be provided. SDs are utilized, in conjunction with the Department’s Directives System to indicate how NNSA will implement a Departmental directive in a cost efficient manner.
The goal of NNSA’s Enterprise Reengineering/Management Transformation Initiative is to streamline how the agency does business and reduce the cost of operations in order to maximize mission accomplishment. In the coming years, NNSA will become a smaller and less expensive enterprise that leverages scientific and technical capabilities of the workforce to meet the nation's nuclear security mission safely and securely. This will be achieved: (1) through common understanding of how we govern and perform within NNSA's Operating Principles; and (2) by leveraging strong federal and contractor assurance systems that improve performance and accountability, reduce costs and utilize validated competitive standards.
