LLNL Director Michael Anastasio to lead UC-Bechtel team in Los Alamos contract competition

The University of California today issued the following news release:

The University of California and Bechtel National today (May 17) named Michael R. Anastasio, the director of Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, as the team leader in the competition preparations for the Los Alamos National Laboratory.

Anastasio, a nuclear physicist, has more than 25 years’ experience in national security and nuclear weapons and has led the Department of Energy's Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory since 2002. Anastasio will lead the UC, Bechtel, BWX Technologies, Inc. (BWXT) and Washington Group International (WGI) team through the upcoming DOE competition for management and operations of Los Alamos National Laboratory.

The final decision regarding the University of California’s participation in the competition is a decision that will be made by the UC Board of Regents following the release of the final request for proposals by the Department of Energy.

"In his distinguished career at the Livermore laboratory, including the last three years as director, Mike has shown a true understanding of the central role of science at the UC-managed national laboratories and has demonstrated, time and again, the depth of knowledge and expertise required to provide the best possible leadership for this competition," said UC President Robert C. Dynes. "His familiarity with the Los Alamos National Laboratory, the university and the missions of both institutions – as well as the National Nuclear Security Administration and the Department of Energy – makes him an excellent choice for this key position."

"Mike Anastasio is highly respected throughout the DOE complex and his experience at Livermore laboratory, his commitment to science in the national interest and his fundamental understanding of the importance of science in the work at LANL makes him a natural selection for this position," said Bechtel National President Thomas Hash. "Mike is the right leader to deliver science, business and operations excellence to the laboratory."

Anastasio will continue to be director of Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) throughout the Los Alamos competition process. The strong existing management team at LLNL will assist Anastasio in the day-to-day operations of the laboratory as he assumes these additional responsibilities.

"The UC-Bechtel team is very serious about this competition," Anastasio said. "UC has a proven track record of strong scientific and technological expertise in support of national security.

"I am honored to have this opportunity and I look forward to leading our team."

In late March, UC announced it would also partner with a consortium of New Mexico institutions to form the Advanced Studies Institute at Los Alamos National Laboratory. These institutions include the University of New Mexico, New Mexico State University and New Mexico Institute for Mining and Technology. The agreement with these institutions solidifies the role of New Mexico universities as part of a bid to compete for the LANL contract.

"I absolutely believe it is in the best interest of the nation to have two strong weapons physics laboratories," said Anastasio. "This allows for a vigorous competition of technical ideas within a balanced, fully integrated program."

Michael Anastasio biography

Background on the Competition Process

The contract to manage Los Alamos National Laboratory expires Sept. 30, 2005. On April 30, 2003, then-U.S. Secretary of Energy Spencer Abraham announced that the DOE would compete the management and operations contract for Los Alamos National Laboratory. On Dec. 1, 2004, the DOE's National Nuclear Security Administration released the draft request for proposals (RFP). The draft RFP was amended on Feb. 18 and April 5, 2005. A final RFP is expected soon. The deadline for submission of bids is expected to be 90 days after the release of the final RFP. According to DOE, a source evaluation board made up of DOE technical and business experts will review the proposals submitted and provide recommendations to the source selection official.

University of California

The University of California, chartered in 1868, is a system of 10 campuses with a mission of teaching, research and public service. With 208,000 undergraduate and graduate students, UC is the world's premier public university. UC has five medical schools, three law schools and the nation’s largest continuing education program. Forty-nine researchers affiliated with UC have been awarded Nobel Prizes; 17 of the Nobel Prizes have been won since 1995. In addition, UC has 358 members in the National Academy of Sciences, and UC-affiliated researchers have received 48 Medals of Science since Congress created the award in 1959.

UC manages three national laboratories on behalf of the Department of Energy. Today, Lawrence Livermore and Los Alamos national laboratories each employ more then 8,000 UC staff and have combined annual budgets exceeding $3.8 billion, while Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory has approximately 4,000 employees and an annual budget of nearly $500 million. The university was recently awarded a five-year contract from DOE to continue management of Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.

The national laboratories are major sources of scientific and technical strength for the nation in fields ranging from national security, to basic physics, biotechnology, climate studies, computer development, materials science, energy, and the environment. The laboratories contribute to the country’s economic competitiveness through research partnerships with industry and engage in math and science education for students and teachers at all levels.

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Bechtel

Bechtel is a global engineering, construction and project management company with more than a century of experience mastering complex projects in challenging locations. Privately owned, with headquarters in San Francisco, the company has 40,000 employees working in 50 countries. Bechtel National, Inc. is supporting national security and U.S. intelligence and defense efforts, developing new technologies to fight terrorism, monitoring the consequences of terrorist acts, designing emergency response programs, and training both military and civilian responders nationwide. Additionally, BNI has broad capabilities and extensive experience in the management of complex, multisite, environmental programs, including environmental cleanup projects at several Department of Energy sites in the United States.

BNI’s national security work includes managing and operating the Nevada Test Site and its affiliated facilities for the National Nuclear Security Administration. BNI is also a partner in management of NNSA’s Y-12 National Security Complex in Tennessee and the Pantex Plant in Texas, as well as the Savannah River Site in South Carolina. Among its Department of Defense contracts, BNI manages the Kwajalein missile range and supports non-proliferation efforts in the former Soviet Union for the Defense Threat Reduction Agency. BNI’s portfolio also includes over 15 years of government laboratory management and support experience.

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BWX Technologies, Inc.

BWX Technologies, Inc. (BWXT), headquartered in Lynchburg, VA, is the nation's premier manager of complex, high-consequence nuclear and national security operations. Responsible for the operations of the Pantex Plant in Texas and Y-12 National Security Complex in Tennessee, along with nuclear operations at the Idaho National Laboratory, BWXT has a long history in nuclear manufacturing and operations, both in the Department of Energy and at its unique, highly secure, privately owned and operated nuclear manufacturing and laboratory facilities. A supplier of nuclear products and services to the U.S. government and commercial clients for over 50 years, BWXT has unparalleled experience in nuclear safeguards and security and has been recognized as a model by the DOE. With more than 11,000 employees nationwide, BWXT manages complex, high-consequence nuclear and national security production facilities and is a principal supplier of nuclear components and advanced energy products, delivering both value and customer confidence.

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BWXT Public Relations: 1-434-522-5076 / 1-434-522-5158.

Washington Group International

Washington Group International, with headquarters in Boise, ID, provides the talent, innovation and proven performance to deliver integrated engineering, construction, and management solutions for businesses and governments worldwide. A contractor for the Department of Energy and its predecessor agencies since the Manhattan Project, Washington Group is a leader in providing safe, disciplined operations, risk management and comprehensive environmental services for its customers. Its long history of successful DOE operations continues today with: management and operation contracts at the Savannah River Site, the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant, the West Valley Demonstration Project and its partnership in the Battelle Energy Alliance for operation of the Idaho National Laboratory. Washington Group also is involved in closure contracts at the Weldon Spring Remedial Action Project, Miamisburg Closure Project, Rocky Flats Environmental Technology Site and the recently awarded Hanford River Closure and Idaho Cleanup Project, as well as technical support and consulting projects at Los Alamos, Lawrence Livermore and Sandia national laboratories, DOE's Hanford Site, Pantex Plant and Oak Ridge complex.

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For media inquiries, contact: Jack N. Herrmann of Washington Group International Inc., 1-803-502-9791.

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

Founded in 1952, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory has a mission to ensure national security and apply science and technology to the important issues of our time. Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory is managed by the University of California for the U.S. Department of Energy's National Nuclear Security Administration.