Sandia National Laboratories and Los Alamos National Laboratory received positive reviews from the National Nuclear Security Administration as part of their yearly performance reviews, resulting in multi-million dollar boosts for each.
The evaluation summaries, announced in January, analyze the effectiveness of the NNSA's managing and operating partners in meeting the performance expectations established in their annual plans, according to an NNSA release. Six sites were evaluated.
The management of both of New Mexico's labs receive overall ratings of "very good" for fiscal year 2020, which began in October 2019. Six goals were measured:
- Mission Execution: Nuclear Weapons
- Mission Execution: Global Nuclear Security
- Department of Energy & Strategic Partnership Projects Mission Objectives
- Science, Technology and Engineering
- Mission Enablement
- Mission Leadership
Sandia National Laboratories
National Technology and Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLC, which manages and operates Sandia labs, "exceeded many of the objectives and key outcomes under the [annual] goals, meeting overall cost, schedule, and technical performance requirements with accomplishments that greatly outweigh issues."
Some of those issues included not adequately managing production streams for certain programs, not complying with environmental requirements prior to beginning outdoor construction, and not integrating multiple disciplines to consistently ensure mission support requirements were being met, the evaluation says.
On the other hand, NTESS successfully completed all required weapon system maintenance, stockpile surveillance, and qualification tests. It also effectively supported nuclear and other types of projects for domestic and international programs, according to the evaluation. In addition, the organization "displayed outstanding leadership in support of the nuclear security enterprise and the overall national response to the pandemic," the evaluation says.
Based on its execution of the six goals outlined above, NTESS qualified for $7.1 million in award fees, according to the evaluation. The organization is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Honeywell International, and began managing Sandia as part of a $2.6 billion contract in May 2017.
Los Alamos National Laboratory
Triad National Security, LLC, which oversees LANL, received similarly high marks with a "very good" rating.
The organization "demonstrated excellence during the COVID-19 pandemic" with "personnel accounting and reporting processes, an online onboarding process, continued hiring, [personal protective equipment] and cleaning supply procurement," according to the evaluation. The Covid-19 pandemic necessitated Triad transitioning about 85% of its workforce to a telework setup, the evaluation says.
Other accomplishments noted in the evaluation include providing support to missions to remove radioactive sources, and the execution of "high-impact projects in strategically significant areas."
On the other hand, Triad had its fair share of issues as well. They included not identifying issues before they "manifested into security and maintenance" problems, as well as not meeting four of six "small business goals." Triad also encountered challenges in cybersecurity, information technology programs, and had improper access controls, the evaluation says.
Triad National Security is a nonprofit organization consisting of Battelle Memorial Institute, the University of California and The Texas A&M University System. Based on the six goals outlined above, it qualified for $22.4 million in award fees, the evaluation says.
