Idaho National Laboratory contractor will operate lab for five more years

INL News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 27, 2014

NEWS MEDIA CONTACTS:
Misty Benjamin (INL), 208-351-9900, misty.benjamin@inl.gov
Tim Jackson (DOE-ID), 208-526-8484, jacksotb@id.doe.gov

Idaho National Laboratory contractor will operate lab for five more years

IDAHO FALLS — The U.S. Department of Energy has exercised an option in Battelle Energy Alliance’s original 10-year contract to operate Idaho National Laboratory for an additional five years. This provides INL and its employees with the continuity required to continue building on the achievements of the past 10 years.

"This action is significant for all INL employees, and their hard work and dedication made it possible," said Laboratory Director John Grossenbacher. "They grew the capabilities of the lab, improved the infrastructure, strengthened our intellectual leadership, and accomplished world-class technology research, development, demonstration and deployment."

The contract that created INL was awarded to BEA in November 2004. It began on Feb. 1, 2005, and the current period of performance ends Sept. 30, 2014. BEA now will operate INL through Sept. 30, 2019.

The basis for exercising the option to extend the current contract is BEA’s consistently strong annual performance and success in managing INL.

One significant success outlined in the BEA contract is the creation of the Center for Advanced Energy Studies. BEA partnered with the State of Idaho to establish CAES, which has generated nearly $60 million in competitive research opportunities for Idaho's universities and INL since 2008.

The services required under the extended contract are similar to the current services provided. BEA is responsible for managing and operating INL. DOE's vision is for INL to enhance the nation’s energy security as the preeminent, internationally recognized nuclear energy research, development and demonstration laboratory. As a multiprogram national laboratory, INL also is a major center for national security technology development and demonstration. INL fosters new academic, industry, government and international collaborations to produce the investment and expertise that assure this vision is realized.

BEA partners include: Battelle, URS Corporation, The Babcock & Wilcox Company, Electric Power Research Institute, the National University Consortium (Massachusetts Institute of Technology, The Ohio State University, North Carolina State University, University of New Mexico and Oregon State University) and the Idaho University Consortium (University of Idaho, Idaho State University and Boise State University).

INL is one of the DOE's 10 multiprogram national laboratories. The laboratory performs work in each of DOE's strategic goal areas: energy, national security, science and environment. INL is the nation's leading center for nuclear energy research and development. Day-to-day management and operation of the laboratory is the responsibility of Battelle Energy Alliance. See more INL news at www.inl.gov. Follow @INL on Twitter or visit our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/IdahoNationalLaboratory.