UC Livermore Contract Extended by Two Years

The University of California will continue to operate the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory until at least September 2007, the U.S. Energy Department announced yesterday in extending the school’s contract by two years (see GSN, May 7).

The university’s contracts to run both the Livermore and Los Alamos National Laboratory nuclear weapons research facilities were scheduled to end in September 2005. The announcement means the school will be able to compete separately for the contracts, the San Francisco Chronicle reported.

“It is very important to ensure we have the broadest possible competition for future contracts. Separating these two competitions will achieve that result,” Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham said in a press release.

The University of California has operated both laboratories for 50 years. It was forced to compete for the contracts following multiple inquiries of mismanagement in recent years, according to the Chronicle.

Livermore officials “are pleased with the decision. They support the decision,” said spokeswoman Lynda Seaver.

The Los Alamos National Laboratory contract is still scheduled to end in September 2005. University regents have not yet decided whether to compete for the contracts (Keay Davidson, San Francisco Chronicle, June 10).

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