UC and Bechtel Name Los Alamos National Laboratory Competition Team Leader

    OAKLAND, Calif., May 17 /PRNewswire/ -- 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."
 
     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.
     For more news and information about the University of California:
 www.universityofcalifornia.edu.
 
     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.
     For more news and information about Bechtel National, Inc.:
 www.Bechtel.com.
 
     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.
     For more news and information about BWX Technologies, Inc.:
 www.bwxt.com/
 
     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.
     For more news and information about Washington Group International:
 www.wgint.com.
 
 

SOURCE  Bechtel