QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
My company is a general contractor with a disabled-owned small business qualification. Does LANL offer set-aside or preference to veterans? Is Central Contractor Registration (CCR) required? Does LANL accept capability statements? Mon Sep 20 2010
A: LANL does indeed have a set-aside program for small businesses, including service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses and HUBZone businesses. Set-asides are selected on a case-by-case basis, based on the magnitude and complexity of a specific project's requirements and the number of qualified businesses available to effectively compete. LANL's small business office accepts company capability statements with applicable NAICS codes and upon receipt will include them in their supplier database that is accessible to LANL personnel. Companies are highly encouraged to register in the CCR database. Doing so allows other contractors and the federal government to learn about their company. The federal government does require contractors to be listed in CCR and most prime contractors, such as LANL, are moving in that direction. Mon Sep 20 2010
Will the Pajarito Corridor include a wind energy farm? Tue Sep 07 2010
A: Major construction projects planned along the Pajarito Corridor are established and funded by Congress. The currently approved projects do not include a wind farm. Thu Sep 09 2010
I am a commuter cyclist along Pajarito Corridor and have heard that Pajarito Road is going to be closed for one year to public traffic. When will this take place and what will be the traffic restrictions? Mon Aug 30 2010
A: Road restrictions along the Pajarito Corridor are expected to take place in 2012. A section of Pajarito Road will be closed to public traffic, bicyclists, and pedestrians for a period of about one year. The restricted area will be an active construction site and will be closed due to safety concerns. A traffic study has been performed and the draft report is currently under review. It is expected that the daily Laboratory shuttle-bus service will be expanded during the road-closure period and that government vehicles will be permitted to use the road. When the report is officially issued, the results will be communicated to the Laboratory. Wed Sep 22 2010
I've heard that LANL employees working in the area will be transported by bus to their work stations. Where can I learn more about the details; such as frequency of the buses, bus pick ups, drop offs, etc.? Thu Aug 12 2010
A: There are no specific, future plans for busing workers to their work locations along the Pajarito Corridor, with the exception of construction craft workers, who will be bused from a dedicated parking lot to future construction sites. A dedicated parking lot has not yet been established nor constructed, and will be announced when it becomes available for construction craft workers only. Mon Aug 16 2010
I heard that Pajarito road will be closed between TA-3 and TA-55. Where can I find more information about this closure? Tue Aug 03 2010
A: Any road restrictions on Pajarito Road due to future construction along the Pajarito Corridor are not expected until 2012. A high priority has been placed on various ongoing analyses evaluating institutional impacts, including safety considerations, to support a decision about road restrictions. Wed Aug 04 2010
I am interested in obtaining employment in the program management/construction field as referenced in your LANL website. Can you provide information on where to send my resume and fill out job applications? Mon Jul 26 2010
A: LANL has no plans to hire directly for construction projects along Pajarito Corridor. That effort will be handled by contractors and sub-contractors at the time contracts are awarded. For job opportunities at LANL, visit www.hr.lanl.gov. Click on the 'jobs@lanl' link for a current listing of job openings. The HR Web page has several links for job openings in various categories, as well as an 'application process' link. Wed Aug 04 2010
With the expected large influx of workers for the construction project, it seems likely that housing may become a problem. What plans is LANL making to ensure that summer students and year-round post docs will have housing available to them? Thu Jul 22 2010
A: The Laboratory's Education and Postdoc Office helps maintain online links to local housing resources for students. We don't plan to promote these resources for non-student housing needs, but housing availability is ultimately decided by residents and businesses in the community and there are no practical means of guaranteeing sufficient student housing will always be available. Thu Jul 29 2010
Will the Pajarito Corridor consist of a new Wellness Center facility? Tue Jul 20 2010
A: A new wellness center is not planned along the Pajarito Road Construction Corridor. Thu Jul 22 2010
Why is the Laboratory building a new nuclear facility? Is the new facility important for the security of the nation? Sun Jun 27 2010
A: Yes, the new facility is important for the security of the nation. The CMRR facility will enable the Laboratory to continue its contributions to maintaining and certifying the U.S. nuclear stockpile while sustaining the moratorium on nuclear testing. Further, it will support work in counter-terrorism, nuclear forensics, and nonproliferation. At the same time, CMRR will better protect the health and safety of workers, the public, and the environment compared with the facility it replaces. Plutonium pit manufacturing operations have been-and will continue to be-performed at a separate existing facility, known as the Plutonium Facility, not at the CMRR facility. CMRR will be a world-class working laboratory for the science of actinide elements, including plutonium and uranium. Wed Jun 30 2010
It is rumored that the RLWTF project is being put on hold due to changing priorities. Can you please confirm? Sun Jun 27 2010
A: There has been no direction to place the RLWTF project on hold. The current path forward is to continue with the design of the facility in accordance with the approved plan. Wed Jun 30 2010
Can a small business become involved in soliciting for procurement of needed supplies? Sun Jun 27 2010
A: The process will be handled according to bid specifications. Generally, there is an avenue to get small businesses involved; LANL's Small Business Office [link to www.business.lanl.gov] can assist. LANL also suggests looking into working with the LANL Technical Assistance Program. Additionally, NQA-1 will be the standard for qualified materials, and covers the standard for facilities. The Laboratory will work with subcontractors and is trying to design without specifications to a certain brand or type of product. Wed Jun 30 2010
What margin of resilience does LANL have, and what margin of safety, for building these new facilities within the next 10 years? Sun Jun 27 2010
A: Construction progress depends on the availability of Congress to provide funding for the projects, and is planned over a duration period of 10 years. Some facilities are old and it is more cost effective for the government to build new than to maintain old facilities. Wed Jun 30 2010
Regarding environmental stewardship, with roughly 122,000 cubic yards of concrete and fill slated for construction use, what is the impact of water and runoff for surrounding communities? Sun Jun 27 2010
A: Lean fill is being used, requiring little water use. Studies are currently being conducted into future water, sewage, and utility needs and impacts. Regarding runoff, the Laboratory must continue to comply with an Environmental Protection Agency permit on stormwater. This permit requires us to control and monitor water run-on and run-off, and comply with EPA limits for any substances in the runoff. Other projects on Pajarito Road, including remediations at Material Disposal Areas C and G, as well as the closure of Technical Area 54, are additional and very important steps in protecting the environment and surrounding communities. Wed Jun 30 2010
If the new CMRR facility will increase land caps to produce plutonium pits, how does LANL plan to protect the community? Sun Jun 27 2010
A: Machining will continue; however, a majority of this work is done in the existing Plutonium Facility (PF-4). The Chemistry and Metallurgy Research Replacement (CMRR) facility will allow the Laboratory to continue safe storage while consolidating and storing a larger amount of materials. Wed Jun 30 2010
With increased construction and craft workers needed, are there plans to cover increases in housing needs for national construction crews moving here from other areas? Sun Jun 27 2010
A: Considerations must be made for increased housing needs. This issue is part of the traffic studies currently being conducted; information with be forthcoming when the studies are completed. Wed Jun 30 2010
Will new project contracts be used in other procurements? Sun Jun 27 2010
A: Procurements currently in place will remain in place. Large projects will have separate procurements; they are generally stand-alone procurements. Wed Jun 30 2010
With the building of a high-risk nuclear facility, are there special requirements imposed upon contractors? Sun Jun 27 2010
A: The bidding and submission process will specify the requirements needed. The nuclear facility will be built under qualifications of NQA-1, which is a national standard for Quality Assurance requirements for nuclear construction developed by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers. It is a basic requirement for all nuclear construction in the United States. Wed Jun 30 2010
Has the Laboratory looked at the potential of using light rail to transport employees from outlying communities? Sun Jun 27 2010
A: Rail studies show low ridership for employee commuting and has not been discussed for this construction effort. Wed Jun 30 2010
Has the Laboratory looked at workforce needs with respect to workforce development and using workforce partners to provide future income to local residents? Sun Jun 27 2010
A: The Laboratory works collaboratively with the New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions. Wed Jun 30 2010
Is 'Pajarito Corridor' just semantics? Sun Jun 27 2010
A: The Pajarito Corridor is simply an easy reference to the area along Pajarito Road at which new construction will take place. Wed Jun 30 2010
Is National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) work continuing to be done regarding the Pajarito Corridor that include traffic studies? Sun Jun 27 2010
A: The Laboratory has NEPA documentation for nuclear facility planning and plans to compare it with the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to ensure compliance standards are met. Initial plans are being analyzed for road modifications, impacts of increased traffic, and safety. A supplemental EIS may be necessary. Wed Jun 30 2010
What is the strategy for dealing with plutonium fires? Sun Jun 27 2010
A: There was a plutonium fire at Rocky Flats in Colorado many years ago. Many lessons were learned from that fire about suppression and inert environments to perform current work safely. Wed Jun 30 2010
How does the push for increased plutonium pit production jibe with President Obama's nonproliferation posture? Sun Jun 27 2010
A: The Chemistry and Metallurgy Research (CMR) facility was built in the 1950s. Newer, modernized buildings will be safer for employees and the surrounding communities than the older, existing buildings. The new facility will support efforts in maintaining U.S. stockpile stewardship objectives, which are determined by many federal agencies nationwide. The Nuclear Stockpile Review decides how many nuclear weapons remain in the stockpile, many of which are 30 years old or older. Some of this work will involve LANL. Wed Jun 30 2010
What level of clearance will be required of workers hired for Pajarito Corridor construction? Sun Jun 27 2010
A: Workers employed throughout the construction phases will be primarily uncleared personnel. All employees will be badged for site access. This personnel pool will include foreign nationals. Wed Jun 30 2010
Will all legacy waste be cleaned up? Sun Jun 27 2010
A: The Laboratory is committed to meeting all of its responsibilities under the 2005 Consent Order on cleanup with the state of New Mexico. The New Mexico Environment Department has the authority to approve all remedies, which could include cleanup and removal of waste, installing thick coverings of soil and rock to isolate the waste, or combinations thereof. Under the Consent Order, remediation and cleanup activities must be complete by the end of 2015. The Lab is fully incorporating these activities into its plans for the Pajarito Road construction work. Get more information on the Consent Order [link to http://www.lanl.gov/environment/compliance/consent_order.shtml ] Wed Jun 30 2010
What are the expectations of construction-worker needs to be met by New Mexicans, and those of national construction crews? Sun Jun 27 2010
A: There will be a call for craft personnel, and economics will determine need and availability. LANL is highly motivated to hire locally and will make sure that construction bidders understand this. For job placement and training, LANL has agreements in place with New Mexico colleges and universities and the Green Jobs Initiative and Renewable Center, with a focus on nursing and technical vocations and computer science technicians. LANL's National Science Education Center works with four-year educational institutions that help train students for jobs in LANL facilities. Wed Jun 30 2010
Are there plans for preparation and training of northern New Mexico residents for craft work? Sun Jun 27 2010
A: LANL currently staffs about 850 craft-support workers that maintain Laboratory operations; there has been little difficulty acquiring qualified, local craft workers. Wed Jun 30 2010
Will there be procurement opportunities for minority groups, e.g., 8A and Super 8A? Sun Jun 27 2010
A: LANL is committed to doing business with qualified small businesses and will continue its current practices of setting aside procurement opportunities for qualified small business or making awards to qualified small business in an open competition. LANL negotiates small business goals with NNSA annually, including the various socio-economic goals (i.e., small disadvantaged, women-owned, service-disabled veterans, HUBZone, and veteran-owned). The Laboratory is currently meeting and exceeding the goals that were negotiated for fiscal year 2010. Wed Jun 30 2010
Has there been identification of green jobs and green industrial landfills for construction and demolition waste, to divert, recycle, and reuse materials? Sun Jun 27 2010
A: LANL has and will work with subcontractors to look closely at what can be recycled. This also is part of the Radiological Laboratory/Utility/Office Building's (RLUOB's) LEED certification process. There is not a lot of demolition and disposal as a result of projects. Excavation materials will be used as source materials for earthen caps for the proposed remediation of on-site disposal areas. There will be minimal material going to landfills. Wed Jun 30 2010
Eventually a section of the Pajarito Corridor will likely be closed off, resulting in traffic impacts. Has building a bypass road around the site been considered? Sun Jun 27 2010
A: A variety of road construction options are currently being discussed. Building a bypass road may be difficult, however, because the Pajarito Corridor sits on a plateau with steep canyons on either side, leaving little room for safe road expansion. Wed Jun 30 2010
Please clarify the route that will be used by heavy trucks going to the Pajarito Corridor? Sun Jun 27 2010
A: Trucks will travel west on NM 502, then south on NM 4, and west on Pajarito Road. Wed Jun 30 2010
What will happen to the LANL employees who work in the area during the Pajarito Corridor construction? Mon Jun 07 2010
A: LANL employees who do not need to reside on the Pajarito Corridor will be relocated to other LANL areas to reduce congestion along the roadways. Employees who have laboratories or other special equipment on the corridor will remain in their existing locations. Tue Jun 08 2010
What are the construction projects located on the Pajarito Corridor? Mon Jun 07 2010
A: These projects include the Chemistry & Material Research Replacement (CMRR) Project; Nuclear Materials Safeguards and Security Upgrade Project (NMSSUP), Phase II; TA-55 Revitalization Project (TRP), Phases II & III; Radioactive Liquid Waste Treatment Facility (RLWTF); Consolidated Waste Capability (CWC); Material Disposal Area-C Closure; Material Disposal Area-G Closure; and Waste Disposition Project. Thu Jun 10 2010
What is the Pajarito Corridor? Mon Jun 07 2010
A: The Pajarito Corridor is a series of technical areas adjacent to Pajarito Road, which runs through Los Alamos National Laboratory. These technical areas house a significant portion of the nuclear operations at LANL. Tue Jun 08 2010
How many LANL employees work along the Pajarito Corridor? Mon Jun 07 2010
A: Approximately 4,600 LANL employees work along the corridor. Tue Jun 08 2010
How long will this construction activity take? Mon Jun 07 2010
A: The construction activity for all LANL projects is expected to last approximately ten years, through 2020. Tue Jun 08 2010
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Most Recent Q&A
My company is a general contractor with a disabled-owned small business qualification. Does LANL offer set-aside or preference to veterans? Is Central Contractor Registration (CCR) required? Does LANL accept capability statements?
A: LANL does indeed have a set-aside program for small businesses, including service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses and HUBZone businesses. Set-asides are selected on a case-by-case basis, based on the magnitude and complexity... Read more
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