"We are very pleased to take this step towards extending the UT-Battelle, LLC contract,” said Secretary Abraham. “Continuing this contract is very important to the future of DOE’s science programs in Oak Ridge, particularly as we near the completion of the Spallation Neutron Source and other important research facilities. UT-Battelle has a proven and sustained track record of excellent performance and has led the effort to modernize this important DOE facility.”

The current UT-Battelle contract expires on March 31, 2005. DOE and UT-Battelle officials will begin discussions for the contract extension that is expected to become effective on April 1, 2005. The estimated value of the contract is approximately $4.8 billion over the next five years. The option DOE will be exercising is a part of the ORNL contract that was competed in 1999.

ORNL has a workforce of 4,500 employees with an annual budget of approximately $960 million. As one of the department’s major, multi-program national laboratories, ORNL is responsible for DOE research programs in basic energy sciences, material and neutron science, biological and environmental research, fusion energy science, advanced scientific computation, nuclear physics, energy efficiency and renewable energy, and national security. 

UT-Battelle, LLC, is comprised of the University of Tennessee and Battelle Memorial Institute. Battelle is based in Columbus, Ohio, and is currently involved in the management and operation of DOE's Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Brookhaven National Laboratory, National Renewable Energy Laboratory and Idaho National Laboratory.

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