National Nuclear Security Administration approves design and construction start for 138kV Power Transmission System Replacement at the Nevada National Security Site

WASHINGTON – The Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration (DOE/NNSA) has authorized the design and construction start of the 138kV Power Transmission System Replacement (PTSR) at the Nevada National Security Site (NNSS) in Las Vegas, Nevada through its Critical Decision 2/3.

This milestone has approved the performance baseline and start of construction for the 138kV PTSR project to replace and upgrade approximately 26 miles of the degraded existing power transmission system, and to upgrade the co-located fiber optic lines in the NNSS Mission Corridor. These upgrades are integral to NNSA providing reliable power and communications to mission critical facilities at NNSS.

Reliable and resilient infrastructure is a key tenet of NNSA’s Strategic Vision. In January 2017, NNSA completed the replacement of the most vulnerable 1.7-mile section of this transmission system just weeks before a storm destroyed portions of the old section. This new project will replace the entire high-risk segment of this powerline, a line that supports critical national security mission activities conducted by not only DOE and NNSA, but also the Department of Defense, Homeland Security, and other Federal partners.

“The 138kV project is vital to NNSA’s ongoing mission critical work at NNSS,” said Dr. Charles Verdon, Acting Under Secretary for Nuclear Security and NNSA Administrator. “Revitalizing our aging infrastructure, including indispensable power projects like this, is essential for meeting NNSA’s priority to provide for current and future U.S. national security needs.”

NNSA negotiated a Firm Fixed Price agreement for the project with NNSS’ M&O contractor, Mission Support and Test Services, LLC. This is the first fully fixed price project agreement between NNSA and one of its M&O contractors.

The $50.3 million 138 kV project is scheduled to be completed in 2023.

Read more about NNSA’s Office of Acquisition and Project Management and Office of Safety, Infrastructure, and Operations.