Department of Energy extends Battelle management contract

The U.S. Department of Energy has decided to extend its contract with Battelle Energy Alliance (BEA) to manage and operate the Idaho National Engineering Laboratory. The five year modification extends the contract through September 30, 2024.

The new agreement reflects DOE’s initiative to reform manaement and operating contracts. It grants greater authority and accountability to the site contractor and eliminates redundancies.

“The agreed-upon terms bring clarity to what is expected of BEA and INL in the next several years,” INL Director Mark Peters said. “The ultimate outcome is that INL is even better-positioned to serve the American taxpayer by helping resolve the nation’s big energy and security challenges.”

Under terms of the new agreement, some of the key INL initiatives aimed at revitalizing the nuclear energy sector. Its projects include nuclear science including the Advanced Test Reactor, Transient Reactor Test Facility, and the Materials and Fuels Complex.

The INL initiatives also include continuing research and development of micro-reactor technologies, improving cyber security capabilities and expertise, extending the electric vehicle corridor, developing integrated energy systems and energy storage capabilities, continuing support for biofuels research and turning captured carbon into usable products.

INL will also promoted STEM education and productive partnerships with local governments and schools.