Bechtel manages and operates the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (together with University of California, BWX Technologies and Amentum), which, as its primary mission, supports the U.S. nuclear weapons capabilities, and is building the launch system for the Sentinel, the new U.S. intercontinental ballistic missile.
Nuclear weapons
Bechtel is part of the Northrop Grumman-led team that is building the Sentinel, the new U.S. intercontinental ballistic missile.[i] Bechtel is responsible for designing and building the launch systems.[ii]
Bechtel is also a team member of the Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC consortium, which has the management and operation contract for the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, the lead design agency for the life extension program for the W80-4 cruise missile warhead and the modification program for the W87-1 warhead.[iii] The contract was originally awarded in May 2007, and currently runs until at least September 2026, with a potential value of $93.3 billion.[iv]
Bechtel furthermore takes part in Consolidated Nuclear Security (CNS), LLC, which from 2013 to October 2024 managed the Pantex Plant and the Y-12 National Security Complex under a single $49.8 billion contract,[v] where it was “fully responsible for high-hazard enriched uranium, special nuclear material (SNM), high-explosive and nuclear weapon assembly/disassembly functions”.[vi] The National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) ended this contract deal in 2020 for failing to meet safety and security standards,[vii] but as it struggled to find a new manager, CNS remained responsible for both sites.[viii] In June 2024, the NNSA announced it had selected the BWXT-led PanTexas Deterrence to manage the Pantex Plant, which formally took over in November 2024.[ix] CNS continues to hold the management and operations contract for the Y-12 Complex until at least September 2027.[x]
[i] ’Northrop expands team for program to replace US Air Force ICBMs’. DefenseNews, 25 February 2020. Available at: Northrop expands team for program to replace US Air Force ICBMs; Modernizing the Nation’s Aging Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) System (no date)| Bechtel. Available at: Sentinel | Bechtel (Accessed: 23 October 2024).
[ii] Ibid.
[iii] ‘Fiscal Year 2024 Stockpile Stewardship and Management Plan’, National Nuclear Security Administration (2023), pp. F-6 - F-7. Available at: FY24SSMP_FINAL_NOVEMBER_2023_0.pdf (energy.gov).
[iv] CONTRACT to LAWRENCE LIVERMORE NATIONAL SECURITY LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY.| USAspending, 9 May 2007. Available at: https://www.usaspending.gov/award/CONT_AWD_DEAC5207NA27344_8900_-NONE-_-NONE- (Accessed: 23 January 2025).
[v] NNSA Production Office contract (2014) Energy.gov. Available at: https://www.energy.gov/nnsa/nnsa-production-office-contract (Accessed: 23 October 2024);
U.S. Nuclear Security Enterprise (no date) | Bechtel. Available at: US Nuclear Security Enterprise - Safety | Bechtel (Accessed: 23 October 2024);
CONTRACT to CONSOLIDATED NUCLEAR SECURITY LLC| USAspending, 8 January 2013. Available at: https://www.usaspending.gov/award/CONT_AWD_DENA0001942_8900_-NONE-_-NONE- (Accessed: 23 October 2024).
[vi] Contract No. DE-NA0001942 (2014) Energy.gov. Section J, Appendix A, Page 1. Available at: https://www.energy.gov/nnsa/downloads/contract-no-de-na0001942 (Accessed: 19 October 2023).
[vii] ‘Back to square one for $28B nuclear management contract’, Washington Technology, 17 May 2022. Available at: Back to square one for $28B nuclear management contract - Washington Technology; ‘FY2019 Performance Evaluation Summary’ (2020). National Nuclear Security Administration. Available at: nnsa-production-office-contract-de-na0001942-performance-evaluation-summary.
[viii] NNSA announces contract extension to Consolidated Nuclear Security for the management and operation of the Y-12 National Security Complex and the Pantex Plant. Energy.gov, 3 October 2022. Available at: https://www.energy.gov/nnsa/articles/nnsa-announces-contract-extension-consolidated-nuclear-security-management-and .
[ix] NNSA awards Pantex Management and Operating contract. Energy.gov, 13 June 2024. Available at: NNSA awards Pantex Management and Operating contract | Department of Energy.
[x] ‘NNSA to extend most expiring contracts, starting with Y-12; Pantex transition a month late’, Exchange Monitor, 1 February 2024. Available at: NNSA to extend most expiring contracts, starting with Y-12; Pantex transition a month late - ExchangeMonitor | Page 1.
Investments
Last updated: 2025-02-27 14:39:08