Battelle has partnered with Boeing to jointly bid for a contract to manage Sandia National Laboratories.

Battelle is an independent nonprofit research and development organization.

The University of New Mexico, the Texas A&M University system and the University of Texas system are exclusive members of the Battelle and Boeing team.

"We have exactly the right team to lead an already outstanding laboratory and take it to an even higher level of excellence," said Jeffrey Wadsworth, Battelle president and chief executive officer. "Battelle, Boeing and the universities look forward to working in close partnership with (the U.S.) National Nuclear Security Administration to strengthen our nation's nuclear security posture."

The U.S. Department of Energy's NNSA is seeking a new contractor to manage and operate the lab, a federally funded research and development center responsible for non-nuclear engineering development of all U.S. nuclear weapons and for systems integration of the nuclear weapons with their delivery vehicles.

The final request for proposals for management was issued on May 18 and a contract decision is anticipated by the end of this year.

"Sandia ensures the U.S. nuclear stockpile is safe, secure and reliable and can fully support the nation's deterrence policy," said Ed Dolanski, president, Boeing Global Services & Support. "Their mission of service to the nation is directly aligned with our team's mission.

"Battelle's leadership in national lab management and Boeing's leadership in weapons and systems engineering will provide new capabilities to help NNSA more effectively meet their nuclear security objectives."

Batelle said the universities are to ensure the laboratories' science, technology and engineering capabilities are sustained and enhanced and will create new collaborative research programs.