Posted on: December 22, 2020; Updated: December 22, 2020
By Jeff Stensland, [email protected]
The Battelle Savannah River Alliance (BRSA) team was selected by the Department of Energy to manage one of the country’s leading environmental, energy and national security research facilities – the Savannah River National Laboratory (SRNL).
As part of the Alliance, the University of South Carolina will engage in critical workforce development activities, from technical education to cutting-edge doctoral research. In addition, UofSC will recruit several faculty members who will have joint appointments with the SRNL to conduct research in areas such as nuclear power security.
Employing approximately 1,000 employees, SRNL conducts research and development for several federal agencies, providing practical and economical solutions to the country’s environmental, nuclear safety, energy and manufacturing challenges. As the United States Department of Energy’s (DOE) Environmental Management Laboratory, SRNL provides strategic scientific and technological support for the country’s $ 6 billion annual waste cleaning program.
BSRA is led and fully controlled by Battelle, one of DOE’s leading laboratory management contractors. The BSRA team includes five universities in the region – UofSC, Clemson University, Georgia Institute of Technology, South Carolina State University, University of Georgia – as well as small partner companies, Longenecker & Associates and TechSource.
“The University of South Carolina is honored to be part of this unique collaboration,” said UofSC President Bob Caslen. “Researchers and students on our Columbia and Aiken campuses are excited to be involved with Battelle and our partner universities as we seek to make the Savannah River National Laboratory a source of great scientific discovery and industrial innovation for many years.”
“This is a historic day for Clemson University and our partner universities,” said Clemson University President James P. Clements. “We are looking forward to developing our relationships at the Savannah River National Laboratory, which will allow us to unlock new research and education opportunities unique to Clemson teachers and students while serving the state. I would like to thank Battelle for his leadership and congratulate the entire team for the exciting activities to come. ”
SC State University President James E. Clark said: “I would like to thank Battelle for this incredible opportunity; making this the first time that an HBCU will be a key partner of the Savannah River National Laboratory. This relationship sums up our strategic ‘transformation through collaboration’ venture and will transform the lives of individuals, strengthen the economies of our communities and this state, as well as increase the security of our nation. ”
The contract includes a five-year base with five one-year options. The estimated value of the contract is $ 3.8 billion over 10 years if all options are exercised.
“We are honored by the DOE’s decision to award the Savannah River National Laboratory management and operations contract to our team,” said Battelle President and CEO Lou Von Thaer. “We have experience in laboratory management to make a difference and we are committed to ensuring the success of this important national resource.”
“We are honored and excited about this opportunity,” said Ron Townsend, Battelle’s executive vice president of global laboratory operations. “BSRA’s approach will ensure the delivery of high-impact science, technology and engineering solutions in the future through a significant expansion of SRNL’s core competencies. Our team offers an exciting and attractive vision for the future of SRNL and provides DOE with a leadership team that will deliver with excellence. ”
Battelle currently has a management role in seven national DOE laboratories, including the National Pacific Northwest Laboratory, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Idaho National Laboratory, Los Alamos National Laboratory and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. It also operates the National Center for Biodefense Analysis and Countermeasures of the Department of Homeland Security.
About Battelle
Every day, the people of Battelle apply science and technology to solve what matters most. At leading technology centers and national laboratories around the world, Battelle conducts research and development, designs and manufactures products and offers essential services to government and commercial customers. Headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, since its founding in 1929, Battelle has served the national security, health and life sciences, energy and environment industries. For more information, visit www.battelle.org, or contact Katy Delaney at (614) 424-7208 or [email protected].
Share this story! Let your friends on your social network know what you’re reading about
Topics: University Leadership, Research, Partnerships