Udall, Heinrich, Lujan Grisham Comment on Sandia National Laboratories Contract Decision

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich and Congresswoman Michelle Lujan Grisham responded to the U.S. Department of Energy's National Nuclear Security Administration's (NNSA) decision to award the management and operating contract for Sandia National Laboratories to National Technology and Engineering Solutions of Sandia (NTESS), a subsidiary of Honeywell International. Udall is a member of the Senate Appropriations subcommittee overseeing the Department of Energy's budget, and Heinrich serves on the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. Lujan Grisham represents the 1st Congressional District, which is home to Sandia and most of its 10,500 employees.

The lawmakers issued the following joint statement:

"Throughout the contract award process, we have supported an open and fair competition, and we congratulate NTESS on its selection while also recognizing the important and valuable contributions of the labs' current leadership team. Sandia National Laboratories plays a critical role in our national security as well as New Mexico's economy and the greater Albuquerque community. This will be a time of change and adjustment for many in the Albuquerque area, and we're committed to working to ensure there is continuity and a smooth transition over the next four months and beyond.

"Sandia's success in all of its missions is dependent on its workforce, as well as the businesses, universities and many others who are an integral part of its overall operation. We urge NTESS and NNSA to continue - and strengthen - the lab's workforce recruitment and retention, as well as its relationship with local small business subcontractors, entrepreneurs, business incubators, and labor organizations. We're encouraged that New Mexico's universities are part of the Universities Research Association, which will support NTESS, and we look forward to seeing the the lab continue to build a strong and mutually beneficial relationship with our state's top-notch universities.

"Over the next five years, Sandia and Los Alamos National Laboratory will need to hire as many as 5,000 employees. We want to make sure New Mexicans are prepared to make up as many of those new hires as possible. We will be working with NTESS on initiatives to help boost partnerships with New Mexico's schools and universities to strengthen science, technology, engineering and math education as well as other learning and career opportunities."