NNSA Release: Pantex breaks ground on new support facility

AMARILLO, Texas – Representatives from the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) Production Office joined leaders from Consolidated Nuclear Security, LLC – the managing and operating contractor for the U.S. Department of Energy/NNSA Pantex Plant – at Pantex on September 17 for a groundbreaking ceremony for the new Flexible Support Facility (FSF).

The design of the FSF is based on a Standardized Acquisition and Recapitalization (STAR) design that was used at the Nevada National Security Site (NNSS). The STAR initiative is aimed at reducing costs and accelerating construction of small office and light laboratory facilities through the use of standard, scalable building designs.

“The FSF is an excellent example of one of NNSA Administrator Lisa E. Gordon-Hagerty’s goals – leveraging resources across the Enterprise,” said Geoffrey L. Beausoleil, NNSA Production Office Manager. “We are leveraging a design from our sister site, the NNSS. The shared design advances our ability to provide new facilities and workspace for our projects staff and new employees by applying proven design and recent construction experience to allow the most effective use of our infrastructure dollars.”

The planned structures that comprise the FSF will provide support for the nuclear security mission at Pantex and will house approximately 220 personnel from crowded or aging facilities elsewhere on site.

“The additional space provided by the FSF allows us to provide modern workspace for our growing workforce,” Beausoleil said. “The volume of work has increased, requiring additional staff that we hadn’t planned on five years ago. This work is in both infrastructure modernization and product delivery.”

Pantex Site Manager Todd Ailes said that the FSF is part of the continuing change in landscape at Pantex. “Through modernization of both the operational and administrative areas, we are providing current and future generations of Pantexans with exceptional facilities to aid in execution of our critical mission,” he said. “The FSF represents the next step in our journey toward that vision. We look forward to using the FSF as a model for future building replacements to provide a comfortable work environment for our people while allowing us to vacate and decommission older, diminished facilities.”

“I am proud of how our local team is exemplifying the One NNSA and One Team expectations of the Administrator,” Beausoleil said. “The FSF demonstrates our ability to answer the “How do we get to yes?” question.”

Construction of the FSF, which is estimated to cost $20 million, is scheduled for completion in December 2021.

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Established by Congress in 2000, NNSA is a semi-autonomous agency within the U.S. Department of Energy responsible for enhancing national security through the military application of nuclear science. NNSA maintains and enhances the safety, security, and effectiveness of the U.S. nuclear weapons stockpile; works to reduce the global danger from weapons of mass destruction; provides the U.S. Navy with safe and militarily effective nuclear propulsion; and responds
to nuclear and radiological emergencies in the U.S. and abroad.

CONTACT:

Steven Wyatt
Public Affairs Manager
National Nuclear Security Administration
NNSA Production Office
Office: 865.576.9918
Cell: 865.292.3989
Pager: 865.916.2026