Los Alamos: UC was the only bidder, so the Feds upped the mgt fee to

[AP]

attract bidders from the private sector.

It seems like the government is really eager to turn over America's nuclear research programs to a profit-motivated corporation, rather than a university.

Still, a bid from another defense industry heavyweight can't be good news for the University of California (UC), which has run Los Alamos for the Energy Department since the Oppenheimer era. Not long ago, it looked like UC would be the only bidder on the $2.2 billion per year contract -- despite a decade-long series of scandals at the lab. But the Energy Department upped the Los Alamos management fee by 500 percent. Companies can now turn a nice $73 million profit from running the lab. And after 60 years of having the waters to themselves, UC suddenly finds itself surrounded by sharks.

www.defensetech.org/archives/001509.html

[AP]

1. Just to make this clear: we already had a low bidder -- the UC was willing

to do it. But the Feds are so eager to give it to the private sector, they're willing to pay MORE OF OUR TAX DOLLARS TO ACHIEVE THAT!!!

Don't free marketeers like privatization because it's supposed to LOWER prices?????

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2. Rather than "a" university?

or rather than "a" university from "the" state of California?

[AP]

3. And where's Arnold on this? Is he so on board with the RW neoliberal

liberterian fantasy that he's going to let the feds screw CA just becuase it's Democratic?

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4. Methinks your link might be old

California did win the management contract back:

http://www.sacunion.com/pages/california/articles/4159/

As usual, Ahnold rode the fence and shook everyone's hand.

[AP]

5. That's great if they did, but NPR just reported last night that lockheed..

...was bidding.

Over to NPR.org...

[AP]

6. Bidding was reopened:

University of Texas System officials agreed Thursday to enter the bidding to run the Los Alamos nuclear lab in New Mexico.

System regents voted to pursue a joint operating agreement with Lockheed Martin Corp., which already partners with the system in research at Sandia National Laboratories in Albuquerque.

The decision puts the Texas system in direct competition with the University of California, the current operator of Los Alamos. The University of California announced Wednesday it would partner with engineering powerhouse Bechtel National Inc. for a potential bid.

http://www.tuscaloosanews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050512/APN/505120886&cachetime=3&template=dateline

Sounds like DoE sweetened the pot, which brought in private-public partnerships.

What do you want to bet UT-Lockheed wins?

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7. That sucks

and is a typical * power/vengeance play which serves no one except his rich friends. Goddammit. :grr: