Contact: Randa S. Safady, (512) 499-4363

Date: January 14, 2005

Statement: Yudof to Recommend UT System Not Bid on Los Alamos National Laboratory Contract

AUSTIN -- The University of Texas System announced today (Jan. 14) that Chancellor Mark G. Yudof will recommend to the Board of Regents that the System not proceed with a bid to the Department of Energy for the management and operation of the Los Alamos National Laboratory.

The Board of Regents is scheduled to meet Feb. 9-10 in Austin and will formally act on the chancellor's recommendation. In February 2004, the board authorized planning for a possible bid to operate the Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico. Chancellor Yudof appointed a special task force to advise him in the review and planning for a possible bid.

A draft Request for Proposal for the management contract for Los Alamos was released by the Department of Energy in December. A final RFP is expected to be released by DOE in February or early March with contract award expected this summer.

The UT System is one of the country's largest state systems of higher education with 15 campuses, including nine academic and six health institutions, and an annual operating budget of $8.5 billion (FY 2005). Student enrollment exceeds 182,000 students in the 2004 academic year. The UT System confers one-third of the state's undergraduate degrees and educates three-fourths of the state's health care professionals annually. With more than 76,000 employees, the UT System is one of the largest employers in the state.

UT System Statement: Regarding the Los Alamos Laboratory Draft RFP (December 1, 2004)

UT System Statement: UT System Will Submit Expression of Interest to DOE (June 29, 2004)

UT System News Release: Regents Authorize Planning for Los Alamos Bid (February 4, 2004)

U.S. Department of Energy Announcements