NNSA is rising to meet the challenges of its aging infrastructure.
National Nuclear Security Administration
October 14, 2020
minute read time
As outlined in part one of this two-part article, NNSA includes a significant number of facilities built more than 40 years ago with some dating back to the Manhattan Project. The challenge posed by this aging infrastructure requires innovative approaches and solutions. To that end, NNSA is deploying new science-based infrastructure stewardship tools; exploring the use of innovative initiatives to streamline processes, accelerate delivery, and increase buying power; and creating how-to documents like the NNSA Real Property Asset Management Guide and Infrastructure Roadmap to articulate a clear, holistic view of NNSA’s strategy.
Asset Management Programs
NNSA Asset Management Programs (AMPs) use systems engineering and supply chain management strategies to tackle infrastructure issues faster and more economically than other approaches. AMPs pay for repair and replacement of major building systems that are common across the Nuclear Security Enterprise. Competitive contracts are used to obtain lower pricing through economies-of-scale and bidding during low-season. Currently, NNSA has two AMPs: the Roof Asset Management Program* and the Cooling and Heating Asset Management Program. AMP allows sustainable designs to be applied across the Enterprise.
*The Roof Asset Management Program (RAMP) received the General Service Administration (GSA) 2008 Award for Real Property Innovation.
Infrastructure Roadmap
The NNSA Infrastructure Roadmap provides an overview of the progress made to improve NNSA infrastructure tools and approaches. It starts by looking at the way things are done now, envisioning a longer-term strategic framework, and forecasting timelines under which NNSA could improve infrastructure management. The Roadmap also introduces a vision for how infrastructure management can ensure the success of NNSA missions now and into the future.
Real Property Asset Management (RPAM)
The NNSA RPAM Guide captures how real property is managed over time to establish a disciplined, predictable, and repeatable approach. Its development requires close collaboration across NNSA to test out-of-the-box ideas and integrate new thinking. A major theme in the 2020 RPAM is robust lifecycle planning. The Guide takes a fresh look at how area planning can be used to show the way existing and planned real property assets can support future mission needs. This tool includes a portfolio of real property assets and coordinated strategies that create a long-term framework for modernization.
Longer-term strategic thinking and planning, coupled with other initiatives NNSA is piloting across the Enterprise, are the kinds of innovative approaches that steward taxpayer dollars and ensure infrastructure projects in support of NNSA are completed on budget and schedule. These support mechanisms are vital to meeting all of NNSAs missions now and into the future.
Learn more about NNSA’s Office of Safety, Infrastructure and Operations.