University must vie for Plasma Physics Lab contract

U.S. Department of Energy establishes a management competition

By: Hilary Parker
   Princeton University on Monday announced that it will vie for a management and operations contract for the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory in the spring, when the U.S. Department of Energy holds a competition for the management of the facility.
   Since the lab’s inception in 1951, Princeton has managed the magnetic fusion research center. The university’s most recent management contract, which expired Sept. 30, was extended by the DOE to last through the conclusion of the upcoming competition. According to a Princeton release, the university learned of the open bidding process in June.
   "We are committed to making the strongest possible case for continuing to manage PPPL, as we have done successfully for many years," said Princeton President Shirley M. Tilghman in a written release. "When the competition is initiated, we will submit to the Department of Energy a detailed proposal demonstrating how the laboratory will enjoy continued success under the university’s leadership. We are proud of the cutting-edge science and engineering the laboratory has accomplished, and we have great confidence that it will continue to make breakthrough discoveries in the years ahead."
   According to PPPL Director and Princeton Professor of Astrophysical Sciences Robert Goldston, the university’s proposal "will include innovative management initiatives and exciting scientific plans that will position the U.S. to take best advantage of the major international fusion energy initiative, called ITER, set for construction in France."
   Currently, the National Spherical Torus Experiment is under way at the lab, while another major research initiative — the National Compact Stellarator Experiment — is under construction.
   As with the PPPL, the DOE has announced competitions for management and operations contracts for seven of its other national science laboratories, which number 10 in total. Those competitions are currently in various stages of completion.