JLab Gets High Ratings from DOE; JSA Earns Contract Extension

Jefferson Lab again scored well when the Department of Energy released its 2008 annual performance report cards for the 10 national research laboratories that come under DOE's Office of Science.

Jefferson Lab received an "A" for science and technology and an "A-" for management and operations. These high marks and those from the prior two years mean that Jefferson Science Associates' contract to manage and operate Jefferson Lab will be extended for three more years.

In a Feb. 5 e-mail to all Jefferson Lab staff and users, Lab Director Hugh Montgomery congratulated everyone affiliated with the lab for an outstanding year.

The annual report cards issued by DOE’s Office of Science evaluate the scientific, technological, management and operational performance of the contractors who run its 10 national laboratories. The report cards are based on eight common performance goals that focus on the delivery of science and technology; the operation of the labs in a safe, secure, responsible and cost-effective way; and the leadership, stewardship and value-added provided by the senior leadership of the labs and their managing contractors.

A "B+" grade is earned when an "expected" performance level is met. Grades above B+ indicate performance that exceeds expectations. Grades lower than B+ indicate a performance that has not met expectations and needs improvement.

On Feb. 5, Jefferson Science Associates posted a news release announcing the contract extension. The release read in part:

JSA's contract with the U.S. Department of Energy will be modified after all necessary approvals are obtained. The extension is based on performance scores that Jefferson Lab received over the past three performance periods.

DOE's Office of Science released performance scores that showed that Jefferson Lab met or exceeded performance expectations in all areas during the 2008 fiscal year, the period from Oct. 1, 2007 to Sept. 30, 2008. The lab received an "A" for science and technology, and an "A-" for management and operations.

"The lab continuously strives to produce world-leading nuclear physics research, to provide a safe and healthy work place, to protect the environment, and to wisely use taxpayer dollars. All of us are pleased that the DOE has recognized our efforts with a contract extension and an outstanding report card. All of us at the lab are proud of the work that we do," said Hugh Montgomery, JSA president and Jefferson Lab director.

In 2006, JSA received a five-year operating contract from DOE that provided the ability to earn up to an additional 15 years. With the extension, JSA will continue to operate Jefferson Lab until 2014. JSA was created by Southeastern Universities Research Association and Computer Sciences Corp. specifically to manage and operate Jefferson Lab.

"Jefferson Lab is a remarkably productive research center that brings university physicists and other researchers together for collaborative work in a world-class facility. With its extension of the JSA contract, the Department of Energy has acknowledged the Lab's outstanding performance and its role in advancing the nation’s science and technology programs," said University of Virginia President John Casteen, chair of the JSA board of directors.

The JSA news release is available at: http://www.jlab.org/news/releases/2009/contract_extension.html.

The DOE report, titled DOE FY 2008 Performance Evaluation Report of JSA is available at: http://www.jlab.org/div_dept/doe/contract-page.html.

An explanation of the DOE annual performance appraisal process is available on the DOE webpage at: http://www.science.doe.gov/OLPE/lab_performance.htm.  

And the FY 2008 report cards for all 10 labs, including Jefferson Lab, are posted on this page: