Transition Well Underway!
We’re honored to be moving forward with the transition activities associated with the management
and operations of Fermilab starting on Jan. 1, 2025. Fermi Forward Discovery Group, LLC
(FermiForward) is excited to deliver a new era for the talented and dedicated Fermilab scientists,
staff, users, affiliates and extended community. The University of Chicago and Universities Research
Association (URA) are committed to the groundbreaking scientific research of Fermilab and ensuring
that scientific discovery remains the top priority. The new partners of Amentum and Longenecker &
Associates, companies with long histories of successful performance across the DOE complex, bring
this expertise to the partnership to drive operational change at Fermilab in order to further position
Fermilab for ongoing scientific excellence.
FermiForward’s objective is to ensure that the world’s best science is enabled by the world’s best
safe operations and project management. Together, the entire FermiForward team will bring deep
scientific engagement, improved oversight and governance, and strengthened accountability.
Contract transition is a defined process for the winning bidder – in this case, FermiForward – to
perform due diligence and conduct preparatory activities to ensure readiness to seamlessly assume
responsibility for Fermilab operations. This includes reviewing existing policies, procedures and
contracts, as well as facility walkdowns and other information-gathering efforts.
The transition process is carefully planned and executed in a manner that avoids any adverse impact
to ongoing operations, given the important scientific mission of Fermilab. The transition team’s goal
is to work with both the existing (FRA) and new (FermiForward) contractors to make sure that
research, projects, and day-to-day operations continue without interruption during the transition.
The objective of the transition activities is to assess current status and any important future actions
to support the mission.
Transition highlights to date include:
Reviewing program and project documentation for the many Science Research Programs and Projects that are ongoing around the lab
Completing reviews of the Continuity of Operations Plan, CEMP, Integrated ESH Management Program Description, Rad Waste Management Program, MC&A and Environmental Radiation Protection Program
Reassigning approximately 1,300 subcontracts from FRA to FermiForward
Completing review of collective bargaining agreements
Completing reviews of Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory Drug and Alcohol Abuse Policy, Drug and Alcohol Testing Procedure, Employee Assistance Program, and Workers Compensation Program Policy
Touring the IT infrastructure to evaluate overall readiness to operate
Meet the FermiForward Team on Nov. 4
While we have been limited in the information we can provide to date, we are now able to increase
the frequency and level of detail in communications. This will include weekly transition updates, as
well as planned town halls. Please look for an invitation for an all-hands meeting to be held on Nov.
4, where we will introduce the FermiForward team to the lab and share more information about
FermiForward and the future of Fermilab.
Get to Know a FermiForward Partner --- Amentum
Amentum, an integrated subcontractor on the FermiForward team, is a global leader in advanced
engineering and innovative technology solutions. Headquartered in Chantilly, Virginia, the company
has more than 53,000 employees in approximately 80 countries across all 7 continents. Amentum is
well-established throughout the DOE complex and is part of the management team at the Lawrence
Livermore National Laboratory and Idaho National Laboratory. The company is renowned for its
broad experience ensuring safe operations and successful delivery of large, complex DOE capital
projects.
FermiForward Website is Live --- We Want to Hear From You!
Interested in learning more about FermiForward? Our website is now live! You can learn more about
our scientific vision for Fermilab, our partners, our leadership team and news and updates. You can
also find questions and answers that will be updated on a periodic basis. We encourage you to
submit questions and feedback. The FermiForward website can be found at www.fermi-forward.org.
