Power upgrades for the mission

Substation 35 was at the end of its design life, running risk of failure. To avoid risk to the mission from power outages, the substation was completely reconstructed for $1 million less than the $10 million authorized budget, resulting in 30% more capacity and the comprehensive replacement of all components within the station. As a result, Substation 35 is expected to provide a reliable power source for up to 25 years, directly supporting Sandia’s mission. 4000

In-house design and construction accelerate mission work

Infrastructure Operations design and construction teams saved Sandia time and money with their new in-house capabilities. The teams installed two new furnaces for Nuclear Deterrence’s Component and Production team. The fast-track project allowed production to begin 18 months earlier than anticipated, significantly enhancing the capabilities of this critical program. The accelerated project took three months and was completed at a savings of $180,000. 4000, 7000

New biological opinion at Sandia California

In June, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service issued a new biological opinion to Sandia California after significant work to develop the site‘s biological assessment and recommendations for mitigations. The biological opinion concludes the Section 7 consultation of the Endangered Species Act, assessing whether a federal agency’s actions jeopardize a listed species or its habitat. The opinion will guide future site development and maintenance, outline measures to minimize harm and set conservation requirements to help recover endangered species. 8000

Implementing the first capital lease in the complex

In coordination with the NNSA and Sandia Field Office, Sandia became the first management and operations contractor in the DOE complex to enter into a capital lease using indirect funds. The exploration process ensured legal, accounting and Cost Accounting Standards implications were addressed appropriately. The lease was for the Center for Advanced Manufacturing and Innovation High Bay, a facility that will accommodate advanced manufacturing capabilities and lay the groundwork for future initiatives. 4000, 10000, 11000, SFO

Safety culture continues to mature

Sandia continues the transition from a reactive to a proactive approach to drive safety culture improvements. A new safety culture community of practice enabled workforce engagement, resulted in a new dedicated Safety Culture website and aligned Human Resources policies with Just Culture principles. The Labs prioritized education on learning teams and active monitoring, in addition to regular communication through Safety Syncs and the Safety Culture Academy. Sandia also engaged strategic partners and industry speakers, laying the groundwork for a safety culture self-assessment in fiscal year 2026. 4000

Improved chemical management

Sandia launched an innovative chemical management initiative, updating policies to reduce chemical-related risks and the total number of chemicals on site. A custom chemical risk matrix classifies substances by hazard level, leading to the successful disposition of 105 high-risk and 4,361 lower-risk chemicals. A shelf-life policy for peroxidizable organic chemicals significantly reduced expired inventory, disposing of 242 containers while retaining 224. A new dashboard monitors and helps manage the disposal of expired materials, further minimizing incident risks. 4000

Securing a trades workforce for the future

Sandia’s Metal Trades Council, New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions, Central New Mexico Community College, IBEW 611 and the Joint Apprenticeship Training Committee collaborated to create a state-approved apprenticeship program that will greatly enhance grassroots talent development. This initiative equips participants with essential skills for an evolving trades workforce and fosters future success and resilience at Sandia. About 20 workers are enrolled in the five-year program. 4000