Aug 2022
CTI-VNSFS Environmental, LLC, the contractor installing new sections of a security system at the Y-12 National Security Complex, recently completed a project milestone ahead of schedule. The joint venture company grew out of a Small Business Administration (SBA) Mentor-Protégé arrangement between CTI and Associates, Inc., and VNS Federal Services, which was approved by the SBA in July 2020.
The perimeter intrusion, detection and assessment system (PIDAS) project is part of an overall plan to shrink the high-security footprint of Y-12. It is part of a Security Infrastructure Revitalization Program (SIRP) at the Y-12 complex in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. Y-12 is a government-owned facility managed by Consolidated Nuclear Security, LLC (CNS) for the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). National Technology and Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLC (NTESS) is the construction manager for the SIRP effort.
NTESS awarded the PIDAS contract to CTI-VNSFS Environmental in November 2021 and the DOE’s National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) broke ground on the project in April (photo). “We’ve been planning some of these projects for several years, so it’s exciting to see them move to implementation,” said Teresa Robbins, NNSA Production Office manager, following the groundbreaking. “This modernization effort enhances our protection of this vital national security facility.”
Recently, CTI-VNSFS Environmental completed the first quadrant of the retaining wall for PIDAS ahead of schedule, according to Project Manager Michael Lamon. The company has also completed demolition and removal of the existing features, placement of fill materials and installation of security trenches. Good communication with project stakeholders has helped to optimize delivery and resolve potential issues well in advance of construction, Lamon said.
The PIDAS was first installed at Y-12 in 1988, but the age of the system is not the only driver for SIRP. According to the NNSA, the revitalization program incorporates modern technologies to enhance the already robust security system at Y-12. SIRP also includes security upgrades for key facilities and a new personnel and vehicle entry control facility that will better protect personnel from severe weather and improve the efficiency of entry and exit. SIRP also interfaces with other site upgrades, including the West End Protected Area Reduction Project (WEPAR), which broke ground in the spring of 2021. The goal of the $159.9 million WEPAR project, slated for completion in July 2025, is to improve the security posture of the Y-12 site while reducing future cleanup costs of large legacy production buildings by providing easier access to those buildings no longer requiring heightened security protection.
CTI-VNSFS Environmental expects to complete the PIDAS project (all testing and integration done) in the summer of 2024.
