Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions about UChicago Argonne, LLC

Click on the question below to view the answer. Please email info@uchicagoargonnellc.org if you have additional questions.

What is UChicago Argonne, LLC?
What is an LLC and why was it formed?
Who are Jacobs and BWXT?
Why did the University of Chicago choose Jacobs and BWXT as industrial partners and what will they be doing for Argonne?
What roles will Northwestern University and University of Illinois (at Urbana-Champaign and at Chicago) have in the new organization?
What are the roles of the Board of Governors and Science Policy Council?
Is there a new management structure for the LLC?
What happens to employees who are presently employed by the University of Chicago?
In light of the new contract, will Argonne's mission change?
What will change under the new management?
How are the science goals at Argonne related to DOE requirements?
Who operates the lab until the contract changes hands on October 1?
What are the terms of the new contract?

1. What is UChicago Argonne, LLC?

UChicago Argonne, LLC is an entity created by the University of Chicago to be solely responsible for the management of the Department of Energy's Argonne National Laboratory. The University of Chicago has managed Argonne since 1946, and beginning October 1, 2006, it will be operated by the UChicago Argonne, LLC together with industrial partners Jacobs Engineering Group Inc. and BWX Technologies, Inc. (BWXT). The University of Chicago is the only member of UChicago Argonne, LLC.

The new organization will benefit greatly from partnerships with Northwestern University and the University of Illinois, which are represented on both the Argonne Board of Governors and the Board's Science Policy Council.

2. What is an LLC and why was it formed?

An LLC is a limited liability company, a legally recognized business organizational form that can operate specific projects.

In its request for proposals, DOE expressed a desire for a separate, sole-purpose entity. The University of Chicago responded to this opportunity by creating UChicago Argonne, LLC, a separate organization solely dedicated to the management and operation Argonne.

3. Who are Jacobs and BWXT?

Jacobs and BWXT are premiere industrial firms with proven experience in science and technology management. Jacobs is one of the world's largest and most diverse providers of technical, professional and construction services globally, with expertise in engineering; management; operations and environment, health, safety and quality assurance (ESH/QA). BWXT is one of the nation's leading managers of laboratory operations and high-consequence facilities with unparalleled experience within DOE.

4. Why did the University of Chicago chose Jacobs and BWXT as industrial partners and what will they be doing for Argonne?

University interviewed multiple firms and selected Jacobs Engineering and BWXT because they demonstrated how they could work with Argonne and strengthen the University's capabilities as an integrated team partner.

Moreover, Jacobs and BWXT were selected based on their expertise and experience in the areas of project management systems and facilities operations (Jacobs) and nuclear operations (BWXT).

The new team is designed to combine the finest scientific leadership with best management practices to provide world-class research at Argonne safely and efficiently on behalf of the nation.

5. What roles will Northwestern University and the University of Illinois (at Urbana-Champaign and at Chicago) have in the new organization?

Northwestern University and the University of Illinois will be involved in the lab's management through membership on the UChicago Argonne, LLC Board of Governors for Argonne National Laboratory and the Board's Science Policy Council.

6. What are the roles of the Board of Governors and Science Policy Council?

The UChicago Argonne, LLC Board of Governors for Argonne oversees and guides Argonne management and consists of two dozen leaders in science and technology from industry and universities. Members of the board are chosen from faculty, administrators and trustees of the University of Chicago, from other universities and organizations and from industry. The presidents of the University of Chicago, Northwestern University and the University of Illinois and the director of Argonne are all members of the board.

Established by the Board of Governors for Argonne and formed in collaboration with Northwestern University and the University of Illinois, the Science Policy Council works to enhance Argonne's scientific capabilities, strengthen the state's technological base and work force preparation and improve Illinois' ability to receive federal research funding.

The Science Policy Council consists of the vice presidents for research of the University of Chicago and Northwestern University, the vice chancellors for research at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and the University of Illinois at Chicago, and the director and the chief scientist of Argonne.

7. Is there a new management structure for the LLC?

Yes, the new management structure will consist of a Board of Directors for UChicago Argonne, LLC responsible for governing the laboratory that includes:

Chairman: Robert Zimmer, President, University of Chicago;
Chief Executive Officer: Donald H. Levy, Chief Executive Officer, UChicago Argonne, LLC and Vice President for Research and for National Laboratories, the University of Chicago;
General Counsel & Secretary: Beth Harris, Vice President and General Council, University of Chicago.

Donald H. Levy, as CEO of the LLC Board of Directors, is responsible for oversight of the Argonne contract.

UChicago Argonne, LLC will manage Argonne through the UChicago Argonne, LLC Board of Governors for Argonne.

Robert Rosner will continue as Director of Argonne reporting both to the UChicago Argonne, LLC Board of Governors for Argonne and to Levy. Under the new LLC, Rosner will hold the position of President of UChicago Argonne, LLC.

8. What happens to employees who are presently employed by the University of Chicago?

For the answer to this question and additional information about employee transition, please click here.

9. In light of the new contract, will Argonne's mission change?

Argonne's mission has always been to conduct world-class science and technology. That will not change. Argonne's vision, as stated in the contract proposal, is to "provide world-class multidisciplinary researchers in energy sciences, physical sciences, biosciences and computational sciences with an environment of open collaboration with state-of-the-art facilities that will results in the brighter ideas for tomorrow…the brighter ideas that will bring solutions to our national health, wealth, wisdom and security interests."

Looking to the future, Argonne has six new goals that the organization will be working toward:

optimizing and upgrading the Advanced Photon Source;
integrating energy, environment and economic research for a more sustainable future;
developing an exotic beams facility;
enabling petascale computing to revolutionize science;
working to close the nuclear fuel cycle through the Global Nuclear Energy Partnership; and
Argonne's science strategy will address DOE's mission by advancing the national economic and energy security of the United States by promoting scientific and technological innovation.

10. What will change under the new management?

Argonne is always working to improve, both scientifically and operationally. Argonne will continue to change and grow under the new management, with changes for the better. UChicago Argonne, LLC will move toward an integrated team model of management which calls for:

strong University science leadership;
talented industrial partners and academic collaborators;
a stronger partnership with the state of Illinois; and
technical organizational capacity for implementing management changes and applying management discipline.

Argonne will be working with quality management principles and will seek accreditation under ISO 9000 to include:

a stronger programmatic customer focus;
a leadership that communicates Argonne's identity, value, vision, ethics, strategic science direction, action plans with goals and milestones;
continuing to hire superb staff, and supporting them with reliable, open and accepting management;
a process approach that gains research focus, clarity, efficiency and effectiveness by formally managing activities together with risks and resources under consistent processes-multidisciplinary teams;
incorporating factual feedback related to research, including peer review direction; and
a factual approach to decision-making, setting research direction and assessing results on a factual basis; and
and mutually beneficial supplier relationships.

11. How are the science goals at Argonne related to DOE requirements?

Argonne's research areas are aligned with DOE's overarching missions and goals. Argonne's research endeavors in materials science, mathematics and computer science, and advanced biosciences respond to the DOE mission of "Advancing Basic Sciences for Energy Independence." Research in fundamental physics and accelerator design respond to the DOE mission of "Exploring Nuclear Matter from Quarks to Stars." Argonne research endeavors in energy and environmental science and technology are aligned to DOE's goal of achieving "Energy Security and Safety of the Environment." And Argonne's work in national security address the DOE mission of national security and security of the environment.

12. Who operates the lab until the contract changes hands on October 1?

From the date that the contract award was formally announced by DOE until close of business on September 30, 2006, the University of Chicago continues as operating contractor. The period of transition is designed so that all the agreements that are needed to continue operations can be successfully completed and in place for October 1, 2006.

13. What are the terms of the new contract?

The contract award is for five years with the option for noncompetitive renewal given satisfactory performance for a total contract period of 20 years.