ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Federal officials have awarded a $2.6 billion contract to manage Sandia National Laboratories to a subsidiary of Honeywell International.
The U.S. Energy Department's National Nuclear Security Administration said Friday the winning bidder was National Technology and Engineering Solutions of Sandia.
Bidding began earlier this year, marking the first time in years that there was any competition for the lucrative contract. Lockheed Martin has operated the Albuquerque-based weapons and research lab for the past two decades.
The current contract expires April 30. There will be a four-month transition period that officials say will provide stability for employees and operations.
Federal officials say the bid generated unprecedented interest from the across the country. Other bidders were Lockheed Martin and Boeing as well as a team that including the University of New Mexico, the University of Texas, Texas A&M University.