AUSTIN, Texas, May 12 (UPI) -- The University of Texas voted Thursday to authorize a joint bid with Lockheed Martin Corp. to manage the Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico.
Regents gave university officials permission to spend up to $1.2 million to compete for the contract, the Austin American-Statesman reported. This would be in addition to more than $350,000 already spent to explore a possible bid.
There is stiff competition for the contract to run the nation's premier nuclear weapons lab. The Department of Energy put the contract up for bids.
The University of California, the current manager, said Wednesday that it would team with Bechtel National Inc. as potential bidding partners. The team would also include BWX Technologices Inc. and Washington Group International.
The UC system has managed the lab since it was established during World War II as part of the atomic bomb project.
