National Lab Management Expertise
URA was created at the behest of the Presidential Science and Advisory Committee and the National Academy of Sciences to “provide a national basis” in the management and operation of national laboratories.
Since 1965, URA has served as a management and operating M&O contractor to the Department of Energy (DOE), first as the single contractor and since 2007 as part of the Fermi Research Alliance providing both leadership and expertise to the national research enterprise.
URA is dedicated to supporting the missions of Fermilab and Sandia National Laboratories. To read their full mission statement, click here (provide redirect links to national laboratories).
Fermilab
Since URA’s founding, it has been responsible for the management and operation (M&O) of the Department of Energy’s Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory (Fermilab), the premier particle physics laboratory in the United States. In 2007, URA joined with the University of Chicago to form the Fermi Research Alliance, LLC (FRA). We have renewed our committment to Fermilab through the new M&O, Fermi Forward Discovery Group, LLC (FermiForward). To find out more about FermiForward, visit the site: https://www.fermi-forward.org.
National Technology and Engineering Solutions of Sandia (NTESS)
In 2016, URA assumed an important supporting role as part of the Honeywell-led NTESS M&O contractor team supporting the excellent science, technology, and engineering (ST&E) research and development at Sandia National Laboratories. Through a site office reporting to the Sandia Chief Research Officer, URA supports external calibration, strategic planning, university partnerships, and diverse talent development for Sandia’s ST&E organizations. In addition, URA assists Sandia to identify and assess current and future research fields that align with the Laboratories’ mission. The URA President serves on Sandia National Laboratories’ Board of Managers and chairs the Science, Technology, and Engineering Committee, providing key leadership and perspectives. To find out more about the Sandia National Laboratories click here.
Pierre Auger Observatory
URA supports continuing operations of the Pierre Auger Observatory in Argentina for the National Science Foundation. The URA President is a member of the Pierre Auger Finance Board helping to coordinate work for the observatory between U.S. participants and their scientific collaborators from more than 14 partner countries. To find out more about the Pierre Auger Observatory-URA collaboration click here.