WASHINGTON, D.C. – The National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) today announced that a team of security professionals from across NNSA has identified approximately $7 million in savings over the next decade that could be realized by standardizing security equipment used by NNSA’s Protective Force across the enterprise.
The savings are the result of recommendations from the Security Commodity Team, which was created by NNSA’s Office of Defense Nuclear Security 18 months ago to improve the quality, safety and procurement methods of equipment while improving the way the NNSA does business.
A video featuring the work can be found here [1]. Also, a fact 
sheet about the work can be found here [2].
“I’m proud of the success this team has had in looking for each and every opportunity to improve the quality, reliability and safe operation of our Protective Force equipment while ensuring that every penny of the taxpayers’ money counts,” said Brad Peterson, Chief and Associate Administrator for Defense Nuclear Security. “As we invest in the future of our enterprise, improving the way we do business is critical to our ability to implement President Obama’s nuclear security agenda. The achievements of this team are a terrific example of NNSA’s commitment to ensuring the highest security standards at the best value for the taxpayer.”
Led by Marshal Skinner, a DNS Protective Force program manager, the Security Commodity Team consists of federal, contractor, NNSA Supply Chain Management Center, and Protective Force union representatives from across NNSA.
The team was able to optimize the procurement process for ammunition through spend analyses conducted by the NNSA Supply Chain Management Center. Now, NNSA can obtain 90 percent of its ammunition requirements using existing Department of Defense (DoD) contracts at an overall reduced price – estimated at $500,000 savings in FY2011. This will also significantly improve the performance and safety of the ammunition by virtue of high quality assurance and military-specification standards, traceability, and updates provided by DoD.
“This collaboration has been successful due to the dedication, professionalism, and motivation to ‘do the right thing’ that is shared by of all the team members,” said Skinner. “The team continues to identify more opportunities for NNSA and we are including the non-NNSA sites in this initiative so that they may also benefit.” 
The team has also successfully implemented an interagency contractor procurement team agreement for protective force respirators which standardizes this piece of equipment. Substantial savings of nearly $120,000 were realized by just two NNSA sites as a result of this effort during the first quarter it was implemented.
Last year, NNSA announced the implementation of another Security Commodity Team proposal: the decision to use a standardized Protective Force uniform and insignia [3] across the enterprise. In addition to projected savings of $500,000 over eight years, this effort significantly elevated the protective force morale and professional image of our forces providing critical security services to the NNSA.
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Established by Congress in 2000, NNSA is a semi-autonomous agency within the U.S. Department of Energy responsible for enhancing national security through the military application of nuclear science in the nation’s national security enterprise. NNSA maintains and enhances the safety, security, reliability, and performance of the U.S. nuclear weapons stockpile without nuclear testing; reduces the global danger from weapons of mass destruction; provides the U.S. Navy with safe and effective nuclear propulsion; and responds to nuclear and radiological emergencies in the U.S. and abroad.
