National Lab Jobs ACCESS Program

archived

The enduring missions of the Department of Energy's National Nuclear Security Administration (DOE/NNSA) remain vital to the national security of the United States. The science, technology, engineering, and manufacturing capabilities resident within the nuclear security enterprise underpin NNSA’s ability to conduct stockpile stewardship, solve the technical challenges of verifying treaty compliance, combat nuclear terrorism, detect, and counter proliferation, and guard against the threat posed by nuclear technological surprise. NNSA’s ability to meet its many national security missions is dependent upon the ability to recruit, train, and retain its world class workforce. As part of the strategy to address future workforce needs, DOE/NNSA has implemented multiple university programs to develop, recruit, and retain high-quality individuals. However, these programs do not address the needs of personnel in the skilled trades and crafts which are essential for the revitalization of the NNSA weapons production complex modernization efforts. The DOE/NNSA announce interest in receiving applications for grants for the Department of Energy National Lab Jobs ACCESS Program. ACCESS is an acronym for – Apprenticeships for Complete and Committed Employment for Specialized Skills. This is a new pre-apprenticeship or apprenticeship program created under the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020. As found in legislation language [Public Law 116-92 SEC 3122] the ACCESS Program is a pre-apprenticeship or apprenticeship program that: 1) leads to recognized postsecondary credentials for secondary school and postsecondary students. 2) is focused on skills and qualifications needed, as determined by the Secretary of Energy in consultation with the Directors of the National Laboratories, to meet the immediate and ongoing needs of traditional and emerging technician positions (including machinists and cybersecurity technicians) at the National Laboratories and covered facilities of the National Nuclear Security Administration; (a covered facility of the National Nuclear Security Administration means a national security laboratory or a nuclear weapons production facility as such terms are defined in section 4002 of the Atomic Energy Defense Act (50 U.S.C. 2501)); 3) is established in consultation with a National Laboratory or covered facility of the National Nuclear Security Administration; 4) is registered with and approved by the Secretary of Labor or a State apprentice agency; and 5) ensures that participants in the pre-apprenticeship program or apprenticeship program do not displace paid employees. See Notice of Funding Opportunity Announcement for list of Lab Locations participating in the Job ACCESS apprenticeship and workforce activities.

High