UChicago Argonne, LLC holds the performance-based management and operations (M&O) contract for Argonne National Laboratory under a Department of Energy (DOE) award with total cumulative obligations of $17,318,912,549, according to USASpending.gov records. The contract (award DEAC0206CH11357) has been in effect since July 31, 2006, and is currently scheduled to expire on September 30, 2026.

Argonne National Laboratory, located in Lemont, Illinois, is the DOE's oldest national laboratory and one of the largest. Founded in 1946 as a successor to the Metallurgical Laboratory that contributed to the Manhattan Project, Argonne's current research mission spans nuclear energy, high-performance computing, materials science, and environmental sustainability. UChicago Argonne, LLC is a limited liability company formed by the University of Chicago to manage the laboratory under the DOE M&O framework.

The September 2026 expiration date makes this contract a near-term event to monitor. DOE may extend the existing contract, launch a recompete, or issue a bridge agreement while a new M&O vehicle is put in place. Decisions by DOE regarding national laboratory M&O contracts are typically announced through the Federal Business Opportunities system or direct DOE press releases. For GovCon firms with capabilities in scientific operations, facilities management, or related professional services, tracking the Argonne contract closely in the months ahead is warranted.

The $17.3 billion figure reflects cumulative obligations over twenty years of contract performance under the current and predecessor vehicles — not a single-year appropriation.

Source: USASpending.gov — DEAC0206CH11357