About SSO

The Sandia Site Office (SSO) was established by the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) in December 2002. The NNSA officially began operations on March 1, 2000. Its mission is to carry out the national security responsibilities of the Department of Energy (DOE), including maintenance of a safe, secure and reliable stockpile of nuclear weapons and associated materials capabilities and technologies; promotion of international nuclear safety and nonproliferation; and administration and management of the naval nuclear propulsion program.

The SSO provides contract administration and oversight of Sandia National Laboratories and serves as the risk acceptance agent for the NNSA. SSO is responsible for ensuring the safe and secure operations of the DOE's mission at Sandia. Support is provided to SSO by NNSA Headquarters and the NNSA Service Center.

Sandia designs all non-nuclear components for the nation's nuclear weapons, performs a wide variety of energy research and development projects, and works on assignments that respond to national security threats -- both military and economic. Sandia has been managed by Lockheed Martin Corp. since October 1, 1993. While most of Sandia's work is sponsored by the NNSA, the labs also perform work for other federal agencies, including the Department of Defense, Department of Homeland Security, and others.