April 28, 2003

Status of the National Ignition Facility Project

Construction of the National Ignition Facility, a 192-beamline 1.8 megajoule laser being built by Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (Livermore), began in 1997. The project is comprised of six major components: conventional facility; laser system; target experimental system; integrated computers and controls; assembly, installation, and refurbishment equipment; and utilities. To manage the project to the revised schedule and cost baselines, Livermore established control account plans for each of the six components in conjunction with a work breakdown schedule. Control account managers were assigned and held responsible for maintaining the schedule and keeping the component cost estimates up to date for each control account plan.