SUPPLYING MC&A EQUIPMENT TO RUSSIA: A BUSINESS MODEL FOR FACILITATING SUPPLIES TO RUSSIA

In the past, supplying equipment for monitoring, containment, and accounting (MC&A) of nuclear materials to Russian facilities has been hindered by a myriad of problems. However, through the formation of U.S.-Russian joint ventures, supplying equipment has been accomplished more efficiently. In response to these difficulties, Aquila Technologies Group, Inc. and the Russian Federation Research Institute of Technical Physics and Automation (VNIITFA) founded the joint venture TFA Computers, Inc. In addition to MC&A equipment, TFA delivers, installs, and warrants computers, computer peripherals and networking services in the Russian Federation. This joint venture has succeeded in creating a viable business methodology to facilitate supply of high tech equipment and services to customers in Russia. It also exemplifies a successful approach to conversion of military-related technical capability to commercial markets. The arrangement allows U.S. national labs and private sector entities to place orders in the U.S. at TFA, Albuquerque, and TFA Moscow will organize supply, delivery, installation, and warranty support to customers in the Russian Federation. This procurement capability solves the difficult challenge in creating a timely and effective supply vehicle to assist U.S.-Russian efforts. Among the beneficiaries of this joint venture are Los Alamos, Lawrence Livermore, and Pacific Northwest Laboratories. This paper describes the efficacy of supplying equipment for MC&A of nuclear materials through the formation of U.S.-Russian joint ventures.