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By Greg Rohloff

Although the pace of the past two months in construction may not be sustained, the gains were strong enough that the June Amarillo Economic Pulse returned to the level of a year ago when rising commodity prices against the backdrop of the worst drought in nearly 60 years and drilling for oil paced the economy.

With a contract between the Pantex security force and B&W Pantex signed, the attention turns now to the operating contract, which has been under extension for more than a year. Plans for a joint operating contract covering both Pantex and the Y-2 facility in Tennessee were first floated in March 2010, and a request for proposals was issued in final form last December.

The consolidated management agreement would cover both security at the two plants and operations.

Department of Energy/National Nuclear Safety Administration spokesman Robert Middaugh said the joint contract, first proposed in March 2010, will be awarded no sooner than September. Although that response leaves the closing date open, pressures to cut the federal budget deficit point to a sooner rather than later date for the award.