Alion Science and Technology has received a $21.8 million task order from the Pentagon’s Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) to provide experts to evaluate nuclear detection technologies. Alion says it will formulate work plans, monitor research and assess progress and provide a performance assessment of “game-changing” technologies with high-risk, high-reward profiles. “Our work will help DTRA with formulating long-range research projects and uncovering those with the greatest potential benefits to reduce the threats posed by nuclear weapons,” says Sue Archer, senior vice president and manager of Alion’s Operational Solutions Group. Alion’s teammates on the work are the Univ. of Michigan, Kansas State Univ., Radiation Monitoring Devices, Proportional Technology Inc., Orbis Inc., and AUSGAR Inc. Work under the task order runs through Dec. 17, 2011. The task order falls within an indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity contract that DTRA awarded Alion in Feb. 2002. Alion has been evaluating nuclear detection technologies since 2006.