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Bechtel Marine Propulsion Corp. has snared a $6 billion contract from the U.S. Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program to operate Bettis Atomic Power Laboratory near Pittsburgh and Knolls Atomic Power Laboratory in New York.

The company is a subsidiary of Bechtel National Inc. of Frederick. Bechtel spokesman Mike Kidder called the contracts, particularly the Knolls deal, "a big step forward" for the company and "a win for Frederick management."

Bechtel Bettis Inc., another subsidiary of Bechtel, previously managed Bettis labs in Pittsburgh, Idaho Falls, Idaho, and Charleston, S.C. Bechtel Marine Propulsion will take over the Bettis labs, plus Knolls, a joint program of the Department of Energy and the U.S. Naval Sea Systems Command, from Lockheed Martin's KAPL Inc. after a four-month transition period, on Feb. 1.

"We are very pleased to be able to continue our service for [the Energy Department] and the U.S. Navy in support of the Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program," Bechtel National Chairman Scott Ogilvie said in a statement. "We are committed to a smooth and efficient transition of Bettis and Knolls into [Bechtel Marine Propulsion], and look forward to continuing the accomplishments of the men and women at Bettis and Knolls in support of our national defense."

Bechtel National provides services to the federal government, specializing in large, complex projects in such areas as defense, space, energy, security and the environment. The privately held parent company's headquarters are in San Francisco.

One of Frederick County's top five employers and its largest private employer, Bechtel opened the Westview Park location for its North American headquarters for Bechtel Fossil Power and Nuclear Power and international headquarters for Bechtel Telecommunications in 1999.