# Oak Ridge Lab Expands Cf-252 Production

Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), the only californium-252 producer in the western world, is increasing production in response to rising demand from nuclear energy, national security, and industrial applications. ORNL’s new separation process is expected to shorten processing time by about a week while maintaining product quality, supporting higher output. The signal identifies no solicitation, contract value, or procurement deadline, so it points to a supply-chain and technical-capability development rather than an active bid opportunity.

- Contractors whose products or services depend on Cf-252 can assess their exposure to supply availability and incorporate ORNL’s expected production increase into supply-chain planning.
- Suppliers serving nuclear, national-security, and industrial applications may find the process improvement relevant to their technical capability and production planning.
- No contract or solicitation is identified; the news does not provide a bid timeline or a specific procurement action for contractors to pursue.

**Jurisdictions:** federal
**Industries:** Energy & Utilities, Defense & Military
**Published:** October 07, 2026

### Government Entities
- Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL)
- U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)
- DOE Office of Isotope R&D and Production
- DOE Office of Science

### Vendors
- UT-Battelle (Prime contractor managing Oak Ridge National Laboratory for DOE)

### Key Quotes
> This is an exciting new chapter in Cf‑252 production. We’re raising the bar internally while pushing the boundaries of heavy‑element production.
> — Samantha Schrell, Cf-252 Program Manager

### Sources
- [As californium-252 demand continues to climb, ORNL is increasing production – Oak Ridge National Lab](https://www.ornl.gov/news/californium-252-demand-continues-climb-ornl-increasing-production/) - ORNL