RICHLAND -- Battelle received good grades on its Department of Energy report card for fiscal 2009, earning it 97 percent of the maximum performance-based pay possible.

Battelle will receive $8.73 million out of a possible $9 million for managing and operating the national lab in Richland under a DOE contract for the fiscal year that ended Sept. 30.

The contractor particularly shined in meeting its science and technology goals at the lab. It was graded on three goals in that area and received two As and an A-minus.

In fact, it was the only one of DOE's 10 national lab contractors to receive an A for mission accomplishment, the key measure of quality and productivity of research and development.

"We think they did a great job running the lab," said Michael Weis, manager of DOE's Pacific Northwest Site Office in Richland.

The lab's other grades for operation and management functions, such as security, safety, business systems and leadership, included three B pluses and a B.

"It's clear from these ratings that we are maintaining our strong delivery of science and technology to the nation as well as strong stewardship of PNNL in management and operations," Mike Kluse, PNNL director, said in a statement.

The grades are "a testament to our staff's collective dedication, innovative thinking, high quality work and passion for making a difference," he said.

This is the second year in a row Battelle received 97 percent of its possible performance-based pay, which has been its best performance in the years DOE has been using the current evaluation system. Battelle received 92 percent of its performance-based pay in fiscal 2007 and 87.3 percent in fiscal 2006.

The lowest grade on the 2009 report card, a B for integrated safety, health and environmental protection, would have been higher except for an incident at the HAMMER training center.

In August, a .45-caliber pistol accidentally was discharged by a student during a training class on international border protection. The instructor, a PNNL subcontractor, thought the firearm was empty. No one was injured.

Among the highlights of the evaluation report was DOE's praise for PNNL's Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory, or EMSL, a national scientific user facility where researchers from around the world conduct molecular systems science in biological, chemical and environmental research.

PNNL is providing internationally recognized leadership at EMSL, conducting important research and publishing findings in high-profile journals, the report said.

The lab also has provided significant contributions to develop and improve technology for the Department of Homeland Security, the report said.

"The laboratory is highly responsive in addressing program challenges and has produced timely and high quality deliverables, sometimes with very little lead time," the report said.

DOE also was impressed with PNNL's work in basic energy science.

The lab received an Energy Frontier Research Center Award and will serve as the lead center for molecular electrocatalysis and will be a participant in other centers. Those and additional awards present "an excellent opportunity to enhance grand-challenge and use-inspired basic energy research in the laboratory," the report said.

The lab also is working to transfer the technology it develops to commercial or other use.

"The contractor continues to build and maintain a strong IP (intellectual property) pipeline with more inventions, more patent applications and more granted patents this year," the report said.

Science successes came at the same time that Battelle stayed on schedule to move employees into the new Biological Science Facility and the Computa- tional Science Facility.

The report also recognized Battelle's good corporate citizenship through its support of science education, both at the new Delta High School and also the Leadership Assistance for Science Education Reform program.

In fiscal 2008, Battelle's lowest grade was a B for its safeguards and security management and emergency management systems. That year about 10 percent of 450 employees failed a test set up by cybersecurity auditors who sent them an e-mail to see if they would download malicious software.

Battelle brought that grade up to an A-minus this year.