Battelle received its highest score ever in its annual assessment by the Department of Energy's Richland Office and set a new standard for DOE's other national science laboratories Thursday.

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, operated by Battelle, became the first national science lab to receive a rating of "Outstanding" for four consecutive years.

Battelle will be rewarded with $7 million, the maximum amount DOE can give the corporation for its performance.

"The high quality of scientific and technological work performed at PNNL is gaining more national and international recognition," said Paul Kruger, DOE Richland's associate manager for science and technology.

DOE gave the lab a rating of 4.87 on a scale of 0 to 5. A score of 4.5 to 5.0 merits an outstanding rating. Last year, Battelle received a 4.6.

"It's been a great year," said PNNL Director Lura Powell after her first full year in Richland.

About 60 percent of the score was based on the lab's scientific and technological achievements.

"Over the years PNNL has proven its ability to tackle problems of national and global significance with vigor," said Keith Klein, Richland DOE manager. "Not only is Battelle an asset to Hanford, but they're contributing positively to our country's emerging national security needs."

Each of the seven DOE Headquarters offices that ranked Battelle -- including the offices of science, environmental management and intelligence -- gave scores high enough to rate outstanding.

The review praised Battelle's work in biomolecular networks, computational sciences and nanoscience and technology initiatives.

Work at the lab in 2001 also addressed pressing national issues, including counter-terrorism, energy conservation and distribution, salmon and dams, and cleanup of nuclear waste, Powell said.

DOE also was pleased with the lab's expanded partnerships. In 2001, it formed research partnerships with the University of Washington for nanoscience and cell signaling. Another new partnership links researchers throughout the Oregon University System with scientists in Richland.

Not only the lab's core science program, but also its nontechnical programs that support that work ranked well this year, Powell pointed out.

DOE praised the lab for cutting its overhead costs, leaving more money to be spent on research.

The number of businesses the lab had a role in establishing or expanding grew from 42 to 50 in 2001, the goal set for its current five-year contract. That included helping a Kennewick company, Soil Search, obtain the rights to sell InStreem in the West. InStreem, developed by Battelle and PNNL, reduces waste and odors in dairy lagoons.

Despite the competitive market for high-tech workers, including biology and computer specialists, Battelle was able to retain and recruit staff, DOE found.

"We want to be the employer of choice," Powell said.

DOE gave the lab more flexibility this year to offer recruitment incentives and pay the market rate for difficult-to-find technical workers, she said.

She also credited a staff of self-starters and good relationships with DOE for the lab's ability to earn the top rating.

"Although there were several areas for improvement identified, these were more than offset by the identified strengths throughout the organization," the performance evaluation said.

It found little fault with the lab's science and technology programs other than suggesting more senior staff for the material's science program.

Nonscience concerns included improving procurement procedures, which DOE rated as marginal, the lowest rating earned by Battelle in dozens of subcategories in the review.

Diversity was rated as "good" -- standing out only because the rating came in the midst of excellent to outstanding rankings.

Competition for top-notch technical employees is already fierce, but job candidates who can bring diversity to the lab are even more difficult to recruit, Powell said.

However, "I personally believe building a diverse work force is a key part of the future," she said.

Because of Battelle's consistently high rankings, Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham announced last month that DOE wants to extend its contract for five more years.