[Federal Register: July 17, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 137)]
[Notices]
[Page 42404]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr17jy03-58]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Blue Ribbon Commission on the Use of Competitive Procedures for
Department of Energy Laboratories; Notice of Open Meeting
AGENCY: Department of Energy.
SUMMARY: This notice announces an open meeting of the Secretary of
Energy Advisory Board's subcommittee known as the Blue Ribbon
Commission on the Use of Competitive Procedures for Department of
Energy Laboratories. The Federal Advisory Committee Act (Public Law 92-
463, 86 Stat. 770), requires that agencies publish these notices in the
Federal Register to allow for public participation.
Name: Blue Ribbon Commission (BRC) on the Use of Competitive
Procedures at Department of Energy Laboratories.
Dates and Times: Tuesday, August 5, 2003, 2 p.m.-4 p.m.
ADDRESSES: Ritz Carlton Hotel, Salon 2, Pentagon City, 1250 South Hayes
Street, Arlington, VA 22202.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Craig R. Reed, Executive Director,
Secretary of Energy Advisory Board (AB-1), U.S. Department of Energy,
1000 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585, (202) 586-7092 or
(202) 586-6279 (fax).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The purpose of the Blue Ribbon Commission on
the Use of Competitive Procedures at Department of Energy Laboratories
(the Commission) is to provide the Secretary of Energy, through the
Secretary of Energy Advisory Board, with essential independent advice
and recommendations on issues related to the development of criteria to
support future decisions regarding use of competition in renewing and
extending the management and operations (M&O) contracts for the
Department of Energy's national laboratories.
Tentative Agenda
The August 5 open meeting is intended to give the public an
opportunity to provide input directly to the Blue Ribbon Commission
members concerning the use of competition in awarding the M&O contracts
for the Department of Energy's national laboratories. The Commission
members are interested in obtaining input regarding the following
questions:
[sbull] When is competition of a laboratory M&O contract
appropriate?
[sbull] Should all contracts be competed, or if not, what criteria
should be assessed in deciding to compete or extend a laboratory
contract?
[sbull] Should a formal regimen for making competition decisions be
established? Or is greater flexibility desirable?
[sbull] Should different decision criteria be developed according
to the status of the M&O organization (for-profit, non-profit or
educational institution) or the nature of the work or mission?
[sbull] What is the impact of competing a contract or changing the
M&O contractor on the work performed at the laboratory?
[sbull] What should be the role of the ``contractor'' (industrial
or university or not-for-profit) vs. the Lab Director and the DOE
management (e.g., regarding personnel, financial control, programs,
security, etc.)? At what level in DOE management should oversight most
appropriately reside?
Public Participation
In keeping with procedures, members of the public are invited to
provide comments. The preference of the Commission is to have members
of the public desiring to provide comments sign up, and to provide
written comments addressing the questions listed above, in advance of
the August 5 meeting. Members of the public who have submitted written
statements addressing the questions outlined above will be given
priority in speaking to the Commission. A time limit will be placed on
those members of the public wishing to speak at the meeting, with time
allocated in accordance with the number of people who have signed in
and who have indicated a desire to speak to the Commission. The
Chairman of the Commission is empowered to conduct the meeting in a
fashion that will, in the Chairman's judgment, facilitate the orderly
conduct of business. Members of the public who have signed up in
advance or who have submitted written comments will be heard first in
the order in which their sign ups and/or statements were received.
Others will be heard in the order in which they sign up at the
beginning of the meeting. The Board will make every effort to hear the
views of all interested parties. You may submit written comments to Dr.
Craig R. Reed, Executive Director, Secretary of Energy Advisory Board,
AB-1, U.S. Department of Energy, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW.,
Washington, DC 20585. Written comments should be sent by Federal
Express or facsimile transmission to 202-586-6279. All written
submissions should be received by July 31, 2003. Please do not send
written comments via the U.S. Postal Service.
Minutes
A copy of the minutes and a transcript of the meeting will be made
available for public review and copying approximately 30 days following
the meeting at the Freedom of Information Public Reading Room, 1E-190
Forrestal Building, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC
between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday except Federal
holidays. Further information on the Secretary of Energy Advisory Board
and its subcommittees may be found at the Board's Web site, located at
http://www.seab.energy.gov/.
Issued at Washington, DC, on July 14, 2003.
James N. Solit,
Advisory Committee Management Officer.
[FR Doc. 03-18143 Filed 7-16-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P