Dear
Colleagues:
I am writing to provide you with an update on recent congressional
legislation that contains language that will affect the competition
for our national laboratories.
The University of California has been working closely with
congressional members to ensure that the FY 2004 Energy and
Water Appropriations bill allows for the development of a
level playing field among competitors for laboratory contracts.
Additionally we sought to ensure that it allows the Department
of Energy (DOE) the flexibility to tailor a competition that
will attract both non-profits, such as UC, and for profit
entities. We are pleased that the legislation includes these
provisions and the University appreciates that the congressional
conferees recognized our concerns in these and other areas.
We expect the legislation will be enacted by the Congress
next week and signed into law shortly thereafter.
The Energy and Water Appropriations bill also calls for laboratory
contracts that have been in place for more than fifty years
to be put up for competition. This legislative language means
that Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Los Alamos
National Laboratory (LANL), Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
(LBNL), Ames Laboratory, and Argonne National Laboratory will
be put out for bid at the end of their existing contract.
Under the legislation, DOE has the ability to issue up to
a two-year extension to any of these contracts.
While there are still unknowns, including what the final
Request for Proposals (RFP) for each of the competitions will
look like, I want to assure you that the University of California
is preparing as if we will compete. The final decision regarding
competition will be made by the UC Board of Regents. An important
element in that decision will be the degree to which the RFPs
make academic and scientific excellence a key part of the
selection criteria.
Be assured that we are following these issues closely and
are aware that you may have concerns. In the coming months,
I intend to continue to visit each of the UC-managed national
laboratories, and I hope that these visits will provide an
opportunity to engage in fruitful discussion on these and
other issues that I know are very important to you. In the
meantime, I ask that you remain focused on your mission at
the laboratories and continue to work on the valuable science
and technology that is so important to our nation.
Sincerely,
S. Robert Foley
Vice President for Laboratory Management
University of California
CALENDAR
