Dear Colleagues:

Last week, the Department of Energy released a draft request for proposals (RFP) for the management contract for the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL). The draft RFP is on-line at http://rfplbnl.sc.doe.gov. In April, based on the authority given to the University of California (UC) President by the UC Board of Regents, UC responded to a Department request expressing our interest in the Berkeley Laboratory contract competition. Now that the draft RFP has been released, I am sure many of you are interested in what steps UC is taking regarding the upcoming competition. I want to give you a brief update.

UC Laboratory Management staff working on the Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory Acquisition Team are reviewing the draft RFP, and I expect that we will submit comments to the Department after a thorough review is completed.   The University expects to see the final RFP in December 2004 and we will have 45 days to respond. While the final decision regarding competition will be made by the UC Board of Regents after the Department releases the final RFP, there is much to be done before then to ensure that the University has the best proposal should the Regents decide to compete.   We have retained external experts to assist us in the proposal process. Separate space has been retained to house the proposal efforts with appropriate supporting business systems. Working groups are currently assessing progressive management systems which incorporate best practices and continuing improvements.  

I will continue to work very closely with LBNL Director Steve Chu in our efforts to prepare for a possible bid. As you are probably aware, UC engaged Dr. William Barletta, Director of the Accelerator and Fusion Research Division, some months ago to serve as the LBNL acquisition manager. Bill and the rest of the acquisition support team have been diligently preparing for the request for proposal and laying a solid foundation for any bid that the Regents authorize.   Salaries of all personnel working on the proposal will come from UC's earned fee funds that have been allocated for the proposal's preparation. These are non-laboratory funds and do not come out of the University's general funds provided by the state, students or private supporters for its campuses.   

With the strong actions the University is taking throughout its laboratory system, with the leadership of Steve Chu as laboratory director, and with the continued dedication and scientific excellence of the LBNL staff, I believe we will be in excellent position to submit a strong, winning proposal should the Regents choose to do so.

I recognize that many of you have questions about employee retention, compensation and pension issues as we move through the competition process. I believe it is important to highlight that the language in the draft RFP, includes language that specifically address these issues. In addition, the Department's press release regarding the draft RFP includes the following language:

"To retain LBNL's world-class scientists and other workers, the selected offeror will be required to pay the transitioning workforce pay and benefits comparable to those being provided to laboratory employees under the current contract."

Thank you for your ongoing commitment and service.

Sincerely,

S. Robert Foley, Jr.
Vice President  
Laboratory Management

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