National Academies Press: OpenBook
Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 1998. Assessing the Need for Independent Project Reviews in the Department of Energy. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/9490.
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Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 1998. Assessing the Need for Independent Project Reviews in the Department of Energy. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/9490.
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Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 1998. Assessing the Need for Independent Project Reviews in the Department of Energy. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/9490.
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Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 1998. Assessing the Need for Independent Project Reviews in the Department of Energy. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/9490.
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Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 1998. Assessing the Need for Independent Project Reviews in the Department of Energy. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/9490.
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Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 1998. Assessing the Need for Independent Project Reviews in the Department of Energy. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/9490.
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Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 1998. Assessing the Need for Independent Project Reviews in the Department of Energy. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/9490.
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Page viii Cite
Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 1998. Assessing the Need for Independent Project Reviews in the Department of Energy. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/9490.
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Below is the uncorrected machine-read text of this chapter, intended to provide our own search engines and external engines with highly rich, chapter-representative searchable text of each book. Because it is UNCORRECTED material, please consider the following text as a useful but insufficient proxy for the authoritative book pages.

About this PDF file: This new digital representation of the original work has been recomposed from XML files created from the original paper book, not from the original typesetting files. Page breaks are true to the original; line lengths, word breaks, heading styles, and other typesetting-specific formatting, however, cannot be retained, and some typographic errors may have been accidentally inserted. Please use the print version of this publication as the authoritative version for attribution. Washington, D.C. 1998 National Research Council OF ENERGY NATIONAL ACADEMY PRESS Lloyd A. Duscha, NAE, Principal Investigator Commission on Engineering and Technical Systems Board on Infrastructure and the Constructed Environment INDEPENDENT PROJECT ASSESSING THE NEED FOR REVIEWS IN THE DEPARTMENT i

About this PDF file: This new digital representation of the original work has been recomposed from XML files created from the original paper book, not from the original typesetting files. Page breaks are true to the original; line lengths, word breaks, heading styles, and other typesetting-specific formatting, however, cannot be retained, and some typographic errors may have been accidentally inserted. Please ii NOTICE: The project that is the subject of this report was approved by the Governing Board of the National Research Council, whose mem- bers are drawn from the councils of the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering, and the Institute of Medicine This report has been reviewed by a group other than the author according to procedures approved by a Report Review Committee con- sisting of members of the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering, and the Institute of Medicine. The National Academy of Sciences is a private, nonprofit, self-perpetuating society of distinguished scholars engaged in scientific and engineering research, dedicated to the furtherance of science and technology and to their use for a mandate that requires it to advise the fed- eral government on scientific and technical matters. Dr. Bruce Alberts is president of the National Academy of Sciences. The National Academy of Engineering was established in 1964, under the charter of the National Academy of Sciences, as a parallel organization of outstanding engineers. It is autonomous in its administration and in the selection of its members, sharing with the National Academy the responsibility for advising the federal government. The National Academy of Engineering also sponsors engineering programs aimed at meeting national needs, encourages education and research, and recognizes the superior achievements of engineers. Dr. William A. Wulf is president of the National Academy of Engineering. The Institute of Medicine was established in 1970 by the National Academy of Sciences to secure the services of eminent members of appropriate professions in the examination of policy matters pertaining to the health of the public. The Institute acts under the responsibility given to the National Academy of Sciences by its congressional charter to be an adviser to the federal government and, upon its own initia- tive, to identify issues of medical care, research, and education. Dr. Kenneth I. Shine is president of the Institute of Medicine. The National Research Council was established by the National Academy of Sciences in 1916 to associate the broad community of sci- ence and technology with the Academy's purposes of furthering knowledge and of advising the federal government. Functioning in accor- dance with general policies determined by the Academy, the Council has become the principal operating agency of both the National Academy of Sciences and the National Academy of Engineering in providing services to the government, the public, and the scientific and engineering communities. The Council is administered jointly by both Academies, and the Institute of Medicine. Dr. Bruce Alberts and Dr. William A. Wulf are chairman and vice-chairman, respectively, of the National Research Council. This work was funded by the U.S. Department of Energy, through the U.S. Department of State, Contract No.S-FBOAD-94-C0023. All opinions, findings, conclusions and recommendations expressed herein are those of the National Research Council and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Department of Energy. Additional copies of this report are available from: National Academy Press, 2101 Constitution Avenue, NW, Box 285, Washington, DC 20055 800-624-06242 or 202-334-3313 (in the Washington Metropolitan area) Copyright ©1998 by the National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America use the print version of this publication as the authoritative version for attribution.

About this PDF file: This new digital representation of the original work has been recomposed from XML files created from the original paper book, not from the original typesetting files. Page breaks are true to the original; line lengths, word breaks, heading styles, and other typesetting-specific formatting, however, cannot be retained, and some typographic errors may have been accidentally inserted. Please iii ASSESSING THE NEED FOR INDEPENDENT PROJECT REVIEWS IN THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Lloyd A. Duscha, Principal Investigator, Reston, Virginia Richard G. Little, Study Director Michael P. Greene, Senior Program Officer John A. Walewski, Program Officer Lloyd A. Duscha was elected to the National Academy of Engineering in 1987 for distinguished engineering and construction administration of water resources projects and military facilities. Mr. Duscha retired from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in 1990 as the highest ranking civilian after serving as deputy director, Engineering and Construction Directorate. He served in numerous progressive Army Corps of Engi- neer positions in various locations spanning five decades. Mr. Duscha is currently an engineering consultant to various national and foreign government agencies, the World Bank, and private sector clients. His numerous professional affiliations include Fellow of the American Society of Civil Engineers and the Society of American Military Engineers. Mr. Duscha has served on numerous National Research Council committees, on the Board on Infrastructure and the Constructed Environ- ment, and was vice chairman for the U.S. National Committee on Tunneling Technology. Other positions held include president, U.S. Com- mittee on Large Dams and chair of the Committee on Dam Safety. He was a member of the International Commission on Large Dams; Executive Committee, Construction Industry Institute; and the Board of Directors, American Consulting Engineers Council Research and Management Foundation. He holds a bachelor of civil engineering degree from the University of Minnesota from which he was awarded the Board of Regents Outstanding Achievement Award. Mr. Duscha is the author of numerous publications covering topics such as dam safety, hydropower development, coastal engineering, and cold weather research. use the print version of this publication as the authoritative version for attribution.

About this PDF file: This new digital representation of the original work has been recomposed from XML files created from the original paper book, not from the original typesetting files. Page breaks are true to the original; line lengths, word breaks, heading styles, and other typesetting-specific formatting, however, cannot be retained, and some typographic errors may have been accidentally inserted. Please iv BOARD ON INFRASTRUCTURE AND THE CONSTRUCTED ENVIRONMENT WALTER B. MOORE, Chair, Texas A&M University, College Station BRENDA MYERS BOHLKE, Parsons Brinckerhoff, Inc., Herndon, Virginia CATHERINE BROWN, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis NANCY RUTLEDGE CONNERY, Woolwich, Maine RICHARD DATTNER, Richard Dattner Architect, P.C., New York, New York CHRISTOPHER M. GORDON, Massachusetts Port Authority, Boston NEIL GRIGG, Colorado State University, Fort Collins DELON HAMPTON, Delon Hampton & Associates, Washington, D.C. SUSAN E. HANSON, Clark University, Worcester, Massachusetts JAMES O. JIRSA, University of Texas, Austin GEORGE D. LEAL, Dames & Moore, Inc., Los Angeles, California VIVIAN LOFTNESS, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Staff RICHARD G. LITTLE, Director, Board on Infrastructure and the Constructed Environment LYNDA L. STANLEY, Director, Federal Facilities Council JOHN A. WALEWSKI, Program Officer LORI DUPREE, Administrative Associate use the print version of this publication as the authoritative version for attribution.

About this PDF file: This new digital representation of the original work has been recomposed from XML files created from the original paper book, not from the original typesetting files. Page breaks are true to the original; line lengths, word breaks, heading styles, and other typesetting-specific formatting, however, cannot be retained, and some typographic errors may have been accidentally inserted. Please PREFACE v Preface THE STUDY PROCESS Unlike most National Research Council (NRC) studies, which are undertaken by an appointed committee of experts, this project was conducted by a principal investigator (PI), Lloyd Duscha, a member of the National Academy of Engineering who was selected for his extensive engineering experience and expertise in cost estima- tion, contracting, project management, and federal government operations and budgetary practices. The findings presented in this report reflect his views, based on the information made available to him. The study was con- ducted under the aegis of the NRC Board on Infrastructure and the Constructed Environment. The PI reviewed data and documents concerning DOE projects, including the decision-making criteria, assumptions, and methods used by various organizations within DOE that are associated with the acquisition of fixed assets, as well as justifications, scopes, budgets, and schedules for individual projects. Visits and meetings with DOE field personnel and contractors took place at the following sites: Hanford Reservation, Argonne National Laboratory, Sandia National Laboratory, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Albuquerque Operations Office, Savannah River Site, and the Oak Ridge Operations Office. Information-gathering sessions (see Appendix B) were held with staff members at DOE headquarters with expertise in management, policy, and tech- nical issues. Like all other NRC reports, this manuscript has been reviewed by individuals chosen for their diverse per- spectives and technical expertise, in accordance with procedures approved by the NRC's Report Review Commit- tee. The purpose of this independent review is to provide candid and critical comments that will assist the authors and the NRC in making the published report as sound as possible and to ensure that the report meets insti- tutional standards for objectivity, evidence, and responsiveness to the study charge. The content of the review comments and draft manuscript remain confidential to protect the integrity of the deliberative process. We wish to thank the following individuals for their participation in the review of this report: Dr. Barry Bozeman, Georgia Institute of Technology RAdm. (ret) Jack Buffington, NAE, University of Arkansas Mr. Paul Gilbert, Parsons, NAE, Brinkerhoff, Quade, and Douglas Mr. David Marshall, Fairfax County, Virginia use the print version of this publication as the authoritative version for attribution. Mr. Charles McGinnis Dr. Frank Parker, NAE, Vanderbilt University

About this PDF file: This new digital representation of the original work has been recomposed from XML files created from the original paper book, not from the original typesetting files. Page breaks are true to the original; line lengths, word breaks, heading styles, and other typesetting-specific formatting, however, cannot be retained, and some typographic errors may have been accidentally inserted. Please use the print version of this publication as the authoritative version for attribution. PREFACE Bruce Alberts, Chairman Mr. Theodore Stern, NAE National Research Council Dr. Kenneth Reinschmidt, NAE ity for the final content of this report rests solely with the author and the NRC. vi While the individuals listed above have provided many constructive comments and suggestions, responsibil-

About this PDF file: This new digital representation of the original work has been recomposed from XML files created from the original paper book, not from the original typesetting files. Page breaks are true to the original; line lengths, word breaks, heading styles, and other typesetting-specific formatting, however, cannot be retained, and some typographic errors may have been accidentally inserted. Please CONTENTS vii Contents EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 1 Findings, 2 Recommendations, 3 INTRODUCTION 7 Background, 7 Purpose, 7 Scope, 8 Organization of the Report, 9 DOE'S CONSTRUCTION PROGRAM AND PROCEDURES 11 Background, 11 National Laboratories, 11 Contracting Practices, 12 Project Acquisition, 12 Privatization, 14 THE INDEPENDENT REVIEW PROCESS 17 Independent Review Processes of Other Agencies and Organizations, 18 External Reviews of U.S. Department of Energy Programs and Projects, 21 Summary, 24 FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS 27 Findings, 27 Recommendations, 30 use the print version of this publication as the authoritative version for attribution. REFERENCES 39 APPENDIX A: EXCERPT FROM HOUSE REPORT 105-271 45 APPENDIX B: SITE VISITS, MEETINGS, AND INTERVIEWS 47 ACRONYMS 51

About this PDF file: This new digital representation of the original work has been recomposed from XML files created from the original paper book, not from the original typesetting files. Page breaks are true to the original; line lengths, word breaks, heading styles, and other typesetting-specific formatting, however, cannot be retained, and some typographic errors may have been accidentally inserted. Please use the print version of this publication as the authoritative version for attribution. CONTENTS viii

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