Below are the first 10 and last 10 pages of uncorrected machine-read text (when available) of this chapter, followed by the top 30 algorithmically extracted key phrases from the chapter as a whole.
Intended to provide our own search engines and external engines with highly rich, chapter-representative searchable text on the opening pages of each chapter.
Because it is UNCORRECTED material, please consider the following text as a useful but insufficient proxy for the authoritative book pages.
Do not use for reproduction, copying, pasting, or reading; exclusively for search engines.
OCR for page R1
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
OCR for page R2
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.
OCR for page R3
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.
OCR for page R4
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.
OCR for page R5
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
OCR for page R6
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-
OCR for page R7
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
OCR for page R8
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
