[Congressional Bills 104th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1433 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

  1st Session
                                S. 1433

 To direct the Secretary of Energy to establish a system for defining 
 the scope of energy research and development projects, and for other 
                               purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           November 29, 1995

  Mr. McCain introduced the following bill; which was read twice and 
       referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To direct the Secretary of Energy to establish a system for defining 
 the scope of energy research and development projects, and for other 
                               purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. PROJECT DEFINITION SYSTEM.

    (a) Definition.--In this Act, the term ``significant research and 
development project'' means a project for the conduct of research for 
increasing knowledge on energy matters or for a new energy technology 
or development of an energy technology, the cost of which to the 
Secretary is expected to exceed $1,000,000, that--
            (1) if the research or development is to be performed under 
        a grant, contract, or cooperative agreement, will require the 
        issuance of a new grant, contract, or cooperative agreement or 
        an amendment to, change order under, or direction to perform 
        work under an outstanding grant, contract, or cooperative 
        agreement; or
            (2) if the research or development is to be performed by 
        employees of the Department of Energy, constitutes a discrete 
        line of research or development that is not an essential part 
        of another line of research or development previously 
        undertaken.
    (b) Project Definition System.--The Secretary of Energy shall 
establish a project definition system for the purpose of defining the 
scope of significant research and development projects initiated after 
the date of enactment of this Act.
    (c) Project Definition Documents.--
            (1) In general.--The project definition system shall 
        require that the officer of the Department of Energy in charge 
        of a significant research and development project prepare a 
        project definition document for the project.
            (2) Contents.--A project definition document shall 
        describe--
                    (A) the problem or need to be addressed by the 
                project;
                    (B) the goals of the project;
                    (C) the estimated cost of the project;
                    (D) any cost sharing for the project;
                    (E) future users or beneficiaries of project 
                results;
                    (F) the expected duration of the project;
                    (G) the expected outcome of the project;
                    (H) any cost savings that are expected to be 
                achieved through application of project results;
                    (I) procedures to be followed in conducting the 
                project;
                    (J) areas of a high level of risk or uncertainty;
                    (K) interface with other research and development 
                projects and existing technologies; and
                    (L) criteria for ending the project or ending 
                government support of the project.
    (d) Approval.--A project definition document shall require the 
approval of an Assistant Secretary of Energy or other officer of the 
Department of Energy at the level of assistant secretary.
    (e) No Funding Without Document.--A significant research and 
development project shall not receive funding prior to approval of a 
project definition document for the project.
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