[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 23 (Friday, February 2, 1996)] [Notices] [Page 3925] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 96-2243] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Savannah River Operations Office Financial Assistance Award; Intent To Award a Noncompetitive Cooperative Agreement AGENCY: Savannah River Operations Office, DOE. ACTION: Notice. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The DOE announces that it plans to award a cooperative agreement to the University of Georgia Research Foundation (UGARF), University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602. The cooperative agreement, ``Savannah River Ecology Laboratory (SREL) Program,'' will be awarded for a five-year period at a projected funding level of $70,000,000. Funds of $12,000,000 are available for the first budget period, subject to the availability of funds; the remainder will be awarded thereafter. Pursuant to Section 10 CFR Part 600.7(b)(2)(i)(A) of the DOE Assistance Regulations (10 CFR Part 600), DOE has determined that a noncompetitive award is appropriate since the SREL Program is a continuation of the program presently being funded by DOE, and for which competition for support would have a significant adverse effect on continuity or completion of the activity. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Charlene Smith, Office of Procurement and Contractor Human Resources, U.S. Department of Energy, Savannah River Operations Office, P.O. Box A, Aiken, SC 29802, Telephone: (803) 725-7644. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Procurement Request Number: 09-96SR18546.000. Project Scope: The proposed cooperative agreement allows UGARF to continue the Savannah River Ecology Laboratory (SREL) program. SREL provides an independent evaluation of the ecological effects of Savannah River Site (SRS) operations through a program of ecological research, education and outreach. This program will continue basic and applied environmental research with emphasis upon expanding the understanding of ecological processes and principles, and upon evaluating the impacts of industrial and land use activities on the environment. The program will provide DOE and the public with an independent view of the environmental management of the SRS. Publication of SREL's scientific findings in peer-reviewed journals will provide independent, verifiable science as a basis for DOE-SRS policy decisions. Collaboration will continue with the other SRS contractors and National Environmental Research Park participants. SREL will respond to mission priorities to increase understanding in such areas as biodiversity, ecosystem management, restoration/remediation ecology, geographic information systems and landscape ecology, radioecology, toxicology, ecological risk assessment, environmental transport of contaminants, dose responses of organisms, and predictive modeling of impacts of restoration processes on population structure and genetics of organisms in the environment. Based on the documentation presented and appropriate evaluation, it is determined that this award to UGARF on a noncompetitive basis is appropriate and is in the best interest of DOE. Issued in Aiken, South Carolina, on: January 9, 1996. Ronald D. Simpson, DOE Savannah River Operations Office, Head of Contracting Activity, Designee. [FR Doc. 96-2243 Filed 2-1-96; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6450-01-M