[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 137 (Thursday, July 17, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Page 42404]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-18143]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY


Blue Ribbon Commission on the Use of Competitive Procedures for 
Department of Energy Laboratories; Notice of Open Meeting

AGENCY: Department of Energy.
SUMMARY: This notice announces an open meeting of the Secretary of 
Energy Advisory Board's subcommittee known as the Blue Ribbon 
Commission on the Use of Competitive Procedures for Department of 
Energy Laboratories. The Federal Advisory Committee Act (Public Law 92-
463, 86 Stat. 770), requires that agencies publish these notices in the 
Federal Register to allow for public participation.
    Name: Blue Ribbon Commission (BRC) on the Use of Competitive 
Procedures at Department of Energy Laboratories.
    Dates and Times: Tuesday, August 5, 2003, 2 p.m.-4 p.m.

ADDRESSES: Ritz Carlton Hotel, Salon 2, Pentagon City, 1250 South Hayes 
Street, Arlington, VA 22202.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Craig R. Reed, Executive Director, 
Secretary of Energy Advisory Board (AB-1), U.S. Department of Energy, 
1000 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585, (202) 586-7092 or 
(202) 586-6279 (fax).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The purpose of the Blue Ribbon Commission on 
the Use of Competitive Procedures at Department of Energy Laboratories 
(the Commission) is to provide the Secretary of Energy, through the 
Secretary of Energy Advisory Board, with essential independent advice 
and recommendations on issues related to the development of criteria to 
support future decisions regarding use of competition in renewing and 
extending the management and operations (M&O) contracts for the 
Department of Energy's national laboratories.

Tentative Agenda

    The August 5 open meeting is intended to give the public an 
opportunity to provide input directly to the Blue Ribbon Commission 
members concerning the use of competition in awarding the M&O contracts 
for the Department of Energy's national laboratories. The Commission 
members are interested in obtaining input regarding the following 
questions:
    [sbull] When is competition of a laboratory M&O contract 
appropriate?
    [sbull] Should all contracts be competed, or if not, what criteria 
should be assessed in deciding to compete or extend a laboratory 
contract?
    [sbull] Should a formal regimen for making competition decisions be 
established? Or is greater flexibility desirable?
    [sbull] Should different decision criteria be developed according 
to the status of the M&O organization (for-profit, non-profit or 
educational institution) or the nature of the work or mission?
    [sbull] What is the impact of competing a contract or changing the 
M&O contractor on the work performed at the laboratory?
    [sbull] What should be the role of the ``contractor'' (industrial 
or university or not-for-profit) vs. the Lab Director and the DOE 
management (e.g., regarding personnel, financial control, programs, 
security, etc.)? At what level in DOE management should oversight most 
appropriately reside?

Public Participation

    In keeping with procedures, members of the public are invited to 
provide comments. The preference of the Commission is to have members 
of the public desiring to provide comments sign up, and to provide 
written comments addressing the questions listed above, in advance of 
the August 5 meeting. Members of the public who have submitted written 
statements addressing the questions outlined above will be given 
priority in speaking to the Commission. A time limit will be placed on 
those members of the public wishing to speak at the meeting, with time 
allocated in accordance with the number of people who have signed in 
and who have indicated a desire to speak to the Commission. The 
Chairman of the Commission is empowered to conduct the meeting in a 
fashion that will, in the Chairman's judgment, facilitate the orderly 
conduct of business. Members of the public who have signed up in 
advance or who have submitted written comments will be heard first in 
the order in which their sign ups and/or statements were received. 
Others will be heard in the order in which they sign up at the 
beginning of the meeting. The Board will make every effort to hear the 
views of all interested parties. You may submit written comments to Dr. 
Craig R. Reed, Executive Director, Secretary of Energy Advisory Board, 
AB-1, U.S. Department of Energy, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW., 
Washington, DC 20585. Written comments should be sent by Federal 
Express or facsimile transmission to 202-586-6279. All written 
submissions should be received by July 31, 2003. Please do not send 
written comments via the U.S. Postal Service.

Minutes

    A copy of the minutes and a transcript of the meeting will be made 
available for public review and copying approximately 30 days following 
the meeting at the Freedom of Information Public Reading Room, 1E-190 
Forrestal Building, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 
between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday except Federal 
holidays. Further information on the Secretary of Energy Advisory Board 
and its subcommittees may be found at the Board's Web site, located at 
http://www.seab.energy.gov/.

    Issued at Washington, DC, on July 14, 2003.
James N. Solit,
Advisory Committee Management Officer.
[FR Doc. 03-18143 Filed 7-16-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P