Energy Systems Acquisition Advisory Board (ESAAB) meetings for Major System Projects or ESAAB equivalent meetings for Non-Major System Projects provide an open forum where related issues and concerns may be voiced and discussed to allow a more informed decision.

Major System Projects (Total Project Cost of $400M or greater or as designated by the Office of the Secretary)

ESAAB meetings for Major System Projects are scheduled by the ESAAB Secretariat. ESAAB meetings will not be scheduled until: - PA&E has concluded its review of the Mission Need Statement and forwarded its recommendation to the PSO/DA; and - the PSO/DA has approved the Mission Need Statement. The request for the ESAAB meeting must be accompanied by the approved MNS and should be made in electronic format to the ESAAB Secretariat at ESAAB.SECRETARIAT@hq.doe.gov. The Program Office is responsible for scheduling an ESAAB Readiness Review prior to the ESAAB meeting and for inviting appropriate OECM and PA&E analysts. PA&E will provide the Secretarial Acquisition Executive (SAE) with the MNS analysis that supports the recommendation made to the PSO/DA. Following the ESAAB meeting, OECM will prepare minutes and a decision memorandum and will coordinate the final decision by the Secretarial Acquisition Executive.

Non-Major System Projects (Total Project Cost less than $400M)

ESAAB equivalent meetings for Non-Major System Projects are scheduled by the program office after PA&E has concluded its review of the Mission Need Statement and forwarded its recommendation to the PSO/DA. The program must provide a copy of the approved MNS in electronic format to the ESAAB Secretariat at ESAAB.SECRETARIAT@hq.doe.gov. OECM and PA&E will provide a member to each advisory board for projects $20M and over and should be invited to attend advisory board meetings for projects under $20M. Program Offices should provide a copy of the final decision memo to OECM and PA&E for all non-major system projects. For non- major system projects $100M and over, the program office must formally notify the Under Secretary/Administrator NNSA and the Deputy Secretary of all CD-0 decisions.

Coordination with the Budget Process

The Critical Decision to approve mission need must be made prior to the program office’s request for Project Engineering and Design (PED) funds in the Corporate Review Budget (CRB). OECM, PA&E, and Budget Office staff will be confirming CD-0 approval for all requests for PED funds that are submitted as part of the CRB review.