Higher education institutions can receive excess equipment under new Laboratory program

Contact: Steve Sandoval, steves@lanl.gov, (505) 665-9206 (00-047)

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LOS ALAMOS, N.M., April 5, 2000 -- Higher education institutions around the country, including New Mexico's 22 colleges and universities, can receive excess research equipment from the Department of Energy's Los Alamos National Laboratory under a new program.

Excess equipment, as defined under federal guidelines, can be given to higher education institutions under the Laboratory Education Equipment Gift Program. This equipment includes computers, computer accessories, photographic equipment, communication equipment, measuring tools, and special industrial and metal-working machinery.

The initiative recently was proposed by Laboratory Director John Browne to DOE as a way to give excess property to educational institutions expeditiously. Educational or nonprofit institutions receiving excess property must use it for scientific education or research activities.

Los Alamos and other DOE laboratories have been able to give equipment considered surplus under DOE's current Energy Related Laboratory Equipment program. In addition, since 1994, the Laboratory has been able to donate surplus equipment, mostly computers, to kindergartens through high schools.

"Although this program complements existing programs for educational support, it is brand new in a sense. By streamlining the process for determining what equipment is excess, we can quickly and efficiently work in partnership with colleges and universities to support their education programs," said Joe Salgado, Los Alamos' deputy director for business administration and outreach.

Business administration and outreach staff worked with DOE to develop criteria for the program, one of several new economic development and educational outreach initiatives being pursued by Los Alamos.

"It is important that the Laboratory work closely with our institutions of higher learning. If we can assist state colleges and universities through this program, we are helping create improved opportunities for more state graduates to qualify for work in technical and scientific areas," Salgado said.

Dolores Jacobs of Los Alamos' Education Program Office said the new program "will enhance and facilitate the partnership between the university community, educational non-profits and the Department of Energy." Los Alamos' Education Program Office will facilitate the review process for proposals submitted under the new program.

"Our many technical research collaborations at the post-secondary level are designed to strengthen the quality of national research and education in science, math and engineering. We anticipate that this equipment gift program will stimulate more partnering and collaboration with the university community," said Jacobs.

Salgado said the Laboratory will conduct training and encourage technical organizations to identify suitable excess equipment for the program.

Furniture, office supplies or vehicles aren't eligible. All equipment deemed excess will be reviewed for security, hazards, high risk and export concerns before being declared eligible.

The Laboratory will document and keep records of all excess equipment that is donated through the program.

Excess equipment will continue to be stored at the Johnson Controls Northern New Mexico salvage yard, and at various locations around the Laboratory by organizations who have excess equipment until a higher education institution identifies a need and can make arrangements to retrieve the property.

For more information, contact Jacobs at 665-5118.

More news releases from the Science and Technology Base Program (STB) Office