What's New

October 1, 2007 

Summary of Comments on the March 27, 2007, Notice and Request for Public Comments on the Department of Energy's Contractor Employee Pension and Medical Benefits Challenge.

Pension Policy-Summary of Comments (pdf)

April 4, 2007

List of National and International Unions Invited to Stakeholder Meetings

In response to several inquiries, the Department of Energy (DOE) is making public the list of those national and international labor organizations and unaffiliated local unions invited to attend upcoming DOE-sponsored stakeholder meetings.  These labor organizations directly or through their affiliates are responsible for representing the employees of management and operating (M&O) and other site contractors performing work at facilities and sites where DOE reimburses a contractor’s allowable costs for its employee pension and benefits costs under a contract. These contracts are listed under Contracts To Which DOE N 351.1 Applies.  DOE is having these meetings because it is interested in the individual views of these specific international and national labor organizations on how the Department should confront the financial challenge it faces due to increasing costs and liabilities associated with contractor employee pension and medical benefits.  The Department cannot interfere with the collective bargaining process, so any discussion of any specific collective bargaining issues will not and cannot be part of these stakeholder meetings.

List of National and International Labor Organizations Invited to Stakeholder Meetings (pdf)

Summary

The Department of Energy (DOE) is seeking public comments and/or recommendations on how to address the challenge it faces due to increasing costs and liabilities associated with contractor employee pension and medical benefits.  Under the Department’s unique Management and Operating (M&O) and other site management contracts, DOE reimburses its contractors for allowable costs incurred in providing employee pension and medical benefits to current employees and retirees who are eligible to participate in the contractors’ pension and medical benefit plans. DOE has established a website for the public to submit comments and/or recommendations on how it should address the financial challenge it faces on contractor employee pension and medical benefits. 

Federal Register Notice - Request for Public Comment on Department of Energy Contractor Employee Pension and Medical Benefits Challenge (pdf)

How to Submit Comments

Please submit your comments via e-mail to contractorpensions@hq.doe.gov. Comments due by COB, Friday, May 11, 2007.

Public Commentary to Date

Federal Register Public Comment on Department of Energy Contractor Employee Pension and Medical Benefits Challenge, May 24 and 31, 2007 (pdf)

Federal Register Public Comment on Department of Energy Contractor Employee Pension and Medical Benefits Challenge, May 10-11  2007 (pdf)

Federal Register Public Comment on Department of Energy Contractor Employee Pension and Medical Benefits Challenge, May10 2007 (pdf)

Federal Register Public Comment on Department of Energy Contractor Employee Pension and Medical Benefits Challenge, May 8, 2007 (pdf)

Federal Register Public Comment on Department of Energy Contractor Employee Pension and Medical Benefits Challenge, May 8, 2007 (pdf)

Federal Register Public Comment on Department of Energy Contractor Employee Pension and Medical Benefits Challenge, May 4-9 2007 (pdf)

Federal Register Public Comment on Department of Energy Contractor Employee Pension and Medical Benefits Challenge, April 24-May 4 2007 (pdf)

Federal Register Public Comment on Department of Energy Contractor Employee Pension and Medical Benefits Challenge, April 18-23 2007 (pdf)

Federal Register Public Comment on Department of Energy Contractor Employee Pension and Medical Benefits Challenge, April 14-17 2007 (pdf)

Federal Register Public Comment on Department of Energy Contractor Employee Pension and Medical Benefits Challenge, April 12-13 2007(pdf)

Federal Register Public Comment on Department of Energy Contractor Employee Pension and Medical Benefits Challenge, April 11 2007 (pdf)

Federal Register Public Comment on Department of Energy Contractor Employee Pension and Medical Benefits Challenge, April 1-10 2007 (pdf)

Federal Register Public Comment on Department of Energy Contractor Employee Pension and Medical Benefits Challenge, March 2007 (pdf)

Supporting

DOE N 251.66 - Suspension of DOE N 351.1, Contractor Employee Pension and Medical Benefits Policy (pdf)

DOE N 351.1 - Contractor Employee Pension and Medical Benefits Policy (pdf)

Contracts To Which DOE N 351.1 Applies (pdf)

Additional Opportunities Exists for Reducing Laboratory Contractor’s Support Costs Recommendation, GAO-05-897

Certain Post-retirement Benefits for Contractor Employees are Unfunded and Program Oversight Could be Improved, GAO-04-539

Contractor Post-Retirement Health Benefits at the Oak Ridge Reservation, IG-0690 (pdf)

Department of Energy Consolidated Financial Statements (pdf)

Follow-Up Audit of Health Benefit Costs at the Department’s Management and Operating Contractors, IG-0470 (pdf)

FY 2008 Department of Energy Budget Request to Congress

Additional Background Information

Department of Energy Contractor Employee Pension and Medical Benefits Briefing - March 2007 (pdf)

Pension Protect Act of 2006 (PL 109-280)
 
Trends in Retirement Income and Retiree Plans, published by Aon Consulting (pdf)

Value Study Desk Manual (pdf)