Introduction
As the United States approaches the twenty-first century, the U.S. Department of
energy (DOE) laboratories and technical centers-in particular, their many talented
people-are exploring and expanding the frontiers of scientific understanding and
technical knowledge. These people are committed to applying, in service to this
country, their collective intellectual curiosity; a wide array of unique, multifaceted
facilities and scientific tools; and a vast fund of accumulated professional expertise
unmatched by any other nation.
| Laboratory Resources and Skills Benefit Private Customers | By taking advantage of the resources offered by DOE's network of national
laboratories, private customers can
Access top-level scientific and engineering capabilities, |
|---|
The DOE laboratories and technical centers (both hereafter referred to as laboratories or national laboratories) have always applied their resources and skills to the specific needs of nonfederal entitites, including private companies, state and local governments, and academic institutions. As evidenced by past successes, DOE's network of laboratories is uniquely qualified to support nonfederal entities (hereafter referred to as private customers) as they seek to advance their knowledge.
The national laboratories have a long history of excellence in a number of areas, including the basic sciences, applied energy research, systems engineering, and weapons-related technologies. As a result of research at the laboratories, important scientific discoveries have been made and more efficient energy sources, new materials, and related technologies have been developed; at the same time, DOE-sponsored education, training, and outreach programs have increased the scientific and engineering capabilities of the nation as a whole.
In carrying out its mission, DOE has developed world-class core competencies in a number of important areas, including energy, pollution control and remediation, advanced materials, advanced instrumentation, biotechnology, advanced manufacturing, information and communication software, and aerospace and transportation technologies.
This brochure briefly describes guidelines for private customers wishing to obtain technical resources and skills from the national laboratories. The brochure does not, however, present all relevant contractual procedures; specific requirements may vary with the work proposed. For further information on working with national laboratories, contact any of the offices listed at this link.
Working with the U.S. Department of Energy Laboratories
The national laboratories are available to conduct work for private customers on a
reimbursable basis. This research is not directly funded, in whole or in part, by DOE.
(Guidelines governing work that is partly funded by DOE may differ from those
described here.) Work undertaken for private customers
Historically, the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 recognized the benefits of making national laboratories and technical centers available to nonfederal entities for the conduct of R&D and training, provided that private facilities or laboratories are inadequate for that purpose.
In conducting work for private customers, DOE has the following objectives:
Benefits of Using U.S. Department of Energy Facilities
Private customers can benefit greatly by linking up with DOE's national laboratories.
No other laboratory system in the world can match that of DOE for its diversity in
people and programs; its attention to a spectrum of long-and short-term basic and
applied research encompasing all areas of energy and environmental science; its wide
variety of complex, multifaceted facilities; or its ability to deal independently and
objectively with sensitive research topics.
This unique system serves as a bridge connecting all of the country's research communitites-universities; industries; and federal, state, and local governmental agencies. As a vital link among these different organizations, the national laboratories are significant contributors in the cross-fertilization of ideas and approaches among the nation's researchers.
The excellence of R&D work conducted by the national laboratories is indicated by the high standing of their personnel within the scientific and technical community and the awards they receive within this community, For example, since the inception of the national laboratory system, (58 scientists) supported by DOE and its predecessors have won the most prestigious scientific awards in the world, the Nobel prizes. Staff of the DOE laboratories have also received more than (375 R&D 100 awards), awarded each year by R&D Magazine to developers of the 100 technologically most innovative products.
Forming a Contractual Arrangement with the U.S. Department of Energy
Private customers can arrange for work to be done at any national laboratory through a
relatively simple business arrangement. The key steps in the overall process are:
Early Interaction between DOE Laboratory and Private Customer. Discussions are informal. Planning documents, capability statements, and related material are of a preliminary nature. No commitments are made on either side.
Formal Request. After a formal request is received from a private customer, the laboratory prepares work statements, budget estimates, and resource requirements.
Project Review and Approval. DOE, its laboratory, and the requesting private customer review and approve work statements, budget estimates, and related documents, thereby ensuring that the needs of all parties are met.
Funding Acceptance and Authorization. The laboratory begins work when the agreement is executed and funded.
Project Performance. The project is performed on a best-effort basis, in compliance with the terms and conditions of each indvidual agreement.
Billing and Payment. Bills are issued monthly, payments are normally due within 30 days of the billing date.
Administration of Research Programs
Financial Requirements
Financing of Work. Federal law prohibits the use of DOE funds to finacne or supplement a private customer's work. The private customer should have sufficient funding available at all times to cover incurred and expected costs, thereby avoiding work stoppages. The private customer is responsible for termination costs if a project is terminated before its completion. The DOE office responsible for the work may grant exemptions to the full-funding requirement if the laboratory involved requests an exemption.
Cost Recovery-Rate Structure. Generally, the private customer is charged all costs associated with the project. Under certain conditions, DOE may waive overhead and other charges.
Financial Controls. Work is done according to the individual contract provisions and the following guidelines:
Patent Rights
Patent rights are allocated by contract terms and conditions, applicable international
agreements, statutes and regulations, and DOE policies.
Ownership of Data
Unless otherwise agreed to by DOE, the federal government owns all technical data
resulting from the work. However, contract terms provide for the protection of any
proprietary data furnished by the private customer.
Property and Equipment
Title to permanent construction at DOE laboratories or sites passes to DOE upon
completion of construction and acceptance by DOE. If equipment is acquired as part of
the project, it is accounted for and maintained during the term of the agreement in the
same manner as DOE property. When the agreement terminates, equipment is
disposed of under the conditions of the original agreement or as instructed by the
private customer. This equipment is delivered to the private customer's location,
transferred to DOE, or declared as excess in accordance with federal government
property regulations.
Environment, Safety, and Health
Each project is conducted in compliance with applicable environment, safety, and
health statutes, regulations, and standards. DOE has the authority to stop work if
applicable requirements are not met.
Business-Sensitive Information
If a research project involves confidential, nondisclosure, or proprietary information, the
requesting private customer provides relevant guidance before the work begins.
Security Classification Guidance
For work involving classified information, DOE and its laboratory classification staff
work with the private customer to develop appropriate security classification guidance.
Subcontracting
A DOE national laboratory may sometimes elect to subcontract selected portions of a
project. In these cases, the DOE laboratory selects the subcontractor and the work to
be subcontracted. The requesting private customer cannot designate either the
subcontractor to be used or the portions of the work to be subcontracted.
For Further Information
For more information on working with DOE laboratories, please send your written
request to any of the following persons. Briefly describe your specific area of interest
or need, and include your name, address, and phone and fax numbers.
| Todd Zdorkowski Ames Laboratory Iowa State University Room 326, TASF Ames, IA 50011 515/294-5640 515/294-3751 (fax) zdorkowski@ameslab.gov |
Mary Linton Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory P. O. Box 808, L-159 Livermore, CA 94550 510/424-6164 510/422-2383 (fax) linton1@llnl.gov |
Marlene Meeks Pacific Northwest National Laboratory P. O. Box 999, MS-K8-50 Richland, WA 99352 509/372-6258 509/372-4038 (fax) marlene.meeks@pnl.gov |
| Richard Combs Argonne National Laboratory 9700 South Cass Avenue Argonne, IL 60439 708/252-6797 708/252-3679 (fax) wfo@anl.gov |
Susan Sprake Los Alamos National Laboratory P. O. Box 1663, MS F655 Los Alamos, NM 87545 505/665-3613 505/665-6127 (fax) sprake@lanl.gov |
Lew Meixler Princeton University Plasma Physics Laboratory P. O. Box 451 Princeton, NJ 08543 609/243-3009 609/243-2800 (fax) lmeixler@pppl.gov |
| Mike Furey Brookhaven National Laboratory P. O. Box 5000, Building 460 Upton, NY 11973-5000 516/282-2103 516/282-3729 (fax) @bnl.gov |
Ken Algiene National Renewable Energy Laboratory Building 17/3 1617 Cole Boulevard Golden, CO 80401 303/275-3017 303/275-3040 (fax) ken_algiene@nrel.gov |
Bill Lovejoy Sandia National Laboratories P. O. Box 5800, MS 0163 Albuquerque, NM 87185 505/844-3911 505/844-0844 (fax) wclovej@sandia.gov |
| John Venard Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory P. O. Box 500, MS-200 Batavia, IL 60510 630/840-3333 630/840-8752 (fax) venard@fnal.gov |
Janice R. Grindstaff Oak Ridge Associated Universities/ Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education P. O. Box 117 (MS 26) Oak Ridge, TN 37830 865/241-4437 865/241-6718 (fax) grindstj@orau.gov |
Karen Azzarro DOE Savannah River Office of Community Outreach P. O. Box A Aiken, SC 29802 803/725-0444 803/725-5103 (fax) |
| Chuck Briggs Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory P. O. Box 1625 Idaho Falls, ID 83415-3805 208/526-0441 208/526-0876 (fax) cwb@inel.gov |
Alan Updike NNSA Kansas City Plant P. O. Box 419159 Kansas City, MO 64141-6150 (816) 997-2605 (phone) (816) 997-4094 (fax) alan.updike@nnsa.doe.gov aupdike@kcp.com |
Dick Fuendeling Stanford Linear Accelerator Center P. O. Box 4349 Stanford, CA 94309 415/926-2211 415/926-4999 (fax) karenk@slacvm.slac.stanford.edu |
| Rick Inada Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory Technology Transfer Department One Cyclotron Road, MS-90-1070 Berkeley, CA 94720 510/486-5882 510/486-4386 (fax) rminada@lbl.gov |
Edward B. Harris Oak Ridge National Laboratory P. O. Box 2008 Oak Ridge, TN 37831-6396 865/574-9931 865/576-7192 (fax) harriseb@ornl.gov |
Y-12 National Security Complex P. O. Box 2009 Oak Ridge, TN 37831-8084 800/356-4USA 865/576-5925 (fax) 4USA@ornl.gov |
This document highlights work sponsored by agencies of the United States Government. Neither the United States Government nor any agency thereof, nor any of their employees, makes any warranty, express or implied, or assumes any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information, apparatus, product, or process disclosed, or represents that its use would not infringe privately owned rights. Reference herein to any specific commercial product, process, or service by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise does not necessarily constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the United States Government or any agency thereof. The views and opinions of authors expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect those of the United States Government or any agency thereof.
Contact: David W. Bradford, fdb@ornl.gov
Date posted: June 2004 (sas)