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The following is a brief outline of the process whereby tasks are funded
under the Cooperative Agreement (Co-op). It is not intended to be comprehensive
and in some cases not all of the steps below may apply.
- Researchers affiliated with one or more institutions within the Nevada
System of Higher Education (NSHE) identify an area of study related to
Yucca Mountain. The area of study may be anything related to nuclear
waste, its disposal, or the proposed Yucca Mountain lrepository. In order
to maintain independence, researchers are expected to identify potential
studies by reviewing published literature or by attending public meetings;
researchers are discouraged from directly soliciting DOE personnel for
ideas. (See potential research
for more information.)
- Researchers produce a concise white paper outlining the proposed work, its
value to the Yucca Mountain Project, its intended duration, and the total
annual budget. This white-paper is submitted in electronic format to
the Harry Reid Center (HRC) Cooperative
Agreement Administrator for transmittal to the DOE contract
office. White-papers received by DOE, or its prime contractor, BSC,
that were not properly submitted through the HRC will not be
considered for funding under the Co-op. (See white-paper guidelines
for more information.)
- The HRC Cooperative Agreement Administrator forwards all white-papers to
DOE; no grading of the
white-papers, nor recommendations to DOE, are made by HRC personnel.
- A DOE merit review board meets periodically (usually no more than once a
month) and reviews submitted white-papers. If a white-paper is judged
to have sufficient merit, and fits within budgeting and scheduling
constraints, then a request for proposal (RFP) is drafted and sent to the
HRC Cooperative Agreement Administrator for forwarding to the submitting
researcher. Please note: The issuance of an RFP does
not signify that a task has been approved for funding.
- The researcher then develops a detailed proposal which includes a detailed
annual budget, a detailed schedule, a list of products to be produced and
their due dates, the principal investigator (PI), equipment needed, etc...
(See proposal guidelines for more information.)
- The proposal is then sent to the HRC
Cooperative Agreement Administrator who forwards the proposal to DOE.
- The DOE Merit Review Board then reviews the proposal and
determines whether or not to fund the task.
- If a task is funded, the DOE contracting office will notify the HRC
Cooperative Agreement Administrator when the task is approved, when funds are
available.
- After a task is approved, the PI and the
NSHE/DOE
Technical Liaison meet to finalize a milestone schedule. This
schedule is
a more detailed schedule developed from the schedule submitted in
the proposal. These schedules, and progress
towards meeting these schedules, will be posted on the internet for DOE and any other interested parties to view.
- Tasks personnel then undergo formal indoctrination and training.
- On a quarterly basis, each task is to submit a progress report which
addresses, among other things, progress that has been made toward meeting
the established schedule of activities.
- Tasks are expected to conduct work in accordance with approved budgets,
schedules and workscopes. Deviations must be approved in writing, by an
authorized Department of Energy contracting officer. Verbal or written
approval from a DOE Technical Task Monitor is insufficient.
- In addition to quarterly reports, all tasks are expected, at a minimum, to
submit a final technical report at the end of the task, and to maintain all
data and related records that are generated under the task.
Return to Yucca Mountain Research Main Page
Send questions or comments about this page to:
keeler@unlv.nevada.edu
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