Prime Contract – Clause H.3

CLAUSE H.3 – WORK AUTHORIZATION

(a)        Work programs shall be developed by the Contractor and approved by DOE in accordance with applicable DOE directives, and shall constitute work to be performed under this Contract during the pertinent periods involved. Such work programs may include program and project performance objectives and milestones. The Contractor shall consult with DOE, as necessary, during the process of developing work programs. Subject to the other provisions of this contract, changes in the agreed work program, not constituting major changes, may be made by the Contractor when it appears to the Contractor, to be in the best interest of the scientific and technical objectives of the agreed work program to do so. It is understood that the nature of the research and development work under this Contract is of a specialized character not readily reducible to production schedules. In view of these circumstances, it is agreed that the research and development work is performed on a best effort basis.

(b)        Due to the critical character of the work from the standpoint of national significance, it is understood by the Parties hereto that very close collaboration will be required between the Contractor and DOE with respect to direction, emphasis, trends and adequacy of the total program.

 

(c)

(1) The annual work program and budget are principal devices used by DOE in program development, integration, execution, and cost estimating. To make the work program and budget most effective in assuring comprehensive coverage of DOE missions, it is the responsibility of DOE to keep the operators of DOE’s laboratories continually advised of DOE’s overall program goals, scientific and technological problems, and its current long range objectives. In light of such information, the Contractor will propose possible new objectives and present preliminary work programs in the area of its competence which, from its point of view, will either strengthen the overall DOE program or provide additional support in areas which, in the Contractor’s judgment, are being inadequately exploited, or initiate new areas of investigation which appear of potential importance.

(2) It is the responsibility of DOE to formulate overall program budgets, taking into consideration the proposals submitted by the Contractor, consistent with funds appropriated by the Congress and all its other program needs.

(3) The Contractor shall prepare a final work program and budget consistent with DOE’s overall program budget. Upon DOE approval, it is the Contractor’s responsibility to conduct its work program within limits established by these approvals unless and until they are modified by DOE.

 

(d)       In accordance with the basic considerations stated in paragraph (c) above, the Contractor and DOE will utilize the Program Budget procedures on a Government fiscal year basis for the establishment of the Laboratory Program Budget. Procedures for the presentation of work programs and cost estimates shall be jointly developed. In order to meet the requirements of Government budgetary practice, the Parties agree:

(1)  As early as possible in each calendar year, DOE shall supply the Contractor with the dollar amounts for the Laboratory contained in the President’s Budget, with Program assumptions and guidance which the Contractor will be expected to consider in the development of its program and budget, and with all changes to existing budget and accounting policies and procedures to be used in the current budget preparation.

(2)  Prior to April 1 (or such other date as may be agreed upon) the Contractor shall submit to DOE for approval a comprehensive work program for the next two fiscal years, together with a description of the current work program, and the Contractor shall submit a budget estimate for the next two fiscal years, together with a revised budget estimate for the current fiscal year.

(3)  As soon as possible after October 1 of each year, DOE shall issue Work Authorizations and an Approved Funding Program to the Contractor for the current fiscal year.

(e)

(1)  DOE approved work programs, program performance expectations and milestones as appropriate, and budget estimates shall be reflected in Work Authorizations/Annual Program Letters/Activity Data Sheets/Program Baseline Summaries and Approved Funding Programs. These documents will be issued to the Contractor as soon as possible after funds become available. If, in preparing Work Authorizations/Annual Program Letters/Activity Data Sheets/Program Baseline Summaries and Approved Funding Programs, it is determined that changes are needed in the work program and budget estimates submitted by the Contractor, DOE and the Contractor shall agree upon the changes in the work before final issuance of these documents, provided, however, that nothing herein shall preclude DOE from directing a change in the work pursuant to the clause of the Contract entitled “Changes”.

(2)          The Work Authorizations/Annual Program Letters, and with respect to work funded by the office of Environmental Management, Program Baseline Summaries and Approved Funding Programs, specify the funds available for work under the Contract for the fiscal year and, in addition, may establish limitations on costs to be incurred for individual portions of the work. The Contractor shall comply with such limitations and shall promptly notify the Contracting Officer, in writing, whenever it becomes apparent that there is likely to be an overrun with respect to any specific limitation in the Work Authorization/Annual Program Letters, and with respect to the work funded by the office of Environmental Management, Program Baseline Summaries, and Approved Funding Programs. Funds made available for work under the contract, and set forth in Approved Funding Programs or other funding documents, shall not be reduced except by written agreement of the Parties.

(3)        Additional programs and projects to be conducted at the Laboratory within the scope of the Contract may be established by agreement between the DOE and the Contractor.

(f)        A Contract modification shall be issued to the Contractor on or before September 30 of each year (or such other date as may be agreed upon) to provide additional funds, and further Contract modifications may be issued or entered into from time to time to provide appropriate modifications in the total amount of funds made available under the Contract. DOE agrees to use its best efforts to provide stable funding in support of the Contract work and it is DOE’s intention that there shall be so provided at all times sufficient funds to support the work program at the level authorized by DOE.

(g)        During the course of the work, DOE shall review the work program and its costs based upon information submitted by the Contractor and may, after consultation with the Contractor, revise the Work Authorizations and Approved Funding Programs established by DOE under paragraph (e) above. The Contractor shall make any necessary revisions to the documents cited in this clause consistent with DOE direction.

(h)        It is the intent of the Contractor and DOE to agree from time to time upon long-term work programs covering certain portions of the work to be performed under this contract.

(i)         The Contractor shall maintain current cost information adequate to reflect the cost of

performing the work under this Contract at all times while the work is in progress, and shall prepare and furnish to the Government such written estimates of cost and information in support thereof as the Contracting Officer may request.