Jan. 11, 2005

DOE draft RFP

I have read the Department of Energy/National Nuclear Security Administration request for proposal, which is at www.doeal.gov/lanlcontractrecompete/DraftRFP.htm online. There are some sweeping changes outlined. DOE should be aware that the Laboratory will probably lose many valuable Cold War-era scientists to early retirement.

The main changes to the employment contract are detailed in sections H-36 and H-37. As I read the proposal, DOE is planning to spinoff a separate Lab retirement account, even if UC chooses to and is the successful bidder. [Ref. H-36 (f).] And this Lab account will be audited yearly, with any excess funds returned to DOE. [Ref. H-37 (b) (11)]. It seems to me that removing some of our existing retirement funds is not a good idea.

Second, the pension funds collected from this point on will be held to a 105 percent total yearly benefit cap. [Ref. H-36 (e)(2)(ii) ]. Since Social Security is in dire straits by most reports, I am personally depending on those Lab funds.

There are less than two weeks left for comments to be registered at the official electronic mail address, LANLRecompeteHelp@doeal.gov. If they hear from a lot of us about our concerns, it may make a difference. 

--Deborah Clark