Kenneth Fletcher
WC Monitor
5/22/2015
The Department of Energy will look to ramp up funding starting in fiscal year 2016 for developing new technologies to address cleanup challenges, according to DOE’s recently released response to recommendations by a Secretary of Energy Advisory Board task force. Advances in science and technology will be key to successfully completing DOE’s cleanup mission, the SEAB task force on technology development for the Office of Environmental Management said in a December report. It recommended a 3 percent annual increase in funding for EM science and technology programs, totaling $140 million to $185 million per year. “DOE concurs,” the Department’s response states. “EM’s investment in science and technology must be increased substantially, especially considering the lifecycle cost estimate of over $235 billion in the next 50 years to accomplish the remaining mission scope, much of which is high risk.”
The task force recommended that DOE develop an overall comprehensive program that includes funding targets in several different areas. That includes incremental technology development, focusing on improving existing processes, at $30 million to $50 million per year. High-impact technologies would target big challenges outside of the day-to-day program and be funded at $75 million to $100 million per year. Fundamental research would look at knowledge and capabilities in EM with a $25 million funding level. Collaborations with universities would be funded at about $10 million per year. Those funds “need not arise from new budget outlays, but should come in large part from the existing EM budget,” according to the task force.
The Department agreed with the proposed structure for its technology portfolio. “DOE believes that it provides a foundation upon which EM’s management scheme can feature a technology portfolio that addresses the technical complexities associated with EM’s mission,” DOE’s response states. “This structure is consistent with that of other federal agencies whose research and development investment portfolio.”
Ramp Up to Begin in FY’16
That structure should help DOE identify and prioritize needs, the response states. “The scope of EM’s technology portfolio will be based on its mission gaps and the timing for when those gaps will need to be filled by technological innovations and solutions,” according to DOE. “Beginning in FY2016 and more earnestly in FY2017, DOE will gradually ramp-up (increase) its budget and funding for EM technology management activities. This ramp-up will be commensurate with mission need.”
Incentivized Contracts Also a Possibility?
The task force also suggested that incentivized contracts that share the savings of new technologies with contractors could help encourage the application of new technologies. “DOE agrees that performance incentives may motivate contractors to seek technological innovations. Currently, EM contractors are focused on product delivery and facility operations with little or no work statements for research and development,” DOE’s response states. While there are challenges, such as the time limitations of a typical five year contract performance period, “EM will evaluate its contracts, particularly those where high-value technological advancements could be realized, for incentive structures that reward innovation,” the response states.
