Selected Aspects of the DOE Operating Contract for the Solar Energy Research Institute

In response to a congressional request, GAO examined the Department of Energy's (DOE) contract with the Midwest Research Institute (MRI) for operating and managing the Solar Energy Research Institute (SERI). Specifically GAO was asked to discuss whether: (1) the process DOE used to evaluate the performance by MRI under the contract resulted in a fair characterization of that performance; (2) the DOE decision to extend the contract 15 months beyond its scheduled expiration date was warranted; and (3) the process used by DOE to recompete the contract was adequate to select a qualified contractor for SERI.

MRI has managed and operated SERI since its inception in 1977 and was granted a 15-month contract extension to mid-1983. Following the extension, MRI was selected as the contractor for the next 5 years. GAO found that DOE generally followed its prescribed contractor evaluation process in assessing the performance of MRI and that the resulting evaluations gave a fair characterization of that performance. While GAO noted certain evaluation deficiencies, it felt that they did not affect the fairness of the evaluations. However, GAO cautioned that these deficiencies, if not corrected, could affect future evaluations. GAO also found that the contract extension was warranted and stated that recompetition without the extension would have been disruptive during redirection and downscoping efforts at SERI.

Recommendations

Our recommendations from this work are listed below with a Contact for more information. Status will change from "In process" to "Open," "Closed - implemented," or "Closed - not implemented" based on our follow up work.

Director: James Duffus Iii Team: General Accounting Office: Resources, Community, and Economic Development Division Phone: (202) 512-7756