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NSSI's ownership asked me to offer the following
opinion.
March 17, 1999
Referencing the note from Bernadette Baca concerning DOE seeking industry input to convert Uranium Hexafluoride to a more stable form: The technology already exists for such
conversion. The literature defines several procedures for such conversion.
Unfortunately, all of the procedures generate significant quantities of
Hydrofluoric acid or other Fluorides and require very expensive equipment.
What DOE is really interested in is identifying
companies with the expertise and licensure to conduct such treatment at the
lowest possible cost. Once a company has provided DOE with an
acceptable technological approach, DOE will partially fund a pilot project
to that company with the company paying most of the cost. At the end of the
pilot project the company is required to provide a report containing the
technology and pilot project results. DOE immediately publishes the report and
provides the information to all known competitors. DOE then issues an RFQ and
invites all to bid using the technology based on the pilot project.
Nothing could be more unfair. A company comes up
with a good idea and proves the process. DOE gathers all the technology from the
proof of process and provides it to anyone who wishes to compete.
DOE would get a lot more interest in this type
of project if it allowed the company with the brains to develop a proprietary
technology to use that knowledge to bid the project. Distributing the technology
to others who wish to compete may provide the government with the lowest price
on the immediate project but it insures that the company that developed the
process won't participate in future projects.
Thanks for the opportunity to be involved but we
will stick with private sector projects.
Robert D.
Gallagher
President NSSI 03179A1.doc |