Further technical progress keeps NIF on schedule. This action allows all remaining activities necessary to construct NIF subject, of course, to the availability of funds from Congress. The report is not required for the construction decision, according to DOE legal counsel. However, having both an administration and congressional commitment to complete the entire project would mean that the uncertainties associated with annual funding would be lessened and, hopefully, multi-year contracts more favorable to taxpayers could be negotiated with suppliers. It specifies such things as working conditions, jurisdictions, and conflict resolution in ways that will not be disruptive to the NIF construction project.
Contractors can use non-union labor so long as they follow the procedures specified.
This agreement, which has precedent in similar agreements for other large public projects, will assure that NIF will get the best qualified labor and will help contain costs. It is estimated that the agreement will result in a significant identifiable cost reduction but more importantly will significantly reduce the risk of disruptions that risk cost increases. On December 19,1997, Secretary O'Leary announced a positive Record of Decision for the preferred options of the Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement for the Stockpile Stewardship and Management Program. This decision allows the NIF Project Office to complete the NIF design on a site specific basis, to submit applications for the permits needed for site preparation scheduled to begin in the Spring, and to prepare the contract bid packages for the long lead time procurements. The final NIF design was reviewed by several panels of experts from outside the project during November and December.