§2758. Improvements to cost estimates informing analyses of alternatives
(a) Requirement for analyses of alternatives
The Administrator shall ensure that any cost estimate used in an analysis of alternatives for a project carried out using funds authorized by a DOE national security authorization is designed to fully satisfy the requirements outlined in the mission needs statement approved at critical decision 0 in the acquisition process, as set forth in Department of Energy Order 413.3B (relating to program management and project management for the acquisition of capital assets) or a successor order.
(b) Use of project engineering and design funds
In the case of a project the total estimated cost of which exceeds $500,000,000 and that has not reached critical decision 1 in the acquisition process, the Administrator may use funds authorized by a DOE national security authorization for project engineering and design to begin the development of a conceptual design to facilitate the development of a cost estimate for the project during the analysis of alternatives for the project if-
(1) the Administrator-
(A) determines that such use of funds would improve the quality of the cost estimate for the project; and
(B) notifies the congressional defense committees of that determination; and
(2) a period of 15 days has elapsed after the date on which such committees receive the notification.
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