Department of Energy FY94 Budget: Superconducting Super Collider
The Department of Energy has requested $640.0 million for the Superconducting Super Collider in fiscal year 1994. The request is an increase of $123.0 million, or 23.8 percent, from the 1993 appropriation.
DOE’s budget “Highlights” state that “The Superconducting Super Collider (SSC) is a proton-proton collider having an energy of 20 TeV per beam that will permit exploration of this new domain of physics research which cannot be reached by any other facility either in existence or planned. The goal of the SSC is to explore areas of the TeV mass region where advancements will expand knowledge of the fundamental nature of matter and energy, and enable the U.S. high energy physics program to remain at the research frontier into the next century. The SSC is a critical part of the Administration’s initiative to strengthen the position of the Nation as a world leader in science and technology.
“Federal funding of $640.0 million is requested in FY 1994 for the SSC. It is expected that the budget request will be augmented by substantial non-Federal contributions. The Federal budget request for FY 1994 includes $104.4 million for continued research and development on superconducting magnets and other accelerator systems and detector systems; $50.0 million for capital equipment funds, primarily for prototype of detector and accelerator subsystems; and, $480.6 million for construction. The construction funding is primarily for detailed design of both technical and conventional facilities, the magnet industrialization program, fabrication of injector and collider technical systems and components, and on-site construction of conventional facilities. There is also $5.0 million for laboratory operations costs not directly related to project construction that are not included in the total project cost.
“Ellis County, Texas is the site for the SSC. Currently the Department is reestimating the project completion and total project cost as a result of the most recent FY 1994 Presidential budget guidance which calls for a stretch-out of the SSC program to ensure that all components are technically effective and that adequate managerial controls are in place. Due to the magnitude of the changes in the funding profile, a detailed reevaluation of the project schedule, the approach to accomplish major tasks, and the laboratory staffing plan will be required. The revised project plan developed by the laboratory will be subject to a detailed cost and schedule review by the Department. The reestimate will be formalized with a baseline change by the end of FY 1993. The impact of the reevaluation is a reduction in planned outlays in FY 1994-1998, a 3-year delay in schedule, and a $2 billion increase in the as-spent project cost. This estimate of the change is believed accurate within 20 percent at this time. The program changes will be discussed with current and planned non-Federal contributors and the impact in this area will be reflected in the baseline change.”
Future FYIs will cover other DOE program budgets, including Basic Energy Sciences and Fusion Energy.
