Answer: The technical issues and design changes and corresponding cost increases were recommended by the SSC Laboratory. The estimated cost was reviewed and discussed within the Department, resulting in the indicated review and validation process to establish a baseline design, schedule, and final cost estimate for the SSC project. Question: How was it approved at various levels within the Department? Answer: A revised cost estimate has not been approved by the Department. design are underway. A revised cost estimate will not be approved by the Department until these reviews are complete and the costs have been validated by the Department. The need for the design changes recommended by the SSC Laboratory has been reviewed and endorsed by the High Energy Physics Advisory Panel (HEPAP) Subpanel on SSC in January 1990. This Subpanel felt strongly about the need for a flexible and reliable facility at 20 TeV for decades to come and concurred with the SSC Laboratory on the logic of making the technical design changes described above. The HEPAP recommendations have been accepted by the Secretary. Question: Explain the origin of the cost increases. Answer: The cost increases derive primarily from the need to incorporate design changes in the SSC particle accelerator based on new information on technical issues not known at the time of the 1986 conceptual design. In addition, we now have a better understanding of the schedule, funding profile, manpower, labor and tooling costs and a site specific conceptual design. Question: Answer: How will the new cost estimates be derived? The new cost estimates will be based on a "bottoms-up" cost Question: Answer: Who will do the estimation? The SSC Laboratory will develop the basic cost estimate. This |