Applicability

The requirements identified in DOE Order 413.3B are mandatory for all DOE capital asset projects having a Total Project Cost (TPC) greater than $50M. The principles of the Order apply to all capital asset projects. They also apply to General Plant Projects (GPPs) for which the approved total estimated cost does not exceed the minor construction threshold, using a tailored approach.

All projects with a TPC greater than $50M are required to report progress and provide documentation in the Project Assessment and Reporting System (PARS II) at Critical Decision (CD)-0 and thereafter, and after CD-2 is approved, earned value reporting shall apply.

Capital assets are land, structures, equipment and intellectual property, which are used by the Federal Government and have an estimated useful life of two years or more. Capital assets may be acquired in different ways: through purchase, construction, or manufacture; through a lease-purchase or other capital lease; or through exchange. Capital assets include the environmental remediation of land to make it useful, leasehold improvements and land rights; assets owned by the Federal Government but located in a foreign country or held by others (such as federal contractors, state and local governments, or colleges and universities); and assets whose ownership is shared by the Federal Government with other entities.

A line-item project is a distinct project for which Congress will be requested to authorize and appropriate specific funds.

Projects with a TPC greater than or equal to $750M are Major System Projects. All Major System Project CDs must be proposed by the appropriate Program Secretarial Officer (PSO, usually the Director of the Office of Science) and approved by the Deputy Secretary as DOE's designated Chief Executive for Project Management before proceeding to the next project phase or CD.

Projects with a TPC less than $750M are Non-Major System Projects. The designated Project Management Executive must approve all Non-Major System Project CDs, except for CD-0, which cannot be delegated below the PSO (usually the Director of the Office of Science).