THE TECHCON APPROACH TO TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE: LINKING PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTOR TECHNICAL RESOURCES IN SUPPORT OF DOE SITE ENVIRONMENTAL REMEDIATION NEEDS

Technology Connection (TechCon) is a Department of Energy (DOE) Program connecting DOE's site-specific environmental management needs with private industry capabilities and public sector experience. To facilitate the connection, TechCon solicits information from private industry and the public sector about technology solutions to specific remediation project opportunities and needs within the DOE complex. TechCon functions in a technology neutral role providing timely, cost effective access of experienced vendors to project teams when a significant potential is believed to exist for competitive procurements. Deployment of these technologies requires direct contact activity bringing project team and vendor face-to-face utilizing a technology forum approach to best understand the range of alternatives, educate the stakeholders and support the decision-making process. TechCon uses one-on-one interactions, as well as larger forums where stakeholders can participate, to facilitate changes from the baseline. A key TechCon strategy leverages industry operational experience with technology based systems configured to meet site specific conditions. This enables a transfer of risk from the DOE and site contractor to a third party. TechCon uses the Internet as a cost effective vehicle to build awareness and interest between the project team and the vendor, and to focus on key data needed for the selection of viable alternatives for cleanup. This vehicle is outlined on the TechCon Web site (http://www.ead.anl.gov/~techcon) which allows vendors to review a list of current projects and provides instructions for presenting company capabilities and project experience to the respective DOE remediation project team, review submitted capabilities statements and project histories, or communicate with others involved in the project. TechCon brings the project team together with the best available vendors through a technology forum to facilitate deployment of the technology solution which meets the project-specific needs. The importance of technology deployment in supporting DOE EM's cleanup mission is well understood. Efforts of the DOE, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Defense and private industry have tried to develop and deploy