Summary of NCSX System Integration Team (SIT) Meeting of Monday, February 14, 2005

1.    New DOE Funding Guidance, Project Schedule, and Re-baselining

• The DOE FY-06 budget requests $15.9M for NCSX MIE and $0.700M for research prep. Because the MIE funding guidance falls well below the baseline plan, we have been directed by DOE to re-baseline the project. Funding guidance through FY-09 was received for the MIE project, whereas research prep guidance was only received for FY-06.
• Based on preliminary planning already done, the new MIE baseline is expected to have the following features:
  
  • MCWF and VVSA contract funding schedules unchanged.
  • Modular coil winding using 2 lines instead of 3, and single-shift operation.
  • TF fabrication stretched out.  The issue of whether to fabricate in-house versus procure, is re-opened. A decision will be made by March 1.
  • Adequate budget contingency, schedule contingency, and contingency profile to manage project risks.
  • First plasma delayed approximately one year. A bottoms-up re-baselining will be necessary to accurately update the TEC and end date.
    
• A schedule for developing a new baseline was issued.  The goal is to complete the re-baselining by the end of April. The first step will be a call for WBS managers to update their ETCs and contingency risk assessment.  Action: Ron issue guidance and ETC update schedule.
• Updated labor rates through FY-09 are needed to support the re-baselining. Action: Jim for ORNL, Ron for PPPL.
• It was decided that we do not need an all-hands meeting to discuss the budget. A short comment will be made at Wednesday’s WBS 1 meeting. Action: Hutch
  

2.    Research Planning Activities

• Report on HSX & CTH contributions to NCSX research preparation. Draft was issued 2/13. Goal is to submit to Sam Barish by Feb. 18.  Mike
• Stellarator Program White Paper.  Drafts of Introductory and Physics Issues chapters were issued by Jim.  Comments are requested. According to the schedule, drafts of the NCSX and other program component chapters are due March 1.  Jim, Hutch, Mike.
• BPM talks.  Jim will cover NCSX programatic aspects and research prep budgets in his program talk. Hutch will cover NCSX MIE status and budget requirements. A question is how to handle HSX and CTH budgets in the program talk. Jim will follow up with Sam Barish.
• Research prep budgets. Action: Hutch follow-up with Dave Hill and Sam to get the FY-06 research prep budget distribution aligned with the project’s plans.
• Fusion Science & Technology special issue. We continue to believe there is value in publishing the NCSX physics design chapters in a special issue of F.S.&T., and it is our intention to do so. However, due to the continuous demands of higher priority tasks, we are unable to commit to a schedule for submitting the chapters that are outstanding. We will inform the editor, Nermin Uckan, and the other chapter authors of this.  In the future, once we have a complete set of chapters ready to go forward for publications, we will contact the editor and re-plan.  Action: Hutch discuss with editor.
• Program Advisory Committee.  A teleconference with the PAC will be arranged to discuss the new NCSX funding plan and its implications for the program.  Dave Anderson, PAC chair, was contacted and agreed. Tentative date is March 3.  Action: Hutch arrange meeting.
  

3.   Next SIT Meeting: t.b.a.

Summary by:
Hutch Neilson