Folks, Attached is the current progress assessment of NCSX through February.

SCHEDULE: We continue to be about 2 months behind our original baseline

plan. Vacuum vessel and MCC design/analysis work is forecasting a completion

by late May which will be tight supporting a June 23rd PDR. (see summary

analysis and detailed barcharts for specific task progress).

COST PERFORMANCE: The project's cost performance (CPI) has slipped from .96

to .91 overall. This slip was generally seen across all WBS elements. (The

Cost Performance Index (CPI) = .91, which translates into accomplishing $91

worth of work for every $100 spent).

BUDGET: Forecast cost for the fiscal year shows the MIE project spending

more that planned (less management reserve) in the VV R&D contract (+$726

incl set-aside), WBS 19 Stellarator core mgt (+$79) and Project Physics

(+$125k) but less on the MCC Winding design/in-house R&D (-$262 driven by

the need to defer M&S spending because of institutional issues) and VV

Design (-$164). This translates into a reduction in our management reserve

from $1,635k to $1,091k. If these forecast hold and no action is taken to

accelerate labor type tasks the project could underrun FY03 by $1,091k. (see

the included COST ANALYSIS for specific recommended actions).

Ron