LIBRARY OF CONGRESS-RENOVATION AND RESTORATION

Question. I know your statement outlines the status of the Library of Congress restoration. Is that project finished now? Can the Library move back into the renovated space?

Response. The work of the Phase II Contract was substantially completed in August 1994 and Milestone IV was considered to be met. The Phase II Contractor must install the new bronze doors and frames at the First Floor, Great Hall, Thomas Jefferson Building and complete the testing of the fire and alarm system. Other work of the project that remains to be completed includes, but is not limited to: installation of the security system in both buildings; renovation of the Coolidge Auditorium and Whittall Pavilion; installation of sprinkler systems in the Rare Book stacks of the Thomas Jefferson Building and air conditioning work for Decks 37 & 38, Thomas Jefferson Building.

Until the fire alarm system is totally accepted the Library will not reoccupy spaces, but the preparatory work associated with reoccupying the spaces can proceed now. The current plan is to have the fire alarm system in both buildings complete by May 1995, at which time, the majority of the spaces in both buildings will be available for occupancy by the Library.

Question. Are there any claims pending against the project?

Response. The Colonnade Contractor has filed an appeal of the Contracting Officer's Final Decision with the Contract Appeals Board. The claim is in the amount of $562,159, plus interest. Funds in the amount of $571,564 are currently "earmarked" to cover this claim, should the Contractor prevail in its claim. This amount has not been obligated.

A claim from the Contractor who restored the windows in the Phase I areas of the Thomas Jefferson Building, in the amount of $126,003.72, has recently been received. As submitted the claim does not include sufficient substantiation to support its validity and will be rejected.

Question. Have we seen the last of the funding?

Response. It is our considered opinion that some of the items of work which were not completed as part of any of the construction contracts and other, as yet unidentified items, will arise during the Library's planning of their reoccupancy of the buildings and these items will have to be done by the Supervising Engineer's office from their annual funds.

Question. Update the R&R project schedules and funding tables from last year's Part II.

Response. The following information is supplied for the record.

I am writing to request a reprogramming in an amount not to exceed $500,000, to be shared equally, from annual funds appropriated to the "House Office Buildings" and "Senate Office Buildings" appropriations in the Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 1994, Public Law 103-69, approved August 11, 1993. These funds are to be used for two purposes.

My office has been responding to the need to revise and improve our human resources system, especially with respect to performance appraisals and affirmative employment. I intend to contract out for the development of an agency-wide Performance Evaluation and Management System. Based on preliminary information that has been solicited from prospective contractors, I estimate that approximately $325,000 $350,000 will be required for development and implementation of such a system. The final contract amount will undoubtedly vary once firm contract proposals have been received and evaluated, but I am seeking your approval to set aside sufficient monies at this time so that I may proceed without delay once I am prepared to award a contract.

In addition, my efforts at improving responses to affirmative employment complaints have led to the conclusion that there are also areas that must be contracted out to meet these needs. I am thus requesting that you approve setting aside sufficient monies to accommodate those needs as they arise this fiscal year. The balance of the amount requested, $150,000, would be applied toward this purpose.