The present Wage-Board System, under which the Architect of the Capitol operates, is authorized and governed by Public Law 92-392. That Act vests the Architect of the Capitol with authority to utilize the Wage-Board System established by that law for Wage-Board employees under the Architect, to such extent as the Architect deems feasible. In the interest of equity and sound administration the Architect of the Capitol has continued to follow, generally, the uniform Federal Wage System, as established by that law.

A detailed history of the Wage-Board System, as it has applied to the Architect of the Capitol from 1955-1975 and currently applies, is contained in the 1975 Hearings and so is not repeated in these Hearings.

This project was authorized by Public Law 89-260, approved October 19, 1965, at a limit of cost of $75,000,000. The limit of cost was increased to $90,000,000 by Public Law 91-214, approved March 16, 1970, and to $123,000,000 by Public Law 94-219, approved February 27, 1976. The total amount authorized to date has been appropriated.

Work under this project is being performed in four construction phases, under construction contracts totaling to date, $106,816,019. Phase I "Excavations and foundations" has been completed at a cost of $7,301,224, having been performed under contract awarded April 23, 1971. Phase II "Quarrying, fabrication, and delivery of the exterior marble and granite and other exterior stonework required for the superstructure' has been completed at a cost of $5,353,417, having been performed under contract awarded December 16, 1971.

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The final phase, Phase IV, "Interior and related work" is now in progress under a contract in the current amount of $67,843,327, awarded March 9, 1976. Based on competitive bids for this Phase, received and opened July 23, 1975, this contract could not be awarded until enactment of the above-cited Public Law 94-219, February 27, 1976, increasing the limit of cost of the project by $33,000,000 and the subsequent appropriating of such additional amount in Public Law 94-226, approved March 9, 1976. Work under this contract, awarded March 9, 1976, is now about 50 percent complete. The present established completion date, based on time extensions granted to date, is May 31, 1979. Pending supplements and other changes may extend the completion date into the fiscal year 1980.

The total obligated for the entire project, from its commencement to September 30, 1977, is $117,369,606. In addition to the four construction contracts enumerated above, totaling $106,186,019, obligations totaling $11,183,587, have been incurred, of which $6,080,000 has been for architectural and engineering services, $70,000 for exhibit consultant fees, $100,000 for modeling and carving of a statue of James Madison for the Memorial Hall, $86,590 for other design services, $268,862 for relocating water and sewer lines and street and curb work, and $4,578,135 for supervision, inspection, and other administrative and miscellaneous expenses.

In this connection, it is to be noted that an anticipated supplemental appropriation in the neighborhood of $5,000,000 is likely to be required for fiscal year 1978 in order to carry this project to final completion and settlement. The present limit of cost of $123,000,000 may not be exceeded except through legislative amendment modifying the cost limitation now specifically fixed by law for this project. It is proposed to seek such legislation through the House Public Works and Senate Rules Committees and enactment of the necessary legislation after hearings before those two Committees. Following such enactment, the additional funds are proposed to be requested of the Appropriations Committees in a fiscal year 1978 Supplement.

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99-100 O-78-18

Under the provisions of the authorization act governing this project, the Architect of
the Capitol performs his duties under the joint direction of the House Office Building
Commission, the Senate Office Building Commission, and the Joint Committee on the Library.
MODIFICATIONS AND ENLARGEMENT, CAPITOL POWER PLANT

This project is authorized, at a limit of cost of $30,600,000, by Public Law 93-50, approved July 1, 1973, "Second Supplemental Appropriations Act, 1973", as amended by Public Law 94-440, approved October 1, 1976, "Legislative Branch Appropriation Act, 1977". Public Law 93-50 included an appropriation of $17,400,000 for the project and authorized such amount to be added to and merged with a prior appropriation of $1,200,000 provided for engineering and other required design services for the project in Public Law 92-184, approved December 15, 1971, "Supplemental Appropriations Act, 1972". Public Law 94-440 increased those amounts by an additional $12,000,000, from $18,600,000 to $30,600,000, and included the additional $12,000,000 in that Act.

Briefly stated, the purpose of the project is to make modifications to the Capitol Power Plant, its steam and chilled water distribution systems, including the enlargement thereof, required to supply steam and chilled water for air-conditioning for the Library of Congress James Madison Memorial Building and the Extension to the Dirksen Senate Office Building, in addition to the buildings now supplied with such service by the plant, with sufficient reserve plant capacity to provide for projected additional loads through 1980, including necessary environmental control and other appurtenant facilities.

Under the provisions of the Authorization Act, all work in connection with the project is being carried forward by the Architect of the Capitol under the direction of the House Office Building Commission. This Commission was vested with control over the construction of the original Capitol Power Plant, constructed in 1904-1910 and placed in operation December 1, 1910, and has been vested with control over expenditures for alterations, modifications, maintenance, and operation of the plant since that time.

At the present time, the Capitol Power Plant generates and supplies steam for heating and chilled water for air-conditioning to the Capitol, two Senate Office Buildings, three House Office Buildings, two Library of Congress Buildings, and the United States Supreme Court Building. The Plant also generates and supplies steam for heat to the House and Senate garages and United States Botanic Garden, and on a reimbursable basis to the Washington City Post Office, Government Printing Office, and Folger Shakespeare Library. The Capitol Power Plant has been in operation since 1910.

Under the provisions of Public Law 95-182, approved November 15, 1977, the Folger Library, at its expense, is authorized to connect its building to the Capitol Power Plant chilled water lines in a manner satisfactory to the Architect of the Capitol and the House Office Building Commission and, after completion of such connection, the Architect, under the direction of the Commission is authorized to furnish chilled water for air conditioning to such building from the Capitol Power Plant on a reimbursable basis.

Contract for the manufacture, delivery, and installation of 4 large centrifugal refrigeration machines having a total refrigeration capacity of 24,000 tons, including 4 pumpdown units and refrigeration receivers....

Contracts for furnishing and delivering of structural steel, valves, piping system components, and chilled water and condensor pumps for the new Refrigeration Plant..

Administration, blueprints, tests, surveys, and other miscellaneous items.......