UTSR By-Laws

The U.S. Department of Energy has established the Turbine Program aimed at developing gas turbine power generation systems with significantly improved thermodynamic and environmental performance. The Turbine Program includes university research into technology barrier issues facing the industry and an outreach activity to promote program growth, education and technology transfer. A consortium, University Turbine Systems Research (UTSR), has been established to administer the University research and outreach portion of the Turbine Program. The consortium is headquartered at the South Carolina Institute for Energy Studies (SCIES) at Clemson University . UTSR is "without walls," i.e.; it represents all university participants in the consortium.

The UTSR consortium is charged with support of the DOE/NETL Turbine Program by conducting research on longer range technology development issues defined by industrial participants and to promote the Turbine Program via outreach. The goal is to remove the technical barriers that may exist in areas such as (but not limited to):

Membership and participation in the consortium will be in accordance with the following criteria:

3.1 GAS TURBINE MANUFACTURERS: Open to manufacturers of gas turbine turbomachinery supplied to the utility and/or industrial markets. The companies must perform at least 50% (determined on a dollar basis) of their gas turbine related R&D engineering in the U.S. and also must manufacture its products in the U.S. Gas turbine manufacturers are eligible for membership on the Industrial Review Board and may have voting privileges (see 4.0).

3.2 UNIVERSITIES: Open to all American colleges and universities with an accredited Engineering curriculum. Expertise and experience in the turbomachinery, high temperature materials, environmental compliance, or power generation field is required, as the program is geared to enhancing current capabilities, rather than developing new ones.

Participating universities that have a statement of interest and qualifications on file with the UTSR will be referred to as the Performing Members, and will be eligible to receive RFP's issued by UTSR. Performing Members are not eligible for membership on the Industrial Review Board (see 4.0).

3.3 OTHER ORGANIZATIONS: These will be accommodated along the general guidelines listed below:

3.3.1 Architect Engineers: Can participate as a non-voting member of the IRB (see 4.1.2 below), as subcontractor to a Performing Member, or as member of Advisory Board (see 4.2 below).

3.4 ELECTION TO MEMBERSHIP: Performing Member Universities are elected to UTSR membership by the UTSR Research Manager. All other memberships must be approved by the Industrial Review Board voting members (see 4.0).

4.1 INDUSTRIAL REVIEW BOARD: The Industrial Review Board (IRB) guides the technical activities of the UTSR. Membership consists of the following:

The IRB will elect a Chairman of the Board (by majority vote of the IRB) to voice IRB opinion to the UTSR Principal Investigator and the DOE.

4.1.1 The EPRI and GTI representatives are ex-officio, do not pay a fee and do not have voting privileges. EPRI and GTI may elect Associate Member privileges.

4.1.2 An organization requesting Associate Membership must be nominated by the UTSR Principal Investigator, be approved by majority vote of the IRB, and receive DOE approval. Performing Members are not eligible for Associate Membership.

4.1.3. A quorum for the IRB to conduct business will consist of at least two-thirds of the voting members. IRB voting members may be represented at business meetings by phone or proxy vote. Board decisions will be based on two-thirds vote of IRB voting members. Tie votes, unless resolved by further discussion, will be deemed "No" votes.

4.2 ADVISORY BOARD: An Advisory Board of industry experts may be appointed by the IRB Chair as the need arises, to review progress, and obtain input on university research. Performing members and university subcontractors are not eligible for this Board. All Advisory Board members are non-voting.

4.3 MEETINGS: The IRB will meet at least annually, and more frequently as requested by the IRB Chair and UTSR Principal Investigator, to review proposals, conduct contract performance reviews, and review the overall UTSR program. Performing Members will not attend IRB meetings unless specifically requested.

5.1 RESEARCH CONTRACTS: Funds for university research contracts are derived from the Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) awarded to SCIES for UTSR, and from membership fees assessed the IRB members.

5.2 FELLOWSHIPS: The UTSR may award student Industrial Fellowships and Faculty Fellowships at the discretion of the IRB and NETL. The number of Fellowships to be awarded (in both categories) will be established at the annual IRB meeting as will the source of funding.

5.3 ADMINISTRATION: Administration costs for the Director's office are paid for under the CRADA.

5.4.1 Voting Members: Voting IRB members are assessed $25,000 per year, to be paid prior to March 31.

5.4.2 Non-voting Associate Members: IRB members electing non-voting status will be assessed an annual fee of $7,500 to be paid prior to March 31. Non-voting members will receive the following: complimentary copies of all research progress and final reports, attendance for up to 5 staff members at voting member rates to all UTSR workshops, input to research ideas included in the RFP, non-voting voice on proposal review and IRB business meetings, and participation in the UTSR Gas Turbine Industrial Fellowship and Faculty Fellowship programs.

5.4.3 Performing Members: No fees will be assessed to the university participants.

5.4.4 Advisory Board: A nominal administration fee may be assessed at the discretion of the Chairman of the IRB with approval by the DOE.

5.4.5 Non-member UTSR companies may attend UTSR functions at a fee decided by UTSR.

5.5 USE OF RESEARCH FUNDS: It is the intent of the consortium to fund analysis and testing, but not to create new facilities. Performing Members will be made aware of each other's capabilities, and also of other available facilities. Costs of modifying and using existing facilities will be acceptable.

The UTSR will have minimal staff as required to effectively administer the UTSR cooperative agreement. Current SCIES personnel and Clemson students will supplement full-time UTSR staff. Total UTSR support staff will be approved by DOE.

6.1 Principal Investigator: The SCIES Director is UTSR Principal Investigator (PI) and responsible for all program functions including all interactions with the DOE. The PI may, at his discretion, delegate select program duties to the UTSR managers. The UTSR PI will attend IRB meetings but is a non-voting member of the Board.

6.2 MANAGER(S): The UTSR Research and Outreach Manager(s) will be selected from a nationwide search among experienced leaders in the gas turbine industry. Input from the IRB and DOE will be sought, with final approval by Clemson University . The UTSR Managers may attend IRB meetings, but are non-voting members.

6.3 ASSOCIATE MANAGER(S): Depending on the future size of the program and availability of funds, one or more Associate Managers may be added to help administer the UTSR. Associate Managers will also be recognized industry leaders. The Associate Managers may attend IRB meetings, but are non-voting members.

6.4 PUBLICATIONS: The UTSR will publish all research results presented at UTSR held workshops. The UTSR may also issue periodic newsletters and other DOE correspondence to members of the consortium to report on items of interest. Trade journal articles will be published as UTSR accomplishments are developed.

6.4 BUSINESS PRACTICES: All transactions among the members of the consortium will be conducted in accordance with the applicable statutes of Clemson University , the State of South Carolina , the Federal Acquisition Regulations, and other U.S. Government regulations.

7.1 REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS: The UTSR will issue broad-based RFP's to which the Performing Members will respond with specific proposals that address the areas of needed technology advancement. These areas will be identified by the IRB and be approved by DOE/NETL.

7.2 PROPOSALS: The Performing Members will be the lead organization for all proposals. Teams are strongly encouraged, and may include any of the parties identified in Membership, Paragraph 3.0.

7.2.1 The parties must agree to abide by the contract terms and conditions that are passed through from DOE to UTSR, and hence to the Performing Members and their subcontractors.

7.3 AWARDS: Performing Member proposals will be reviewed and ranked by the IRB. Awards will be made within the available funding. It is the intent of the review process that an IRB consensus will be obtained on which proposals are recommended for award; however, if a vote is necessary, the voting members present will decide (see Paragraph 4.1.3). DOE must approve the awards prior to notification of the Performing Members.

7.4 REPORTS: Progress and topical reports, and conference paper presentations related to the work performed, will be in accordance with contract specifications.

7.5 INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY: It is the general intent of this program to have these rights remain with the Performing Members. Specifics will be defined in the contract language.

The UTSR will schedule workshops based on the recommendations of the DOE and the IRB. It is anticipated that the Workshops will at least be held annually for program review, to review reporting, to develop program guidance, to develop topics for future investigation, and to provide a formal means of interacting with other land-based power system programs.

It is the intention of the University Turbine Systems Research (UTSR) program and the South Carolina Institute for Energy Studies (SCIES) that all activities conducted by its Industrial Review Board, Committees and other working groups will be in conformance with all Federal Antitrust Laws.

Any effort undertaken whether expressed or implied, that could be considered to restrain trade or act as a barrier to commerce to any individual or group of individuals will be avoided.
Meetings of members will be structured. There should be proper notification, agenda, and observance of rules of procedure and minutes of the meeting. Adherence to the business items on the agenda will avoid any appearance of conflict.
Members must take special care to avoid making statements or engaging in conduct prohibited by UTSR policy and by-laws. Should members have any doubt concerning the propriety of any matters under discussion at such meetings, they must immediately disassociate themselves from the discussion and, if necessary, leave the meeting.

Responsibility for compliance rests with every member of the UTSR IRB and committees along with any invited guests(s) or participants(s). Suspected violations of this notice should be communicated to your company representative or responsible SCIES employee.