MSU President Lou Anna K. Simon charged an independent review panel to assess the FRIB Project’s readiness for Critical Decision 1 (CD-1). CD-1 is DOE’s determination that a preferred alternative has been selected (following the analysis of multiple alternatives) and that the team is ready to proceed with engineering and design.

The 18-member panel included subject matter experts who, with MSU officials and members of the FRIB Project team, reviewed presentations covering accelerator and target systems, experimental systems, conventional facilities, cost/schedule/funding, project management, procurement, ESH&Q, and preoperations. Review panel members were drawn from Brookhaven National Laboratory, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, and Thomas Jefferson National Laboratory.

The review, held June 8-11 at MSU, included general sessions, breakout sessions, and a tour or NSCL/FRIB. Overall, the review went well and there was a good exchange between the committee and the FRIB management and staff. The committee recognized the considerable effort that went into the FRIB Project to date and considered the project ready for CD-1 review by DOE. They also highlighted some areas requiring further refinement which provided the FRIB team a great opportunity to fine tune presentations and materials before the DOE Review in July.