Among their actions during a regular meeting of the board last week, UC regents on Jan. 15 took action that would preserve the university's option to compete for the contracts to manage three national laboratories.

While the board did not make a decision as to whether UC would compete to continue to manage the national laboratories, its approval allows the university to continue to prepare as if it will participate. Approval regarding whether UC will enter into the competition is expected to be made by the regents after the U.S. Department of Energy issues its request for proposals.

The regents' action allows the UC president, with the concurrence of the regents' chair and the chair of the regents' committee on oversight of the national laboratories, to execute contract term extensions with DOE for continued management of the national laboratories, to respond to requests by DOE for an expression of interest and a statement of qualifications on behalf of UC, and to acquire professional assistance in drafting potential bid documents and in the preparation for possible competition.

For more news about the regents meeting, see next week's Dateline.