BDM-Oklahoma is the Management and Operating (M&O) Contractor for the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) National Oil and Related Programs (NORP) which includes the operation of the National Institute for Petroleum and Energy Research (NIPER) in Bartlesville, Oklahoma and other authorized sites. NIPER is a DOE-owned facility where major elements of the NORP are performed. The primary functions conducted at NIPER are advance research and development activities in the area of oil exploration, extraction, and processing and utilization. NIPER is also responsible for transferring newly developed technologies to the domestic oil industry. NIPER currently has no field sites; however, in the future BDM-Oklahoma could develop field sites in the United States to test oil drilling and recovery technologies. Additionally, the DOE Office of Fossil Energy (FE) maintains the Metaire Site Office in New Orleans, Louisiana, to support environmental research programs for the National Oil Program. BDM-Oklahoma will be required to open a branch office to assist the Metaire Site Office. Finally, there are plans for DOE or NIPER to open a liaison office in Russia during 1994 to assist that country in developing its oil reserves. DOE has a group of Federal employees, known as the Bartlesville Project Office (BPO) at the NIPER facility to oversee the M&O contract. BPO personnel assist in interpreting DOE directives, approving budget requests, and monitoring BDM-Oklahoma contractual performance. Under the terms of the M&O contract with DOE, number DE-AC22-94PC91008, BDM Oklahoma is responsible for the daily operation of NIPER and other field sites. BDM Oklahoma conducts all oil research activities, manages technology transfer efforts, and performs all the maintenance and housekeeping operations. One of BDM-Oklahoma's responsibilities is to carry out a fully compliant Environment, Safety and Health program.