AUTHORITY FOR CONCEPTUAL AND CONSTRUCTION DESIGN.

SEC. 3125. AUTHORITY FOR CONCEPTUAL AND CONSTRUCTION DESIGN. (a) Requirement of Conceptual Design.—(1) Subject to paragraph (2) and except as provided in paragraph (3), before submitting to Congress a request for funds for a construction project that is in support of a national security program of the Department of Energy, the Secretary of Energy shall complete a conceptual design for that project. 115 STAT. 1363 (2) If the estimated cost of completing a conceptual design for a construction project exceeds $3,000,000, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a request for funds for the conceptual design before submitting a request for funds for the construction project. (3) The requirement in paragraph (1) does not apply to a request for funds— (A) for a minor construction project the total estimated cost of which is less than $5,000,000; or (B) for emergency planning, design, and construction activities under section 3126. (b) Authority for Construction Design.—(1) Within the amounts authorized by this title, the Secretary of Energy may carry out construction design (including architectural and engineering services) in connection with any proposed construction project if the total estimated cost for such design does not exceed $600,000. (2) If the total estimated cost for construction design in connection with any construction project exceeds $600,000, funds for that design must be specifically authorized by law.