Message authorized by:
 : xxxxxx@magnum.mco.edu_at_internet at X400PO
 The NBS is a Dept of Interior (DOI) coordinating operation
 for some research and data banks.  It is not a new Federal
 agency, although DOI has tried for serveral years to make it
 one.   Only Congress can form true Federal Agencies.
 Because it is a DOI operation, it can coordinate research
 within that agency.  To the extent that other agencies agree
 with certain of its goals and agree to work with NBS, it can
 also serve as a focal point for interagency coordination in
 specific areas.

 Money still flows to researchers from Congress through the
 individual agencys via their programmatic offices.  The
 folks with responsibility for specific programmatic areas
 retain the authority to spend the money in their budgets.
 Most agencies are open to cooperative projects, and even
 programs where it makes sense.  Agencies, and their
 programmatic offices, are always reluctant to give up
 control of the budgets in their areas for to do so means
 that they have no power to meet their legal
 responsibilities.  Within DOI, the NBS may have some say
 about what things get funded, but that is an internal DOI
 decision.

 DOE and other agencies with spending authority are still
 authorized to decide whether or not to fund particular
 research, in areas of their responsibility.  With the recent
 election outcomes, it is questionable whether or not NBS
 will continue even within DOI.

 Of course, the opinions expressed herein are my own, and do
 not necessarily reflect those of DOE, DOI, or the U.S.
 Government.

 James R. Beall, Ph.D.  Health Effects and Life Sciences
 Research Division, U.S. Dept. of Energy

X-To:         xxxxxx@albnydh2.bitnet

 Has anyone dealt with or heard anything about the National Biologic
Survey (NBS), an apparently new federal agency set up to "coordinate"
non-NIH and non-NSF biologic research?
 We have a subcontract on a Department of Interior contract and I
have
been told that NBS is now the agency controlling the purse strings.

Doug Wilkerson, Ph.D.           VOICE:  (419) 381-4252
Assoc. V.P. for Research        FAX:    (419) 381-4262
Professor of Pharmacology       e-mail: xxxxxx@GEMINI.MCO.EDU
Medical College of Ohio
3000 Arlington Ave.
Toledo, OH 43614