RECOVERY - Managerial and Oversight Support for State Revolving Fund Programs to help inform and coordinate Regional decision-making on requests for waivers for the requirements of section 1605 of the ARRA (CONTRACT EP-C-08-015, Modification 18)

RECOVERY - Managerial and Oversight Support for State Revolving Fund Programs to help inform and coordinate Regional decision-making on requests for waivers for the requirements of section 1605 of the ARRA (CONTRACT EP-C-08-015, Modification 18) THIS NOTICE IS PROVIDED FOR INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY. The purpose of this Modification 18 is to obligate $535,000 in initial funding in support of Work Assignment (WA 1-101). The period of performance for this work assignment will be from May 11, 2009 though December 31, 2009. WA 1-101 of Contract EP-C-08-015 will have the contractor support EPA in efforts to help inform and coordinate Regional decision-making on requests for waivers for the requirements of section 1605 of the ARRA. The contractor shall provide technical expertise in assessing each individual waiver request's technical strengths and weaknesses. The contractor shall provide a summary report on each waiver request to help inform Regional decision-making on these requests. Work to be preformed under this contract shall include: • Collect and log all requests for waivers. • Evaluate waiver requests related to the purchase and installation of construction material and equipment for water and wastewater facilities to ensure waivers comply with one of the justifications under ARRA. • Evaluate construction cost estimates and develop detailed independent construction cost estimates when needed to evaluate waiver requests. • Prepare a report on each waiver documenting the steps taken in evaluating the waiver request and an analysis focusing on the individual waiver request's technical strengths and weaknesses. • Provide copies of all documentation used in the evaluation. • Develop a tracking spreadsheet database documenting each waiver request. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) contains specific acquisition requirements that must be met when using appropriated funds from the Act, including the need for acquisitions to be in accordance with the FAR and, to the maximum extent practicable, awarded as fixed-price (FP) contracts using competitive procedures. However, the Office of Management and Budget's guidance allows for the use of other than FP contracts. Although the Agency's Office of Water (OW) contracts were not awarded as FP contracts, they were awarded competitively, and each contract structure was selected to provide the contractor with the greatest incentive for efficient and economical performance, given the types of services to be performed. The existing OW contracts have sufficient qualified acquisition personnel to provide appropriate contract administration and oversight to monitor contract performance to mitigate the Government's risk. In order to meet the requirements of the Act in the most prudent business manner within the time constraints imposed, existing OW contracts are the most appropriate contractual vehicles consistent with Agency plans that promote the goals of the ARRA.