RECOVERY: Outreach and Marketing Materials for Implementing the American (Task Order 1103 under GSA Contract GS-07F-0086T

THIS NOTICE IS PROVIDED FOR INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY. This synopsis concerns a modification to an existing Agency task order. The purpose of this Modification 1 to Task Order 1103 is to extend the period of performance of the task order until May 31, 2010. Total funding for the task order remains $83,631.54. The period of performance for this task order is now from May 6, 2009 though May 31, 2010. As stated in the synopsis for the initial task order, this task order is for the development and production of outreach materials to support the implementation of the ARRA. The ‘green reserve' provisions place an emphasis on certain types projects that also support EPA's goals under our existing Sustainable Infrastructure Initiative. The materials to be developed are to promote awareness of these provisions to 1) encourage the submission of project proposals that meet the criteria, 2) encourage amendments to existing projects which make them more sustainable, and 3) to continue the emphasis on sustainable projects and practices throughout implementation of the ARRA. 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.