RECOVERY–Support for Implementation/Evaluation of Green Project Reserve Requirements of ARRA and Support for Compliance Assessments/Site Inspections/Regulatory Compliance and Technology Evaluations for Municipal Wastewater/Drinking Water Treatment Systems

THIS NOTICE IS PROVIDED FOR INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY NO SOLICITAION WILL BE ISSUED AGAINST THIS SYNOPSIS RECOVERY - Support for the Implementation and Evaluation of the Green Project Reserve Requirements of the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act and Support to EPA Headquarters for Compliance Assessments, Site Inspections, Regulatory Compliance Support, and Technology Evaluations for Municipal Wastewater and Drinking Water Treatment Systems (CONTRACT EP-C-07-029, Modification 25). The purpose of this modification is to add work which is funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) to the contract. Specifically Work Assignments 4-100 and 4-101 detailed below. This modification adds the required clauses for contracts utilizing ARRA funding, ARRA funding, and exercises one quantity option increment. (1) DESCRIPTION OF EFFORTS (a) Work Assignment 4-100 which has an anticipated period of performance of August 24, 2011 through July 31, 2012. This work assignment is currently funded to the amount of $238,412.26. The objective of Work Assignment 4-100 is to provide support to EPA's Office of Wastewater Management in implementing a comprehensive program management strategy for the Green Project Reserve (GPR) provisions of the ARRA. Key tasks include research to support GPR national benefits studies and videos documenting environmental benefits achieved by individual projects. (b) Work Assignment 4-101 which has an anticipated period of performance of August 24, 2011 through July 31, 2012. This work assignment is currently funded to the amount of $220,681.61. The objective of Work Assignment 4-101 is to provide support to EPA and State programs in the management, oversight, compliance, and reporting of ARRA funds provided to assistance recipients (cities, towns, and other local governmental units) for construction of water and wastewater treatment plants and systems. The support will include assisting the programs with the new provisions of Davis-Bacon wage and Buy American manufactured goods regulatory requirements in compliance with ARRA and the CFR. 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.