EPA, ADP Placement Section (3803F), 401 M St. SW, Washington, DC 20460-0001

A -- PREPARE FINAL BENEFIT OF SECONDARY TREATEMENT REPORT AND UPDATED NPS COST ESTIMATES FOR THE 1996 CLEAN WATER NEEDS SURVEY SOL CON006 DUE 022897 POC -- Melissa Revely-Brown, 202/260-1225 WEB: NOT AVAILABLE, NOT AVAILABLE. E-MAIL: NOT AVAILABLE, revely-brown.melissa@epamail.epa.govor bastian.robert@epamail.epa.gov. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is issuing a request for proposal for services to which the Government intends to award a firm fixed price contract using the Simplified Acquisition Procedures of FAR Part 13. The EPA is FACNET certified. Any contractor/vendor able to meet the requirement must demonstrate in writing by closing date. All responsible sources solicited may submit a bid, proposal, or quotation, which shall be considered. Interested person may identify their interest and capability to respond to the requirement or submit proposals. This notice is intended for competitive proposals. The solicitation identifies the office where additional technical information can be obtained or you may E-mail the project officer at scott.cheryl@epamail.epa.gov and also cc: revely-brown.melissa@epamail.epa.gov. Award will be made to the firm whose offer provides the greatest value to the Government, price, quality and delivery performance considered. Award may be based on lowest overall evaluated cost.Preference will be given to small business. Two copies of all proposals, for the following statement of work, should be delivered to the following address, (fax/e-mail copies will not be accepted): US EPA; 401 M Street, SW Mail Code 3803F Washington, DC 20460 Attn: Melissa Revely-Brown Handcarry 499 South Capitol Street, SW Fairchild Building -- 3rd Floor Washington, DC Attn: Melissa Revely-Brown Due Date: February 28, 1997 -- 2:30pm EST (Any proposal received after the due date will not be considered or opened.) Statement of Work Prepare Final Benefits of Secondary Treatment Report and Updated NPS Cost Estimates for the 1996 Clean Water Needs Survey Estimated Period of Performance: Effective date through September 30, 1997 Background The passage of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act Amendments of 1972 (PL 92-500) and its more recent amendments now collectively known as the Clean Water Act (CWA) required the establishment and implementation of the technology-based minimum requirement of secondary treatment for POTWs discharging to waters of the U.S. With the exception of the few POTWs that qualified for waivers from secondary treatment under 301(h) of the CWA, all POTWs are currently meeting secondary treatment or higher levels, or are currently on an enforcement schedule to complete construction of secondary treatment. Over $60billion provided through the CWA's Construction Grants Program, along with additional state and local funding, have been invested in the planning, design and construction of POTWs to help meet the fishable/swimmable goals of the CWA. Significant reductions in effluent loadings to receiving waters have resulted from this investment in POTWs during a period of sustained growth in population and industrial activity. The reductions in pollutant loads have resulted in dramatic improvements in DO in many waters of the U.S., especially those dominated by domestic discharges. Questions concerning the environmental benefits, as well as the cost-effectiveness of the CWA and the Construction Grants Program have been raised by Congress, special interest, environmental and business advocacy groups, as well as the general public. The issue has been raised regarding the effectiveness of the technology-based minimum requirement of secondary treatment for POTWs. None of the previous efforts to document the water quality improvements achieved by the CWA (e.g., Abler et al., 1993; Patrick et al., 1992; Isaac, 1991; GAO, 1986; ASIWPCA, 1984;) have focused on the water quality and ecological benefits realized by POTWs over the past 20 years. The 1996 Clean Water Needs Survey Report to Congress (CWNS) will included estimates for controlling nonpoint source (NPS) pollution from selected agricultural activities and from silvicultural operations, along with estimates of controlling combined sewer overflows. The CWNS will generate NPS cost estimates through both the traditional facility-by-facility updating (i.e., State-submitted documentation) and through alternative estimation techniques and methodologies (modeling/cost curves). Preliminary estimates have been questioned during the report review process; revised estimates need to be developed based on different assumptions. These updated estimates are needed to provide technical support to EPA in their efforts to devise defendable cost estimates for: o the control of agricultural nonpoint source pollution, including runoff from cropland, pastureland, rangeland, and concentrated animal feeding operations with fewer than 1,000 animal units; and o silviculture operations. o Combined Sewer Overflows. In developing updated cost estimates for the 1996 CWNS, the contractor will update previous NPS modeling efforts.v The basic modeling approach used in the draft 1996 CWNS, involved a methodology for estimating the costs associated with developing and implementing NPS management programs to control runoff from agriculture (cropland, pastureland, and rangeland), concentrated animal feeding operations with fewer than 1,000 animal units, and silviculture they also provided updated cost curves for CSO based on the information in the data base. Because the modeled estimates were presented as National totals during the 1992 Needs Survey, the goal for the 1996 CWNS is to again present estimates on a national basis, and state-by-state basis using the most recent data available. To the extent practical, the contractor will select appropriate updated information from additional sources based on comments from various reviewers during the report review process. The new or revised information will be integrated the information used in the original analysis as necessary to accomplish the update. These data sources include, but are not limited to, the most recent (i.e., 1992) National Resource Inventory information that was recently released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Natural Resource Conservation Service (formerly Soil Conservation Service), annual (fiscal year) statistical summaries from the Agricultural Conservation Program, and information gathered by the USDA, Forest Service's Pacific Northwest Research Station. Statement of Work The purpose of this work assignment is to prepare a technical report on the "Benefits of Secondary Treatment" and updated NPS cost estimates for the 1996 Clean Water Needs Survey. The "Benefits of Secondary Treatment" report should address the water quality and ecosystem benefits derived from the federal investment in Publicly Owned and Operated Treatment Works (POTWs) of over $60Billion via the Construction Grants Program. The updated NPS cost estimates for the 1996 Clean Water Needs Survey will involve the preparation of a brief report providing updated cost estimates for the control of agricultural nonpoint source pollution control, silvicultare operations and Combined Sewer Overflows. To complete this work assignment, the contract shall undertake the following tasks: Task 1: The contractor shall prepare a Work Plan, includinga schedule for completion of the final report no later than September 30, 1997. This Work Plan shall include identifying key staff and the major steps planned by the contractor for preparing the document. Task 2: The contractor shall prepare a Draft Report Outline for review and comment by the EPA Project Officer prior to developing the initial draft of the report. Task 3: The contractor shall develop a Review Draft of the Report that will then be peer reviewed as a part of Task 4. Task 4: The contractor shall identify qualified potential peer reviewers and coordinate a peer review of the draft report to obtain comments for incorporation into the final report under Task 5. Task 5: The contractor shall prepare the final report, including a camera-ready version of the report for publication by EPA. Task 6: The contractor shall update NPS estimates done during the 1996 CWNS based on comments received from Department of Agriculture other commenters or OMB related to animal units or biosolids disposal methods. Task 7: Update CSOand related analysis and cost curves in CWNS data base based on revisions comments or data base problems that arise during the CWNS report review process. Task 8: The contractor shall revise NPS draft write-up based on CWNS review comments. Task 9: Contractor shall prepare final NPS report in standard electronic format for publication by EPA in 1996 CWNS Report to Congress. (0037)

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