Oppts Contract Support Group, Environmental Protection Agency, Fairchild Building -- 7th Floor, 499 S. Capitol Street, S.W., Washington, DC 20024

A -- IDENTIFICATION AND APPLICATION OF KEY ENVIRONMENTAL INDICATORS TO THE SRF PROGRAM SOL C20050 DUE 060397 POC Melissa Revely-Brown WEB: NOT AVAILABLE, NOT AVAILABLE. E-MAIL: NOT AVAILABLE, revely-brown.melissa@epamail.epa.gov. The Environmental Protection Agency anticipate award to: Tetra Tech, Inc. 10306 Eaton Place, Suite 340; Fairfax, VA 22030; for services which the Government intends to award a firm fixed price contract using simplified acquisition procedures of FAR Part 13. The solicitation identifies the office where additional technical information can be obtained and you may E-mail the contracting officer at chiu.kong@epamail.epa.gov and cc: revely-brown.melissa@epamail.epa.gov. Please include the following: Company Name; Address; Phone Number; Business Class; and Email Address. NO PHONE CALLS ACCEPTED. All questions must be addressed in writing and will be answered in writing. Please price separately any travel or miscellaneous expenses. Estimated Period of Performance -- From date of award to September 30, 1997. Background The purpose of this work assignment is to provide the Office of Wastewater Management (OWM) at EPA Headquarters with assistance in incorporating the use of environmental indicators in to the State Revolving Fund Program. This support is required because of the changing role of the Federal government in providing support for effective management of the State Revolving Fund program in each of the states and in Puerto Rico; EPA seeks to provide appropriate tools with which states shall be able to generate the information they need to promote and monitor the environmental performance of state SRF programs. As the primary mission of the SRF program is to finance water quality improvement projects, the identification and use of key environmental indicators shall assist our state partners with priority setting and program progress while providing a nationally consistent set of performance measures to be used by EPA to evaluate state programs. While EPA and some states have developed some water quality indicators already, their relationship to the State Revolving Fund has not yet been established. Statement of Work The contractor shall support the Office of Wastewater Management (OWM), and more specifically the Clean Water State Revolving Fund (SRF) program, in the review of existing environmental indicators, the identification of environmental indicators applicable to the SRF program, and the identification of data sources at the federal level, in the states, and elsewhere, that shall enable EPA and the states to monitor the environmental performance and progress of SRF programs. Task 1: Prepare Work Plan and Budget The contractor shall prepare a work plan and budget for this assignment, including a description of: (a) proposed project staff; (b) use of subcontractors; (c) an estimate of the hours to be spent on each task by each staff person (prime and subcontractors); and (d) due dates and schedule for all deliverables. Task 2: Review and Identification of Environmental Indicators The contractor shall provide support to EPA staff by reviewing existing research and documentation on water related environmental indicators (developed by EPA and/or states, national associations, or other parties as appropriate) and developing a comprehensive list (with examples) of water-quality and related environmental indicators. These indicators shall be directly applicable to SRF water-quality improvement projects. As part of this task, the contractor shall be in communication with appropriate EPA staff with knowledge of and experience in dealing with environmental indicators, and shall communicate and work with contacts in states that have developed water-quality indicators that may be of use in assessing the performance of the Clean Water SRF. The contractor shall identify the relationship between SRF water quality improvement projects and selected indicators, after discussion with the work assignment manager. The contractor shall also identify the existing or potential relationship of other pertinent water quality improvement activities (including activities that may at some point be funded through the Clean Water SRF) as they relate to these indicators. Task 3: Applying Environmental Indicators to the SRF Program After identifying appropriate indicators, the contractor shall propose ways to link these indicators to the SRF program to provide a useful tool for monitoring the environmental performance of the program. This task shall incorporate national indicators, as well as indicators specific to particular states, watersheds, or regions that may be applied on a national basis. The contractor shall identify and work with contacts in the states, national organizations, and elsewhere who may have experience in and knowledge of indicators and their applicability to the assessment of program performance. Task 4: Identifying Data Needs The contractor shall assist EPA staff by identifying what data and information from the federal level, states, and elsewhere, is necessary to establish nationwide baseline and historical trend figures for the environmental indicators. The contractor shall also identify the availability and reliability of such data and information nationwide (includingspatial and temporal availability). The contractor shall work with contacts in states, national associations, and elsewhere to identify potential data sources or to research or otherwise identify approaches for meeting the data needs of EPA and its state partners. Task 5: Participation in Meetings/Briefings The contractor may periodically be asked by the work assignment manager to attend meetings or briefings to discuss technical aspects relating to the environmental indicators and/or the documentation about these indicators. In some instances, the contractor may be asked to participate in drafting a meeting agenda, prepare talking points or briefing materials, compose handouts, or develop a visual presentation about the subjects covered by this work assignment. The work assignment manager shall outline in advance the purpose, location, and time of any such meetings, as well as the role of the contractor. 6. Delivery Schedule and Estimated Level-of-effort TASK 1. Prepare Work Plan and Budget WEEKS FROM NOTICE TO PROCEED = 1 WORK HOURS = 5 TASK 2. Review and Identification of Indicators WEEKS FROM NOTICE TO PROCEED = 8 WORK HOURS = 120 TASK 3.Applying Indicators to the SRF Program WEEKS FROM NOTICE TO PROCEED = 12 WORK HOURS = 120 TASK 4. Identifying data and information needs WEEKS FROM NOTICE TO PROCEED = 20 WORK HOURS = 120 TASK 5. Participation in Meetings/Briefings WEEKS FROM NOTICE TO PROCEED = periodic WORK HOURS = 20 TOTAL HOURS = 385 7. Government-furnished Data The contractor shall have access to and shall be provided with copies of relevant reports, regulations, papers, and guidance documents published by the Agency. 8. Expert Testimony Preparation of expert testimony is not anticipated under this work assignment. 9. Travel Most of the activities under this work assignment shall be accomplished without contractor travel (e.g., shall be done via telephone, U.S. Mail, express mail, fax, and internet transmission). Upon the approval of the project officer, however, contractor travel to or within Washington, DC and other locations may be required to attend meetings and briefings. Such travel shall take place only when necessary, and when approved in advance by the project officer or designee, pursuant to standard operating procedures under this contract. Contractor personnel are encouraged to use Government-wide contract airfares and hotel rates, if available, unless a more favorable rate is available. The EPA work assignment manager shall provide appropriate assistance in obtaining these rates. 10. Special Staff Requirements Staff should have demonstrated awareness of the State Revolving Fund program; demonstrated awareness of and experience with water related environmental indicators; a superior working knowledge of appropriate computer-application programs; as well as the ability to understand and interpret environmental data and monitoring and its relevance to environmental indicators. Assigned staff shall also possess the ability to prepare and deliver successful oral and written presentations to both technical and non-technical audiences. 11. Meetings The contractor project officer shall periodically discuss the progress of work under this assignment with the work assignment manager informally through telephone conversations. As necessary and appropriate, the contractor shall meet with the work assignment manager and other EPA staff to discuss activities under the work assignment. (0132)

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