USDA, Rural Development, Operations & Management, Procurement Management Division, NASA Stop 0741, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, DC 20250-0741

R -- EVALUATION OF WATER & ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAM FUNDING DUE 101599 POC Veronica Moss, Contract Specialist, on (202) 692-0110, or fax (202) 692-0117. E-MAIL: Veronica Moss, Contracting Officer., vmoss@rdmail.rural.usda.gov. USDA's Rural Utilities Service intends to award a sole source contract to Rapoza Associates for an evaluation of the use of Water & Environmental Programs's (WEP) grant funding by low-income communities. Rapoza Associates performed a similar evaluation of WEP operations for 1997. The project will allow WEP to compare the results of its Rural Utilities Assistance Program (RUAP) with its standard loan and grant program; conduct better outreach to small, low-income rural communities; assess how RUAP affects other policy goals; and better explain the variance in the allocation of WEP resources over time. Rapoza Associates has produced several reports and briefing papers on WEP and related Federal infrastructure programs. It possesses an essential understanding of the legislative, programmatic, and regulatory elements necessary to perform this six-month project. No subcontracts are anticipated. The management approval process has not been completed on this requirement. See numbered Note 22. Posted 09/24/99 (W-SN384269). (0267)

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