SOW - Environmental Litigation Support.docx

STATEMENT OF WORK

Expert Support to Hanford Counsel in Litigation Title: Environmental Litigation Support Services Organization Supporting: OCC Contract Type: Time and Materials Number of Hours: 1 FTE @ 1920 hrs each Contracting Officers: Brenda Valadez Contract Specialist: Trevor Toon Program Official/Technical Monitor: Jeff Blank

BACKGROUND

The Hanford Site, located in Richland, Washington, is a field office charged with the cleaning and restoration of this former plutonium production facility. The Hanford Office of Chief Counsel (OCC) provides attorney and paralegal services pertaining to the following areas of law: Government contracts; environmental compliance; employee and labor relations; ethics; Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO); Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and Privacy Act; Energy Employee Occupational Illness Compensation Program (EEOICPA); document requests, including but not limited to litigation discovery requests; site closure preparation; and any judicial or administrative litigation related to the above mentioned areas.

Hanford Office of Chief Counsel (OCC) represents the Department in litigation in administrative hearings and provides support to the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) in state or federal court. For environmental litigation, Hanford litigates at the Washington Pollution Control Hearings Board, in Washington Superior Court and Federal Court. Cases involve regulatory compliance under applicable state and federal law. OCC is in need of additional support to prepare for anticipated potential litigation, in particular, support that would involve providing analysis and recommendations with respect to litigation strategy, analysis of regulatory issues and application to factual scenarios, litigation preparation (witness prep, document organization and review, drafting motions and pleadings, etc.), arbitration and mediation, and some training and development of attorneys and legal staff in support of possible litigation.

The ideal candidate for this effort be someone who is familiar with the Hanford cleanup mission and has legal experience in Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and other environmental laws applicable to site operations. A minimum of 3 years of DOE experience, with specific knowledge and understanding of Hanford, its mission as it has evolved over the past twenty years, and legal issues presently associated with the cleanup. Also preferred is a candidate with a good understanding of DOE Hanford’s past litigation at the Pollution Control Hearings Board and in Federal Court, including Tri Party Agreement disputes and the Consent Decree. Finally, coordination with DOE General Counsel’s office, and a thorough understanding of both Hanford’s past and present operations is preferred.

DELIVERABLES

Under the direction of the Office of Chief Counsel (OCC), the Contractor shall perform a broad range of tasks performed in support of litigation, risk reduction and general law functions, which includes:

Perform legal research, and prepare legal memorandum, document review, litigation support in the environmental law and administrative law.

QUALIFICATIONS/REQUIRED SKILLS

Required skills include: document management, legal research, document reviews, Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, and document production procedures (including accountability measures).

Familiar with legal procedures for the State Administrative Boards, State Courts, and Federal District Court and Appellate Courts, and can quickly familiarize themselves with these procedures.

Contractor personnel shall possess the following minimum qualifications:

· A Juris Doctorate degree is required.

· Five to seven years of working with attorneys or in a legal office.

· Including direct client communication and attorney supervision experience

· Strong customer service, commitment to meeting deadlines and multitask in a fast-paced environment.

· Knowledge of law firm processes and attorney-client relationships.

· Strong oral and written communication skills with business professionals, attorneys, and staff.

· Strategic thinker, with the ability to craft novel solutions that are responsive to client and attorney needs.

· Understanding of litigation and legal privilege.

· Dependability and ability to work in a team setting.

· Maintain the highest standards of ethics and professional integrity.

· Must be able to commit to the required litigation schedule and, at least, between 30-40 hours per week.

· Ability to attend meetings either virtually or in person as determined by project management and/or client requirements

· No conflict of interest in dealing with DOE or any Hanford Site contractors.

· U.S. citizenship.

TRAINING

Contractor personnel must take ethics training within 30 days of starting work, and annually thereafter. Hanford contractor personnel are required to take HGET training annually.

TRAVEL

Travel as coordinated with the technical point of contact and approved in writing by the Contracting Officer in advance, is allowed, in accordance with Federal Travel Regulations.

LOCATION

Work shall be conducted either remotely or at the Department of Energy government offices. The Hanford site operates on Pacific Standard/Daylight Time.

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