Attachment D.1_Statement of Work_Meteorologist Consultant.docx

CUI//PROCURE

CONSULTING METEOROLOGIST

Statement of Work (SOW)

1.0 Objective

The objective of this contract is secure the services of a consulting meteorologist on a labor hour basis to provide extreme precipitation and storm analysis support to the Office of Energy Projects – Division of Dam Safety and Inspections in performing in-depth reviews of:

· Site specific and statewide Probable Maximum Precipitation (SSPMP) analyses, including representing the Division at Board of Consultant (BOC) meetings related to the analyses;

· Return frequency analysis of prior and evolving extreme precipitation events, extending in magnitude to the PMP; and

· The need to reanalyze a SSPMP with the occurrence of a large precipitation event. The Division’s simplified site specific PMP screening methodology for re-evaluating the current maximum precipitation envelope for FERC hydropower projects.

2.0 Background

2.1 The mission of the Office of Energy Projects (OEP) is to foster economic and environmental benefits for the nation through certification of natural gas pipelines and storage facilities, authorization of LNG facilities, authorization of certain electric transmission facilities located within corridors identified by the Department of Energy, and licensing and oversight of jurisdictional hydroelectric projects, as well as instituting policies and procedures that ensure the safety and reliability of current and future infrastructure.

2.2 The Division of Dam Safety and Inspections (D2SI) is responsible for ensuring the safety of the Commission regulated hydroelectric projects and implementing the Commission’s dam safety, public safety, security and license compliance programs. D2SI safety related programs have a direct bearing on life, property and the environment.

3.0 Scope

The contractor shall provide consulting meteorologist services to the FERC to assure compliance with the Commission’s Dam Safety Engineering Guidelines and state-of-the-practice procedures. Specifically, the consultant will verify the FERC’s understanding of the underlying meteorology and probability and potential magnitude of extreme rainfall events as needed.

The government anticipates that the government will require up to approximately 500 consulting hours/year over the base and option year periods. This estimate is based on historical data and the government’s anticipated need for the next 5 years. Although 500 hours/year is the government’s best estimate, it is possible that the government’s need for performance under this contract could be as high as 700 hours/year because of the occurrence of dam safety incidents or significant storm events.

4.0 Description of Requirements

4.1 Understand the assumptions, methods of analysis and results in the Hydrometeorological Reports (HMR) by the National Weather Service. Familiar with the Manual on Estimation of Probable Maximum Precipitation (PMP) by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO).

4.2 Elements of the scope of work related to PMP analysis include the review of storm selection and analysis, transposition limits, maximization factors, orographic effects, enveloping, single and multiple storm centers, and spatial and temporal distribution of maximized rainfall using actual storm patterns or local climatology. Additionally, review any associated GIS/web-based tools that are developed to distribute the findings.

4.3 For projects with a Board of Consultants, as determined by the Director, attendance at Board meetings as requested, review of Board reports to the FERC, and a letter report of findings and conclusions following review of the final Board report.

4.4 Ability to critically review or independently develop precipitation-frequency relationships to estimate the Annual Exceedance Probability (AEP) of the probable Maximum Precipitation Depths at various durations developed by the licensee or the licensee’s consultant. It is understood that the PMP is a deterministic estimate, however SSPMP studies routinely provide frequency estimates of the PMP/PMF for comparison to available NOAA published data, such as NOAA Atlas 14, NOAA Atlas 2, and Technical Paper 49, as applicable. Analysis of precipitation-frequency relationships to determine the Annual Exceedance Probability (AEP) of the probable Maximum Precipitation Depths at various durations using independent methodologies such as L-moment analysis or stochastic storm transposition method etc. Contractor is tasked to provide a technical review of the validity and reasonableness of all assumptions used and conclusions and/or recommendations developed as part of the SSPMP analysis.

4.4 Coordination with the Division’s Hydrology and Hydraulics (H&H) Technical Resource Group (TRG) to peer review and assist in implementing the Division’s simplified site specific PMP screening methodology. The method is used to evaluate recent large storm events and determine whether the current site specific PMP has been challenged or nearly challenged and deserves a more detailed investigation by the owner.

4.5 Typical work efforts associated with the effort include but are not limited to:

· Review of submitted analyses, including digital files, prepared by Licensees or their consultants.

· Review of published data or reports from federal, state and local sources.

· Attendance at Board of Consultants meetings and site meetings.

· Provide expert advice to FERC staff on complex meteorological issues.

· Review proposed scopes of work developed by Licensees or their consultants for consistency with the FERC guidelines and state-of-the-practice procedures.

· Preparation of written reports as directed, with critiques, conclusions and recommendations.

· Review and comment on correspondence or other communications to Licensees prepared by FERC staff.

5.0 Place of Performance

The primary place of performance is the contractor’s facility with travel within the U.S.

6.0 Implementation Plan, Cost Estimate and Authorization to Proceed

6.1 The Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) shall provide a list of projects requiring consulting meteorologist services and the projects become available.

6.2 The contractor shall prepare an Implementation Plan (IP) and cost estimate for each project assigned to the contractor.

6.3 The IP shall include at a minimum:

· A description of the methods for use in planning, managing, controlling and reporting on task elements;

· A description of the technical approach to be followed for each task;

· A description of how tasks shall be scheduled; and

· The deliverables.

6.4 The IP shall include a delivery schedule consistent with the estimated time frames noted below or elsewhere in this SOW and shall identify when the following actions shall take place or deliverables shall be provided:

Task No.

Note: the above tasks are the typical tasks for projects assigned to the contractor. Some tasks may not apply to individual projects.

Note: the final evaluation report shall include the consultant meteorologist’s technical review, recommendations, and conclusions for the project.

6.5 The cost estimate shall identify the estimated cost for the project. The cost estimate shall include:

· The number of consulting hours;

· The fully-burdened labor rates; and

· Travel costs (if applicable).

6.6 Upon review and approval of the IP and cost estimate the COR will authorize the contractor to proceed with work related to the specific project. The contractor shall not proceed with work or otherwise incur cost related to a specific project (other than preparation and submission of the IP and cost estimate) until the contractor is authorized in writing by the COR proceed with work.

7.0 Applicable Documents

Subject reports and correspondence are filed with FERC under a CEII classification in FERC’s eLibrary System. Upon submission and approval of the OCI and CEII NDA certifications FERC shall provide the contractor access to the necessary reports and correspondence. The COR may provide additional materials upon request and/or may direct the contractor to obtain materials directly from the subject Licensee.

8.0 Organizational Conflict of Interest

Immediately upon assignment of a new project and prior to incurrence of any related costs, the contractor shall prepare and submit three copies of a No Conflicts of Interest Statement as required by 40 CFR 1506.5(c) to the Contracting Office and the COR. In the alternative, if the contractor decides that the appearance of a conflict of interest exists, the contractor shall submit a full disclosure statement, describing the circumstances or conditions that create the conflict and any mitigating measures the contractor intends to implement to resolve the conflict or the appearance of a conflict. If no mitigation will suffice, the contractor will not be assigned to that particular project.

9.0 Technical Requirements

9.1 The contractor shall furnish all labor, materials, equipment (including cameras), facilities, software, transportation, and incidentals necessary to perform in accordance with this SOW, and associated terms and conditions. The contractor shall communicate with the FERC COR, FERC Project Manager, and company representatives as necessary to ensure all project related tasks are performed in a timely manner.

9.2 The contractor shall have the capability to respond to “emergency situations”, involving either evaluating significant precipitation events, analyzing the impacts of significant precipitation events on existing SSPMP study conclusions, evaluating the performance of a water retaining feature of a project to an extreme precipitation event, or assisting staff in addressing complaints involving extreme rainfall events, within two weeks of receiving notice from the COR. The duties include: the investigation of the storm event and meteorological conditions that occurred prior to and following the incident, evaluating and analyzing the impacts of an extreme storm event on SSPMP studies, on project features, or project operations. The contractor is responsible for documenting their evaluations and analysis in a report that reports on all aspects of the storm event, recurrence interval, and impacts to project and/or project studies.

9.3 A one day kick-off meeting will be held with the contractor at the FERC Headquarters Office in Washington, D.C. or via teleconference. Arrangements for this meeting shall be coordinated with the COR within 30 days of award. The contractor shall prepare notes of this meeting, highlighting all agreements made with FERC staff on any technical decisions made during the meeting, directions as to how the reviews shall be handled, etc.

9.4 A deliverable is defined as any document/report that is required to be generated during the period of performance of the contract is outlined in the SOW. The contractor shall submit deliverables through the COR for review and approval. The COR will respond to the deliverables submitted with a formal approval or non-approval. Deliverables shall be submitted electronically using software compatible with FERC’s systems along with a hard copy. If the document exceeds the electronic email capacity of either party, the contractor shall setup a secure file transfer site for transfer of large documents. All deliverables are the property of the FERC and the information contained in the reports is considered proprietary.

9.5 The contractor shall be expected to participate in technical conferences and meetings with the Licensees or operators and their consultants with respect to meteorological and climatological issues. Based upon the studies, meetings, conferences, and inspections, the contractor shall submit reports to the FERC staff setting forth the technical evaluation, recommendations, and conclusions for the various work efforts listed above.

9.6 The contractor shall promptly notify the FERC Project Manager and COR of any noncompliance resulting in significant impact and if a scheduling change is necessary to complete the assigned task. In no case shall this notification exceed 24 hours.

10.0 Travel

10.1 All travel shall be approved in writing by the COR.

10.2 The contractor is responsible for arranging for travel to and from the project site and/or project (BOC) meetings, as necessary. Travel expenses will be reimbursed according to federal travel regulations and FERC policy.

Special transportation methods (e.g. helicopter, small plane, or boat) are seldom required on this site visits; however, in the event the COR determines that use of such special transportation methods will be advantageous to the Government, the contractor shall coordinate the arrangements. In such cases, FERC is obligated to either reimburse companies or its employees’ and contractor’s pro-rata share of transportation costs or to hire and pay the transportation service directly. In general, it is preferred that the company provide the aircraft/boat, etc. and bill FERC for our share of the expense. The contractor shall coordinate payment arrangements with the COR for submission to FERC’s Division of Financial Services.

Note: The contractor shall not generally accept rides in company vehicles without justification. However, it is understood that safety concerns and ground conditions at an inspection site may dictate the need to use four-wheel drive or an all-terrain vehicle, and the contractor is permitted to ride in a company representative’s vehicle to compete the inspection without reimbursement to the company.

11.0 Quality Assurance/Control

11.1 All final documents shall be reviewed and edited by the contractor to ensure that the document is both technically and grammatically correct. Final documents shall be organized in a logical manner.

11.2 The contractor shall only tender for acceptance those deliverables that conform to the requirements of this contract. The Government reserves the right to inspect all deliverables that have been tendered for acceptance. The Government may require correction of non-conforming deliverables at no increase in price. If correction is not possible, the Government may seek an equitable price adjustment or adequate consideration for acceptance of the non-conforming deliverables.

12.0 Communication Protocol

The contractor as needed, shall meet with the COR (in person, by teleconference, etc.) to obtain additional direction and clarification on the task assignment and/or individual inspections. Regular interaction between the contractor and the COR is expected to occur to ensure that both parties are informed of ongoing developments.

13.0 Personnel Qualifications

Consulting Meteorologist. The consultant meteorologist shall be a United States citizen and possess the following minimum qualifications:

· Master’s degree in meteorology, climatology or related science.

· At least 20 years of academic and experience in meteorology. Applications include:

· Extreme precipitation events including the Probable Maximum Precipitation event;

· Site specific rainfall analysis, including storm maximization, transpositioning, orographic effects and enveloping;

· Multiple storm centers;

· Gridded rainfall analysis;

· Development of depth-area-duration curves for storm events;

· Return frequency determination;

· Determining snow appropriate snowpack for a return interval or antecedent conditions and snow melt (using appropriate solar and wind parameters);

· Determining appropriate wind direction and speeds for use in determining wave runup’

· Demonstrated understanding of the assumptions, methods of analysis and results in the Hydrometeorological Reports (HMR) by the National Weather Service and the Manual on Estimation of Probable Maximum Precipitation (PMP) by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO); and

· Demonstrated ability to critically review or independently develop statistical analyses including precipitation-frequency and flood flow frequency relationships to estimate the Annual Exceedance Probabilities (AEP’s) of extreme precipitation events, extending in magnitude to the PMP/PMF.

· Participation on expert boards or panels (any combination of National (United States) and/or International experience) that involved site specific, statewide, and regional Probable Maximum Precipitation (PMP) analyses. In addition,

· Knowledge of FERC’s Engineering Guidelines for Dam Safety.

14.0 Critical Technical Personnel

Whereas the knowledge, skills, abilities and experience of the consultant meteorologist is critical to the quality of the services and deliverables provided under this contract, the consultant meteorologist is designated as critical technical personnel throughout the performance of this contract. As proposed by the contractor and accepted by the government, the consultant meteorologist approved for this contract is (insert consultant’s name here). All technical work related to this contract shall be performed by (insert consultant’s name here); technical work shall not be subcontracted or otherwise re-delegated to other personnel. Non-technical, administrative work (i.e. invoicing and travel arrangements) may be performed by personnel other than (insert consultant’s name here).

If (insert consultant’s name here) is no longer available to perform on this contract, the government reserves the right to (a) consider a qualified replacement consultant meteorologist proposed by the contractor or (b) terminate the contract at no cost to either party and re-compete the work. The acceptance of a proposed qualified replacement consultant meteorologist shall be at the sole discretion of the government.

15.0 Project Management and Administration

The great majority of the work required under this contract is technical work which is performed by the consultant meteorologist. This contract requires very little non-technical work such as project management (i.e. scheduling and status reports) and administrative support (i.e. travel arrangements). For purposes of this contract, non-technical work may be performed by the consultant meteorologist or delegated to another individual; however, the project management/administrative work shall not be a direct cost under this contract. All project management/administrative costs shall be included as indirect costs included in the fully burdened labor rate for the consultant meteorologist.