PWS R5 Water Division_11_16_09.doc

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Region 5

Performance Work Statement (PWS)

For

Technical Support Services for Clean Water Act (CWA)

November 16, 2009

1. INTRODUCTION

1.1 Under the authority of the Clean Water Act (CWA), including the amendments of 1987, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is charged with protecting the surface water quality within the United States. The CWA employs a variety of regulatory and non-regulatory tools to protect and manage watersheds (including wetlands, dredging and sediment management) in order to reduce direct pollutant discharges into waterways, finance municipal wastewater treatment facilities, and manage polluted runoff. These tools are employed to achieve the broader goal of restoring and maintaining the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of the nation's waters so that they can support "the protection and propagation of fish, shellfish, and wildlife and recreation in and on the water."

EPA has established core programs to implement the CWA including: 1) the Total Maximum Daily Loads program (TMDL); 2) the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program for point sources; 3) the Water Quality Standards program; 4) the section 319 program for Non-Point Source (NPS) control; 5) the Wetlands program and CWA Section’s 401, 402, & 404; and 6) Water Quality monitoring program. Region 5’s Water Division is responsible for overseeing the implementation of these core programs within Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin and the authorized tribal lands within these States.

In addition, the work required will support the efforts of EPA’s Great Lakes National Program Office (GLNPO). GLNPO, located in Chicago, acts as the Agency's knowledge center for a specific geographic area, the Great Lakes watershed. It works with federal, state, tribal, municipal, and Canadian partners. GLNPO pioneered an integrated, holistic approach to environmental management that targets priority problems, pollutants, and geographic areas to protect and restore the diversity and abundance of living resources within an ecosystem of worldwide importance. Among the processes used to coordinate Great Lakes protection and restoration efforts are Lakewide Management Plans for Lakes Superior, Michigan, Erie, and Ontario; the Lake Huron Binational Partnership; Remedial Action Plans for the Great Lakes Areas of Concern; the Binational Great Lakes Program; the Great Lakes Binational Toxics Strategy; the Great Lakes Interagency Task Force and the Great Lakes Regional Collaboration (implementing Executive Order 13340).

The objective of GLNPO is to promote the protection and restoration of the chemical, physical and biological integrity of the Great Lakes ecosystem by working in partnership with other federal, state, tribal, and local government organizations and non-governmental organizations. Under Section 118 of the Clean Water Act, GLNPO is to lead efforts of the United States to fulfill the requirements of the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement between the U.S. and Canada.

In addition to GLNPO, other groups in USEPA (especially Regions 2, 3, 5 and Headquarters) undertake a variety of activities in support of regional, national, and international programs that directly and indirectly affect the Great Lakes ecosystem.

1.2 Purpose: The purpose of this Performance Work Statement is to provide EPA

Region 5’s Water Division and the Great Lakes National Program Office with technical and support services through a Contractor to implement some of the CWA and GLNPO core programs. These services will also be available to other EPA Regional offices, EPA headquarters, and the States and Tribes responsible for implementing the core water programs.

2. PERFORMANCE WORK STATEMENT ACTIVITIES

2.1 Total Maximum Daily Load Program: Section 303(d) of the CWA requires States and Tribes develop lists of waters that do not meet water quality standards, even after point sources of pollution have installed the minimum required levels of pollution control technology. The CWA also requires that States and Tribes develop TMDLs for waters on the section 303(d) lists.

2.1.1 Section 303(d) List Development Support: Current EPA regulations specify that these lists be developed every 2 years, with the next list due in 2010. EPA guidance further suggests that States and Tribes consolidate the section 303(d) listing process with the preparation of the section 305(b) report. Under this task, the Contractor must assist EPA in providing support to the state in the development of Section 303(d) lists. The Contractor support must include the following:

Assist in the compilation of all readily available data, especially those not collected by States and Tribes;

Collect new data as necessary to support assessments of individual waters;

Provide support in determining the quality and “representiveness” of water quality data not collected by the States and Tribes;

Review and provide recommendations regarding the methodology by which available data are compared to water quality standards to determine compliance;

Provide support in comparing available data to water quality standards to make use support determinations, and analysis of biological thresholds;

Provide support in responding to public comments on the draft section 303(d) list and/or EPA decisions concerning 303(d) lists; and

Assist EPA, States and Tribes in entering integrated report data into national data bases including the Assessment Database (ADB) and the National TMDL Tracking System (NTTS) and reviewing accuracy of ADB and NTTS entries.

Assist EPA and States with development of Category 4b alternative assessments and proposals.

2.1.2 TMDL Development Support: The Contractor must provide technical support for the development of TMDLs for the waterbodies identified by the EPA Contracting Officer Representative and are located within Region 5. The issues will vary in scope and complexity and may require the following activities:

Gathering and evaluating existing data from public and private sources, potentially including some collection of new data to fill data gaps;

Identifying candidate analytical methods for beneficial use characterization, establishment of numeric targets, assessment of existing conditions, source analysis, analytical linkages between elements, estimation of loading capacity and TMDLs and allocation of loads or actions needed to address key sources;

Completing assessment, analysis, and modeling efforts to establish draft TMDLs for targeted waters, including the development of monitoring protocols to be used to evaluate TMDL effectiveness and TMDL implementation options and plans.

Developing TMDLs for multijurisdictional waters.

Support EPA in outreach to and coordination with public and private stakeholders to obtain needed information and build support for TMDLs and implementation plans;

Support EPA in development of social indicators and other appropriate social science tools for TMDL implementation and monitoring plans;

Utilizing cost-effectiveness analysis methods to support EPA efforts to develop TMDL implementation plans;

Assisting with TMDL peer review processes and responses to peer review comments;

Providing assistance with GIS and mapping efforts and document preparation;

Supporting EPA in development of documentation and analysis to support findings of compliance with the Endangered Species Act with respect to EPA decisions under 303(d);

Supporting EPA’s efforts to develop plans, analysis or monitoring projects as required under TMDL lawsuit settlements; and

Assisting with TMDL data entry to program tracking data bases including ADB and NTTS, and assisting with verification of data base accuracy for data already entered.

Assisting EPA and States with design and development of TMDL implementation tracking databases and providing data entry support.

▪ Supporting EPA with development of policy and technical documents, including editing and production support

2.2 NPDES Compliance Program

2.2.1 Permit Compliance System Data Collection and Data Entry: The Contractor must provide technical support to EPA Region 5 in the collection and entry of NPDES permit tracking data via the Permit Compliance System (PCS), and EPA’s modernized replacement of PCS, the Integrated Compliance Information System (ICIS)-NPDES. At the direction of EPA, the Contractor must compile required data elements, and otherwise support State and EPA efforts to ensure effective management of NPDES permit data in PCS and/or ICIS-NPDES.

2.2.2 NPDES Compliance Inspections: The Contractor must assist in performance of NPDES compliance audits and inspections, such as stormwater, pretreatment, permitted major and minor facilities, and Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs). These audits and inspections must conform to the procedures and polices of EPA Region 5, as well as the States and Tribes applicable administrative procedures for performing compliance inspections.

At the completion of each audit and inspection, the Contractor must prepare a report summarizing the results, including all the data and information collected during the visit and checklists used on-site. The report must also provide recommendations related to additional pollution controls, including revised permit conditions, that are needed to comply with applicable permit requirements and applicable water quality standards. The specific facilities for which inspections will be performed by the Contractor must be identified by technical directive by the EPA COR, along with applicable NPDES permit number.

2.2.3 Compliance Program Assessment Support: The Contractor must provide technical assistance to EPA Region 5 by evaluating the compliance inspection protocols and procedures utilized by the States and/or Tribes. This technical support must include participation in periodic meetings held by EPA and the States and/or Tribes.

2.2.4 Permit Tracking: The Contractor must prepare and implement a system to track the status of activities. For individual and general permits assigned, this tracking system must contain at a minimum, facility name and location; permit/order number; date permit application received by EPA or the State, and draft permit prepared; status external review; and the date final permit is prepared. For TMDL and non-point source technical support activities, this tracking system must contain data activity began, date draft prepared and delivered to EPA, and date of delivery of final product to EPA. This tracking system will be made available to Region 5 at all times during the conduct of tasks assigned.

2.2.5 Storm Water Best Management Practices (BMPs): The Contactor must survey and analyze existing data sources and/or conduct studies to characterize and quantify the performance of storm water BMPs. Quantification work must address both how BMPs affect storm water volumes and how BMPs reduce pollutant loads. Quantification work may include development or refinement of models to simulate the effects of BMPs (individually or collectively) on runoff volumes and pollutant loads. Quantification work may also include data analysis and/or modeling or other characterization of the effects of BMPs on in-stream conditions. Quantification work may also include data analysis and/or modeling of the effects of BMPs in combined sewer areas.

2.3 Water Quality Monitoring

2.3.1 Monitoring Design: The Contractor must assist in the preparation and implementation of monitoring designs that maximize EPA and the States and Tribes ability to meet monitoring objectives with existing resources. The Contractor must also provide technical assistance in developing and implementing a set of monitoring indicators (and assessment thresholds), which can be used to track the status and trends of water quality and to evaluate the effectiveness of management actions to improve water quality within EPA Region 5. The Contractor may also be asked to develop appropriate indices of biological integrity and indices for assessment of biological communities for different waterbody types.

2.3.2 Quality Assurance and Data Management: The Contractor must provide technical assistance in developing quality control procedures and activities which produce data of high quality which is defensible, credible and which meets applicable state-wide quality management plans. The Contractor’s assistance to EPA, States and Tribes may also extend to data management to assure that all ambient monitoring data will be stored, checked for quality assurance, and is comparable in all applicable databases. The Contractor may be asked to provide training and tools to facilitate appropriate data management.

2.3.3 Data Analysis, Assessment, and Reporting: The Contractor will provide technical assistance to EPA, States, and Tribes to ensure that data analysis and assessment is completed within a consistent science-based framework relative to States and Tribes standards, the protection of beneficial uses, and for tracking the effectiveness of management actions. Data analysis and assessment activities may include:

· Development of a method for assessing standards attainment for 303(d) listing purposes; and

· Development of guidance to assist in 303(d)/305(b) assessments, consistent with the 303(d) listing policy.

The Contractor must provide assistance to States and Tribes to facilitate entry of data assessment data into the assessment database to assist EPA with reporting of data in a timely and publicly accessible manner (brochures, fact sheets, report cards, oral presentations, and the Internet).

2.3.4 Programmatic Evaluation: The Contractor must provide assistance to EPA, States and Tribes in conducting periodic reviews of all aspects of their monitoring programs to determine its scientific validity, if it is being implemented as designed, and how well it serves the water quality decision needs of EPA, States, and Tribes.

2.3.5 GIS Support: The Contractor must provide GIS assistance and support in assessing water quality at the watershed scale.

2.3.6 Monitoring Support: Provide monitoring support (i.e., ambient, point and nonpoint source) at relevant scales (i.e., assessment unit, watershed, state, regional, national) to EPA and, via EPA, to its partners (states, local governments, and other entities) in the characterization of water resource condition(s), evaluation or stressors, developing and refining water quality standards, development and tracking of TMDLs and other watershed-based controls. Perform actual water monitoring work on coastal, estuarine, and inland waters such as streams, rivers, lakes, ponds, reservoirs, and wetlands. For treatment of data see Special Conditions, Section 3.0.

2.3.7 EPA Volunteer Monitoring Program: Provide technical support to the EPA volunteer monitoring program, including supporting EPA in its promotion of volunteer monitoring as a component of state, tribal, local or regional watershed protection projects and community-based environmental programs; researching, evaluating, adapting, updating or developing volunteer monitoring methods; supporting volunteer program use of EPA’s STORET data management system or follow-on data systems through the development of user guides or other educational tools; and writing and editing text for volunteer manuals, planning guides, fact sheets, and outreach materials

2.4 Nonpoint Source Control Program

2.4.1 Technical Support for the Nonpoint Source Control (NPS) Program: EPA Region 5 provides grants under the Clean Water Act Section 319 to States and Tribes to implement federally approved Nonpoint Source Management Programs. These programs support a wide variety of activities to improve water quality including technical assistance, financial assistance, education, training, technology transfer, demonstration projects, and monitoring. The Contractor must provide the following support services, as necessary, to Region 5 States and Tribes.

NPS Program Development and Implementation Support: The Contractor must provide, as necessary, technical assistance for the development and implementation of the NPS Program. The NPS Program support activities may include:

Development of program implementation plans and strategies;

Development of program and project performance measures;

Development of watershed-based plans;

Assessment of NPS Program effectiveness, including determination of enforceable policies and mechanisms that are in place for the control of sources of nonpoint pollution and the evaluation of management measures and practices;

Preparation of education and outreach materials necessary to support and enhance the NPS Program, including CWA Section 319 annual reports, grant progress reports and project success stories;

Administrative and facilitative support in planning and executing conferences;

Facilitation support for meetings and workshops; and

Editing and production support of policy and technical documents.

2.4.2 Management Measure Tracking Support: Technical support to develop and implement methods to track management measure (MM) implementation. The objective of this task is to evaluate towards implementing Program Plans by documenting the extent of MM implementation and to integrate this information with water quality data. MM tracking activities must include but not be limited to:

Gathering and evaluating data from public and private sources, potentially including some collection of new data to fill data gaps;

Identifying appropriate analytical methods and adapt to statewide, regional and local settings for use in tracking specified management measures;

Identifying appropriate indicators and metrics concerning management measures implementation;

Providing management measure tracking information in various formats including narrative and graphic displays of tracking data; and

Providing support for the development and maintenance of tools to support the NPS Program tracking activities.

2.4.3 Water Quality Monitoring Support: Technical support to assist with development and implementation of a water quality monitoring strategy that is consistent with EPA guidance and existing monitoring programs. Specific activities may include:

Providing for trends analysis that supports NPS Program implementation;

Preparing guidance and provide technical assistance for NPS projects that are supported with CWA Section 319 funds and other related funds to provide for appropriate monitoring and performance evaluation activities;

Providing support for public meetings, workshops and conferences, including the development of meeting materials and other technical assistance as necessary;

Providing support as necessary for developing and implementing various elements of the water quality monitoring strategies, including the development of objectives, indicators, assessment, quality assurance and data management.

2.4.4 Data Analysis, Database Development, Data Presentation and Reporting: Assist with achieving full reporting requirements via the EPA Grants Reporting Tracking System (GRTS). Specific tasks may include:

Making recommendations regarding the development of a more user-friendly program-specific database module and exploring the use of the existing tracking systems to take into account internal reporting requirements, daily

NPS project and work plan needs, as well as EPA’s NPS Program Plan tracking needs;

Assistance with Training on the Business objects reporting component associated with the Grants Tracking system in addition to the Grants tracking system itself for Regional and State participants;

Integrating databases and analyze information to more efficiently prepare various reports, including EPA grant progress reports;

Assisting with collection and entry of information required Grants Reporting and Tracking System (GRTS) data, including data necessary to calculate load reductions of CWA Section 319 projects; and

Assisting with development and maintenance of NPS web pages.

2.5 Program Management and Support for Core Water Programs: The Contractor must provide to EPA general program support to the core water programs.

2.5.1 Program Management and Assessment: This support may include the development of diagnostic materials which support the progress of the Core Water Programs, including programmatic guidance documents, technical support materials, and papers on key programmatic issues.

2.5.2 Development and Evaluation of Data Management Tools: The Contractor must provide program management support to EPA Region 5, States and Tribes by providing technical in the development and assessment of electronic data management tools which facilitate the tracking and entering of data into existing data systems. For example, the Contractor maybe asked to make recommendations on the development of standardized reporting and work planning tools for the Core Water Programs. Any recommendations provided by the Contractor must be consistent with existing EPA, State and Tribal databases and data management systems. The Contractor must not develop information technology systems or software as part of the performance work statement.

2.5.2.1 Data Entry: As needed, the Contractor must assist in the data input and maintenance of new and existing program and data management tools.

2.5.2.2 Workshop and Meeting Logistical Support: The Contractor must provide administrative support in planning and execution of workshops, training sessions, symposia, and meetings related to this contract’s performance work statement. The Contractor must provide support in:

Site selection;

On-site meeting logistics, including arranging conference facilities, lodging, audio-visual needs, and registering participants;

Preparing announcements and advance information for attendees;

Soliciting attendees and papers, and inviting speakers to make presentations;

Logistical support for speakers and scientific/technical experts directly contributing to the requirements of the contract/task order performance;

Meeting planning including administrative support in preparing EPA-developed workshop or meeting agendas;

Developing workshop materials for all participants, including shipping technical materials for the workshops;

Developing workshop evaluation forms; and of minutes, summary reports, and proceeding documents.

Providing FTP sites to store and exchange workshop-related materials and products.

2.5.2.3 Educational and Outreach Support: The Contractor must provide educational and outreach support in the form of workshops targeted at Federal, State, and local agency personnel, as well as involved citizens and stakeholders. The execution of educational seminars described her including general workshop support as described in Section 2.6.2.2. Also required is the development of focused outreach and educational materials for use in workshops and/or made available to EPA as stand-along materials and guides for distribution to the public.

2.5.2.4 Internet and Public Education Support: The Contractor must support EPA’s efforts to develop effective outreach materials and program information for use on the EPA’s website. Under the direction of EPA, the Contractor must maintain and enhance current EPA internet sites that focus on the task order and provides information and data to the public.

2.5.2.5 Graphics Support: Under the direction of EPA, the Contractor must produce art work, photos and other graphics that enhance and clarify EPA’s documents, manuals, brochures and reports. The Contractor must also provide editorial support, develop graphics and text materials for educational publications and develop scripts used in educational and technical videos. No actual video production would be required under this contract.

2.6 Great Lakes National Program Office Support: The objective of this task is to provide contractor assistance to support the implementation of the GLNPO responsibilities and strategic priorities. This assistance must include expert environmental, business management and multimedia expertise that will be used to execute or assist on an array of tasks in the following areas: existing environmental laws, regulations, and guidance; multimedia sources of pollution (water, air, sediment); technology and economics of reducing discharges of pollutants individually and in combination with other sources of stress to the environment in general and the Great Lakes ecosystem in particular; program policy analysis and development; development and implementation of restoration and protection plans for the Great Lakes ecosystem; cost effectiveness and benefits analysis; information management; education and outreach; technology transfer; and pollution prevention.

2.6.1 The scope of this task encompasses all professional services tasks required to support USEPA in accomplishing its responsibilities regarding the Great Lakes ecosystem. Support activities include the following:

· All aspects of support to the Great Lakes Interagency Task Force and Great Lakes Regional Collaboration including their successors and subgroups.

· Consultation on strategic planning, and performance measures and indicators;

· Program reviews and evaluations;

· Facilitation services for meetings, working groups, workshops, public forums, collaboration efforts, and team efforts;

· Alternatives analyses, cost-benefit analyses, risk analyses, modeling, and simulation of action and no-action environmental alternatives;

· Database and mail list design, implementation, administration, input, retrieval, and maintenance;

· Dissemination of forms, application kits, general information, publications, reports, and outreach materials by conventional and electronic methods;

· Collection, compilation, summarization, and organization of incoming forms, applications, or other materials;

· Collection, compilation, organization, analysis, summarization, formatting, and reporting on relevant information on national and Great Lakes environmental and regulatory issues;

· Expert technical review and advice on complex environmental issues derived from reports in order to address issues such as: modeling, environmental measurement techniques and practices, industrial processes, wastewater treatment, treatability of toxics, contaminated sediment monitoring and remediation techniques and practices, and cost-effectiveness of different pollution control or prevention technologies or methods.

· Assessment of effectiveness of public education and outreach programs and materials including brochures, pamphlets, fact sheets, status reports, Internet content, and software.

· Assistance with preparation of public education, technology transfer, and outreach programs and materials, including brochures, pamphlets, fact sheets, status reports, displays, presentations, posters, video, photography, Internet content, and software.

· Support for Internet site design, content, and maintenance;

· Support for remote collaboration of partners through use of Web and Video Conferencing, Collaboration (Team) Web Sites, Telephone Conference, and other electronic technologies.

· Compilation, categorization, and summarization of comments on proposed plans and activities.

· Development and application of techniques, methodologies, or approaches appropriate for characterizing and addressing the unique problems of environmental analysis at various scales such as county, state, watershed, ecoregion, lake, etc. Appropriate methodologies may include application of Geographic Information Systems (GIS), modeling, spatial analysis, statistical analysis, economic analysis, graphical analysis, etc.

· Provide expert advice and editorial support derived from reports in order to address research and demonstration projects, preparation of sediment remediation alternative plans, design of environmental monitoring programs for various media, preparation of Quality Assurance Plans, and other subjects as needed to fulfill the mission of the Great Lakes National Program Office.

· Providing expert advice, assistance, guidance or counseling in support of USEPA’s management, organizational and business improvement efforts.

· Developing and editing reports and preparing them for publication.

2.7 Technical Support for CWA 404, 401, and 402 Programs

Pursuant to Section 1.3 of this Performance Work Statement the Contractor is to provide EPA’s Water Programs with technical and support services to help implement some of the CWA and SDWA core programs. These services will also be available to the States and Tribes responsible for implementing for the core water programs. The Contractor must provide technical staff support to perform the following tasks for EPA’s Wetlands 404, 401, and 402 Programs.

The Contractor must provide expertise in determining the impact of mining on the environment. The Contractor expert(s) must have the ability to work in the field, perform in high pressure situations such as providing court testimony, work closely with attorneys and other scientists, and communicate effectively. The Contractor’s technical support staff may also include geologists, environmental and geological engineers, biologists and environmental scientists, as appropriate. This subtask may require approval of work by a registered or licensed engineer.

· Review and comment on mining projects in support of a 404 or 402 permit application. Information reviewed will include any and all data submitted as part of a 402 or 404 permit and Surface Mining Control Reclamation Act (SMCRA) application. Traveling to the Corps or State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) office may be necessary to review information.

· Recommend methods to avoid and minimize impacts to waters of the U.S. through mine design and waste disposal methods. Specifically, recommend methods to reduce coal slurry and find alternatives to impounding waters of the US for waste disposal.

· Explore the feasibility of underground injection as waste disposal option and new technologies to reduce waste, such as ways to reduce the water content of slurry.

· Review cost-benefit analysis to determine feasibility and practicability (costs, safety, available technologies) of alternatives for mines and waste disposal.

· Prepare draft fact sheets and/or provide information and/or text to EPA for preparation of draft documents relating to CWA projects (EPA will finalize all fact sheets for public distribution);

· Assist EPA in the preparation and distribution of agendas, briefing materials such as slides, hand-outs, visual aids, and other related materials;

· Attend public meetings and/or workshops in conjunction with EPA, states, and tribes to assist in answering questions and presenting information concerning projects; and

· Arrange for and provide training for EPA, Tribes, and states related to mining and the areas on expertise described above.

2.8 Quality Assurance (QA) Requirement

Where QA Project Plans are required, the Contractor must prepare them in conformance with EPA’s Requirements for Quality Assurance Project Plans for Environmental Data Operations (EPA QA/R-5). QA performance must be in conformance with the Office of Water Quality management Plan of 2001.

3 SPECIAL CONDITIONS

All work performed under this Contract must adhere to the clause EPAAR 1552.211-79 “Compliance with EPA Policies for Information Resources Management”, which requires adherence to all Agency directives for performance of any IRM related work.

3.1 IRM Policies, Standards and Procedures [http://www.epa.gov/irmpoli8/]. The 2100 Series (2100-2199) of the Agency's Directive System contains the majority of the Agency's IRM policies, standards and procedures.

3.2 Information Technology Standard Technical Requirements. Reports and documents must adhere to the following technical standards:

· Microsoft Office 2003 SP

· Adobe Acrobat Reader 8.x

· Any additional or proposed Business or Office Applications must be approved by the Project Officer, prior to use.

3.3 Environmental Information Management System (EIMS) [http://www.epa.gov/eims]. A contractor developing or enhancing an information resource must first conduct a thorough search of existing information resources, through means such as EIMS, to ensure development/enhancement of information resources does not duplicate existing information resources. If duplication is determined, the contractor must consult with the EPA project officer to ensure that existing information resources are optimally utilized in conjunction with information resource being developed/enhanced by the contractor. For any development/enhancement of information resources, the contractor must work with EPA on inserting/updating resource description information in EIMS.

3.4 Data Standards and Environmental Data Registry (EDR) [http://www.epa.gov/edr]. Any development/enhancement of information resources (information resources include systems, databases, and models/web applications that utilize information in OW systems and databases), as well as any data products flowing to or from EPA information resources, must adhere to the data standards detailed in the EDR.

3.5 Monitoring information in STORET and follow-on data systems [http://www.epa.gov/storet]. Any ambient water quality, chemical, physical, biological, sediment, tissue and ecological monitoring data collected as part of a contract or grant or cooperative agreement activities must be entered into STORET or its follow-on data systems or made available to EPA in a compatible format.

3.6 National Hydrography Dataset (NHD) Indexing [http://www.epa.gov/waters]. Data related to OW programs that is required to meet the EPA Latitude/Longitude Standard must also be indexed to the NHD, using EPA OW standard formats available on the WATERS website. Exceptions include groundwater data and data that are related to points greater than two miles from the United States coastline. The WATERS website describes EPA tools and training that are available for NHD indexing.

4 LABOR CATEGORIES- Sample labor categories for submitting firm-fixed prices of future Task Orders are listed in the table below. This list is not all inclusive. Offeror may adjust this schedule based on the offerors’ actual business practices. The labor categories to be offered must also be defined. Please fill in the blanks:

Total Labor Hours

Other Direct Costs

Travel

$40,000.00

Grand Total

SEQ CHAPTER \h \r 1Attachment 1 to Performance Work Statement

Agency Personal Verification Procedures for Contractor Personnel

Region 5’s Water Division Technical Support Services for Clean Water Act (CWA)

Background: Homeland Security Presidential Directive 12 (HSPD-12), signed on August 27, 2004, requires a Government-wide, common identification standard for all Federal and contractor employees requiring physical access to Federally controlled facilities and/or logical access to Federally controlled information systems. The goals of HSPD-12 are to enhance safety and security, increase Government efficiency, reduce identity fraud, and protect personal privacy.

HSPD-12 requires that the common identification be: (a) issued based on sound criteria for verifying an individual employee's identity; (b) strongly resistant to identity fraud, tampering, counterfeiting, and terrorist exploitation; (c) rapidly authenticated electronically; and (d) issued by providers whose reliability has been established by an official accreditation process.

HSPD-12 and its common identification standard require personal identity verification (PIV), background investigations, and suitability determinations for all affected contractor and subcontractor personnel. In accordance with FAR clause 52.204-9, Personal Identity Verification of Contractor Personnel, contractors and subcontractors must comply with EPA’s master plan for implementing HSPD-12.

a) Contractor Requirements for Personal Identity Verification (PIV) of Contractor Personnel (including subcontractors)

Contractor Employees Requiring Access to EPA facilities or EPA Information Systems for at Least 24 Hours a Week for at Least 6 Months: All individual contractor employees whose work under the contract requires on-site access to an EPA controlled facility or logical access to an EPA information system for at least 24 hours a week for at least 6 months a year, will be required to undergo a background investigation in order to receive an EPA Personnel Access and Security System (EPASS) badge.

To begin the PIV process, the contractor should submit to the Contracting Officer Representative (COR) within ten (10) days of contract award or contract modification with this Attachment to Work Statement Agency Personal Verification Procedures for Contractor Personnel, @ the following information in electronic format via secure means using the HSPD-12 Contractor Template found at http://epa.gov/oam/. The template was developed to assist in the transmission of the required contractor employee information in a uniform format. The template also contains drop down menus when entering data in various data cells. Specifically, the 8 data elements, Employee Type, Program Office, Work City and State, Birth State, Birth Country, Citizenship, Previous Investigation and Investigative Agency, contain drop down menus.

Contract number;

Contract expiration date;

· Name, address, and phone number of the Contractor Program Manager point of contact;

· Name, date of birth, place of birth (city, state, country), and Social Security Number for all contractor employees identified above. (NOTE: This information must be protected at all times, including during transmission, according to the requirements of the Privacy Act of 1974; see http://www.epa.gov/privacy/);

· Employee Type, Position, Email address, Program Office, Work City and State,

· An indication of which contractor employees are foreign nationals;

· Name of each contractor employee claiming to have a previous, favorably adjudicated Federal background investigation on record, and the name of the Federal Agency that required the investigation, and the completion date.

The contract-level COR will upload this information to the Office of Administrative Services Information System (OASIS) personnel security database.

After submission of the preliminary information, the contractor must be notified by the contract-level COR or PSB when to begin providing all information on Standard Form (SF) 85P, Questionnaire for Public Trust Positions, and submit the form electronically to PSB via the Office of Personnel Management’s (OPM’s) Electronic Questionnaires for Investigations Processing (e-QIP) system. Instructions for using e-QIP, filling out, and submitting the SF 85P on-line, can be found at http://www.opm.gov/e-qip/reference.asp. As part of the investigative and EPASS badging processes, contractor employees must be fingerprinted, photographed and provide two forms of identification, at a time and location specified by the COR. These fingerprints must be sent to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) for processing.

Contractor employees with a favorably adjudicated Federal background investigation at the National Agency Check and Inquiries (NACI) level or above, completed within the past 5 years and verified by EPA, do not require an additional investigation unless one is requested by the Contracting Officer (CO) or Contract-level Contracting Officer Representative (COR). These employees must still be fingerprinted at a time and location specified by the COR.

In order to prevent any interruption of contractor services pending the completion of the OPM background investigation, the Office of Administrative Services (OAS) Security Management Division (SMD) has procedures in place to issue temporary or provisional badges.

When reporting in person, as directed by the contract-level COR, contractor employees must provide two forms of original identity source documents from the lists on Form I-9, OMB No.1615-0047, Employment Eligibility Verification (available at http://www.formi9.com/i-9.pdf) .At least one document must be a valid State or Federal Government-issued picture identification.

Contractor Employees Requiring EPA Access for Less than 24 Hours a Week for 6 Months: These contractor employees may be subject to the above requirements, and may have limited and controlled access to facilities and information systems.

Foreign National Contractor Employees: To be eligible to work on-site at an EPA controlled facility or to access EPA information systems, a foreign national contractor employee must have been admitted to the U.S. on an Immigrant Visa or a Non-Immigrant Work Authorization Visa. Foreign nationals requiring access to an EPA controlled facility or EPA information system for at least 24 hours a week for at least 6 months a year must meet the above requirements for an EPASS badge, and in addition:

· In the Continuation Space on the SF 85P, provide the visa number, issuance location, and issuance date for the visa used for entry to the U.S.;

· When presenting two identification source documents, as described above, provide at least one from List A on Form 1-9.

When determining a foreign national contractor employee’s eligibility for an EPASS badge, EPA will consider the type of visa presented (immigrant vs. non-immigrant) and the reciprocity agreement between the U.S. and the individual’s country of origin. These considerations are in addition to the “red flag” issues listed below.

Screening of the SF 85P: Information contained on the SF 85P may demonstrate that a contractor employee is not suitable to be given access to EPA facilities or information systems. PSB will screen information entered on the SF 85P prior to OPM initiating the background investigation. For individuals with admitted, derogatory information, issuance of an EPASS badge may be delayed pending further EPA review. Contractors are responsible for providing qualified personnel in accordance with requirements stated elsewhere in this contract. Contractors will only be notified by the COR if any contractor employee is found unsuitable to perform as a result of a background investigation, and must be immediately replaced by the contractor. The following are possible "red flags":

· Employment - Having been fired from a previous job, or having left under unfavorable circumstances within the past 7 years (Question 12 on the SF 85P);

· Selective Service - Failure to register with the Selective Service System; this applies to male applicants born after December 31, 1959 (Question 17 on the SF 85P);

· Police Records - Within the past 7 years, any arrest, charge, or conviction that has been upheld for violent or dangerous behavior or a pattern of arrests that demonstrates disregard for the law (Question 20 on the SF 85P);

· Illegal Drugs - Illegal use within the previous year, or drug manufacture or other involvement for profit within the past 7 years (Question 21 on the SF 85P).

b) Returning Badges

The contractor is responsible for ensuring that all badges are returned to the COR at the conclusion of the contract or when contractor on-site services are no longer required, or when an individual contractor employee leaves.

c) Subcontracts

These requirements must be incorporated into all subcontracts wherein employees’ work under the subcontract requires physical access to an EPA controlled facility or logical access to an EPA information system for 6 months or longer.

d) Appeals

Contractors have the right to appeal, in writing to the COR, a determination to deny or revoke a badge. If the COR believes an appeal is justified, he/she will forward it to:

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Personnel Security Branch (Mail Code 3206M)

1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW

Washington, DC 20460

Personnel Security Branch’s decision on behalf of the Agency will be final and not subject to further appeal.

e) Definitions

· “EPA Information System” means an information system [44 U.S.C. 3502(8)] used or operated by EPA, or a contractor of EPA or other organization on behalf of the Agency.

· “EPA Controlled Facilities” means:

EPA or Federally-owned buildings or leased space, whether for single or multi-tenant occupancy, and its grounds and approaches, all or any portion of which are under the jurisdiction, custody or control of the Agency;

EPA or Federally controlled commercial space shared with non-government tenants. For example, if a department or agency leased the 10th floor of a commercial building, the Directive applies to the 10th floor only;

Government-owned contractor-operated facilities, including laboratories;

The term does not apply to educational institutions that conduct activities on behalf of departments or the agency or at which Federal Employees are hosted unless specifically designated as such by the sponsoring department or agency.

· Foreign National means an individual who is not a United States citizen.

Attachment 2 to Performance Work Statement

SEQ CHAPTER \h \r 1Notice Regarding Prohibited Contractor Activities on Environmental Protection Agency And

Identification of Contractor Personnel

Region 5’s Water Division Technical Support Services for Clean Water Act (CWA)

A. SEQ CHAPTER \h \r 1Notice Regarding Prohibited Contractor Activities on Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) The Contractor must not perform any of the following activities on behalf of EPA in connection with any task order hereunder:

1. The actual preparation of Congressional testimony.

2. The interviewing or hiring of individuals for employment at EPA.

3. Developing and/or writing of Position Descriptions and Performance Standards.

4. The actual determination of Agency policy.

5. Participating as a voting member on a Performance Evaluation Board; participating in and/or attending Award Fee meetings.

6. Preparing Award Fee Letters, even under typing services contracts.

7. The actual preparation of Award Fee Plans.

8. The preparation of documents on EPA Letterhead other than routine administrative correspondence.

9. Reviewing vouchers and invoices for the purposes of determining whether costs, hours, and work performed are reasonable.

10. The preparation of Statements of Work, Work Assignments, Technical Direction Documents, Delivery Orders, or any other work issuance document under a contract that the contractor is performing or may perform. Such a work issuance document, prepared by an EPA prime contractor under an EPA prime contract for its subcontractor, is exempt from this prohibition.

11. The actual preparation of responses to audit reports from the Inspector General, General Accounting Office, or other auditing entities.

12. Preparing responses to Congressional correspondence.

13. The actual preparation of responses to Freedom of Information Act requests, other than routine, non-judgmental correspondence.

14. Any contract which authorizes a contractor to represent itself as EPA to outside parties.

15. Conducting administrative hearings.

16. Reviewing findings concerning the eligibility of EPA employees for security clearances.

17. The actual preparation of an office's official budget request.

B. Identification of Contractor Personnel

1. All contractor, subcontractor, and consultant personnel must wear prominently displayed identification badges at all times when:

• Performing task orders task orders under the Performance Work Statement; and

• Interacting with EPA officials, federal agencies, state, tribal and local governments, business, industry, and the general public.

2. The badge must contain the individual’s name and the company’s name and logo. The contractor must identify the office space occupied by contractor staff in any location that is also occupied by EPA employees with appropriate signs that include the contractor’s name.

3. When performing tasks that require identification of themselves or when participating in any event and/or discussion (i.e., answering the telephone, participating as a panel member or speaker), contractor staff must verbally identify themselves as contractor personnel so that there is no possible appearance of being EPA officials.

� Pursuant to EPAAR 1523.703-1(e), A contract, order, work assignment or purchasing agreement that includes contractor support for meeting and conference planning and logistics must include a green meeting and conference requirement. The contractor is therefore required to use the provision at 1552.223–71, “EPA Green Meetings and Conferences (MAY 2007)”, or language approved by the contracting officer that is substantially the same as the provision, when soliciting quotes or offers for meeting and conference services on behalf of the EPA.

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