Attachment_1_-_DES_Statement_of_Work_-_12.4.15.pdf

SOL-HQ-14-00022 – Official Request for Standard Form 330

ATTACHMENT 1

Design and Engineering Services (DES) Contract Statement of Work (SOW)

Subject to Task Order Specific Requirements

In accordance with current applicable laws, regulations, guidance and policies, the contractor shall furnish all necessary personnel with appropriate knowledge and expertise, materials, equipment, and services needed for, or incidental to, performing and completing work in accordance with the requirements of this statement of work. Services under the DES contracts may be ordered by any EPA Region or Headquarters Office.

The work areas under this DES Contract are separated into eight (8) functional areas (tasks):

1. General Requirements

2. Field Work and Analytical Support

3. Treatability Studies

4. Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study (RI/FS)

5. Engineering Evaluation/Cost Analysis (EE/CA)

6. Remedial Design (RD)

7. Oversight or Oversight Support

8. Other Work Areas/General Technical Assistance

This DES SOW includes general tasks that will be accomplished under this contract. The types of sites where these requirements will be executed vary by contract line item number (CLIN). In general, the types of sites where DES-type activities may be conducted, include but are not limited to:

CLIN 0001: landfills, manufacturing facilities, groundwater sites with challenging geology, and sediment sites.

CLIN 0002: groundwater sites with challenging geology, manufactured gas plant sites, residential/high access sites, large geographic sites contaminated with mining chat, and large watershed surface water and sediment sites.

CLIN 0003: large, diffuse groundwater sites, vapor intrusion sites, hardrock mine sites, and sediment sites.

The task order SOW will identify which activities under each functional area will be required for the specific project. The task order statement of work will also identify any Region-specific or new EPA policy or guidance not specifically outlined in the contract statement of work. For each task order, the contractor shall provide cost information and schedule based on the work breakdown structure identified in that task order.

Task 1: General Requirements

The general requirements section outlines activities that will be completed by the contractor for a majority of the task orders issued under this contract. The activities in this section include:

1.1 Systematic Project Planning;

1.2 Site-Specific Plan(s) Development;

1.3 Project Management, Monitoring and Reporting;

1.4 Greener Cleanups and Sustainability Considerations;

1.5 Optimization Considerations;

1.6 Community Involvement; and

1.7 Task Order Close Out.

The need for these requirements and the amount of information/level or effort required will be outlined in the task order statement of work.

1.1 Systematic Project Planning

The following planning activities may be conducted, as deemed appropriate, throughout the duration of the project. Project-specific requirements will be outlined in the specific task order document. These activities may include, but are not limited to:

Kickoff meeting. Upon award of the task order, the contractor shall schedule a kickoff meeting with technical staff, quality staff, EPA, and other stakeholders to discuss the statement of work, site visit and document review needs. The meeting will also be used to outline project specific requirements including: project objectives, data gaps, potential sampling and analysis methods, and performance goals. The deliverable after the kickoff meeting will be a project schedule and general work plan. Scoping/Kickoff meetings will be documented in the UFP-QAPP.

Site visit.

Review relevant background documentation.

Conduct systematic planning meetings. Throughout the duration of the project the contractor shall schedule systematic planning meetings to revisit project specific requirements and discuss any changes or modifications needed in project scope, schedule and/or budget.

Develop or Update the Conceptual Site Model (CSM)1. Based on information available, develop or update the conceptual site model. The CSM is intended to be an iterative, “living representation” of a site that summarizes and helps project teams visualize and understand available information. The CSM may be used as a primary planning, management, and decision making tool to assist project teams throughout the life cycle stages of the project.

1.2 Site-specific Plan(s) Development

Review, prepare, update, and/or maintain relevant or required site-specific plans in accordance with applicable guidance. The types of site-specific plans necessary for the project will be outlined in the task order document. Site work shall not commence on a project until EPA (the remedial project manager (RPM), contracting officer’s personnel (COR) or other management personnel) have approved all the site-specific submittals required in the task order document.

Some site-specific plans that may be requested include, but are not limited to the following:

1 For more information on Conceptual Site Models and their role throughout the remediation process, please refer to

EPA 542-F-11-011, Environmental Cleanup Best Management Practices: Effective Use of the Project Life Cycle

Conceptual Site Model, July 2011.

Personnel Plan

Site Management Plan (SMP). The SMP outlines the processes, procedures, and safeguards that will be used to ensure contaminants or pollutants are not released off-site during the implementation of the task order and how wastes that are encountered during task order activities will be managed and disposed, as appropriate.

Uniform Federal Policy Quality Assurance Project Plan (UFP-QAPP)2. A UFP-QAPP is a formal document describing in comprehensive detail the necessary quality assurance (QA), quality control (QC), and other technical activities that must be implemented to ensure that the results of the work performed will satisfy the stated performance criteria. A UFP-QAPP integrates technical and quality control aspects of a project throughout its life cycle, including planning, implementation, assessment, and corrective actions. The UFP-QAPP will provide:

o Data quality objectives3 (DQO) that specify the data needed to support decisions regarding remedial response activities.

o Field sampling plan (FSP) that describes the number, type, and locations of samples and types of analyses.

Data Management Plan (DMP). The DMP will detail the standard processes, procedures and tools that the contractor will use to support response activities and include requirements for EPA deliverable. The DMP will be developed in accordance with EPA national and region-specific data management plans or guidance. The relevant plans or guidance will be identified in the task order specific document.

Health and Safety Plan (HASP)4. The HASP specifies employee training, protective equipment, medical surveillance requirements, standard operating procedures, and a contingency plan.

Waste Management Plan (WMP). For projects where waste will be generated, whether it is hazardous or non-hazardous waste, a WMP shall be prepared by the Contractor. These will typically include remedial, removal or long-term response actions/remedy operations. This plan consists of procedures outlining the safe handling of contaminated material, drummed material, and contaminated liquids in addition to procedures for off-site transportation and disposal of materials. Manifesting, Department of Transportation (DOT) shipping papers, and chain-of-custody procedures should also be included.

These plans may be modified if project conditions change, as requested by EPA. If a change in the site plans results in a modification to the task order, the change will be negotiated, as appropriate, and the task order will be modified.

1.3 Project Management, Monitoring and Reporting

The contractor shall perform activities required to manage the task order effectively. Activities may include, but are not limited to: preparing monthly progress reports in accordance with the requirements under the contract; preparing and submitting invoices in accordance with the requirements under the contract; updating project schedules as specified in the task order document; and submitting ad-hoc reports during the projects as requested by the project

2 Refer to EPA-505-B-04-900A, Uniform Federal Policy for Quality Assurance Project Plans, Version 1, March

2005.

3 Refer to EPA/240/B-06/001, EPA QA/G4: Guidance on Systematic Planning Using the Data Quality Objectives

Process, February 2006.

4 Refer to 29 CFR 1910.120(l)(1) and (l)(2).

manager. During the project, the contractor shall also accommodate any external audit or review mechanism as required by EPA.

Throughout the project, the contractor shall avoid duplication of prior efforts in gathering and assimilating project or site information. The contactor shall utilize the most applicable and current regulations and guidance documents when conducting work. The contractor shall continually look for and implement ways to streamline activities and minimize costs without compromising quality. The contactor shall assign work to personnel at the appropriate professional and/or technical levels and with the appropriate skill to most efficiently perform the task(s).

1.4 Greener Cleanups5 and Sustainability Considerations

The contractor shall consider the environmental footprint of all activities. In particular, to the extent practicable and/or feasible, the contractor shall explore and implement green remediation strategies to maximize sustainability, reduce energy and water usage, promote carbon neutrality, promote industrial materials reuse and recycling, protect and preserve land resources through green applications. The contractor shall present green remediation options and approaches during systematic project planning meetings, provide a cost analysis for these options in any work plan budgets, maintain records of green related activities, and report this information to

EPA as needed or requested.

1.5 Optimization Considerations

The contractor shall consider and apply optimization activities for all contract activities.

Optimization is defined as efforts at any phase of the removal or remedial response to identify and implement specific actions that improve the effectiveness and cost-efficiency of that phase of the cleanup6. Optimization activities may be conducted by a team of independent technical experts, application of optimization techniques or principles, such as Triad, or apply other approaches to identify opportunities for greater efficiency and effectiveness. The contractor shall present optimization options or recommendations for independent review during systematic project planning meetings, provide a cost analysis or cost estimate for these activities, maintain records of optimization related activities, and participate in any third party optimization activities on projects they are executing, as requested by EPA.

In addition, to the extent practicable and/or feasible, the contractor shall consider the use of High

Resolution Site Characterization (HRSC) strategies and technologies7. These tools can assist in characterizing sites in a quicker, more cost efficient manner. Classic characterization technologies may still work, but don’t offer the same advantages as HRSC. HRSC technologies and strategies allow us to characterize sites with enhanced detail and reduced uncertainty, with

5 Refer to ASTM International’s Standard Guide for Greener Cleanups (E2893-13), November 2013, EPA’s

Principles for Greener Cleanups ( http://www.epa.gov/oswer/greenercleanups/principles.html), Superfund’s Green

Remediation Strategy (http://www.epa.gov/oswer/greenercleanups/strategy.html), and Attachment B for applicable regional policy and guidance related to reducing the environmental footprint of all phases of cleanup activities under this contract.

6 For more information on EPA’s optimization initiative, refer to 9200.3-75, National Strategy to Expand Superfund

Optimization Practices from Site Assessment to Site Completion, September 2012. For additional information on optimization, refer to http://www.epa.gov/superfund/cleanup/postconstruction/optimize.htm.

7 For more information on HRSC, refer to http://www.cluin.org/characterization/technologies/hrsc/ http://www.epa.gov/oswer/greenercleanups/principles.html http://www.cluin.org/characterization/technologies/hrsc/ results provided in the field for quicker decision making. HRSC tools include, but are not limited to: soil gas (active or passive) sampling devices; soil coring hydrostratigraphic profiling groundwater quality profiling and direct sensing contaminant profiling tools advanced using direct push technologies (DPT); borehole flow meters; continuous packer/liner sampling systems and media-specific sampling tools such as field test kits and field portable x-ray fluorescence

(FP-XRF).

1.6 Community Involvement

The contractor shall provide technical assistance in overseeing and/or conducting community involvement and outreach activities for environmental remediation projects8. The scope of community involvement activities needed will be detailed in the specific task order document. If available, the contractor shall review and adhere to the Community Involvement Plan9 (CIP). .

1.7 Task Order Close Out

The contractor shall close out task orders. Activities include but are not limited to returning documents to EPA or other document repositories, file duplication, distribution, and storage, file archiving to meet Federal Records center requirements, and preparation of a close-out report in accordance with the task order requirements.

Task 2: Field Work and Analytical Support

The field work section outlines those activities that require the contractor to send personnel on the site to gather site information or environmental samples. This section also outlines expectations for the contractor to manage, analyze evaluate and report data and information from field activities. The activities described in this section may be included as subtasks in other tasks in this contract. All analytic work shall be done in compliance with the EPA Forum on

Environmental Measurement Competency Policy (Policy to Assure Competency of Laboratories, Field Sampling, and Other Organizations Generating Environmental Measurement Data under

Agency funded Acquisitions (Agency Policy Directive Number FEM 2011-01)).

The activities in this section include:

2.1 Field Investigation;

2.2 Analytical Support and Data Validation;

2.3 Data Compilation and Evaluation; and

2.4 Develop of Update the Site Conceptual Site Model

The scope of field work activities needed will be outlined in the task order document.

8 The contractor shall provide community involvement support to EPA in accordance with the NCP (40 CFR Part

300) and Community Relations in Superfund - A Handbook (U.S. EPA, Office of Emergency and Remedial

Response, EPA 540-K-05-003, April 2005). For more information on Superfund community involvement, refer to http://www.epa.gov/superfund/community/policies.htm 9 9 For more information on Community Involvement Plans, please refer to http://www.epa.gov/hudson/cip.htm.

http://www.epa.gov/superfund/community/policies.htm

2.1 Field Investigation10

To conduct field investigation activities, the contractor shall perform all or a specified subset of the activities listed below. Where appropriate, activities should be performed in accordance with the EPA-approved UFP-QAPP:

Mobilization and demobilization activities.

Site Reconnaissance. Conduct site surveys including property, boundary, well inventory, utility rights-of-way, historic resources review, and topographic information.

Environmental Investigations. These investigations may include but are not limited to:

geological (soils and sediments); air; hydrogeological (groundwater, surface water, seeps, pore water); geophysical; and ecological.

Source Investigation. Locate and characterize the waste(s) present in the source.

Characterization of the nature and extent of contamination involves using the information on source location, physical and environmental site data.

Contaminated Building Samples. Collect samples of contaminated building materials.

Investigation-Derived Waste Disposal. Characterize and dispose of investigation-derived wastes11 in accordance with local, State, and Federal regulations as specified in the EPA-approved FSP.

Conduct a Reuse assessment.

2.2 Analytical Support and Data Validation

The contractor may be required to perform analytical support and data validation activities.

These activities may include:

Environmental sample collection;

Analytical Services and Support; and

Data validation

Throughout the analytical support and data validation process, the contractor shall coordinate with the Regional Sample Control Coordinator (RSCC), Regional Labs and/or the Environmental

Services Division (ESD), the EPA Sample Management Office (SMO), or equivalent, regarding any analytical support, data validation, and quality assurance issues. The scope of analytical support and data validation activities will generally be outlined in the task order document and more specifically in the UFP-QAPP.

2.2.1 Environmental sample collection

The contractor shall provide personnel and equipment to collect environmental samples. The contractor shall use Scribe to capture sampling, observational, and monitoring field data.

Samples collected may include, but are not limited to, sample matrices such as solids, dust, particulates, ash, gases, wipes, water, waste water, liquids, soil, tissue, vegetation, sediments, air, wastes, Dense Non-Aqueous Phase Liquids (DNAPL), Non-Aqueous Phase Liquids (NAPL), 10 All field operations should be conducted using Field Activities Procedure CIO 2105-P-02.0.

11 Refer to OSWER 9345.3-03FS Guide to Management of Investigation-Derived Wastes, January 1992.

leachates, and biota. The contractor shall collect, handle and transport samples in accordance with the project-specific UFP-QAPP.

2.2.2 Analytical Services and Support

Throughout the project planning and implementation, the contractor shall work with the RPM or

COR on selection of analytical services. The contractor shall request and perform analytical services in compliance with EPA requirements. In general, the contractor shall follow the

FASTAC-tiered hierarchy for obtaining analytical services.

Tier 1 – EPA Regional Laboratory and ESAT Contract

Tier 2 – National Analytical Services Contracts (i.e., CLP)

Tier 3 – Region Specific Analytical Services Contract

Tier 4 - Analytical Services IAGs and Field Contracts/Subcontracts

For Analytical Services that are not under direct oversight by EPA (Tier 4), the contractor shall provide evidence that the laboratory has experience with and is fully capable of performing the required analytical method12.

All electronic data deliverables are to be received from the contractor laboratory or sub-contracted laboratory in the Staged Electronic Data Deliverable (SEDD) 2a, 2b or SEDD 3 format13. The contractor is responsible for ensuring the laboratory can generate a compliant

SEDD file.

2.2.3 Data Validation

Data Validation activities include evaluating and qualifying laboratory analytical data against predefined requirements outlined in the UFP-QAPP. The contractor shall perform data validation activities on data from the following sources: CLP, Regional laboratory contracts, EPA Regional

Laboratories, potentially responsible parties (PRPs), EPA field contractors, and other sources. In general, the contractor shall not conduct data validation of its own data generated under this contract. Options for subcontractor data validation will be evaluated on a task order specific basis.

The contractor shall provide a data validation of data packages and electronic deliverables using the following documents and requirements listed below:

EPA’s Guidance on Environmental Data Verification and Data Validation, EPA QA/G-8

CLP, Regional data review SOPs, and National and Regional Data Validation Functional

Guidelines/Guidance14 (e.g. may include dioxins and explosives) and directives;

CLP Routine Analytical Services (RAS) and Modified Analyses contract protocols and performance requirements;

12 This may include state or other Federal certifications for the specific analytical method requested. Certifications or experience with similar methods may not be considered sufficient evidence of capability. The laboratory’s capability to perform the requested method shall be documented in the UFP-QAPP.

13 For more information on Staged Electronic Data Deliverables, refer to http://www.epa.gov/fem/sedd.htm.

14 The contractor shall incorporate EPA electronic assessment tools (EXES) whenever possible. For more information on EXES, refer to http://www.epa.gov/superfund/programs/clp/data_assessment.htm.

http://www.epa.gov/fem/sedd.htm

EPA’s Guidance for Labeling Externally Validated Laboratory Analytical Data for

Superfund Use, EPA-540-R-08-005, January 2009 (OSWER Directive 9200.1-85);

Individual Regional laboratory contracts protocols and performance requirements;

Regional sampling/project plans;

Regional Performance Evaluation (PE) program guidance; and

Task Order requirements.

Upon completion of the data validation, the contractor shall submit the required data validation report to the project manager within the time frames specified in the task order.

2.3 Data Management and Evaluation

The contractor shall provide data management support services that address the collection, processing, management, distribution, analysis and archival of data and information. The contractor shall use Scribe15. EPA expects that the tools, processes and technology that will be used to provide these support services will evolve over the duration of the contract. Thus, EPA shall assess these improvements and continually adapt to provide more efficient and effective data management services. The contractor should not use proprietary software that must be abandoned or paid for by EPA at the end of the contract. The contractor should use tools that allow analytical data to be associated with the field data.

The contractor shall:

Deploy all data management support services in close coordination with EPA experts such as Remedial Project Managers (RPMs), On Scene Coordinators (OSCs), the Environmental

Response Team (ERT) and the National Data Acquisition and Technical Assistance Team

(DATA Team).

Where appropriate, coordinate closely with EPA regional GIS or Records Management leads for specific portions of integrated projects.

Manage and archive data consistent with the EPA approved Data Management Plan (DMP).

Contractor shall provide EPA with a comprehensive electronic final archival of sampling and monitoring data and data deliverables that are consistent with EPA national and regional-specific requirements.

All spatially referenced data must be delivered in a standard ESRI spatial file format16, with the file geodatabase currently preferred. All GIS files17 submitted must have spatial reference information that describes the projection, datum, and where applicable, the collection methods.

Conduct data trend evaluation and/or modeling, as requested in the task order document, and submit information in a technical memorandum with supporting data, as required.

15 For more information on Scribe, please refer to https://www.epaosc.net/scribe 16 All geospatial data must be submitted as unprojected geographic coordinates in decimal degree format using

North American Datum 1983 (NAD83) or World Geodetic System 1984 (WGS84) as the datum. These coordinate requirements are specified in the EPA National Geospatial Data Policy, 2008.

17 All GIS files must have associated Federal Geographic Data Committee (FGDC) compliant metadata. The

Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata can be found at http://www.fgdc.gov. An add-on editor for ESRI software, EPA Metadata Editor (EME), complies with the FGDC metadata requirement and is available at https://edg.epa.gov/EME/.

https://www.epaosc.net/scribe

2.4 Develop or Update the Conceptual Site Model18

Based on information collected under this task, develop or update the conceptual site model

(CSM). The CSM is intended to be an iterative, “living representation” of a site that summarizes and helps project teams visualize and understand available information.

Task 3: Treatability Studies19

Treatability testing is generally performed by using laboratory bench-scale, pilot scale or field-scale techniques. Treatability studies may be performed during the EPA-lead RI/FS or during the EPA-lead RD. A treatability study may not be needed for every RI/FS or RD project. The need for a treatability study will be outlined in the task order document. In general, treatability studies are conducted primarily to achieve the following:

Provide sufficient data to allow treatment alternatives to be fully developed and evaluated during the detailed analysis and to support the remedial design of a selected alternative.

Reduce cost and performance uncertainties for treatment alternatives to acceptable levels so that a remedy can be selected.

Refine remedial design information for remedial action implementation.

If a treatability study is requested, the contractor shall perform the following tasks:

Literature Search.

Develop a Treatability Study Work Plan. The contractor shall prepare the Treatability Study

Work Plan and submit it to the EPA project manager for review and approval.

Conduct the treatability study, consistent with the EPA-approved treatability study work plan.

Develop Treatability Study Report. On a schedule specified in the task order document, the contractor shall prepare and submit the Treatability Study Evaluation

Task 4: Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study (RI/FS)

The RI/FS is the process for characterizing the nature and extent of contamination and risks posed by uncontrolled hazardous waste sites and for evaluating potential remedial options. The goal is to develop the appropriate and defensible amount of data necessary to support the lead

Agency’s selection and to make an informed implementation decision for site remediation in the

Record of Decision (ROD). This section sets forth the basic framework and requirements for this effort. The activities in this section include:

4.1 Remedial Investigation (including risk assessment);

18 For more information on Conceptual Site Models and their role throughout the remediation process, please refer to EPA 542-F-11-011, Environmental Cleanup Best Management Practices: Effective Use of the Project Life Cycle

Conceptual Site Model, July 2011.

19 For more information on treatability studies, refer to EPA/540/R-92/071a Guide for Conducting Treatability

Studies Under CERCLA, November, 1993

4.2 Feasibility Study; and

4.3 Post RI/FS Support

This approach should be viewed as a dynamic and flexible process that will be tailored to specific project circumstances outlined in the specific task order document.

4.1 Remedial Investigation

Conduct the remedial investigation to synthesize all of the information gathered during field work activities in order to develop or update the Conceptual Site Model for the site and conduct an analysis of site risks. Remedial Investigation activities may include, but are not limited to, the following:

4.1.1 Identification of Federal/State Chemical and Location Specific Applicable Relevant and Appropriate Requirements (ARARs)20

Conduct a preliminary review and identification of ARARs that may affect the remedy selection.

4.1.2 Risk Assessment

The contractor shall conduct a risk assessment. The risk assessment will determine whether site contaminants pose an actual or potential future risk to human health and the environment in the absence of any remedial action. It also provides the basis for EPA to determine whether or not remedial action is necessary and the justification for performing the remedial actions. Four documents are typically submitted under this task: Screening Level Human Health Risk

Assessment, Screening Level Ecological Risk Assessment21, Human Health Risk Assessment

(HHRA)22 and Ecological Risk Assessment (ERA)23.

4.1.3 Remedial Investigation Report

The contractor shall develop and deliver draft(s) and final Remedial Investigation (RI) report24.

4.2 Feasibility Study (FS)

Conduct the FS to develop an appropriate range of cleanup alternatives that ensure the protection of human health and the environment and meet ARARs. These alternatives may involve, depending on site-specific circumstances, the complete elimination or destruction of hazardous

20 For policies and fact sheets specific to ARARs, refer to the following website:

http://www.epa.gov/superfund/policy/remedy/sfremedy/arars.htm.

21 For more information on screening level ecological risk assessments, refer to EPA 540/F-01/014 ECO Update:

The Role of Screening-Level Risk Assessments and Refining Contaminants of Concern in Baseline Ecological Risk

Assessments, June 2001.

22 For more information on Superfund human health risk assessments, refer to EPA/540/1-89/002 Risk Assessment

Guidance for Superfund Volume I Human Health Evaluation Manual (Part A), December 1989, 23 For more information on Superfund ecological risk assessments, refer to OSWER 9285.7-25, Ecological Risk

Assessment Guidance for Superfund: Process for Designing and Conducting Ecological Risk Assessments - Interim

Final, June 1997.

24 For information on the contents of the Remedial Investigation report, refer to Table 3-13 of OSWER Directive

9355.3-01 Guidance for Conducting Remedial Investigations and Feasibility Studies Under CERCLA, October

1988.

substances at the site, the reduction of concentrations of hazardous substances to acceptable health-based levels, and prevention of exposure to hazardous substances via engineering or institutional controls, or some combination of the above. Feasibility study activities may include, but are not limited to, the following:

4.2.1 Development and Screening of Alternatives

The contractor shall screen alternatives for remediation. Alternatives for remediation are developed by assembling combinations of technologies, and the media or areas of the site to which they would be applied, into alternatives that address contamination on a sitewide basis or for an identified area of the site. This process consists of six general steps: develop ARARs, Remedial Action Objectives (RAOs), and preliminary remediation goals (PRGs) for contaminants of concern; develop general response actions for each medium of interest; identify volumes or areas of media to which response actions might be applied; identify and screen the technologies applicable to each general response action; identify and evaluate technology process options; and assemble technologies into alternatives.25

4.2.2 Remedial Alternatives Evaluation

The contractor shall evaluate the remedial alternatives. The extent to which alternatives are evaluated26 is influenced by the available data, the number and types of alternatives being analyzed, and the degree to which alternatives were previously analyzed during their development and screening. The evaluations conducted during this phase build on previous evaluations conducted during the development and screening of alternatives. This phase also incorporates any treatability study data and additional site characterization information that may have been collected during the RI. The results of the detailed analysis provide the basis for identifying a preferred alternative and preparing the proposed plan. The results of the evaluation support the final selection of a remedial action and the foundation for the Record of Decision27.

4.2.3 Feasibility Study Report

The contractor shall develop and deliver draft(s) and final Feasibility Study Report28.

4.3 Post RI/FS Support

The contractor shall provide support required for preparation of the Proposed Plan with the preferred alternatives and ROD for the site. The number of meetings, meeting lengths, and

25 For information of the alternatives screen process, refer to Chapter 4 of OSWER Directive 9355.3-01 Guidance for Conducting Remedial Investigations and Feasibility Studies Under CERCLA, October 1988. For information on evaluating presumptive remedy alternatives, refer to the Presumptive Remedies webpage:

http://www.epa.gov/superfund/policy/remedy/presump/pol.htm 26 For the evaluation criteria, refer to the 40 CFR 300.430(e)(2)(G)(9)(iii) and Chapter 6 of OSWER Directive

9355.3-01 Guidance for Conducting Remedial Investigations and Feasibility Studies Under CERCLA, October

1988.

27 For information on developing costing information for alternatives, please refer to OSWER 9355.0-75 A Guide for Developing and Documenting Cost Estimates During the Feasibility Study, July 2000.

28 For information on the contents of the Feasibility Study report, refer to Table 6-5 of OSWER Directive 9355.3-01

Guidance for Conducting Remedial Investigations and Feasibility Studies Under CERCLA, October 1988.

required contractor personnel will be defined in individual task order documents. Typical activities include, but are not limited to, the following:

Attend public meetings, briefings, or public hearings;

Attend technical meetings with PRPs;

Prepare presentation materials;

Provide technical assistance in the preparation of the Responsiveness Summary;

Provide technical information to support preparation of the Proposed Plan and ROD; and

Prepare any RI/FS addenda.

Task 5: Engineering Evaluation/Cost Analysis (EE/CA)

An EE/CA must be completed for all non-time-critical removal actions (NTCRA) under

CERCLA29. The goals of the EE/CA are to identify the objectives of the removal action and to analyze the effectiveness, implementability, and cost of various alternatives that may satisfy these objectives. The results of the EE/CA will be documented in the Action Memorandum.

This section sets forth the basic framework and requirements for this effort. The activities in this section include:

5.1 Streamlined Risk Evaluation;

5.2 Identification and Analysis of Removal Action Alternatives;

5.3 EE/CA Report; and

5.4 Post EE/CA Support

specific project circumstances outlined specific task order document.

5.1 Streamlined Risk Evaluation

Conduct a risk evaluation to help justify taking a removal action and identify what current or potential exposures should be prevented. The risk evaluation uses environmental data collected from the site to identify chemicals of concern and provides an assessment of the risk associated with these chemicals if no cleanup action is taken at the site. The contractor shall submit one or more of the following documents under this task: Screening Level Human Health Risk

Assessment, Screening Level Ecological Risk Assessment30, Human Health Risk Assessment

(HHRA)31 and Ecological Risk Assessment (ERA)32.

29 Refer to 40 CFR 300.415(b)(4)(i) 30 For more information on screening level ecological risk assessments, refer to EPA 540/F-01/014 ECO Update:

The Role of Screening-Level Risk Assessments and Refining Contaminants of Concern in Baseline Ecological Risk

Assessments, June 2001.

31 For more information on Superfund human health risk assessments, refer to EPA/540/1-89/002 Risk Assessment

Guidance for Superfund Volume I Human Health Evaluation Manual (Part A), December 1989, 32 For more information on Superfund ecological risk assessments, refer to OSWER 9285.7-25, Ecological Risk

Assessment Guidance for Superfund: Process for Designing and Conducting Ecological Risk Assessments - Interim

Final, June 1997.

5.2 Identification and Analysis of Removal Action Alternatives

Identify alternatives for removal actions by considering the nature and extent of contamination and results of the streamlined risk evaluation to develop: removal action scope, goals and objectives. Once the objectives have been established, removal alternatives should be assembled considering technologies or a combination of technologies to address the media of sources of contamination identified.33 When the removal alternatives have been identified, an analysis34 of each alternative is conducted based on effectiveness, implementability and cost35 criteria.

Once the alternatives have been described and individually assessed against the criteria, a comparative analysis is conducted to evaluate the relative performance of each alternative in related to each of the criteria. The results of the comparative analysis will support the recommended removal action in the EE/CA.

5.3 EE/CA Report

The contractor shall develop and deliver draft(s) and final EE/CA Report36.

5.4 Post EE/CA Support

The contractor shall provide support required for preparation of the Action Memorandum with the preferred removal action for the site. The number of meetings, meeting lengths, and required contractor personnel will be defined in individual task order documents. Typical activities include, but are not limited to, the following:

Attend public meetings, briefings, and public hearings;

Attend technical meetings with PRPs;

Prepare presentation materials;

Provide technical assistance in preparing the Responsiveness Summary;

Provide technical information to support preparation of the Action Memorandum37; and

Prepare any EE/CA addenda.

33 For more information of the evaluation of alternatives, refer to Chapter 6 of EPA540-R-93-057 Guidance on

Conducting Non-Time-Critical Removal Actions Under CERCLA, August 1993. For information on evaluating presumptive remedy alternatives, refer to the Presumptive Remedies webpage:

http://www.epa.gov/superfund/policy/remedy/presump/pol.htm.

34 For the comparative analysis criteria, refer to Exhibit 7 and Chapter 6 of EPA540-R-93-057 Guidance on

Conducting Non-Time-Critical Removal Actions Under CERCLA, August 1993.

35 For performing cost projections for the removal alternatives, refer to OSWER 9360.0-02C Removal Cost

Management System: Version 3.2, May 1990 or later version.

36 For information on the contents of the EE/CA report, refer to Exhibit 5 of EPA540-R-93-057 Guidance on

Conducting Non-Time-Critical Removal Actions Under CERCLA, August 1993.

37 For information on the contents of the Action Memorandum, refer to Superfund Removal Guidance for Preparing

Action Memoranda, September 2009.

Task 6: Remedial Design (RD)

The RD is a series of engineering reports, documents, specifications, and drawings that detail the steps to be taken during the remedial action to meet the goals established in the ROD38. This section sets forth the basic framework for this effort. Although the focus of these contracts is on the implementation of Superfund remedial program, these contracts may also be used to develop designs for Non-Time Critical Removal Actions (NTCRAs) or other actions. The activities in this section include:

6.1 RD/RA Project Delivery Planning;

6.2 Value Engineering;

6.3 Preliminary Design;

6.4 Intermediate Design;

6.5 Pre-final/Final Design; and

6.6 Remedial Design Implementation Support

specific circumstances at individual sites in the specific task order document.

6.1 RD/RA Project Delivery Planning

RD/RA project delivery planning includes a discussion of design type, procurement approach, and remedial action contract type. This discussion is integral during the scope of the design to ensure the appropriate level of design is provided to best fit for the remedial action procurement and contract strategy. The contractor shall attend RD/RA project delivery planning meetings and discussions with EPA to evaluate different RD/RA project delivery strategies. Based on needs outlined in the specific task order, the contractor may be requested to prepare documentation outlining the RD/RA project delivery strategy.

6.2 Value Engineering (VE)

The contractor shall perform value engineering (VE). VE is a specialized cost-control technique that uses a systematic and creative approach to identify and reduce unjustifiably high costs in a project without sacrificing the reliability or efficiency of the project39. The Superfund VE process requires value engineering activities to be conducted by a third party during the RD for

EPA-lead projects40. The scope of the VE will be outlined in the task order document.

6.3 Preliminary Design

The contractor shall prepare the preliminary design. The level of completeness requested at the preliminary design phase is at the discretion of the project manager. Typically, the preliminary

38 For additional information on the designs, please refer to OSWER 9355.0-04B Remedial Design/Remedial Action

(RD/RA) Handbook, June 1995, EPA 540-R-93-087 and the Guidance for Non-Time Critical Removal Actions under

CERCLA, August 1993 (EPA, 1987, or latest revision).

39 For Federal Department VE requirements, refer to the Office of Management and Budget Circular No. A-131

(revised), December 26 2013.

40 For more information on the Superfund VE process requirements for EPA-lead projects, refer to OSWER 9335.5-

24, Value Engineering for Fund-Financed Remedial Design and Remedial Action Projects, April 2006.

design deliverable may be completed when the design is considered 10% - 35% complete. If a preliminary design is requested by EPA, the level of detail needed will be outlined in the specific task order.

Some deliverables may include, but are not limited to: a recommended project delivery strategy, preliminary remedial action (RA) schedule, outline of general specifications; preliminary drawings; design criteria report; basis of design report, preliminary RA and operation and maintenance (O&M) cost estimates, and the results of any value engineering activities that were conducted.

6.4 Intermediate Design

The contractor shall prepare the intermediate design. The level of completeness requested at the intermediate design phase is at the discretion of the project manager. Typically, the intermediate design deliverable may be completed when the design is considered 50%-60% complete. If an intermediate design is requested by EPA, the level of detail needed will be outlined in the task order document. The deliverables may include updates to the deliverables from the preliminary design including: RD schedule, specifications, drawings, design criteria report, basis of design report, revised RA and O&M cost estimates, and results of the VE activities.

6.5 Pre-final/Final Design

The contractor shall prepare the pre-final/final design. The pre-final design is a design that is considered 90% complete. This design will be presented to EPA and other stakeholders for review and comment. The final design will be considered the final design package and will address all stakeholder comments. The pre-final and final design requirements will be outlined in the task order document. The deliverables for the pre-final/final design may include, but are not limited to, the following:

Design specifications41;

Submittal register42;

Bid schedule;

Drawings and schematics;

Design criteria report;

41 The contractor shall use only up-to-date guide specifications where such a guide exists. Specifications are available at the following Unified Facilities Guide Specifications internet address:

http://www.wbdg.org/ccb/browse_org.php?o=70. In the event that a guide specification is not represented from these specification sources, a new specification title shall be created and inserted in the most appropriate division.

Guide specifications may be downloaded in SpecsIntact SGML (zipped) file format at the following Internet address: http://www.wbdg.org/ccb/browse_org.php?o=70. The contractor shall utilize SpecsIntact software.

SpecsIntact is an automated specification processing system for use in preparing construction project specifications from the master guide specifications. SpecsIntact is available for download at http://www.wbdg.org/tools/specsintact.php.

42 This document identifies the shop drawings, continuation of design analysis, equipment specifications, and samples that the Construction Contractor shall have to submit to the Government to assure that those items comply with the Contract specifications. Items shall be classified for Government Approval or For Information Only. The contractor shall utilize SpecsIntact software to prepare the Submittal Register and the format shall follow the UFGS

Submittal Format.

http://www.wbdg.org/ccb/browse_org.php?o=70 http://www.wbdg.org/ccb/browse_org.php?o=70 http://www.wbdg.org/tools/specsintact.php

Basis of design report;

Draft O&M plan;

RA and O&M cost estimates43;

Results of an Biddability (offerability), operability, constructability, claims prevention, environmental compliance, or sustainability reviews conducted;

Revised Remedial Action Project Delivery Strategy; and

Conduct a Reuse assessment

6.6 Remedial Design Implementation Support

The contractor shall provide support after an RD is finalized and before the RA is completed.

This will include those activities which require architect and engineer expertise as it relates to implementing the plans and specifications of the RD. The number of meetings, meeting lengths, and required contractor personnel will be defined in individual task order documents. Typical activities include, but are not limited to, the following:

Attend public meetings, briefings, public hearings, technical meetings;

Prepare presentation materials;

Provide assistance to EPA in preparing remedial action contract solicitation documentation;

Provide interpretation and/or technical clarification of plans and specifications during remedial action; and

Provide any technical design assistance for modifications to final design or specifications that may be required during the remedial action as a result of changed or unanticipated conditions, remedial action contractor-proposed changes, or other changes; and

If required, provide certification that the project was constructed in accordance with the design documents.

Task 7: Oversight or Oversight Support

Under this task, the contractor shall provide technical support to EPA in fulfillment of its responsibilities for oversight and enforcement of environmental remediation work being financed and performed by State, Tribe, and potentially responsible parties (PRPs). The oversight activities will be specified in the specific task order document.

In rare instances, the contractor may be required to perform oversight activities on federal facilities (FF) response actions. In these instances, any FF-specific conflict of interest requirements will be communicated in the specific task order document.

Oversight activities specified, may include, but are not limited to:

7.1 Field Oversight;

7.2 Site Assessment Support

7.3 Treatability Study Support;

43 Cost estimates will be completed utilizing an industry approved software package capable of providing sufficient information to adequately and accurately capture the projected project costs. It is recommended that estimated costs be submitted by using the software, “Microcomputer-Aided Cost Estimated System (MCACES), Second Generation

(MII), latest version: by Building Systems Design, or a similar cost estimating system.

7.4 RI/FS of Site Investigation Support;

7.5 Removal Support;

7.6 RD Support; and

7.7 Remedial Action and Operation and Maintenance Support

7.1 Field Oversight

Field work includes field audit and inspections and the field work activities outlined in Task 2 including split sampling.

7.1.1 Field Audits and Inspections

The contractor shall conduct field audits and inspections to evaluate responsible parties’ implementation of Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study (RI/FS), treatability study, Remedial

Design (RD), Remedial Action (RA), removals and operation and maintenance (O&M) activities. This activity may include, but is not limited to, the following activities:

Review implementation of work plans, sampling and analytical plans (SAP)/Quality assurance project plans (QAPPs) in the field;

Observe sampling activities for compliance with the Federal Facility Agreement (FFA), settlement documents, approved sampling and analysis plan/quality assurance project plan

(QAPP);

Maintain a log of detailed observations at the site, including interactions with all parties, results of field tests, observations about conformance with the project-specific plans and deviations from the approved plans. Field notebooks/journals and logs may be supplemented by photographs and/or videotaping; and

Prepare technical field oversight reports, which may include period reports and a final summary reports.

7.2 Site Assessment Support

The contractor shall provide support to EPA in overseeing CERCLA site assessment activities conducted by another party. Site assessment activities can include: Preliminary Assessment/Site

Inspection, Expanded Site Inspection (ESI), pre-Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Information System (CERCLIS) screening, and Hazard Ranking

System (HRS) scoring.

7.3 Treatability Study Support

The contractor shall provide support to EPA in the oversight of the treatability study activities conducted by another party. These activities may include, but are not limited to, reviewing the treatability study work plan and QAPP, overseeing treatability study activities, and review the draft and final treatability study report.

7.4 RI/FS or Site Investigation Support

The contractor shall provide support to EPA in the oversight of RI/FS activities conducted by another party. RI/FS activities support activities may include, but are not limited to: reviewing an RI or FS report, investigating remedial alternatives, providing risk assessment support, and providing support required for preparation of a ROD.

7.5 Removal Support

The contractor shall provide support to EPA in the oversight of the removal activities. Removal support activities may include: engineering evaluation/cost analysis draft and final document review and removal action oversight.

7.6 RD Support

The contractor shall provide support to EPA in the oversight or preparation of RD activities conducted by another party. RD activities can include: reviewing technical requirements in the preparation of the preliminary, intermediate, and pre-final/final design packages; review of contractor bid packages for remediation contracts, describing…