Draft_START_4_SOW.pdf

UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL

PROTECTION AGENCY

Draft Statement of Work (SOW) for:

SUPERFUND TECHNICAL ASSESSMENT & RESPONSE TEAM 4

(START IV)

Contracts Formerly Referred to as:

Technical Assistance Team (TAT) (pre 1994)

Superfund Technical Assessment & Response Team (1994 - 2001)

Superfund Technical Assessment & Response Team 2 (2000 - 2005)

Table of Contents

I. INTRODUCTION

A. Purpose

B. Background

II. TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS

A. Response Activities

1. Hazardous Substances, Pollutants and Contaminants & Emergency Response

2. Counter Terrorism Response

3. Oil Spill Response

4. Federal Disaster Response

5. Removal Assessment

6. FundLead Removal

7. Potential Responsible Party (PRP) Responses

8. Minor Containment

B. Preparedness and Prevention Activities

1. Contingency Planning

2. Counter Terrorism/Domestic Preparedness and Prevention/Homeland Security

3. Homeland Security and Response Training and Exercises*

4. Chemical Emergency Preparedness and Prevention

5. Risk Management Planning / General Duty Inspections

6. Voluntary Chemical Safety Reviews

7. Accident Investigations

8. Oil Spill Prevention and Preparedness

9. Continuous Release Program/ERNS

C. Assessment/Inspection Activities

1. PreCERCLIS Screening

2. Preliminary Assessment (PA)

3. Site Inspection (SI)

4. Site Reassessment (SR)

5. Expanded Site Inspections (ESI)

6. Expanded Site Inspections/Remedial Investigation (ESI/RI)

7. Hazard Ranking System (HRS) – National Priorities List (NPL) Packages

8. Integrated Assessments (IA)

9. Brownfields Assessments (BA)

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

D. Technical Support Activities

1. Multimedia Surveys and Inspections

2. Emergency Response Notification System (ERNS)*

3. Treatability Studies

4. Engineering Evaluation and Cost Analysis (EE/CA)

5. Public Participation Support

6. Site Discovery Program

7. Human Health/Ecological Risk Assessment

8. Administrative Records Support

9. Equipment Maintenance

10. Regional Emergency Operation Center (REOC) Support

11. Regional Response Team (RRT) Support

12. Enforcement Support

13. Cost Recovery

14. General Technical Support

E. Data Management Support

1. Response and Removal Data Management*

2. GIS Regional and Response Support*

F. Training

1. Training Course Descriptions

2. General Training Requirements

3. Training Equipment Requirements

III. DOCUMENTATION REQUIREMENTS

Exhibit A – Specific Tasks List

Exhibit B – Statutory and Regulatory Framework

Exhibit C – Acronyms

Exhibit D – Levels of Personal Protective Equipment

Exhibit E – EPA Regional Offices

Exhibit F – Levels of Personnel Background Check and Drug Screening for Contractor

Employees

Exhibit G Agency Security Requirements for Contractor Personnel

I. INTRODUCTION

A. Purpose

The purpose of the Superfund Technical Assessment and Response Team (START) contract is to provide nationally consistent advisory and assistance services to Environmental Protection

Agency On- Scene Coordinators (OSCs) and other federal officials implementing

Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) responsibilities under the national response system.

These responsibilities are described in the background below. The contractor shall fulfill these responsibilities within the region as well as outside the region on a backup regional response, cross regional response, national response, and international response. The contractor shall be prepared to provide scientific/technical support for EPA activities in furtherance of the agency’s primary mission: the protection of human health and the environment. Additionally, the contractor shall provide advisory and assistance services to other programs, such as site assessment, Brownfields, and remedial support activities. For each assigned task, the contractor shall provide appropriately experienced, trained, and accredited personnel with current credentials/certifications as well as all supplies, materials, tools, and equipment necessary to complete the job.

B. Background

Under the authority of legislation, Presidential Directives, and promulgated regulations, EPA is responsible for protecting human health and the environment. EPA is delegated authority to undertake removal and remedial response actions with respect to the release or threat of release of oil, hazardous substances, or pollutants and contaminants. The national response framework is the principle federal mechanism for responding to releases of hazardous substances and oil, utilizing a multi-layered network of individuals and teams from federal, state and local agencies, and industry.

EPA’s role under the national response framework is to respond to emergencies within its area of jurisdiction, with respect to the release/discharge or threat of release/discharge of oil, hazardous substances, pollutants, contaminants, or fire or explosion hazard. Under several federal and regional contingency plans, EPA has the responsibility for coordinating all federal, state, local, and private efforts associated with responding to environmental emergencies. EPA is required to respond to chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and explosive (CBRNE) events as part of a disaster or counter terrorism/weapons of mass destruction (CT/WMD) incident. EPA supports states and communities in their preparedness and response activities. EPA is responsible for conducting evaluations and cleanups of uncontrolled hazardous substance disposal sites and placing those that are considered to pose a significant threat to human health or the environment on the National Priorities List (NPL).

Site assessment is the first step in determining whether a site meets the criteria for placement on the NPL. Listing a site on the NPL is one tool among many that are available to EPA and state cleanup program managers to accomplish the cleanup of contaminated waste sites. For additional information, see EPA OSWER Directive 9203.1-06, “Guidance on Setting Priorities for NPL Candidates sites.”

Generally, Brownfields Sites are real property where the expansion of, re-development of, or reuse of may be complicated by presence or potential presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant. The formal definition of a Brownfields site is found in Public Law

107-118 “Small Business Liability Relief and Brownfields Revitalization Act” of January 11, 2002.

II. TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS

The technical requirements under this Statement of Work (SOW) include response, preparedness and prevention, assessment and inspection, technical support, data management, and training. Exhibit A – Specific Tasks List, identifies tasks, which may be performed to satisfy contract requirements.

The contractor performing work described in this Statement of Work shall :

comply with 48 CFR Part 46; and develop, implement, maintain, and document a quality system that demonstrates conformance to the minimum specifications of EPA CIO 2105 and ANSI/ASQC E4-1994.

The contractor is required to submit a quality management plan prepared in accordance with EPA Requirements for Quality Management Plans (QA/R-2), EPA/240/B/01/002, March 2001, which describes the contractor’s quality system. The QMP will be approved by the Agency.

For project-specific activities involving environmental data operations requiring environmental data, defined as any measurement or information that describes environmental processes, location, or condition; ecological or health effects and consequences, or the performance of environmental technology.

1, 2 shall develop or perform work under a Quality Assurance Project

Plan in accordance with EPA Requirements for Quality Assurance Project Plans (QA/R-5), EPA/240/B/01-003, March 2001.

The contractor must also comply with the Policy to Assure Competency of Laboratories, Field

Sampling, and Other Organizations Generating Environmental Measurement Data under Agency-

Funded Acquisitions. The policy can be found at: http://www.epa.gov/fem/pdfs/fem-lab-competency-policy.pdf.

A. Response Activities

Response activities shall support EPA’s obligations under the Comprehensive Environmental

Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA), Oil Pollution Act (OPA), Stafford Act, Homeland Security Act of 2002, as well as any future laws or regulations promulgated pertaining to EPA’s obligations.

The contractor shall maintain a 24 hour, seven day a week, year round response capability to respond to EPA’s needs pursuant to the terms of this contract on a regional, backup regional, http://www.epa.gov/fem/pdfs/fem-lab-competency-policy.pdf http://www.epa.gov/fem/pdfs/fem-lab-competency-policy.pdf cross regional, national, and international response (See Exhibit E – EPA Regional Offices);

provide a list of approved personnel who will perform assigned tasks according to the approved tasking documents; provide appropriately qualified personnel with the appropriate levels of personal protection equipment (PPE) for each response situation (See Exhibit D – Levels of

Personal Protective Equipment); provide all necessary equipment, excluding equipment available through EPA owned equipment, in good working condition and trained staff to operate equipment; support the Regional Emergency Operation Centers (REOC) and Emergency

Response Notification System (ERNS) during spills/releases, and periods of multiple emergencies, disasters, and terrorist acts. This includes support for Emergency Operation

Centers (EOC) and Disaster Field Offices under the National Response Framework (NRF) and

National Contingency Plan (NCP).

The contractor shall adhere to the requirements regarding EPA’s Background Check and Drug

Screening Policy identified in Exhibit F – Levels of Personnel Background Check and Drug

Screening for Contractor Employees.

Contractors, who respond to incidents in the field shall maintain ICS training in accordance with

FEMA guidance on ICS levels of training for response personnel. At a minimum, this includes training up to the ICS 400 level, including all the prerequisites (IS 100, IS 200, ICS 300), as well as FEMA IS-700 NIMS, an Introduction; and FEMA IS-800 National Response Framework

(NRF), an Introduction.

The contractor shall monitor and oversee response activities, workers, and public safety; be knowledgeable about the Incident Command System (ICS) and assist Federal, state and local responding agencies with the implementation of ICS; and adhere to appropriate safety procedures and advise the On-Scene Coordinator (OSC) on Health and Safety matters.

The contractor shall provide sampling, analytical, field analysis/detection/monitoring, observational reconnaissance/assessments and Quality Assurance/Quality Control (QA/QC) support, in accordance with applicable methods, procedures and guidelines; document site conditions and compile information and data in a clear and concise manner; integrate data management activities into field operations to facilitate data and information being readily available for review and distribution; provide technical advice, findings, facts, recommendations; suggest technical options and review technical submissions, including work plans for EPA and other federal, state and local officials as directed; assist with coordination and communication between Federal, state and local responding agencies, and the public; and be proficient in National Pollution Fund Center (NPFC) Forms. The NPFC forms are found at http://www.uscg.mil/npfc/forms.asp.Response Time Information- See Exhibit G- Agency

Security Requirements for Contractor Personnel

1. Hazardous Substances, Pollutants and Contaminants & Emergency Response

The contractor shall provide technical advice, findings, facts, recommendations, and options to the

EPA’s Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR); provide technical support to EPA to achieve the cleanup or removal of released hazardous substances, pollutants or contaminants from the environment; support EPA in responding to the threat of release of hazardous substances, pollutants or contaminants; be familiar with response and removal techniques; and be familiar with Area Plans/Subarea Plans, including sensitive areas. The contractor shall assist EPA in helping state and local responders plan for emergencies; and maintain the capability to respond to http://www.uscg.mil/npfc/forms.asp http://www.uscg.mil/npfc/forms.asp releases or threatened releases of hazardous substances, pollutants or contaminants as defined in

Subparts D and E of the NCP.

2. Counter Terrorism Response

The contractor shall provide qualified response personnel proficient in sampling and analysis of NRCB threats; provide personnel proficient in operating/monitoring NRCB equipment and technologies; provide NRCB monitoring and testing equipment and supplies; provide appropriate level of PPE and decontamination methods; provide EPA with expert guidance and recommendations on NRCB response equipment, technologies and protocols; assist EPA in coordinating with key federal partners; and assist EPA in training first responders and providing resources in the event of terrorist incident(s). The contractor shall have the ability to access response-related preventative medication in support of an incident for their response personnel.

3. Oil Spill Response

The contractor shall provide technical advice, findings, facts, recommendations, and options to the

EPA’s Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR); support EPA in responding to the release or threat of release of oil or petroleum products; be familiar with oil containment and recovery techniques for inland and coastal waterways; be familiar with Area Plans/Subarea Plans, including sensitive areas; and oversee proper placement and deployment of containment boom, skimming and recovery operations.

4. Federal Disaster Response

The contractor shall provide technical support to EPA in conjunction with other federal, state or local agencies in the planning and preparedness for natural and man-made disaster response under the FRP or other federally adopted national response plans such as the NRF; provide technical support to EPA in performing Federal Disaster Assistance surveys of damage caused by disasters or assessment of damages to public water or sewage treatment facilities or related environmental problems; and have response personnel trained in EPA CERCLA assessment procedures which support Federal Emergency Management Agency mission assignments for

EPA disaster response actions.

5. Removal Assessment

The contractor shall provide technical support to EPA on removal assessment activities; and perform removal assessment activities in accordance with EPA OSWER Directive 9360.3-08, “Superfund Removal Procedures/The Removal Response Decision: Site Discovery to Response Decision” dated September 1994, and the NCP.

A removal assessment focuses on determining the potential immediate threat a site may pose on human health and the environment. The results of this assessment are used by EPA to determine whether a removal action or some other response is warranted.

6. FundLead Removal

The contractor shall provide appropriate technical information that details strategies to mitigate thethreat to human health and the environment from hazardous substances; provide EPA with technical support in monitoring on-site activities such as sampling and characterization by federal, state, local agencies, and contractor(s) (e.g. ERRS contractor(s)); and provide cost oversight during fund lead removal actions, including EPA, OPA, and USCG NPFC funded responses. The contractor shall provide support with documentation per the revised Removal Action Memorandum Guidance (September 2009).

7. Potential Responsible Party (PRP) Responses

The contractor shall be knowledgeable of CERCLA§107, Potentially Responsible Parties (PRP) and Clean Water Act (CWA) (See Exhibit B – Statutory and Regulatory Framework); provide technical and administrative support to EPA for identification and notification of PRPs related to a release or discharge on a site or facility (See Exhibit A – Specific Tasks List); assist in preparing PRP objectives for site cleanup and work requirements (See Exhibit A – Specific Tasks List); and review PRP work plans, monitor work to ensure that the assessment or cleanup activities are performed correctly and in accordance with applicable statute(s), the NCP and any other relevant law or regulations (See Exhibit B – Statutory and Regulatory Framework).

8. Minor Containment

Minor containment responses require all necessary response actions completed at the site or provide temporary stabilization prior to the mobilization of other responders. A minor containment response usually does not exceed 40 hours per assignment. The minor containment is a result of CERCLA 104(b) activities (pre-removal and investigatory activities) or NCP 300.305 (Phase II activities) for oil spill responses.

The contractor shall contain and stabilize minor releases of oil or hazardous substances, such as leaking containers (55 gallon drums, barrels, and smaller containers), oil discharged to waterways, or spills to soil; be capable of deploying sorbent booms in water bodies, building small dams to interrupt the flow of contaminants; be capable of emergency pumping over packing, hand bailing, or hand excavation; identify and advise EPA that a minor containment will either entirely address/complete the response or will provide necessary short-term stabilization until other responders arrive; and have EPA preapproval for initial minor containment activities and containment activities which exceed 40 hours.

B. Preparedness and Prevention Activities

Preparedness and planning activities involve contingency planning, counter terrorism/domestic preparedness and prevention/Homeland Security, chemical emergency preparedness and prevention, risk management planning, voluntary chemical safety review, chemical safety audits, oil spill preparedness and prevention, and continuous release. Generally, the requirements under this section involve non- transportation related facilities that produce, store, process, refine, handle, transfer, distribute, or consume oil or hazardous substances. The contractor shall provide support with audits or inspections to identify and document violations of environmental laws or non-compliance with regulations; and assess physical security conditions for all field activities.

1. Contingency Planning

The contractor shall provide technical support to EPA with reviewing and analyzing Federal, state, local and regional response contingency plans regarding applicable laws and regulations. EPA shall approve all final contingency plans developed and/or revised. Contingency plan activities shall meet contingency plan requirements for both government and industry outlined in federal and state statutes. This includes, OPA, NCP, Regional Contingency Plans (RCPs), Area Contingency Plans (ACPs), and Sub-Area Contingency Plans, and any other contingency plans created by statute, i.e. FRP, Federal Radiological Emergency Response Plans (FREPs), as well as any other region-specific plans.

2. Counter Terrorism/Domestic Preparedness and Prevention/Homeland Security

The contractor shall provide technical support in EPA’s counter terrorism planning and response efforts; perform tasks to increase awareness and preparedness among federal, state and local responders of the potential threat posed by nuclear, radiological, biological, incendiary, chemical, and explosive terrorism; participate in regional, cross regional, national, and international drills, exercises, and training; assist EPA in the Crisis Management and

Consequence Management phases of a terrorist incident response; and develop programs and procedures to prevent and prepare for deliberate releases resulting from terrorist incidents in accordance with the following guidance documents:

• Presidential Decision Directives #39, #62, #63, and #67;

• U.S. Policy on Counter-terrorism, dated June 21, 1995 can be located at

(www.fas.org/irp/offdocs/pdd39.htm);

• Title XIV of Public Law 104-201, The Defense Against Weapons of Mass

Destruction Act, also known as Nunn-Lugar-Domenici;

• Other programs, such as the NCP and the FRP; and

• EPA 550-F-98-014, “EPA’s Role in Counter-Terrorism Activities”, dated

February 1998, (http://Yosemite.epa.gov/oswer/ceppoweb.nsf/content/ct-publ.htm

3. Homeland Security and Response Training and Exercises*

The contractor shall provide support to EPA for homeland security and EPA response related training and exercises. The training and exercise participants will range from local, state, tribal to

Federal agencies or may be limited to EPA Region 8 staff. EPA Region 8 training and exercises will be in accordance with regional training and exercise priorities, the regional Training and

Exercise Plan, EPA National and Regional guidance documents and the Homeland Security

Exercise and Evaluation Program (HSEEP).

*Note: This task was added specifically for Region 8

4. Chemical Emergency Preparedness and Prevention

The contractor shall review Federal, state and local contingency and response plans prepared under the CAA, EPCRA, CERCLA, OPA, FRP, and NCP to ensure compliance with the requirements described in “Criteria for Review of Hazardous Material Emergency Plan,” dated May 1988, (NRT-1A) (http://nrt.org/) and integrated contingency plan guidelines available from the regional office.

5. Risk Management Planning / General Duty Inspections http://www.fas.org/irp/offdocs/pdd39.htm)%3B http://yosemite.epa.gov/oswer/ceppoweb.nsf/content/ct-publ.htm) http://yosemite.epa.gov/oswer/ceppoweb.nsf/content/ct-publ.htm) http://nrt.org/)

The contractor shall perform activities in accordance with the guidelines for the Risk Management Program/General Duty Inspection activities required under Section 112(r) of the Clean Air Act

(CAA) Amendments of 1990 and 40 CFR Part 68. General information related to Risk

Management Programs for Chemical Accident Prevention (40 CFT Part 68) can be found at http://www.epa.gov/emergencies/docs/chem/Toc_final.pdf.

6. Voluntary Chemical Safety Reviews

The contractor shall provide technical support to EPA in the performance of voluntary chemical safety reviews. CERCLA section 104(b) and 104(e) is the primary authority for

EPA and its designated representatives to enter a facility and audit its records and operations. The audits are intended to be non-confrontational and positive so that information on safety practices, techniques, and technologies can be identified and shared between EPA and the facility. EPA can also enter a facility and conduct an audit at the invitation or voluntary consent of the facility’s management. Chemical Safety Audit (CSA) program information is available in EPA publication 55-F-93-005, March 1993. ). The contractor shall assist in the identification of potential Chemical Safety Audit (CSA) facilities for invitations to participate in the CSA program.

7. Accident Investigations

The contractor shall provide technical support with respect to EPA’s authority to investigate chemical accidents pursuant to CERCLA section 104 and CAA sections 103, 112, 114, and 307; have the capability to arrive on-site within 24 hours of notification by

EPA; provide EPA with a summary report describing the accident, root cause determination, and recommendation for prevention; and review safety and accident prevention systems and records of equipment involved in accident(s)

8. Oil Spill Prevention and Preparedness

EPA’s Oil Pollution Prevention (OPP) Regulation, 40 CFR §112, requires facilities that are subject to the regulation to prepare and implement a Spill Prevention, Control and

Countermeasures (SPCC) Plan. In addition, a facility with the potential to cause substantial harm to the environment by discharging of oil, must prepare a facility response plan. For more information on EPA’s Oil Spill Prevention Program, see EPA’s website at www.epa.gov/oilspill.

Training required to provide SPCC inspections should be in accordance with EPA SPCC/FRP program specific training requirements, EPA Order 3500.1. Proof of current hydrogen sulfide training may also be required for SPCC inspections at sites that have the potential for releasing hydrogen sulfide.

a) Spill Prevention, Control and Countermeasures (SPCC) Inspections

The contractor shall provide technical support to EPA for SPCC inspections. The SPCC program applies to non-transportation-related facilities that have a large oil storage capacity and could be reasonably expected to discharge oil into navigable waters of the

United States. SPCC regulations require each owner or operator of a regulated facility to prepare an SPCC plan. The plan must address the facility’s design, operation, and maintenance procedures established to prevent spills from occurring, as well as countermeasures to control, contain, clean up, and mitigate the effects of an oil spill that could affect navigable waters. EPA regional personnel periodically go on-site to inspect facilities subject to the OPP regulation. The inspections help to ensure oil storage facilities comply with the regulations. On-site inspections also give EPA personnel the http://www.epa.gov/emergencies/docs/chem/Toc_final.pdf http://www.epa.gov/emergencies/docs/chem/Toc_final.pdf http://www.epa.gov/oilspill opportunity to educate owners and operators about the regulations and methods for ensuring compliance.

b) Facility Response Plans and Inspections

The contractor shall provide technical support to EPA for substantial harm facility inspections and review of Facility Response Plans. In accordance with the CWA, as amended by OPA, certain facilities that store and use oil are required to prepare and submit plans to respond to a worse case discharge of oil and to a substantial threat of such discharge. EPA has established regulations that define who must prepare and submit facility response plans and what must be included in the plan. EPA also conducts inspections of facilities that are identified as substantial harm facilities.

c) Outreach and Technical Assistance

The contractor shall assist EPA with informing regulated facilities, tribal, state, local agencies and the public about the requirements of OPP regulations at 40 CFR§112; provide assistance to support regional initiatives when required; and provide outreach support. Support shall include: fact sheets, table top exercises, mailings, mailing lists and training classes.

9. Continuous Release Program/(CR-ERNS)

CERCLA section 103(a) requires facilities to immediately notify the federal government whenever a Reportable Quantity (RQ) or more of a CERCLA hazardous substance is released unless the release is permitted. Likewise, Section 304 of EPCRA requires that facilities immediately notify state and local officials whenever a RQ or more of a CERCLA hazardous substance is released. The purpose of this requirement is to notify officials of potentially dangerous releases so that they can evaluate the need for a response action. The contractor shall provide technical support to EPA for activities involving continuous release using EPA supplied software programs. The contractor shall evaluate and document continuous release notifications using computer generated results to develop organized summary reports of facilities evaluated.

See EPA’s website for general information about various types of hazardous substance releases at http://www.epa.gov/oswer/emergencies.htm.

C. Assessment/Inspection Activities

The primary objective of the site assessment phase is to obtain the data necessary to characterize and identify sources, pathways, and targets/receptors at sites in order to help EPA prioritize sites posing actual or potential threats to human health or the environment. The site assessment phase begins with site discovery or notification to EPA of possible release of hazardous substances. The contractor shall also be knowledgeable of, and utilize the Hazard

Ranking System Quickscore software to assist conceptual site model development, create scenarios, and present site information/data to assist EPA decision making during all phases of remedial assessment, including the Pre-CERCLIS Screening, Preliminary Assessment (PA), Site Inspection (SI), Expanded Site Inspection (ESI), Site Reassessment (SR), and Hazard

Ranking System (HRS) package preparation, as well as data gap analyses and integrated assessments with the removal program.

http://www.epa.gov/oswer/emergencies.htm

1. PreCERCLIS Screening

The contractor shall perform pre-CERCLIS screening activities in accordance with EPA OSWER Directive 9200.4-05, “Pre-CERCLIS Screening Guidance,” dated September 30, 1996. Pre-

CERCLIS screening is the process of reviewing data on a potential site to determine whether the site should be formally discovered and entered into CERCLIS for further evaluation. . Contractor support shall include: sector and specific industry based research, geographical research, using other programmatic data and information, and performing specific pathway research projects to identify clusters or categories of sites that could qualify for a potential site discovery.

2. Preliminary Assessment (PA)

A PA is the first step in determining whether a site warrants a Superfund response after the site has been discovered and entered into CERCLIS. A PA focuses on determining/verifying whether a site is eligible for a response action under CERCLA and the need for immediate and/or long-term response actions.

The contractor shall provide technical support to EPA on PA activities; review information to determine whether a site is eligible for further assessment under CERCLA authority; review past and present facility waste handling practices and permit history; document the presence, quantity, type, or absence of uncontrolled or un-contained hazardous substance(s) on-site; document releases to the environment; identify pollution disposal pathways; determine pathway specific receptors and surrounding population density; locate other environmentally sensitive receptors

(e.g., wetlands and endangered species); and perform PA activities in accordance with EPA OSWER Directive 9345.0-01A, “Guidance for Performing Preliminary Assessment Under CERCLA,” dated Sept 1991;

http://www.environmental.usace.army.mil/info/technical/risk/riskguide/riskguide.html and the NCP; EPA OSWER Directive 9375.2-09FS, “Improving Sites Assessment: Abbreviated Preliminary Assessments,” at http://envinfo.com/inssfile/assess1.pdf.

3. Site Inspection (SI)

The contractor shall provide technical support to EPA on SI activities; and perform SI activities in accordance with EPA/540-R-92-021, “Guidance for Performing Site Inspections Under CERCLA,” dated September 1992 at:

http://www.epa.gov/superfund/sites/npl/hrsres/si/siguidance.pdf. A SI incorporates and builds upon the objectives of the PA and may require the collection of samples or the evaluation of existing analytical data to evaluate site conditions. The contractor shall, whenever possible, use the TRIAD approach when planning and conducting site inspection activities. TRIAD approach information and resources are located at http://www.triadcentral.org

4. Site Reassessment (SR)

The contractor shall perform site assessment activities as described in sections II.C.2 and II.C.3 of this SOW. A SR represents the gathering and evaluation of new information on a site previously assessed under the Superfund program to determine whether further Superfund attention is needed. A SR serves as a supplement to previous assessment work and not a replacement for traditional assessment activities. The scope of work for SR activity is flexible but will usually represent a component of a traditional site assessment action, PA, SI. The purpose of this action is http://www.environmental.usace.army.mil/info/technical/risk/riskguide/riskguide.html http://www.environmental.usace.army.mil/info/technical/risk/riskguide/riskguide.html http://envinfo.com/inssfile/assess1.pdf to document the expenditure of Superfund resources on older sites where EPA has received new information or learned that the site conditions have changed.

5. Expanded Site Inspections (ESI)

The contractor shall perform ESI activities, in accordance with EPA 540-R-92-021, “Guidance for

Performing Site Inspections Under CERCLA,” dated September 1992 at http://www.epa.gov/superfund/sites/npl/hrsres/si/siguidance.pdf. The ESI has a twofold purpose:

to provide additional information required to support preparation of an HRS package for NPL listing which requires scoring of the site; and to further characterize and define a site for a potential response action, i.e. to begin a Remedial Investigation (RI).

6. Expanded Site Inspections/Remedial Investigation (ESI/RI)

The contractor shall perform ESI/RI activities. The ESI/RI is used to expedite remedial response by gathering site characterization data common to both ESI and RI activities in one step, thereby expediting the later collection of data when comprehensive RI activities are preformed.

7. Hazard Ranking System (HRS) – National Priorities List (NPL) Packages

The contractor shall perform HRS/NPL activities and prepare related documentation records and reference packages in accordance with EPA’s HRS regulation contained in the NCP, Final Rule dated December 14, 1990, and EPA OSWER Directive 9345.1-07, “The Hazard Ranking System Guidance Manual,” dated November 1992.

The HRS is the scoring system used by EPA’s Superfund program to assess the relative threat associated with actual or potential release of hazardous substances. The HRS is the primary screening tool for determining whether a site is to be included on the NPL, and if response action is necessary under CERCLA. The document can be located at http://www.epa.gov/superfund/sites/npl/hrsres/index.htm.

8. Integrated Assessments (IA)

The contractor shall assess the potential for short or long term clean-up actions; and perform IA activity in accordance with EPA OSWER Short Sheet 9345.16FS, “Integrating Removal and

Remedial Site Assessment Investigations,” dated September 1993. This document is available from most EPA by requesting call number PB93-963341.

IA activities should also be performed in accordance with Removal Site Evaluation and Site

Inspection documents referenced in Sections II.C.2, Removal Assessment, and II.C.4, Site

Inspection (SI). The purpose of an IA is to gather data that meet the requirements of both a RA and a SI at the same site. The data gathering effort at these sites may require field screening and full Contractor Laboratory Programs (CLP) analysis of samples.

9. Brownfields Assessments (BA)

The “Small Business Liability Relief and Brownfields Revitalization Act,” dated January 11, 2002, defines a Brownfields site. The purpose of the BA is to streamline site investigation and to characterize site conditions. The BA does not involve collection of data associated with Hazard Ranking System (HRS) package preparation (see II.C.10). The objectives of a BA are to identify http://www.epa.gov/superfund/sites/npl/hrsres/index.htm http://www.epa.gov/superfund/sites/npl/hrsres/index.htm the nature and the extent of contamination on-site, identify the risks posed by the contamination, identify potential alternatives for cleanup, and determine costs of cleanup options for site redevelopment.

The contractor shall perform BA activities in accordance with the following guidance:

“Integrating Brownfields and Traditional Site Assessment,” #9230.0-81, EPA 540-F-96-

028, January 1997

“Guidance for Performing Site Inspections Under CERCLA,” EPA 540-R-92-

021, September 1992

(http://www.epa.gov/superfund/sites/npl/hrsres/si/siguidance.pdf)

“Road Map to Understanding Innovative Technology Options for Brownfields

Investigation and Cleanup,” EPA 542-B-97-002; This document is now available as

EPA 542-B-05-001 and at http://www.brownfieldstsc.org/roadmap/home.cfm.

“Brownfields Quality Assurance” document (EPA 540-R-98-038)

“Standard Practice for Environmental Site Assessments: Phase I Environmental Site

Assessment Process,” ASTM, E 1527-9

“Environmental Site Assessments: Phase II Environmental Site Assessment

Process,” ASTM, E 1903-97

Applicable State and Tribal Voluntary Cleanup Program requirements and guidance

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

The contractor shall perform RI/FS tasks in accordance with EPA OSWER Directive 9355.301.h, “EPA Guidance for Conducting Remedial Investigation and Feasibility Studies under CERCLA,” dated October 1988.

An RI/FS is an extensive assessment conducted at a site which is proposed/added to the NPL.

The purpose of conducting an RI/FS is to develop the data necessary to support the selection of a remedy to eliminate, reduce, or control risks to human health and the environment.

D. Technical Support Activities

The requirements under this section include the gathering and analysis of technical information and related data, the preparation of draft technical reports and related materials on oil and hazardous substance investigation, assessment cleanup, disposal technologies, process activities, operations, problems, and trends.

1. Multimedia Surveys and Inspections

The contractor shall provide technical support to EPA for multi-media surveys and inspections activities. EPA conducts multi-media surveys and inspections at facilities where hazardous substances are managed, treated, stored, or disposed. EPA also conducts these activities at the release of environmental hazardous substances. These activities may support multiple environmental regulations and/or programs.

http://www.brownfieldstsc.org/roadmap/home.cfm

2. Emergency Response Notification System (ERNS)*

The contractor shall provide technical support to the EPA in the maintenance of the ERNS database system(s). ERNS data base searches may include a web based data base that houses spill reports beginning 01/01/2000 to present date, a stand-alone DOS based data base that houses spill reports between the periods of 1980 and 1999 (a non Y2K compliant computer system will be necessary to support this effort) and the NRC web based spill data base.

*Note: This task is specific to Region 8

3. Treatability Studies

The contractor shall perform treatability studies in accordance with EPA 540-R-92-071A, “Guide for Conducting Treatability Studies Under CERCLA” available at http://www.epa.gov/superfund/policy/remedy/pdfs/540r-92071a-s.pdf and OSWER Directive

9380-3-10, NTIS Order Number# PB93-126787IN; and provide for laboratory, bench, and /or pilot scale treatability studies. The treatability study provides waste treatment and site specific response data to support the feasibility and use of technologies at a site.

4. Engineering Evaluation and Cost Analysis (EE/CA)

After EPA issues the EE/CA approval memorandum, the contractor shall conduct EE/CA activity in accordance with EPA 540-R-93-057, “Guidance on Conducting Non-Time Critical Removal Actions Under CERCLA,” dated August 1993. This document is available at http://www.ntis.gov as publication number PB93-963402. EE/CA’s are required for non-time critical removal actions.

The purpose of the EE/CA is to allow public participation in the removal decision process, if time permits, and give consideration to alternatives to land disposal. The goal of an EE/CA is to identify the objectives of the removal action and to analyze various alternatives.

5. Public Participation Support

The contractor shall perform public participation activities in accordance with EPA OSWER Directive 9360-05, “Public Participation Guidance for On-Scene Coordinators: Community

Relations and the Administrative Record,” dated June 1992, and “Community Relations in

Superfund: A Handbook,” dated January 1992; and provide technical support to EPA in the development, planning, and implementation of community relations and public support activities.

6. Site Discovery Program

The contractor shall support EPA’s determination of whether sites require additional site assessment activities by collecting, recording, and analyzing detailed information about the site;

and perform site discovery activity in accordance with EPA OSWER Directive 9375.2-11FS, “Improving Site Assessment: Pre-CERCLIS Screening Guidance,” dated October, 1999. The purpose of the Site Discovery Program is to determine whether sites require additional site assessment activities. The guidance is available at http://www.epa.gov/superfund/sites/npl/hrsres/fact/sascreen.pdf.

7. Human Health/Ecological Risk Assessment http://www.epa.gov/superfund/policy/remedy/pdfs/540r-92071a-s.pdf http://www.epa.gov/superfund/policy/remedy/pdfs/540r-92071a-s.pdf http://www.epa.gov/superfund/sites/npl/hrsres/fact/sascreen.pdf.

The contractor shall perform human health and ecological risk assessments in accordance with relevant guidance. Toxicity values can be sought using the Integrated Risk Information System

(IRIS), Health Effects Summary Tables, and other sources. Risk assessment may include, but is not limited to data collection and evaluation, exposure assessment, toxicity assessment, and risk characterization.

8. Administrative Records Support

The contractor shall provide technical support to EPA for compiling information for inclusion in the Administrative Record, as defined in Section 113(k) of CERCLA. As Administrative Record included records, data, and guidance that EPA used to determine the federal response action.

9. Equipment Maintenance

The contractor shall provide support for specialized equipment maintenance of government owned property or equipment, which is not government furnished property (GFP). The equipment shall be calibrated and maintained in accordance with manufacturer’s instructions. The Emergency

Response Warehouse, 555 W. 48 th

Ave., Denver, CO; EPA’s Regional Office including EPA’s Response Vehicles, 1595 Wynkoop St., Denver, CO; and EPA’s Region 8 Laboratory in Golden, CO.

10. Regional Emergency Operation Center (REOC) Support

The contractor shall provide support to the REOC as described under Section II.A, “Response Activities,” of this SOW.

11. Regional Response Team (RRT) Support

The contractor shall provide technical support to the RRT. The RRT is comprised of federal and state entities, as well as representatives of the response community, local governmental agencies, and interested members of the public.

12. Enforcement Support

The contractor shall provide EPA with technical support for government enforcement at sites.

The primary goal of EPA’s enforcement program is to identify PRPs and to obtain voluntary settlement or, if necessary, to compel PRPs to implement site cleanups. Once the PRP has agreed to take response actions, the goal of the enforcement program is to ensure that the assessment or cleanup activities are performed in accordance with applicable statute(s), the

NCP, and any other relevant guidance.

13. Cost Recovery

The contractor shall provide technical and administrative support to EPA in collecting and securing evidence to aid EPA in its cost recovery efforts. This may include compiling cost documentation packages and gathering information, which may be used to establish liability and support EPA’s response decisions.

The contractor shall collect and organize data in defense of claims, such as claims for reimbursement under CERCLA and other applicable environmental statutes. This service will be in support of preparation by EPA for civil and administrative settlements, including pre-trial and auxiliary services, leading to formal negotiations/meetings with private parties, and trial.

The contractor shall analyze government furnished documents (e.g., provide support for data analysis of the overall cost recovery program). Government furnished documentation may include a description of work performed, site specific cost summaries, tracking of oversight costs, billings and payments received, statutes of limitations, and status of past removals and remedial actions.

If EPA is unable to provide access to documents needed in the performance of cost recovery activities, the contractor shall obtain specific cost information from firms whose EPA contracts have expired.

The contractor shall copy, organize, summarize, maintain, and track evidentiary materials, which are stored in a non-site specific manner to facilitate review of liability determinations.

The contractor shall have a document storage technology, which reflects EPA’s technology.

14. General Technical Support

The contractor shall provide information, analysis, options, and recommendations for implementing emerging technologies and maintaining program currency.

The contractor shall provide information and options, which will enable EPA to draft specifications for EPA program activities. The specifications are used in connection with the provision of technical and cleanup support. The contractor shall provide information for EPA’s review and approval. EPA will make the final determination of the acceptability of the information the contractor submits. Examples of technical specifications include data for developing site safety plans for response personnel and the public, information on local contingency planning, methods of hazard mitigation, containment, countermeasures, on-site treatment systems, removal and disposal options, and personnel and equipment requirements.

E. Data Management Support

The contractor shall provide data management support using various programs including

SCRIBE; utilize hardware and software to provide information technology support in the form of web applications; Geographical Information Systems (GIS) support in the form of maps, data, mapping applications, and other geospacial products; mobile device application development and implementation; maintenance of data applications utilized for inspections, investigations response, and contingency planning; and be used routinely to enter, track, document (i.e., create and provide metadata) or retrieve information and data developed during the performance of the contract. To the extent possible, the contractor shall use and/or adapt existing tools, software, information standards (EPA, FGDC, ISO, Data.gov) and conventions. When reporting analytical results for time critical removals, oil spill responses, natural disasters, and other large scale events the contractor shall to the extent possible use electronic data deliverables and an automated data review tool, such as Web Electronic Data

Review (WebEDR).

1. Response and Removal Data Management*

The Contractor shall provide data management support services that are thoroughly integrated with EPA’s emergency response and removal operations and field activities. For the purposes of

Response and Removal Data Management, the term “data” refers to all tabular data, geospatial information, and electronic records and files (unless otherwise indicated). EPA requires a comprehensive approach to data management so that these various types of data are collectively managed with relevant foreign keys that enable the assimilation of information and the development of a complete operational picture. EPA also requires that standard data management support services are implemented as a normal function of any response and removal operation to insure effective and efficient data collection, analysis and distribution.

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 and/or adapt existing tools, software, information standards and conventions adopted by EPA but 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, the Contractor shall assess these improvements and continually adapt to provide more efficient and effective data management services.

The Contractor shall deploy all data management support services in close coordination with EPA experts such as On Scene Coordinators (OSCs), the Environmental Response Team (ERT) and the

National Data Acquisition and Technical Assistance Team (DATA Team). Where appropriate, the contractor shall coordinate closely with EPA regional GIS or Records Management leads for specific portions of integrated projects. The Contractor shall develop, implement and update as required a Data Management Plan (DMP) in accordance with EPA specifications. This DMP will detail the standard processes, procedures and tools that the Contractor will use to support emergency response and removal operations. However, the Contractor’s DMP will allow for easy customization so that rapid changes can be made to support unforeseen operational requirements.

The required components of this DMP are:

Data Flow Diagram: Illustrated overview of the relevant data management work process(es) from data collection through data storage, data verification, data analysis and data reporting.

Roles and Responsibilities: Identification of the key data management positions and the tasks that personnel serving in these positions will perform. These positions should be depicted in the Data Flow Diagram.

Field Data Collection Methodologies: A description of the procedures and tools that are used to capture data in the field.

Data Collection SOPs & Checklists: Specific step-by-step procedures and or protocols that are used to collect, process and load data to Scribe or GIS.

Data Deliverables: A description of the key data products that are generated in the field or by external parties such as laboratories, PRPs or other Response Partners.

Data Processing: A description of the procedures and tools that are used to reformat or otherwise prepare data for loading into the data management system.

Data Element Dictionaries: A listing of the data tables, data fields, formatting requirements, conditional requirements and valid values that are used to manage tabular data, spatial information and electronic records in the data management system.

Entity Relationship Diagrams: An illustration showing the relationships between the data tables and data fields that are used to manage tabular data, spatial information and electronic records in the data management system.

Data…