Drinking and Wastewater Technical Assist for CUC

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 9 is seeking a contractor to provide comprehensive technical assistance for drinking water and wastewater operations to the Commonwealth Utilities Corporation (CUC) in the Northern Mariana Islands. The Request for Information (RFI) aims to identify a qualified contractor capable of delivering full-time, on-island operational support for 24 months to improve CUC's operational practices and institutional capacity. Key contract requirements include having a Level III Operator Certification in both drinking water and wastewater operations, experience developing training materials and emergency response plans, and demonstrated expertise working with Pacific Island territories or disadvantaged communities. The evaluation will focus on contractors' capabilities across five main task areas: project management, operations and maintenance assessment, file/data maintenance, operator training, and emergency response planning. Critical deadlines include submitting questions by December 30, 2024, at 1500 Pacific Standard Time and providing full responses by January 3, 2025, at 1500 Pacific Standard Time.

The solicitation does not indicate a specific set-aside designation, and no incumbent contractors are mentioned in the documents. While a precise award value is not specified, the contract will require a comprehensive technical assistance team to work on-site for the full 24-month period. The contractor will be responsible for delivering several key deliverables, including an initial standard operating procedure (SOP) review within 6 months, a preventative maintenance plan within 12 months, and an emergency response plan within 18 months of contract award. The project falls under the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) category 541620 for Environmental Consulting Services, suggesting the ideal contractor will have robust environmental and utility management consulting experience. The EPA is seeking a contractor with the institutional capacity to provide sustained, hands-on technical support to improve CUC's drinking water and wastewater infrastructure and operational capabilities.