Drinking and Wastewater Technical Assist for CUC

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 9 has issued a Special Notice requesting information for drinking and wastewater technical assistance to the Commonwealth Utilities Corporation (CUC) in the Northern Mariana Islands. This Request for Information (RFI) seeks to gather vendor capabilities and expertise for a comprehensive technical support contract targeting improvements in water and wastewater operations. The opportunity focuses on providing full-time, on-island operational support to enhance CUC's infrastructure and operational capabilities. The solicitation is specifically aimed at supporting EPA Region 9's Pacific Island Territories Construction Grants Program, which seeks to develop a fiscal sustainability plan and asset management program for CUC's extensive water infrastructure. The RFI is part of solicitation #68HE0625R0004 and encompasses support for systems serving approximately 55,000 people.

Contractors responding to this RFI must submit a comprehensive capability statement and detailed responses to 12 specific questions by January 3, 2025, at 1500 Pacific Standard Time. The contract requires contractors to have Level III Operator Certification in both drinking water and wastewater operations, with specific experience in Pacific Island territories or working with disadvantaged communities. Key contract requirements include providing at least three full-time on-island staff, developing operational standard operating procedures, creating preventative maintenance plans, conducting operator training, and supporting emergency response planning. The 24-month period of performance will focus on five primary task areas: program management, operations and maintenance assessment, file/data maintenance, operator training, and emergency response plan development. Eligible contractors must demonstrate expertise in utility management, government project experience, technical assistance capabilities, and the ability to support comprehensive infrastructure improvement initiatives in a challenging island context.