SOLICITATION NOTICE
U -- Professional Services for Technical Assistance, FFP - Water Treatment Plant Evaluations Performance-Based Training (PBT), Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals (LDHH), Office of Public Health (OPH)Region.
- Notice Date
- 5/13/2002
- Notice Type
- Solicitation Notice
- Contracting Office
- US Army Engineer District, New Orleans-Civil Works, ATTN: CEMVN-CT, P.O. Box 60267, New Orleans, LA 70160-0267
- ZIP Code
- 70160-0267
- Solicitation Number
- DACW29-02-T-0101
- Response Due
- 5/28/2002
- Archive Date
- 6/27/2002
- Point of Contact
- Julie Jackson, 504-862-1450
- E-Mail Address
-
Email your questions to US Army Engineer District, New Orleans-Civil Works
(Julie.L.Jackson@mvn02.usace.army.mil)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- Total Small Business
- Description
- NA THIS IS A 100% SMALL BUSINESS SET-ASIDE! I. PROJECT DATA SUBJECT: Water Treatment Plant Evaluations, Performance-Based Training (PBT), Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals (LDHH), Office of Public Health (OPH) Region 1 AUTHORIZATION: Section 22 of the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 1974 and Section 208 of the WRDA of 1992 Department of Health and Hospitals II. GENERAL Statement of Work. The work to be accomplished consists of providing one trainer for the Performance-Based Training (PBT) of six (6) to ten (10) surface water treatment plants in Region 1 OPH. This is the second PBT in the state of Louisiana. The work w ill be completed under the Planning Assistance to States (PAS) program as outlined in ER 105-2-100, Planning Guidance Notebook, whereby the Corps of Engineers will provide technical assistance to the LDHH. A description of the work that will be performed by the Contractor is discussed in Section V, Task Description. The Composite Correction Program (CCP) was developed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Process Applications, Inc. to improve surface water treatment plant performance, achieve compliance with the Surface Water Treatment Rule, and provide max imum protection to public health. The CCP is divided into two phases, a Comprehensive Performance Evaluation (CPE) and Comprehensive Technical Assistance (CTA). A CTA is used to improve performance of an existing plant by systematically addressing the fa ctors limiting performance identified during the first phase, the CPE. Because a CTA involves one-on-one facilitation, performance is improved at only one plant during the 12-18 month effort. In order to develop a more cost effective and timely means to accomplish the same objective as a CTA, Performance-Based Training (PBT) was developed and piloted by the USEPA Technical Support Center and Process Applications, Inc. Performance-Based Training is a variation on the CTA, utilizing the same priority setti ng and problem solving skill transfer, but concurrently involving multiple facilities (e.g., six to ten). Efforts undertaken in this delivery order are being conducted as part of the EPA Region 6 Area Wide Optimization Program (AWOP) pilot. The Corps and LDHH jointly manage the Louisiana AWOP efforts, and participate in the Region 6 pilot through the PAS prog ram. The efforts outlined in this scope of work are part of the Louisiana ?Follow-Up? component of the AWOP model. III. STUDY AREAS AND PROBLEMS The CCP aims to identify approaches for communities to improve water treatment plant performance by implementing changes in their operation, maintenance, and administration procedure in lieu of major capital improvements. By maximizing the operational eff iciency of their facilities, local administrations can both improve the ability of the facility to meet Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) requirements and minimize the financial impact to the community associated with major upgrades to the plant. The Corps/LDHH partnership has recently completed a pilot PBT in northwestern Louisiana with 6 plants. Letters announcing the second PBT in the state of Louisiana were mailed to twelve (12) plants in OPH Region 1 in February 2002. Following an initial sc reening (done jointly by the Corps and LDHH), it was determined that all plants would be included in the second screening. Administrative site visits will be conducted at these twelve (12) facilities by the Corps/LDHH team in May 2002, in order to aid in the selection of plants to participate in the second Louisiana PBT. Administrative site visit will be held at each facility in order to provide the plant with an overview of the PBT effort. From the twelve facilities visited, six (6) to ten (10) will ult imately be identified as participants in the PBT. Seven of the twelve facilities currently under consideration have already had CPEs conducted under the Corps/LDHH partnership, and one facility has participated in a CTA. For those facilities which have not had a CPE conducted, a Performance Potential Graph (PPG) will been created by the Corps/LDHH to determine if the plant is physically capable of meeting optimized performance goals. The PBT ef fort will address ?central tendency factors? commonly found during CPEs and will NOT focus on individual performance limiting factors identified at the facilities. IV. DESCRIPTION OF WORK AND SERVICES The methodology for conducting PBT is a combination of utilizing general CPE results, or ?central tendency factors?, as a basis for follow up. The PBT consists of implementing process control priority-setting and problem solving techniques, and maintainin g long-term involvement to systematically train staff and administrators responsible for water treatment. The ultimate goal of the PBT is to optimize individual plant performance to continuously meet a turbidity of less than 0.10 NTU from individual filte rs. However, success of the training will also be measured by improved performance during and after the training effort (as compared to performance prior to the training). Improved performance will be measured utilizing plant effluent turbidity levels (9 5th percentile, percentage of time performing less than 0.10 NTU, percentage of time performing less than 0.20 NTU, percentage of time performing less than 0.30 NTU, etc.). The PBT training sessions will aim to create an environment where there is tenacit y for producing high quality finished water and to transfer process control skills to operation staff. This second PBT in the state of Louisiana will be conducted with the Contractor providing one trainer for all sessions, while the Corps will serve as the second trainer. The duration of PBT#2 is expected to span a period of 12-18 months (including prepara tion prior to the kickoff session). A core team of facilitators will be assembled from representatives of the Corps, LDHH, and EPA Region 6. These facilitators will be persons who have previously participated as team members on a minimum of three (3) CPE s. The facilitators will be assigned individual plant(s), and will be the main point-of-contact for the plant personnel at their assigned plant(s). The facilitators will conduct all required site visits, phone calls, and other contact with their assigned facilities. This facilitation includes preparing memorandums of record from site visits and phone calls. The Contractor is not expected to generate memos and/or reports, but will be expected to review and provide guidance on memos and reports generated by the plant facilitators. The PBT will consist of five (5) training sessions, to be held at approximately quarterly intervals. Dates will be mutually agreed upon by the Contractor, the Corps, LDHH, EPA Region 6, and the individual plants participating in the training. The Contrac tor and the Corps will be jointly responsible for conducting these five (5) sessions, to include development and presentation of materials during the sessions. Division of individual responsibilities will be decided between the Contractor and the Corps, w ith each taking approximately 50% of the required work effort. Each session is expected to last one day (with the plant staff), and will include a debriefing session with the plant facilitators following the training session. Throughout the PBT effort, the facilitators from the Corps, LDHH, and EPA Region 6 will independently conduct any needed site visits at their individual facilities, without the physical presence of the Contractor. During these site visits and between the training sessions, the Contractor will provide data interpretation, office consultation, and technical support to the facilitators. It is expected that a one to two-hour conference call will be held among the Contractor, Corps, and plant facilitators betw een each session (4 calls). Individual plants and the Corps/LDHH personnel will complete all data compilation and analysis. The Contractor is not expected to compile or analyze individual plant performance data, with the exception of minimal data manipulation required for session material. The representative from the Contractor should be knowledgeable and experienced in the practical aspects of water treatment plant operations. Such operations include chemical coagulant applications, clarifier operation and sludge treatment and disposal, sa nd filter operation, backwashing and maintenance methods, disinfection techniques, and laboratory testing functions. The trainer provided by the Contractor shall also have extensive experience in optimization of water treatment plants using the CCP proces s. Extensive Contractor experience in conducting CPEs, CTAs, and in particular PBTs, is a requirement. The Contractor should be able to demonstrate that they have experience in conducting PBT training events. A list of completed PBT events must be provi ded. V. TASK DESCRIPTIONS Prior to the first PBT session, the Contractor will provide input, as necessary, into the selection of the plants that will participate in the second PBT. The Contractor will also provide guidance relative to the assignment of facilitators to individual f acilities, if necessary. The Contractor will jointly coordinate five (5) PBT sessions, over a time span of 12-18 months with six (6) to ten (10) plants participating. During this period, the Contractor shall, to the maximum extent practicable, provide the benefits of his knowledg e and practical experience in water treatment to the facilitators in an effort to incorporate positive changes at six (6) to ten (10) individual water treatment plants in the state of Louisiana. The Contractor is expected to provide one (1) trainer at all five (5) quarterly sessions. The Corps will serve as the second trainer for all five (5) quarterly sessions. In between training sessions, the Contractor shall provide guidance to the plant facilitators in the their efforts with individual plants (inclu ding one conference calls between sessions), as necessary. The Contractor shall provide an outline of each session approximately three (3) months prior to each session, for review by the Corps/LDHH team. The location of the training sessions will be coo rdinated by the Corps/LDHH team, with some of the sessions to be held at participating facilities in order to incorporate hands-on efforts during the sessions. The Contractor shall provide a one-day (8 hour long) orientation on the roles and expectations of a facilitator. This orientation shall be provided prior to the first PBT training session. This orientation may take place just prior to the first PBT sessi on at a time and location mutually agreed upon by the Contractor and the Corps/LDHH. Each of the plants that agree to participate in the PBT will be informed of the requirements of their participation by the Corps/LDHH team. The requirements include, but are not limited to, the following: continuous on line turbidimeters on individual fil ters, jar testing equipment, access to a computer with spreadsheet capability, commitment to send a minimum of two operators to all sessions, and commitment to send an administrator to the first and last session. It shall be the responsibility of the Corp s/LDHH team to assure that plants are notified of the requirements for participation and are notified of the dates and locations of the sessions. Outside of the five training sessions, no contact between the Contractor and individual facilities will be ex pected. Any additional data that may be required from individual facilities during the PBT will be collected through the Corps/LDHH team. The Corps/LDHH team will setup and coordinate the location of the training sessions. Efforts which will be addressed during the PBT sessions will include, but may not be limited to, the following: adoption of optimized performance goals, sampling, testing, a nd data development, special studies development, coagulation control, conducting jar testing, pump feed rates, chemical dosages, filter backwash procedures, and other operational guidelines. In addition, guidance will be provided to individual water syst ems relative to other changes related to operation, maintenance, and administration factors. Facilitators (Corps/LDHH/EPA Region 6) will be assigned one or more individual plants. As a part of the quarterly training sessions, the Contractor and facilitators will assist the individual plant staff in the development of ?implementation plans? or ?hom ework assignments? for the time period in between the training sessions. The facilitators will follow up with their assigned plant(s) in between the sessions to keep them on track with their individual ?implementation plans?. This will be primarily accom plished through phone calls between the facilitators and plant staff, and periodically supplemented with site visits as needed. The facilitators will document their contact with the plant staff. This documentation will be compiled by the Corps and will b e provided to the Contractor for their review, comments, and direction. Any coordination among the facilitators outside of the training sessions will be conducted through the Corps/LDHH team. The Contractor will be expected to provide review, comments and direction for all documents generated by the facilitators as a result of the PBT training sessions. VI. PERIOD OF SERVICES It is anticipated that the five PBT sessions will be attended by the Contractor, at mutually agreed upon dates, for a duration of 12-18 months (including efforts prior to the first training session). One day (8 hours) will be allowed for the facilitator o rientation. Three days (including travel) will be allowed for each of the five training sessions (including facilitator debriefing following sessions). The Contractor will provide services during the PBT sessions as well as provide guidance to the facili tators related to phone calls, site visits, and other follow up, as well as consultation on any other issues related to assistance to the water plant as part of the training. VII. MATERIAL TO BE PROVIDED BY THE CORPS Comprehensive Performance Evaluations (CPEs), when completed, for the facilities that will participate in the PBT will be provided upon request. Performance Potential Graphs (PPGs) for the facilities that have not had CPEs will also be provided upon reque st. Documentation of plant selection criteria, site visits, or other information gathered by the Corps/LDHH team in relation to selection of plants to participate in the PBT will be provided upon request. Handbook for Optimizing Water Treatment Plant Performance with the Composite Correction Program, Technical Support Center, Standards and Risk Management Division, Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water, Office of Water Cincinnati, OH, EPA/625/6-91/027, Revised August 1998 THE PROPOSALS WILL BE JUDGED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LOWEST COST-TECHNICALLY ACCEPTABLE SELECTION METHOD.
- Place of Performance
- Address: US Army Engineer District, New Orleans-Civil Works ATTN: CEMVN-CT, P.O. Box 60267 New Orleans LA
- Zip Code: 70160-0267
- Country: US
- Zip Code: 70160-0267
- Record
- SN00075989-W 20020515/020513213311 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
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