Recovery.gov - Track the Money

The US Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) Civil Works mission is consistent with the objectives of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA). The Recovery Act provides $4.6 billion to the Corps as follows: Investigations - $0.025B; Construction - $2.000B; Operations & Maintenance - $2.075B; Regulatory Program - $0.025B; Formerly Used Sites Remediation Action Program (FUSRAP) - $0.100B; Mississippi River & Tributaries (MR&T) - $0.375B.

The Corps’ list of Recovery Act-funded Civil Works projects includes approximately 172 construction projects, 523 Operation and Maintenance projects, 45 Mississippi River and Tributaries projects, 64 Investigations projects, and nine projects under the Formerly Utilized Sites Remedial Action Program (FUSRAP). Regulatory Program funds are distributed to Corps districts based upon workload. The projects selected represent a set of productive investments that will contribute to economic development and aquatic ecosystem restoration. The lists of Corps projects and how the Corps will oversee expenditure of ARRA funds with full transparency and accountability are available on the Corps’ web-site at www.usace.army.mil/recovery.

The Corps uses eight business programs to accomplish its Civil Works mission and represent the framework in forming a holistic systems approach to defining and solving our Nation’s water resources challenges. ARRA funded Business Programs and expected outcomes/efficiencies are outlined below.
* Environment Program/Aquatic Ecosystem Restoration - Funds will be used to contract for data and reports that evaluate the needs and opportunities for projects to improve sustainability in watersheds and to advance planning of projects designed to restore aquatic resources.
* Environment Program/Environmental Stewardship - Funds will be used to perform management of: cultural resources, vegetation and wildlife, natural resources and infrastructure.
* Environment Program/FUSRAP - Funds will be used to minimize risk to human health and the environment, to maximize the cubic yardage of contaminated material disposed at a safe and legal disposal facility, to return the maximum number of affected individual properties to beneficial use, and to have all remedies in place as quickly as possible within available funding limits.
* Flood Risk Management (FRM) Program - Funds will be used to accelerate or complete actions leading to developing and maintaining projects and activities which will reduce flood risk across the country.
* Hydropower Business Program - Funds will be used to support activities that involve repair, replacement, operation and/or maintenance of hydropower plants and associated facilities and equipment.
* Navigation Business Program - Funds will be used to accelerate or complete actions leading to the development, construction, and maintenance of projects and activities that will improve navigation safety, reliability and efficiency across the country.
* Recreation Business Program - Funds will be used to complete non-operational, non-5/26/2009routine maintenance activities such as road paving, roof replacement, erosion control or utility infrastructure repairs or replacement; accessibility improvements to accommodate persons with disabilities; and efficiency improvements.
* Regulatory Business Program - Financial awards will be in the form of hired labor. These funds will be provided to Corps districts to enhance program performance and decision making and/or development of tools to support effective decisions.
* Water Storage for Water Supply Business Program - Funds will be used to complete reallocation and an environmental impact studies; accomplish independent peer reviews; and conduct sediment, water supply and flood damage analysis studies.

The Corps has developed a strategy for executing the requirements for ARRA work that supports Military and Civil Works, Facilities Sustainment, Restoration & Modernization (FSRM), Homeowners Assistance Program (HAP), and International and Interagency Services (IIS). The Corps plans to utilize a diverse mix/pool of contractors via previously and newly awarded Multiple Award Task Order Contracts (MATOCs), Single Award Task Order Contracts (SATOCs) and individual contracts. Task orders will be negotiated against an IDC or placed against a MATOC contractor through fair opportunity. We estimate that this contracting mechanism will save significant time in the procurement cycle of each project; further reducing overall costs. All contracts will be fixed price unless it is in the best interest to the government to choose another contract type. The planned strategy is also indicative of the Corps’ past support and continued commitment toward ensuring contracting opportunities for the Small Business community. Accordingly, set-aside awards with highly qualified firms from within the socioeconomic contracting categories of 8(a), HUB-Zone, Women Owned, and Service Disabled Veterans will be established to ensure that all customer goals and objectives are exceeded, in concert with the achievement of all Army Small Business goals. Small businesses will be utilized to the greatest extent possible, based on market research conducted within the region.

It is planned that all contracts and task orders will be competed using full and open competition procedures or fair opportunity. After award of initial indefinite delivery contracts IAW FAR 16.505(b)(1) and DFARS 216.505(b), competition among the pool of contractors for project specific, fixed price task order requirements is expected to result in fair and reasonable pricing and fair opportunity for all contractors in the subject pool. Task order proposals may require submission of a technical proposal in one package and the price proposal in a separate package in order to make a best value determination. Other task orders may be competed on the basis of price alone. The proposed procurements will be synopsized in the Federal Business Opportunities for 30 days in accordance with FAR 5.203. All responsive, responsible firms may submit a proposal. Those projects advertised under the authorized set-aside programs will be restricted to firms meeting the eligibility requirements for that socioeconomic group. To maximize competition, the Corps will not require previous government experience on some projects.

The Corps will continue to emphasize conducting market research, using sources sought notices, and holding industry days/outreach efforts to promote competition in FY09/FY10. The Contracting Divisions will aggressively pursue the development of sources on each solicitation, through market research, publication of contracting opportunities in FedBizOpps, soliciting competition, and participating in source development events. These efforts will promote supporting competitive environments across the Corps for submission of bids and proposals.

Specific plans for competition decline will include increasing acquisition training that is targeted towards identified needs of the districts, and continuing to challenge barriers that restrict competition, including unnecessarily restrictive specifications and statements of need. At present, the Corps does not have direct hire authority to hire additional personnel for ARRA functions. Presently, there are efforts in place to recruit retired personnel, Army interns, and full time temporary personnel.

Use of fixed priced contracts is the preferred contract type for all Corps ARRA-funded contracts. Specifications and designs are developed to remove uncertainties from the requirement to facilitate the use of fixed price contracts. Next market research is performed and the contract type is further refined based on input from industry regarding uncertainties in the requirements. After completion of market research and refinement of the requirement an acquisition strategy will be developed and will include the contract type which is fully expected to be fixed price. The Corps' historical data shows that projects awarded in prior fiscal years, similar to ARRA-funded requirements, have resulted in fixed price contracts awarded approximately 90% of the time. Other than fixed price contracts will be awarded only when the contracting officer determination that other than fixed price contract types are in the best interest of the government.

The Corps’ creation of a Headquarters Management Oversight Team to assist in Recovery Act planning and execution provides balance in managing regular Corps work and Recovery Act work. The team’s responsibility includes the tracking of ARRA obligations, awards, and expenditures; overseeing the reporting process while ensuring the Corps’ program is transparent and maintains its accountability to the American Public.

Additionally, the Management Oversight Team is facilitated by a Stimulus Project Delivery Team (PDT) that meets weekly to discuss and resolve Recovery Act matters. The Stimulus PDT is represented by employees assigned to the Directorate of Civil and Emergency Operations, Directorate of Military and International Operations, Office of the Chief Counsel, Office of Internal Review, Office of the Engineer Inspector General, Directorate of Resource Management, Directorate of Contracting, Directorate of Corporate Information, Directorate of Human Resources, and the Offices of Small Business and Public Affairs.

The Corps will utilize the fundamental principles of Composite Risk Management found in the Army Field Manual 5-19 to assist in identifying and assessing risks; and developing and implementing controls that lead to making the right decisions. Leaders at all levels are responsible for the supervision and evaluation of the Civil Works Recovery Act Program and to ensure corrective action is applied.

Throughout the Corps, numerous in-place assessment tools exist that include managing risks in all of our programs. The Corps supplemental guidance developed specifically for monitoring the use of Recovery Act funds provides additional controls to ensure the program’s efficiency, execution and overall success. Recovery Act management control checklists are designed to capture progress and/or deficiencies in the areas of program performance, reporting, human capital, acquisition processes, financial controls and functionality of operational systems that monitor and report Recovery Act data.

Agency plans and public reporting are accomplished through a number of venues that are aimed at providing assistance and transparent information to the public related to the Corp’s Civil Works Recovery Act Program. The Corps’ Recovery.gov web-site will track and report the program’s overall activities and progress. This information is located at: http://www.usace.army.mil/RECOVERY.