Program Plan
Department of Agriculture - ARS Buildings and Facilities - ARRA Recovery Plan
Updated 05/14/2009
Objectives
Program Purpose
The principal objective of the Recovery Act is job creation to help promote economic recovery. Through completion of $176 million of critical deferred maintenance work at ARS facilities across the country, the Agency's Recovery Act program will create approximately1,900 jobs.
A second objective is to improve the quality and productivity of ARS research by helping to ensure that programs can be effectively and efficiently conducted at facilities with critical deferred maintenance needs.
Public Benefits
The passage of the ARRA provides ARS with the opportunity to reduce the quantity of deferred maintenance substantially. ARS had been addressing the issue of deferred maintenance on their research facilities for a number of years; these needs were captured in the ARS Capital Project and Repair Plan developed in accordance with the USDA, Agricultural Research Service Building Block Plan, as required by Executive Order (E.O.) 13327, "Federal Real Property Asset Management".
By significantly contributing to the accomplishment of the ARS Strategic Planning Initiative to Improve Real Property Management, research will be accomplished more efficiently and effectively. This work will also reduce the backlog of critical deferred maintenance at ARS facilities by approximately 56 percent and slow the growth in deferred maintenance throughout ARS.
Total deferred maintenance needs (other than normal minor maintenance) is about $316 million, of which approximately $199.2 million represents critical needs. Therefore there are more ARS facilities with critical deferred maintenance needs than the $176 million that ARS was appropriated in the Recovery Act can support. Therefore criteria were developed to determine which facilities would be included in the program. The first criterion was whether or not a facility already had a design in progress or on the shelf for addressing the deferred maintenance work. Having an existing design allows the construction phase of the work to begin much earlier than for a facility without a design resulting in faster job creation. All facilities with an existing design that met at least one of the program-related criteria below were selected. This represented a total of 15 facilities and $154 million.
An additional set of program related criteria were developed to select from the remaining list of facilities (those without pre-existing designs), that would be included in the program. The criteria take into consideration the relative priority of the program(s) supported by the facility and the extent to which the program(s) enhances the ARS core capacity to conduct its research. Specifically, the criteria used were the extent to which each project would either enhance:
1) Unique national resources
2) High priority research programs
3) Essential research capacity
4) Research programs critical to ARS support of action and regulator agencies
Measures
The measures have been revised to enrich the performance metrics for Recovery targets. In some instances, targets will not be available until additional baseline data has been collected.
| Measure | Target/Actual |
|---|
| 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 |
|---|
[-]
Progress when compared to approved budgets. | - | - | - | - |
Measure Information
| Frequency : Monthly | | Direction : No Data Available | | Type : Efficiency | | Explanation : ARS will complete all approved projects within the funds appropriated. | | Unit : No Data Available |
|
[-]
Progress when compared to approved schedules. | - | - | - | - |
Measure Information
| Frequency : Monthly | | Direction : No Data Available | | Type : Efficiency | | Explanation : ARS will execute awards and complete contracts in accordance with approved schedules on 80% of projects. | | Unit : No Data Available |
|
[-]
The number of jobs created. | - | - | - | - |
Measure Information
| Frequency : Monthly | | Direction : No Data Available | | Type : Output | | Explanation : The Council of Economic Advisors (CEA) has recognized the difference between recipients (contractors) reporting data that captures direct jobs, and CEA estimates that capture direct, indirect and induced jobs. ARS has no control over either the CEA estimate or the number of jobs created and reported by the recipient of the ARRA funds. The agency will report the job data as estimated by CEA and reported by the recipient. | | Unit : No Data Available |
|
[-]
Degree to which the agency meets USDA small business goals at the time of the award. | - | - | - | - |
Measure Information
| Frequency : Monthly | | Direction : No Data Available | | Type : Efficiency | | Explanation : ARS will meet all small business goals in place for the fiscal year in which the contract is awarded. | | Unit : No Data Available |
|
[-]
Improvement in the quality and productivity of research | - | - | - | - |
Measure Information
| Frequency : Long-term | | Direction : No Data Available | | Type : Outcome | | Explanation : The ultimate goal of research is to produce discoveries and methodologies that will benefit society. The critical maintenance performed at these facilities under ARRA will result in improvements in the working environment, which should enhance the ability of scientists and support staff to improve the quality and productivity of their work. USDA will develop tool (e.g. surveys) to determine this impact. | | Unit : No Data Available |
|
Schedule and Milestones
ARS is in the process of developing detailed project implementation plans. The current goal is to obligate $17 million by September 30, 2009; an additional $23 million by December 31, 2009; an additional $100 million by March 31, 2010; and $23 million by June 30, 2010. A contingency reserve of approximately 7.5 percent (or approximately $13 million) will be held for change orders typically expected in construction of this type. These contingency funds are intended for necessary modifications to the contract and will be executed in conformance to the contract. Contingency funds identified as surplus will be used to fund additional critical deferred maintenance needs.
Milestones
| Milestone |
Completion Date |
| Obligate $17 million by September 30, 2009. |
09/30/2009 |
| Obligate an additional $23 by December 31, 2009. |
12/31/2009 |
| Obligate an additional $100 million by March 31, 2010. |
03/31/2010 |
Projects and Activities
Design and Construction (renovation) at ARS research facilities with critical deferred maintenance. Critical deferred maintenance is work associated with critical systems such as HVAC, electric, roofing, exterior closure and plumbing. It involves maintenance to systems beyond simple patch and repair tasks and generally requires system replacement. Completion of this work will in many cases result in improved energy efficiency, reduction in current operation and maintenance costs, and arrested further deterioration of ARS facilities.
The designs for all the facilities in the ARS Recovery Act program will meet current building codes, including those related to energy conservation.
The proposed list of projects includes work at 36 locations in 28 states and the District of Columbia. The projects are estimated to generate approximately 2,500 jobs. All contract awards will be made to commercial entities (Architect-Engineering firms, and construction firms). No Recovery Act funds will be used for ARS salary and expenses. Contract support related to design, design review, and construction contract oversight will be by acquired Recovery Act funds.
Review Process
ARS has established a Coordination and Communication team - The ARS Department of Agriculture Recovery Team (ARS DART) - and charged it with monitoring the implementation of the ARS Recovery Act program to ensure consistent and strict compliance with the intent of the Recovery Act, as well as the OMB Implementation Guidelines. The team is overseen by an ARS Associate Administrator and includes representation from the Research Education and Economics Undersecretary Office. This team currently meets on a weekly basis; over time it is expected that they will meet on a monthly basis as the execution of the Recovery Act program matures.
Cost and Performance Plan
ARS will adhere to all USDA and OMB direction regarding posting of Recovery Act information and status. Extensive use of the internet is expected to be the primary information sharing tool.
All ARS managers directly responsible for implementing the Recovery Act have in their Performance Standards a goal addressing their responsibility to provide overall leadership and proactive management of the $176 million ARS Recovery Act program.
Energy Efficiency Spending Plans
To the extent feasible, and within the definition of critical deferred maintenance, all designs will meet current codes, specifically the Energy Policy Act 2005 and the Energy Independence and Security Act 2007. All projects will comply with the appropriate statutes such as the National Environmental Policy Act, National Historic Preservation Act, Endangered Species Act, etc.
Program Plan Award Types
No Data Available