[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 66 (Wednesday, April 6, 1994)] [Unknown Section] [Page 0] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 94-8234] [[Page Unknown]] [Federal Register: April 6, 1994] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Invitation for Proposals for Projects Designed To Support Risk Assessment and Risk Management Practices Associated With DOE's Environmental Management Programs AGENCY: Office of Environmental Management, DOE. ACTION: Notice of Program Interest; Amendment. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: This notice replaces and supersedes the Notice of Program Interest (NOPI) published in the Federal Register on February 22, 1994 (59 FR 8462). The purpose of this announcement is to correct the previous NOPI and clarify the program needs in risk assessment and risk management for the Office of Environmental Management. DATES: This notice is effective on April 6, 1994 and will remain effective until September 30, 1994. This notice extends the due date for receipt of proposals from April 8, 1994 to September 30, 1994. Due to programmatic needs, proposals related to risk management support and risk assessment at DOE facilities need to be received as early as possible. Awards, if made, will not be available before October 1, 1994. Proposals that are received before June 30, 1994, will receive priority consideration. Proposals received after June 30, 1994 will receive consideration dependent upon funding availability after the initial awards are made. ADDRESSES AND FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for technical information should be directed to Dr. Michael Heeb, Department of Energy, Office of Environmental Management, Washington, DC 20585, Telephone (202) 586-2661. For procurement related information, contact Dr. John Wengle, EM-53, U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Environmental Management, Office of Technology Development, Washington, DC 20585, (301) 903-8491. Proposals (original plus (5) copies), citing this NOPI, should be directed to: Office of Procurement Assistance and Program Management, Unsolicited Proposals Management Section, HR-522.2, Department of Energy, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: I. Purpose II. Objective Merit Review III. Proposal Format IV. Evaluation Criteria V. Awards I. Purpose The Office of Environmental Management (EM) is seeking to award grants or cooperative agreements to applicants, to fund (in whole or in part) projects, or cost share in projects, that will help EM implement a program to develop credible risk assessment and risk management practices to protect the public health and environment at DOE facilities and sites. For more information about EM's needs in risk assessment and risk management, including information related to the integration of risk assessment and risk management, interested applicants are referred to the National Research Council's report ``Building Consensus Through Risk Assessment and Management of the Department of Energy's Environmental Remediation Program,'' National Academy Press, 1994, and the presentations contained therein by Assistant Secretary Thomas Grumbly and concerned stakeholders. Copies of the National Research Council's report may be obtained from the Department of Energy by calling Ms. Mary Wilson, Telephone (202) 586-2661. It is strongly recommended that interested applicants review this document prior to submitting a proposal. EM's program in integrated risk management faces two critical activity areas: First, a statutory requirement to report to Congress on the risks to the public health and safety posed by the conditions at the Nation's nuclear weapons complex; and second, the need for long- term assistance in risk assessment and risk management at DOE facilities and sites. The first activity was mandated by Congress in Public Law 103-126, enacted October 28, 1993. The DOE is addressing the Congressional requirement through actions that are on a separate track and not addressed by this announcement. It is the second activity that this solicitation addresses, i.e., the long-term needs for assistance in developing credible processes and methods for risk assessments and risk management decisions that include meaningful involvement of affected parties, future land and facilities use planning, cost of proposed remediation activities, public and worker health and safety, and environmental impacts. As discussed in the National Research Council's report and in specific remarks by Assistant Secretary Thomas Grumbly, DOE is seeking to define the risks to human health and the environment on a site-by- site basis. Further, DOE is seeking approaches and methods:To systematically identify and characterize, on a site-by- site basis, the risks to human health and the environment; To systematically identify and characterize the data gaps and uncertainties, and identify methods for filling gaps and reducing uncertainties, in our present understanding of the above cited risks; To systematically review and recommend the process by which the above cited risks will be reduced; To systematically review and recommend how public participation should be involved in risk evaluation and how such risks should be communicated to non-technical audiences; and To systematically review and define the costs for risk reduction. In addition, the credibility of DOE and its site contractors is a serious issue that must be appropriately addressed if valid and persuasive risk assessments are to be conducted, i.e., serious consideration must be extended to the question of who performs the risk assessment, who performs the risk reduction assessment, who performs the cost assessment, etc. The National Research Council has identified several obstacles associated with using a risk based approach at DOE sites. These obstacles include the fact that: The use of risk assessment to set priorities for remediation is viewed with skepticism; Risk assessment is viewed as a mechanical process, without opportunity for public input, that often fails to give due consideration to affected stakeholders; Stakeholders have voiced concerns that risk assessments may result in an inequitable distribution of resources both among and within facilities and sites. Notwithstanding these obstacles, the National Research Council has concluded that a risk based approach to environmental cleanup is both feasible and desirable. In order for such an approach to be effective in influencing Remedial Action Decisions, it is necessary that risk management and risk assessment theory and processes, robust public participation programs, and public policy decision makers be brought together and integrated into one coherent decision making process. EM is interested in receiving proposals from applicants that propose creative and innovative methods for providing credible risk assessments and credible practices for implementation of risk-based decisions. Proposals should address cost/risk policy and priority setting at the DOE sites involving decontamination, decommissioning, environmental restoration, facilities transition, technology development, and site management. Proposals that include an integrated-systems approach that includes technology-based solutions for reducing, eliminating, or mitigating risks at the weapons complex are most desirable. In addition, proposers should demonstrate an organizational capability both to work with diverse multi-disciplinary technical groups and to work with social and cultural issues in the risk assessment arena. Additional factors to be considered in decision-making and in establishing priorities include: Federal Facilities Agreements; State and local agreements; Tribal agreements; Public participation and outreach to affected citizen groups; Innovative approaches to development of credible risk assessments and implementation of risk-based decision making; Strategies and methods for identifying and filling data gaps and reducing uncertainties; Environmental justice, socioeconomic and sociopolitical issues; and Other environmental, worker, and public health and safety issues. II. Objective Merit Review An objective merit review of each proposal will be accomplished in accordance with EM's Merit Review System, as published in the Federal Register on May 6, 1991 (56 FR 20602). Applicants are advised that EM shall utilize the procedure detailed under subsection IV(E)(2) of its Merit Review System (56 FR 20604), i.e., field readers shall be utilized in lieu of standing review committees. III. Proposal Format The proposal shall contain two sections, technical and cost. Technical proposals shall be no more than fifty (50) pages in length; resumes of proposed key personnel should be submitted as an appendix to the technical proposal and will not be counted against the page limit. It is left to the proposer to determine how best to structure the proposal. However, the following information shall be included: a. Proposals shall include a detailed project description that discusses the specific tasks to be performed under the proposed project. b. Proposals must also demonstrate that the offeror is perceived as neutral and credible, and is capable of conducting scientifically valid and responsible assessments. Assessments must include clear statements of what is not known and what is uncertain, as well as statements of what is known. Proposals must demonstrate how independent, external peer-review will be conducted. c. Proposals must demonstrate that the offeror has the experience and capability to plan, organize, manage, and facilitate public participation in communities. Proposals must also demonstrate that the offeror has the experience and ability to effectively communicate complicated scientific information on potential risks and uncertainties, to local and national stakeholders, other affected and concerned citizens, and decision makers at all levels. d. Proposals must demonstrate that the offeror presently has or is capable of obtaining staff with the training, expertise, and experience needed to conduct scientifically complex risk assessments and cost assessments. Proposals must identify the technical and scientific staff that will actually conduct the studies and detail their professional experience as well as their level of program involvement. e. Proposals must demonstrate that the offeror has the ability to integrate their work with the activities of other organizations conducting risk assessments. f. Proposals must demonstrate that the offeror has management capability, for both financial and scientific management, and a demonstrated skill in planning and scheduling projects of comparable magnitude to that proposed under this NOPI. Cost proposals shall have no page limit. The cost proposal shall include a summary breakdown of all costs, and provide a detailed breakdown of costs on a task-by-task basis for each task contained in the project description. In addition, any expectation concerning cost sharing shall be clearly stated. Cost sharing is encouraged, but it shall not be considered in the selection process. IV. Evaluation Criteria The evaluation criteria are as specified in subsection IV(G) of EM's Merit Review System (56 FR 20604). V. Awards Approximately $20 million may be available in FY 1995 for projects. If sufficient acceptable applications are received, available funding may determine the number of awards. Awards, if any, will be determined through evaluation of applications received against the evaluation criteria, and the availability of funds. Awards, either grants or cooperative agreements, will be made only to technically acceptable applicants. Budget and project periods may be negotiated to fit the requirements of particular projects; awards will be on a schedule to be agreed to by DOE and the awardee. DOE reserves the right to support or not support any portion, all, or none of the proposals submitted. Issued in Washington, DC, on March 31, 1994. Thomas P. Grumbly, Assistant Secretary for Environmental Management. [FR Doc. 94-8234 Filed 4-5-94; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6450-01-P