Training Module 4Training Module 4
Dealing with Consultants, Dealing with Consultants, Technical Assistance Technical Assistance
Providers, Regulators, and Providers, Regulators, and Funding Agencies Funding Agencies
Prepared by RCAP Solutions for Prepared by RCAP Solutions for the PA Department of the PA Department of
Environmental ProtectionEnvironmental Protection
22
IntroductionIntroduction
• During this training module, we’ll be During this training module, we’ll be describing:describing:– drinking water system funding drinking water system funding – technical assistance providerstechnical assistance providers– Request for Proposals (RFP) Request for Proposals (RFP) – Interview questionsInterview questions– Policies and procedures Policies and procedures – contract for engineering services contract for engineering services – preliminary engineering report preliminary engineering report – local regulatory agency personnellocal regulatory agency personnel
33
Financial AssistanceFinancial Assistance
• Loan and grant funding agenciesLoan and grant funding agencies
• Grant programsGrant programs
44
Financial AssistanceFinancial Assistance
• Rural Utilities Service Rural Utilities Service
– Loans and supplemental grantsLoans and supplemental grants– Rural areas and towns < 10,000 pop.Rural areas and towns < 10,000 pop.
55
Financial AssistanceFinancial Assistance
• PENNVESTPENNVEST
– Loans and supplemental grantsLoans and supplemental grants– PA municipalities, authorities, and some PA municipalities, authorities, and some
private entitiesprivate entities
66
Financial AssistanceFinancial Assistance
• CDBG through DCEDCDBG through DCED
– Entitlement and competitive grantsEntitlement and competitive grants– Benefits low to moderate income Benefits low to moderate income
communitiescommunities
77
Financial AssistanceFinancial Assistance
• DEPDEP
– Growing GreenerGrowing Greener– Innovative drinking water technologyInnovative drinking water technology
88
Financial AssistanceFinancial Assistance
• Exercise!Exercise!
• PENNVEST Utility GuidePENNVEST Utility Guide
99
Technical AssistanceTechnical Assistance
• Government and not-for-profitsGovernment and not-for-profits– DEPDEP– RCAPRCAP– PRWAPRWA– PUCPUC– DCEDDCED– EFCEFC– ETCETC
1010
Technical AssistanceTechnical Assistance
• DEPDEP– Small Water Systems Outreach ProgramSmall Water Systems Outreach Program
•Onsite education and assistanceOnsite education and assistance
•O&M and Management issuesO&M and Management issues
– Capability Enhancement (CE) ProgramCapability Enhancement (CE) Program•Capability Enhancement Facilitators (CEFs)Capability Enhancement Facilitators (CEFs)
•Develop and maintain long-term viability Develop and maintain long-term viability
1111
Technical AssistanceTechnical Assistance
• RCAP Solutions, Inc.RCAP Solutions, Inc.
– Administrative and financial areas of Administrative and financial areas of water and wastewater system water and wastewater system operations operations
– Liaison between system and Liaison between system and funders/regulatorsfunders/regulators
– Income surveysIncome surveys
1212
Technical AssistanceTechnical Assistance
• PRWAPRWA
– Water loss, leak detection, chlorination, Water loss, leak detection, chlorination, metering, rate structuring, proper metering, rate structuring, proper records keeping and day to day records keeping and day to day operation and maintenanceoperation and maintenance
– Training sessions Training sessions
1313
Technical AssistanceTechnical Assistance
• PUCPUC
– Rate increasesRate increases– ComplianceCompliance– Billing and collectionBilling and collection
1414
Technical AssistanceTechnical Assistance
• DCED DCED
– Municipal Training Program Municipal Training Program – ETPETP– Statewide seminarsStatewide seminars– Onsite trainingOnsite training
1515
Technical AssistanceTechnical Assistance
• EFC EFC
– Infrastructure Financing AssistanceInfrastructure Financing Assistance– Management Management – Financial CapacityFinancial Capacity– Planning Planning
1616
Technical AssistanceTechnical Assistance
• ETC ETC
– Operations TrainingOperations Training– Technology AssistanceTechnology Assistance– Technology EvaluationTechnology Evaluation
1717
Technical AssistanceTechnical Assistance
• Technical assistance (TA) providersTechnical assistance (TA) providers
vsvs
• EngineersEngineers
1818
Engineers and ConsultantsEngineers and Consultants
• Many reasons for engineers, Many reasons for engineers, consultants, and TA providersconsultants, and TA providers
• May be required to hire an engineer May be required to hire an engineer in some casesin some cases
1919
Engineers and ConsultantsEngineers and Consultants
• RFPRFP
– Developed in house or with technical Developed in house or with technical assistanceassistance
– Forms basis for the engineering workForms basis for the engineering work– Limit RFPs sent outLimit RFPs sent out
2020
Engineers and ConsultantsEngineers and Consultants
• ProposalsProposals
– Reviewed in house or with technical Reviewed in house or with technical assistanceassistance
– Select short list of top firmsSelect short list of top firms– Prepare for interviewsPrepare for interviews
2121
Engineers and ConsultantsEngineers and Consultants
• InterviewsInterviews
– Exercise!Exercise!– Come up with some interview questionsCome up with some interview questions
2222
Engineers and ConsultantsEngineers and Consultants
• InterviewsInterviews
– Questions to askQuestions to ask
2323
Engineers and ConsultantsEngineers and Consultants
• InterviewsInterviews
– Selection criteriaSelection criteria– ContractsContracts
2424
Engineers and ConsultantsEngineers and Consultants
• ContractsContracts
– Standard templatesStandard templates– Basic componentsBasic components
2525
Engineers and ConsultantsEngineers and Consultants
• ContractsContracts
– Review performance regularlyReview performance regularly– Clarify expectations, misunderstandings, Clarify expectations, misunderstandings,
and terms if neededand terms if needed
2626
Engineers and ConsultantsEngineers and Consultants
• Preliminary engineering reportPreliminary engineering report
– Basic componentsBasic components
2727
Engineers and ConsultantsEngineers and Consultants
• CostsCosts
– JustifiedJustified– BreakdownsBreakdowns– ApprovalsApprovals
2828
RegulatorsRegulators
• DEPDEP
– Six regionsSix regions– Local Government HandbookLocal Government Handbook
2929
RegulatorsRegulators
• DEPDEP
– Local sanitarianLocal sanitarian– Anyone know their sanitarian?Anyone know their sanitarian?
3030
RegulatorsRegulators
• DEPDEP
– You’re not on your ownYou’re not on your own– Help from engineer or TA providerHelp from engineer or TA provider
3131
ExerciseExercise
• Take a few minutes to complete the Take a few minutes to complete the exercise in the workbookexercise in the workbook
3232
SummarySummary
• Key pointsKey points
3333
ReferencesReferences
• Dennis Lee , PADEPDennis Lee , PADEP• Don Schwartz, RCAP SolutionsDon Schwartz, RCAP Solutions• Jean Holloway, Environmental Finance Jean Holloway, Environmental Finance
CenterCenter• ““Working with Consultants and Working with Consultants and
Assistance Providers” presentation by Assistance Providers” presentation by NETCSCNETCSC
• PENNVEST’s utility publicationPENNVEST’s utility publication• DEP’s “Local Government Handbook” DEP’s “Local Government Handbook”