UNITED STATES EN-. 1-RON MENTAL ?.:
•/.• ASH irvG TON DC 2Ci6C
JAN ; 0 1992
MEMORANDUM
SUBJECT
FROM:
OSWER Directive #9242.2-01
Implementation of the Alternative Remedial Contracting
Strategy (ARCS) Task Force Recommendations:
Establishment'of ARCS Regional Management Teazps
Richard J. Guimond
Assistant Surgeon General, USPHS
Deputy Assistant Administrator (OS-100)
TO:
Edward J. Hanley .
Deputy Assistant Administrator
Office of Administration and Resources Management
(PM-208)
Addressees
PURPOSE . '
To establish ARCS Regional Management Teams, under the
auspices of the ARCS Task Force Report, and to ensure .successf
management of the ARCS contracts.
BACKGROUND . '
On October 2, 1991, Administrator Reilly announced the
findings and recommendations of both the Superfund 30-Day Stu^:
and his Task Force on Implementation of the Superfund ARCS.
Subsequent to these studies, the General Accounting Office (GA
issued its report "Superfund: EPA Has Not Corrected Long-
Standing Contract Management Problems." Both the ARCS Task F.
and GAO reports were critical of aspects of the Superfund
contracting program and offered numerous recommendations to
correct chfe weaknesses.
The TAslc Force report recommended the establishment of a
SuperfuriS Acquisition Manager, an ARCS Council, and ARCS Regi
Management Teams to evaluate and recommend improvements to th-
ARCS management process. The establishment of the ARCS Regie:
Management Teams was one of the report's time critical
recommendations. These teams were tasked to evaluate and rep
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within 120 days, recommendations to streamline the award fee
process. Additionally, under the implementation plan for the
Task Force report, the ARCS Regional Management Teams" are the
focal point for all Regional-lead activities.
OBJECTIVE . , '
To provide guidance on establishing ARCS Regional Managerr.e;
Teams.
IMPLEMENTATION
Each Region or ARCS Zone should establish an ARCS Regional
Management Team as part of their implementation of the ARCS 73.
Force ' recommendations. The Teams should consist of mid-level
managers, representing both the program and contracting element
of Regional operations and be chaired by a Branch Chief. It .
recommended that the size of the Teams be limited to. five or
persons with additional staff support tapped as needed. '.
The Teams should focus their initial efforts on implement.
the recommendations of the ARCS Task Force "Report. The f orer -
of these recommendations is to evaluate and report, by Febru::
3, 1992, Regional recommendations to streamline the ARCS awa: :
fee process. As part of this evaluation, the Teams should
examine the feasibility of utilizing the Performance Index ? ••
Score as a method of allocating future work. The long-term :
for Regional Management Teams will not be limited to the aw;:
fee process but .will encompass -all activities which promote
improved ARCS contract practices.
Regions II and III, the lead Superfund and Administrati :
Regions, will be the Regional fecal points for establishing •
ARCS Regional Management Tearr.5. They have also "agreed to
consolidate all award fee recc-rc-ndations from the ARCS Reg.
Management Teams and present the :':ndings to the Superfund
Acquisition Manager and ARCS Ccu.-.-;l. The point of contact
.Region IIT is^.Shaheer Alvi, FTS :• :--l93 and in Region III, :
initial rev :--•-•:-. the Teams should conti:
e;- Regional framework -o ensure successful cor.
Teams should report all progress and any
fo'r increased ef f : -.- :---ncies to the Superfund
Acquisition Manager and the ARCS •:_ur.cil.
Any 'questions on the formation :r role of the ARCS Regi
Management Teams should be addresr...-! to either of the lead ."
contacts, Kenneth Ayers, FTS 678-3 ~ •), or William Topping, :
260-9184, at Headquarters.
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