United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Solid Waste and
Emergency Response
(5204G)
9200.5-222FS
EPA 540-K-95-004
PR1024
November 1996
Technical Assistance Grants (TAG):
How to Find, Choose and Hire a
Technical Advisor
Office of Emergency and Remedial Response
Community Involvement and Outreach Center
Quick Reference Fact Sheet
The Superfund Technical Assistance Grant (TAG) Program was created to provide grants to
eligible groups of citizens living near Superfund sites for the purpose of hiring independent
technical advisors. The technical advisor can interpret site-related information that citizens'
groups can share with the entire community. TAG recipients help communities become more
active participants in the Superfund process. This fact sheet provides an outline of some of the
questions often asked by TAG recipients about finding and choosing a technical advisor.
What can a technical advisor do for my
TAG group?
Your group determines the role of the techni-
cal advisor based on your community's needs
and concerns. Possible activities include:
Reviewing and interpreting site-related
documents and data.
Meeting with your group to explain
technical information about the site.
Participating in public meetings to help
clarify site information.
Assisting your group in
communicating your concerns
and preferences to EPA, state
agencies and polluting
parties.
Participating in
site visits to gain a
better under-
standing of cleanup
activities.
Attending meetings
and hearings directly
related to site
conditions.
Participating in health and
safety training.
Grant funds may not be used to
finance litigation or underwrite
State &
local health
departmen
Chambers
of
Commerce
Where can I
find
a good
Technical
Advisor?
Professional
& technical
societies
Environmental
groups
Consulting
firms
Trade
magazines
&
journals
The
Yellow
Pages
legal actions, such as paying attorneys or
technical advisors to participate in any legal
action or proceeding regarding or affecting
the site.
Who are potential technical advisors?
Your group should choose a technical
advisor who will provide you with an
unbiased, independent review of site-
related information. Potential advisors
may be experts in chemistry, engineer-
ing, toxicology, epidemiology,
hydrology, soil science,
limnology or meteorology.
Your group selects the
technical advisor whose
expertise best suits
the needs of your
community.
Advisors should be
qualified in
disciplines related to
the type of
contamination at your
site. For example, at a
site with water contam-
ination, a technical advisor
with experience in
hydrology or limnology
would be appropriate.
-------
What qualifications should I look for in a
technical advisor?
The technical advisor should have the fol-
lowing qualifications:
A demonstrated knowledge of
hazardous or toxic waste issues.
Academic training in a field relevant to
your group's interests.
The ability to translate technical
information into plain English.
A satisfactory performance record.
A state license in his or her field.
Not debarred or suspended as a federal
contractor.
Adequate accounting or auditing
procedures to control funds.
A willingness to comply with civil rights
and equal opportunity law.
What is the process for hiring a technical
advisor?
You must use the competitive selection
method unless there is only one qualified
candidate. If only one qualified candidate
can be located, you can use the non-com-
petitive procurement method. Also, the
competitive selection procedures vary de-
pending on the dollar value of your pur-
chase or contract. The basic differences in
the requirements of the two methods are
outlined in the table below and discussed in
more detail on the following pages. Your
TAG Coordinator can provide you with the
booklet entitled Superfund Technical Assis-
tance Grant (TAG) Handbook: Procurement-
Using TAG Funds, which explains the pro-
cess further.
SUMMARY OF REQUIREMENTS FOR THE TWO PROCUREMENT METHODS
THE COMPETITIVE SELECTION METHOD
(Used when two or more qualified candidates exist)
For purchases or contracts over $25,000 but less than $50,000:
solicit written proposals from three or more qualified sources.
For purchases or contracts over $1,000 and up to $25,000:
solicit oral quotes from two or more qualified sources.
For purchases or contracts of $1,000 or less:
simply discuss your needs with a qualified candidate; no oral or written
quotes are necessary.
5
0)
PO
0)
O)
s.
0)
THE NON-COMPETITIVE PROCUREMENT METHOD
(Used when only one qualified candidate exists)
Obtain written authority from the EPA award official.
For purchases or contracts less than $50,000:
ask the candidate for an oral or written quote.
(
4-t
01
^-
O
O)
S.
-------
THE COMPETITIVE SELECTION METHOD
Use this method when there are two or more qualified candidates from which to choose.
The competitive selection method varies depending on the dollar value of your
group's purchase or contract as described in the three boxes on this page.
For purchases or contracts over $25,000 but less than
$50,000
Example: You need the services of a technical
advisor or environmental consulting firm with
expertise in hydrogeology, engineering,
chemistry, the health sciences, and toxicology
to review technical documents generated by
the cleanup process at your site; attend
meetings; prepare summary memos and
reports; review your group's written
comments to be submitted during the public
comment period; and make presentations to
group members and others.
1. Identify your needs.
2. Solicit written proposals from three or
more qualified sources.
3. Evaluate all proposals.
4. Check with your Regional TAG
Coordinator to be sure the candidates
are not on the master list of suspended
or debarred contractors.
5. Prepare the contract.
6. Provide EPA an opportunity to review
your selection process and the contract.
7. Have the technical advisor complete a
Certification Regarding Debarment,
Suspension, and Other Responsibility
Matters (EPA Form 5700-49).
8. Sign the contract.
For purchases or contracts over $1,000 but
less than $25,000
Example: The environmental consulting firm you
hired has the hydrogeologists, engineers, and
chemists you need at your site. However, the firm
does not offer expertise in the health sciences or
toxicology, and you now need to have the risk
assessment from the site reviewed. "You want to hire
a toxicologist for the sole task of reviewing the risk
assessment.
I. Identify your needs.
2. Solicit oral quotes from two or more
qualified sources.
3. Evaluate all quotes.
4. Check with your Regional TAG Coordinator
to be sure the candidates are not on the
master list of suspended or debarred
contractors.
5. Prepare the contract.
6. Provide EPA an opportunity to review your
selection process and the contract.
7. Sign the contract.
For purchases or contracts of $1,000 or less
Example: Your group has prepared a newsletter and needs to hire a print shop to design and
reproduce copies.
\. Identify your needs.
2. Identify potential technical advisors.
3. Discuss your needs with candidates.
4. Discuss with the candidates any potential conflicts of interest.
5. Check with your Regional TAG Coordinator to be sure candidates are not on the
master list of suspended or debarred contractors.
6. Determine that the proposed costs are reasonable.
7. Negotiate with the candidates, if you wish, and select the best one.
8. Document, in 200 words or less, your reasons for selecting one candidate over the
rest.
-------
THE NON-COMPETITIVE SELECTION METHOD
Use this method when only one qualified candidate exists.
The requirements are described below.
For purchases or contracts of $50,000 or less
Example: You needed to hire a technical advisor, so you began by locating possible sources of technical
advisors with the skills you need. You checked universities, professional societies, and small, minority-
owned, and women-owned businesses hut were able to locate only one qualified candidate.
1. Identify your needs.
2. Contact your Regional TAG Coordinator to discuss the possibility of using this
method.
3. Obtain written authority from the award official.
4. Discuss with the potential contractor the kinds of services you need and EPA's
requirements.
5. Ask the candidate to give you an oral or written quote for performing the services.
6. Discuss with the candidate any potential conflicts of interest.
7. Check with your Regional TAG Coordinator to be sure the candidate is not on the
master list of suspended or debarred contractors.
8. Negotiate with the candidate as necessary.
9. Document for the files why the proposed costs are acceptable.
10. Prepare the contract.
11. Provide EPA an opportunity to review your selection process and the contract.
12. Have the technical advisor complete a Certification Regarding Debarment,
Suspension, and Other Responsibility Matters (EPA Form 5700-49) if the contract or
purchase is for $25,000 or more.
13. Sign the contract.
Helpful Tips on Hiring a Technical Advisor
Start the process of locating a technical advisor earlyit may take some time.
Make positive efforts to seek out small, female, and minority-owned businesses.
Maintain records of your group's selection activities.
Contact your Regional TAG Coordinator if you have any questions.
The RCRA, Superfund, and Underground Storage Tank Hotline
This toll-free hotline is a source of further information on the TAG Program
If calling from outside the Washington, DC area: 800-424-9346
If calling from within the Washington, DC area: 703-412-9810
For the hearing impaired: TDD 800-553-7672
------- |