Section 1452(g)(2) - Safe Drinking Water Act Amendments of 1996
INTRODUCTION
The Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH), Bureau of Public Water Supply (Department), will use the Local Assistance and Other State Programs Set-aside of the DWSRF in a Consolidation Regionalization assistance program. The program will be surveying the State's drinking water system to identify, plan, and assist water systems in consolidation or regionalization to create a more sustainable model that best serves the consumers of Mississippi's drinking water.
SELECTION PROCESS
The contract for coordination of the program will run on a State Fiscal Year Basis. A contract is currently being developed in accordance with State contracting requirements.
A Request for Qualifications will be advertised statewide. Qualifications received will be reviewed by the Department to select the best qualified candidate for the agency. Recommendations for award of a contract will be presented to the Board at their regularly scheduled Board meeting; following authorization by the Board, the coordination contract will be awarded.
PROGRAM ACTIVITIES
The activities described herein will be accomplished through a four-part process: identification of potential consolidation or regionalization opportunities; communication with public water supply; mobilization of contractor to identified site to develop plans and specifications; and confirmation that the work has been performed.
Identification - The contractor will survey the State's drinking water system to identify water systems that would benefit from consolidation or regionalization to create a more sustainable model that best serves the consumers of Mississippi's drinking water.
Communication - Staff from the contractor will meet with system officials to inform them of the program, explain what consolidation or regionalization looks like for their system, and encourage them to consider the possibility of taking advantage of funding through our program.
Mobilization - Once the communication phase has been completed and the system request to move forward, staff of the contractor will mobilize to the selected site and commence with the plan and design of the proposed project.
Confirmation - Staff of the contractor will provide the BPWS Regional Engineers with drafts of the plans and specifications.
SCHEDULE FOR COMPLETING ACTIVITIES
The schedule for completing Local Assistance and Other Program activities under this work plan will be the schedule established by set contractual dates.
AGENCY RESPONSIBILITIES
The MSDH will be monitoring contractors throughout the process to ensure effective completion of contractual assignments.
EVALUATION PROCESS TO ASSESS THE SUCCESS OF SET-ASIDE ACTIVITIES
The success of this set-aside will be defined by the ability of the MSDH through the solicited contractor(s) to identify, plan, and assist water systems in consolidation or regionalization to create a more sustainable model that best serves the consumers of Mississippi's drinking water.
Miss. Code. tit. 33, pt. 13, Appendices, app 33-13-L