Part 203 is issued under the authority of section 2705 of Title 10, United States Code. In 1994, Congress authorized the Department of Defense (DoD) to develop a program to facilitate public participation by providing technical assistance to local community members of Restoration Advisory Boards (RABs) and Technical Review Committees (TRCs) (section 326 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1995, Pub.L. 103-337). In 1996, Congress revised this authority (section 324 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1996, Pub.L. 104-112). It is pursuant to this revised authority, which is codified as new subsection (3) of section 2705, that the Department of Defense issues this part.

(a) This part establishes the Technical Assistance for Public Participation (TAPP) program for the Department of Defense. It sets forth policies and procedures for providing technical assistance to community members of TRCs and RABs established at DoD installations in the United States and its territories. This part sets forth the procedures for the Department of Defense to accept and evaluate TAPP applications, to procure the assistance desired by community members of RABs and TRCs, and to manage the TAPP program. These provisions are applicable to all applicants/recipients of technical assistance as discussed in § 203.4 of this part.

(b) Any reference to documents made in this part necessary to apply for TAPP (e.g., the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Circulars or DoD forms) are available through the DoD installations, the military department headquarters, or from the Department of Defense, Office of the Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Environmental Security (DUSD(ES)), 3400 Defense Pentagon, Washington, DC 20301-3400.

As used in this part, the following terms shall have the meaning set forth:

Affected. Subject to an actual or potential health or environmental threat arising from a release or a threatened release at an installation where the Secretary of Defense is planning or implementing environmental restoration activities including a response action under the Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation and Liability Act as amended (CERCLA), corrective action under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), or other such actions under applicable Federal or State environmental restoration laws. This would include actions at active, closing, realigning, and formerly used defense installations. Examples of affected parties include individuals living in areas adjacent to installations whose health is or may be endangered by the release of hazardous substances at the facility.

Applicant. Any group of individuals that files an application for TAPP, limited by this part to community members of the RAB or TRC.

Application. A completed formal written request for TAPP that is submitted to the installation commander or to the identified decision authority designated for the installation. A completed application will include a TAPP project description.

Assistance provider. An individual, group of individuals, or company contracted by the Department of Defense to provide technical assistance under the Technical Assistance for Public Participation program announced in this part.

Assistance provider's project manager. The person legally authorized to obligate the organization executing a TAPP purchase order to the terms and conditions of the DoD's regulations and the contract, and designated by the provider to serve as the principal contact with the Department of Defense.

Community Co-chair. The individual selected by the community members of the RAB/TRC to represent them.

Community member. A member of the RAB or TRC who is also a member of the affected community. For the purpose of this part, community members do not include local, State, or Federal government officials acting in any official capacity.

Community point of contact. The community member of the RAB or TRC designated in the TAPP application as the focal point for communications with the Department of Defense regarding the TAPP procurement process. The community point of contact is responsible for completing the reporting requirements specified in § 203.14 of this part.

Contact. A written agreement between the installation or other instrumentality of the Department of Defense and another party for services or supplies necessary to complete the TAPP project. Contracts include written agreements and subagreements for professional services or supplies necessary to complete the TAPP projects, agreements with consultants, and purchase orders.

Contracting officer. The Federal official designated to manage the contract used to fulfill the TAPP request by the RAB or TRC.

Contractor. Any party (e.g., Technical Assistance Provider) to whom the installation or other instrumentality of the Department of Defense awards a contract. In the context of this part, it is synonymous with assistance provider.

Cost estimate. An estimate of the total funding required for the assistance provider to complete the TAPP project.

DoD Component. The military services including the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force and those defense agencies with an environmental restoration program.

DoD Component Deputy Assistant Secretary. The individual in the office of the Secretary of the Army, Navy, Air Force responsible for making environmental decisions for their component or the director of the Defense Agencies.

DoD Installation. A facility that is controlled or operated or otherwise possessed by a department, or agency of the United States Department of Defense within the United States and its territories. In the context of this part, formerly used defense sites (FUDS) are included within the definition of a DoD Installation.

DoD RAB Co-chair. The individual selected by the installation commander, or equivalent, to serve as the installation co-chair of the RAB, represent DoD's interests, serve as liaison with community RAB members, and advocate RAB concerns within the installation staff.

EPA. The United States Environmental Protection Agency.

Firm fixed price contract. A contract wherein funding is fixed, prior to the initiation of a contract, for an agreed upon service or product.

Formerly Used Defense Site (FUDS). A site that has been owned by, leased to, possessed by, or otherwise under the jurisdiction of the Department of Defense. The FUDS program does not apply to those sites outside U.S. jurisdiction.

Purchase order. An offer by the Government to buy supplies or services from a commercial source, upon specified terms and conditions, the total cost of which cannot exceed the small purchase limit of $100,000. Purchase orders are governed by Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) (48 CFR part 13), and the Simplified Acquisition Procedures (SAP).

Restoration Advisory Board (RAB). The RAB is a forum for representatives of the Department of Defense, local community, and EPA and/or State, local, and tribal officials to discuss and exchange information about the installation's environmental restoration program. The RAB provides stakeholders an opportunity make their views known, review progress and participate in dialogue with the decision makers.

Statement of Work. That portion of a contract which describes the actual work to be done by means of specifications or minimum requirements, quantities, performance dates, time and place of performance, and quality requirements. It is key to any procurement because it is the basis for the contractor's response and development of proposed costs.

TAPP approval. Signifies that the Department of Defense has approved the eligibility of the proposed TAPP project and will, subject to the availability of funds, undertake an acquisition to obtain the services specified in the TAPP application submitted by the RAB or TRC. The government will conduct the acquisition in accordance with all of the applicable rules and requirements of the FAR and the SAP. Approval does not constitute an agreement to direct an award to a specific source if such an action would be contrary to the FAR.

TAPP project description. A discussion of the assistance requested that includes the elements listed in Section 203.10 of this part. The project description should contain sufficient detail to enable the Department of Defense to determine the nature and eligibility of the project, identify potential providers and estimate costs, and prepare a statement of work to begin the procurement process.

Technical assistance. Those activities specified in § 203.10 of this part that will contribute to the public's ability to provide input to the decision-making process by improving the public's understanding of overall conditions and activities. Technical assistance may include interpreting technical documents; assessing technologies; participating in relative risk evaluations, understanding health implications; and, training.

Technical assistance does not include those activities prohibited under Section 203.11 of this part, such as litigation or underwriting legal actions; political activity; generation of new primary data such as well drilling and testing, including split sampling; reopening final DoD decisions or conducting disputes with the Department of Defense; or epidemiological or health studies, such as blood or urine testing.

Technical Review Committee (TRC). A group comprised of the Department of Defense, EPA, State, and local authorities and a public representative of the community formed to meet the requirements of 10 U.S.C. 2705(c), the Department of Defense Environmental Restoration Program. Primarily functioning to review installation restoration documents, these committees are being expanded and modified at installations where interest or need necessitates the creation of a RAB.

(a) The Department of Defense will issue purchase orders to technical assistance, facilitation, training, and other public participation assistance providers subject to the purchase limit per order as resources continue to be available. If multiple purchase orders are needed to assist community members of a particular RAB or TRC, the combined sum of these purchase orders cannot exceed $100,000 or, during any one year, the lesser of $25,000 or 1 percent of the installation's total projected environmental restoration cost-to-complete. Note that these limitations refer to the maximum allowable technical assistance funding per RAB/TRC. Resources available within a given year may vary. These limitations apply unless a waiver is granted by the DoD Component Secretary or equivalent for the installation in question. The $100,000 total and $25,000 annual limitations may be waived, as appropriate, to reflect the complexity of response action, the nature and extent of contamination at the installation, the level of activity at the installation, projected total needs as identified by the TAPP recipient, the size and diversity of the affected population, and the ability of the TAPP recipient to identify and raise funds from other sources.

(b) Community members of the RAB/TRC will provide a description of the services requested (TAPP Project Description) and, if desired, the names of one or more proposed technical assistance providers to the DoD RAB Co-Chair, who will ensure the application is submitted to the installation commander or other designated authority and to the appropriate DoD contracting office. Technical assistance providers proposed by the community members of a RAB or TRC at each DoD installation that meets the minimum set of organizational qualifications guidelines provided by the Department of Defense in § 203.12 of this part will be added to the governments list of bidders for the proposed procurement.

This section provides an overview of the TAPP process. Specific details referred to in this section can be found in subsequent sections of this part.

(a) TAPP funding. Funding for this TAPP program will come from the Environmental Restoration Accounts established for Army, Navy, and Air Force for operational installations. The funding for Defense Agencies' operating installations will be from the Defense-Wide Environmental Restoration Account. Funding will be from the component's base closure account for transferring or closing installations. Funding for Formerly Used Defense Sites will come from the Environmental Restoration Account established for Formerly Used Defense Sites. After justification of the TAPP proposal, each DoD Component will make funds available from their individual installation's environmental restoration or BRAC accounts, considering a number of factors related to the restoration program at the installation and its impact upon the community. These factors include, but are not limited to:

(1) Closure status.

(2) Budget.

(3) Installation restoration program status.

(4) Presence (or absence) of alternate funding.

(5) Relative risk posed by sites at the installation.

(6) Type of task to be funded.

(7) Community concern.

(8) Available funding.

(b) Identification of proposed TAPP project. Eligible applicants of RABs and TRCs, established in § 203.7 of this part, should determine whether a TAPP project is required to assist the community members of the RAB or TRC to interpret information regarding the nature and extent of contamination or the proposed remedial actions. Eligibility requirements for TAPP projects are described in §§ 203.10 and 203.11 of this part. In keeping with the requirements of 10 U.S.C. 2705(e), the RAB or TRC must be able to demonstrate that the technical expertise necessary for the proposed TAPP project is not available through the Federal, State, or local agencies responsible for overseeing environmental restoration at the installation, or that the selection of an independent provider will contribute to environmental restoration activities and the community acceptance of such activities. In addition, the Department of Defense encourages the RAB or TRC to seek other available sources of assistance prior to submitting a request for TAPP in order to preserve limited resources. These sources include DoD's installation restoration contractor, or other DoD contractors or personnel, EPA or state regulatory personnel, volunteer services from local universities or other experts, or assistance from state and local health and environmental organizations.

(c) TAPP project request. The RAB or TRC should notify the installation of its intent to pursue TAPP upon the determination that other sources of assistance are unavailable or unlikely to contribute to the community acceptance of environmental restoration activities at the installation and should prepare a formal request specifying the type of assistance required and, if desired, one or more sources for this assistance. Details concerning this request are stated in § 203.9 of this part. The RAB or TRC must certify to the Department of Defense that the TAPP request represents a request by a majority of the community members of the RAB or TRC. The RAB or TRC should ensure that the request meets the eligibility requirements specified in §§ 203.10 and 203.11 of this part. Furthermore, the RAB or TRC may outline additional criteria for the Department of Defense to consider in the selection of a provider (such as knowledge of local environmental conditions or specific technical issues, a prior work history within the study area which has relevant specific circumstances or unique challenges, or other relevant expertise or capabilities), keeping in mind that providers must meet the minimum technical qualifications outlined in § 203.12 of this part. The formal request should be submitted to the installation commander or designated decision authority, either directly, or through the DoD RAB Co-chair. The installation commander, or other designated decision authority, will review the proposed project to determine whether the proposed project conforms to the eligibility requirements. If the installation commander, or other designated authority, fails to approve the project request, the rationale for that decision will be provided to the RAB/TRC in writing.

(d) Purchase orders. Upon receipt of a completed TAPP request, the installation will begin the procurement process necessary to obtain the desired services by means of a purchase order or will forward the request to the contracting authority designated by the DoD Component to act for that installation. The government is required to follow the rules and regulations for purchase orders as outlined in the FAR (48 CFR part 13). As a result, the government cannot direct awards to a specified supplier unless the procurement is under $2,500, and then only if the cost is comparable to other suppliers. For procurements over $2,500 but under $100,000, the acquisition is reserved for small businesses, unless there is a reasonable expectation that small businesses could not provide the best scientific and technological sources consistent with the demands of the proposed acquisition for the best mix of cost, performance, and schedules. Furthermore, the award must be on a competitive basis. In addition to proposing potential providers, the application for technical assistance may indicate specific criteria or qualifications that are deemed necessary by the RAB/TRC for the completion of the project to their satisfaction. This information will be used to assist the Department of Defense in preparing a bidders list. The Department of Defense will solicit bids from those providers meeting the criteria and will select a provider offering the best value to the government. Should the procurement process identify a qualified respondent other than the proposed provider(s) identified by the RAB/TRC or fail to identify any qualified respondents, the RAB/TRC will be consulted prior to the award of a purchase order. If the Department of Defense determines that the TAPP request represents an eligible project for which no funds are available, it will ask the RAB or TRC to specify whether the project should be reconsidered upon the availability of additional funds.

(e) Reporting requirements. The applicant must assure that copies of delivered reports are made available to the Department of Defense and must comply with the reporting requirements established in § 203.14 of this part.

(a) Non-profit contractors must comply with the cost principles in OMB Circular A-122. Copies of the circular may be obtained from EOP Publications, 725 17th NW, NEOB, Washington, DC 20503.

(b) For-profit contractors and subcontractors must comply with the cost principles in the FAR (48 CFR part 31).

Eligible applicants are community members of RABs or TRCs. Furthermore, the RABs or TRCs must be comprised of at least three community members to ensure community interests are broadly represented. The applicant must certify that the request represents the wishes of a simple majority of the community members of the RAB or TRC. Certification includes, but is not limited to, the results of a roll call vote of community members of the RAB or TRC documented in the meeting minutes. Other requirements of the application are detailed in § 203.9 of this part.

The Department of Defense will begin the TAPP procurement process only after it has determined that all eligibility and responsibility requirements listed in §§ 203.6, 203.7, and 203.9 of this part are met, and after review of the specific provider qualifications as submitted in the narrative section of the application. In addition, the proposed TAPP project must meet the eligibility criteria as specified in §§ 203.10 and 203.11 of this part. Projects that fail to meet those requirements relating to the relevance of the proposed project to the restoration activities at the installation will not be approved.

The applicant must submit a TAPP application to begin the TAPP procurement process. The application form is included as appendix A of this part and can be obtained from the DoD installation, the DoD Component headquarters, or directly from the Department of Defense, Office of the Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Environmental Security, 3400 Defense Pentagon, Washington, D.C. 20301-3400. The applications will not be considered complete until the following data elements have been entered into the form:

(a) Installation.

(b) Source of TAPP request (names of RAB or TRC).

(c) Certification of majority request.

(d) RAB/TRC contact point for TAPP project.

(e) Project title.

(f) Project type (e.g. data interpretation, training, etc.).

(g) Project purpose and description (descriptions, time and locations of products or services desired).

(h) Statement of eligibility of project.

(i) Proposed provider, if known.

(j) Specific qualifications or criteria for provider.

(a) TAPP procurements should be pursued by the RAB or TRC only to the extent that Federal, State, or local agencies responsible for overseeing environmental restoration at the facility do not have the necessary technical expertise for the proposed project, or the proposed technical assistance will contribute to the efficiency, effectiveness, or timeliness of environmental restoration activities at the installation and is likely to contribute to community acceptance of those activities.

(b) TAPP procurements may be used to fund activities that will contribute to the public's ability to provide advice to decision-makers by improving the public's understanding of overall conditions and activities. Categories of eligible activities include the following:

(1) Interpret technical documents. The installation restoration program documents each stage of investigation and decision-making with technical reports that summarize data and support cleanup decisions. Technical assistance may be provided to review plans and interpret technical reports for community members of RABs and TRCs. These reports include, but are not limited to:

(i) Installation restoration program site studies, engineering documents, such as site inspections, remedial investigations, feasibility studies, engineering evaluation and cost analyses, and decision documents (including records of decision);

(ii) Risk assessments, including baseline and ecological risk assessments conducted by the installation; and

(iii) Health assessments, such as those conducted by the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR).

(2) Assess technologies. Technical assistance may be provided to help RAB/TRC community members understand the function and implications of those technologies selected to investigate or clean up sites at the installation.

(3) Participate in relative risk site evaluations. Technical assistance may be provided to help RAB/TRC community members contribute to the relative risk evaluation process for specific sites.

(4) Understand health implications. Technical assistance may be provided to help RAB/TRC community members interpret the potential health implications of cleanup levels or remedial technologies, or to explain the health implications of site contaminants and exposure scenarios.

(5) Training, where appropriate. Technical trainers on specific restoration issues may be appropriate in circumstances where RAB/TRC members need supplemental information on installation restoration projects.

The following activities are ineligible for assistance under the TAPP program:

(a) Litigation or underwriting legal actions, such as paying for attorney fees or paying for a technical assistance provider to assist an attorney in preparing legal action or preparing for and serving as an expert witness at any legal proceeding regarding or affecting the site.

(b) Political activity and lobbying as defined by OMB Circular A-122.

(c) Other activities inconsistent with the cost principles stated in OMB Circular A-122, “Cost Principles for Non-Profit Organizations.”

(d) Generation of new primary data, such as well drilling and testing, including split sampling.

(e) Reopening final DoD decisions, such as the Records of Decision (see limitations on judicial review of remedial actions under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA) Section 113(h)) or conducting disputes with the Department of Defense).

(f) Epidemiological or health studies, such as blood or urine testing.

(g) Community outreach efforts, such as renting a facility and conducting public meetings, or producing and distributing newsletters.

(a) A technical assistance provider must possess the following credentials:

(1) Demonstrated knowledge of hazardous or toxic waste issues and/or laws.

(2) Academic training in a relevant discipline (e.g., biochemistry, toxicology, environmental sciences, engineering).

(3) Ability to translate technical information into terms understandable to lay persons.

(b) A technical assistance provider should possess the following credentials:

(1) Experience working on hazardous or toxic waste problems.

(2) Experience in making technical presentations.

(3) Demonstrated writing skills.

(4) Previous experience working with affected individuals or community groups or other groups of individuals.

(c) The technical assistance provider's qualifications will vary according to the type of assistance to be provided. Community members of the RAB/TRC may suggest additional provider qualifications as part of the application for technical assistance. These additional qualifications may be used by the Department of Defense to target the most appropriate providers during the procurement process. Examples of such criteria could include prior work in the area, knowledge of local environmental conditions or laws, specific technical capabilities, or other relevant expertise.

Procurements will be conducted as purchase orders in accordance with the FAR (48 CFR part 13). Under these procedures, procurements not exceeding $100,000 are reserved exclusively for small businesses, and will be conducted as competitive procurements. Procurements below a value of $2,500 are considered “micro-purchases.” These procurements do not require the solicitation of bids and may be conducted at the discretion of the contracting officer.

The community point of contact of the RAB or TRC must submit a report, to be provided to the installation and to DUSD(ES), to enable the Department of Defense to meet DoD reporting requirements to Congress. This report should include a description of the TAPP project, a summary of services and products obtained, and a statement regarding the overall satisfaction of the community member of the RAB or TRC with the quality of service and/or products received.

The SAP set forth in FAR (48 CFR part 13) require purchase orders to be conducted on a firm-fixed-price basis, unless otherwise authorized by agency procedures. The Department of Defense anticipates all TAPP awards to be firm-fixed-price procurements.

The recipient technical assistance providers shall keep and preserve detailed records in connection with the contract reflecting acquisitions, work progress, reports, expenditures and commitments, and indicate the relationship to established costs and schedules.

Each technical assistance provider shall submit progress reports, financial status reports, materials prepared for the RAB/TRC, and a final report to the DoD installation for the TAPP project as specified by the specific purchase order agreement. The final report shall document TAPP project activities over the entire period of support and shall describe the achievements with respect to stated TAPP project purposes and objectives.

The Department of Defense shall require each prospective assistance provider on any contract to provide, with its bid or proposal:

(a) Information on its financial and business relationship with the installation, RAB/TRC members, or any/all potentially responsible parties (PRPs) at the site, and with their parent companies, subsidiaries, affiliates, subcontractors, contractors, and current clients or attorneys and agents. This disclosure requirement encompasses past and anticipated financial and business relationships, including services related to any proposed or pending litigation, with such parties.

(b) Certification that, to the best of its knowledge and belief, it has disclosed such information or no such information exists.

(c) A statement that it shall disclose immediately any such information discovered after submission of its bid or after award. The contracting officer shall evaluate such information and shall exclude any prospective contractor if the contracting officer determines the prospective contractor has a potential conflict of interest that is both significant and cannot be avoided or otherwise resolved. If, after award, the contracting officer determines that a conflict of interest exists that is both significant and cannot be avoided or resolved, the contract will be terminated for cause.

(d) Contractors and subcontractors may not be technical assistance providers to community members of RABs/TRCs at an installation where they are performing cleanup activities for the Federal or State government or any other entity.

DoD Components will establish an appeals process to settle potential disputes between the Department of Defense and the public regarding certain decisions arising out of the TAPP process. The Department of Defense recognizes that the RAB/TRC may disagree with the findings of the installation commander that a proposed TAPP project is ineligible, either because of the availability of alternate sources of assistance or because the project does not meet the eligibility criteria established in this part. It is in the best interests of the Department of Defense and the community members of RABs and TRCs to anticipate and avoid disputes and to work cooperatively to resolve potential differences of opinion. However, in certain circumstances, the RAB/TRC community members may feel that their needs were not adequately served by the decisions of the Department of Defense. In this instance, the hierarchical structure and chain-of-command within each DoD Component will serve as the avenue for appeal. Appeals will be considered within the chain-of-command, and, in general, will be resolved at the lowest level possible. The highest level of appeal will be at the DoD Component Deputy Assistant Secretary level with authority over the DERP and BRAC environmental programs. Inherently governmental functions, such as the procurement process governed by the FAR, are not subject to appeal.