USACE intends to solicit the proposed contract action with Tellus Civic Science Corporation as a WOSB sole source under the authority of RFO 19.107-3, using RFO part 12 procedures. Interested persons may identify their interest and capability to respond to this requirement. This notice of intent is not a request for quotes; however, all information received after date of publication of this synopsis may be considered by the Government. Interested WOSB contractors shall respond to this notice by providing the following information. 1. Organization Name 2. Address 3. Point of Contact for information with telephone number and email address 4. Unique Entity ID and Cage Code 5. Capabilities information/statement showing that the organization has the ability and jurisdiction to fulfill the Government requirement. The contractor must be able to comply with all requirements described herein to be considered capable. Description of Services: The proposed contract action is designated to provide technical and administrative support necessary for attorneys in the California State Water Board Office of Enforcement (OE) to pursue enforcement actions against recalcitrant responsible parties that fail to investigate or remediate Leaking Underground Storage Tank (LUST) cleanup sites. Support activities will include screening LUST cases to find candidates suitable for enforcement, communicating with regulators and responsible parties about the enforcement process, and creating work products to be reviewed by OE attorneys during the enforcement case development process. Period of Performance: The period of performance shall be 12 months from date of contract award. Place of Performance: The work to be performed under this contract may be split between individuals working at the contractor’s office or at the State Water Board offices in Sacramento, CA. Select activities may also be conducted remotely or at project sites. All work must be completed by or under the supervision of a Professional Geologist or Professional Civil or Petroleum Engineer registered in the state of California (California Business and Professions Code, Sections 7800-7887) with experience working on LUST cleanup sites in California. The following tasks outline the activities that will take place to accommodate the support request. Task 1: Project Management • Kick-off meeting with EPA no later than 15 business days after Notice to Proceed (NTP) is received • Make a list of personnel supporting the task, with contact information, available to EPA and the State Water Board. Provide updated lists as personnel or contact information changes. • Prepare monthly project status reports that describe activities completed and challenges encountered in the preceding month, as well as challenges anticipated in the following 1-3 months. Task 2: UST Cleanup Fund (USTCF) Claim Implementation The USTCF provides reimbursement for cleanup costs to owners and operators of petroleum USTs. Once a claim is active and a Letter of Commitment (LOC) is issued, consistent technical and fiscal oversight is required to ensure that investigation and remediation activities move toward case closure in a cost-effective manner. The contractor shall provide staff with expertise in California UST regulations and the USTCF’s "reasonable and necessary" cost criteria to assist the State Water Board in managing active claims. The contractor will provide comprehensive project management and technical support for assigned USTCF claims. This includes performing detailed reviews of site investigation and remediation data to evaluate whether proposed and completed work remains necessary to achieve regulatory closure. The contractor will communicate with claimants, their consultants, and Local Oversight Agencies (LOAs) to track project milestones and ensure that field activities align with the approved scope of work. Furthermore, the contractor will perform rigorous financial oversight by reviewing reimbursement requests (RRs) and proof of payment (POP) documentation for cost reasonableness, ensuring compliance with Fund policies and verifying that all technical tasks, laboratory costs, and field hours are justified by the site data. For legacy claims, the contractor will prepare Review Summary Reports (RSRs) to evaluate the "Path to Closure" and identify specific actions needed to satisfy LTCP criteria. Task 3: Orphan Site Cleanup Fund (OSCF) Grant Development and Implementation Through April 2026, more than 96% of LUST cleanup cases in California have been closed. However, many remaining open cases involve historic releases without identifiable owners or operators. These "new" property owners, typically unaffiliated with the original release, do not qualify for the regular USTCF but are eligible for OSCF Grants. The contractor shall provide personnel with technical experience in site investigation, petroleum remediation, geological sciences, project management, and facilitating collaborative meetings to manage the full lifecycle of these grants. This includes assisting with program eligibility determinations; developing detailed conceptual site models; and preparing OSCF grant and amendment packages consisting of a technical case RSR, a detailed SOW negotiated with the lead oversight agency and the applicant’s consultant, and a project budget aligned with the SOW. In limited circumstances, the State Water Board may request the substitution of Site Cleanup Subaccount Program (SCAP) grants for petroleum LUST cases, which follow a similar development process. Following grant award, the contractor will assist the LOAs by tracking the implementation of grants identified as being at risk of delay. The contractor will communicate with property owners and LOAs to track project milestones, evaluate site data to determine if future milestones remain reasonable, and initiate discussions regarding SOW modifications or grant amendments to move cases toward closure. Technical oversight also includes the review of invoices to ensure costs are reasonable, necessary, and compliant with grant terms. The contractor may also be requested to track implementation for select Emergency, Abandoned, and Recalcitrant (EAR) sites using these same protocols. If no affirmative written response is received, the service contract will be awarded without further notice. Award of this service contract will be based upon the possible responses to this notice and is solely within the discretion of the Government. Detailed capabilities must be submitted to the following email address no later than 11:00 AM PST on May 27, 2026, to shelby.yancey@usace.army.mil.
