Prepared by RCAP Solutions for the PA Department of Environmental Protection

1. Training Module 4Dealing with Consultants, Technical Assistance Providers, Regulators, and Funding Agencies Prepared by RCAP Solutions for the PA Department of Environmental Protection

2. Introduction • During this training module, we’ll be describing: • drinking water system funding • technical assistance providers • Request for Proposals (RFP) • Interview questions • Policies and procedures • contract for engineering services • preliminary engineering report • local regulatory agency personnel

3. Financial Assistance • Loan and grant funding agencies • Grant programs

4. Financial Assistance • Rural Utilities Service • Loans and supplemental grants • Rural areas and towns < 10,000 pop.

5. Financial Assistance • PENNVEST • Loans and supplemental grants • PA municipalities, authorities, and some private entities

6. Financial Assistance • CDBG through DCED • Entitlement and competitive grants • Benefits low to moderate income communities

7. Financial Assistance • DEP • Growing Greener • Innovative drinking water technology

8. Financial Assistance • Exercise! • PENNVEST Utility Guide

9. Technical Assistance • Government and not-for-profits • DEP • RCAP • PRWA • PUC • DCED • EFC • ETC

10. Technical Assistance • DEP • Small Water Systems Outreach Program • Onsite education and assistance • O&M and Management issues • Capability Enhancement (CE) Program • Capability Enhancement Facilitators (CEFs) • Develop and maintain long-term viability

11. Technical Assistance • RCAP Solutions, Inc. • Administrative and financial areas of water and wastewater system operations • Liaison between system and funders/regulators • Income surveys

12. Technical Assistance • PRWA • Water loss, leak detection, chlorination, metering, rate structuring, proper records keeping and day to day operation and maintenance • Training sessions

13. Technical Assistance • PUC • Rate increases • Compliance • Billing and collection

14. Technical Assistance • DCED • Municipal Training Program • ETP • Statewide seminars • Onsite training

15. Technical Assistance • EFC • Infrastructure Financing Assistance • Management • Financial Capacity • Planning

16. Technical Assistance • ETC • Operations Training • Technology Assistance • Technology Evaluation

17. Technical Assistance • Technical assistance (TA) providers vs • Engineers

18. Engineers and Consultants • Many reasons for engineers, consultants, and TA providers • May be required to hire an engineer in some cases

19. Engineers and Consultants • RFP • Developed in house or with technical assistance • Forms basis for the engineering work • Limit RFPs sent out

20. Engineers and Consultants • Proposals • Reviewed in house or with technical assistance • Select short list of top firms • Prepare for interviews

21. Engineers and Consultants • Interviews • Exercise! • Come up with some interview questions

22. Engineers and Consultants • Interviews • Questions to ask

23. Engineers and Consultants • Interviews • Selection criteria • Contracts

24. Engineers and Consultants • Contracts • Standard templates • Basic components

25. Engineers and Consultants • Contracts • Review performance regularly • Clarify expectations, misunderstandings, and terms if needed

26. Engineers and Consultants • Preliminary engineering report • Basic components

27. Engineers and Consultants • Costs • Justified • Breakdowns • Approvals

28. Regulators • DEP • Six regions • Local Government Handbook

29. Regulators • DEP • Local sanitarian • Anyone know their sanitarian?

30. Regulators • DEP • You’re not on your own • Help from engineer or TA provider

31. Exercise • Take a few minutes to complete the exercise in the workbook

32. Summary • Key points

33. References • Dennis Lee , PADEP • Don Schwartz, RCAP Solutions • Jean Holloway, Environmental Finance Center • “Working with Consultants and Assistance Providers” presentation by NETCSC • PENNVEST’s utility publication • DEP’s “Local Government Handbook”