Invitation To Bid

PUBLIC NOTICE MAJOR DISASTER DECLARATION FEMA-4580-DR-CT The Federal Emergency Management Agency (“FEMAâ€?) within the U.S. Department of Homeland Security is giving public notice of its intent to provide assistance to the State of Connecticut, local and tribal governments, and private nonprofit organizations under major disaster declaration FEMA-4580-DR-CT. FEMA is also giving public notice that, in some cases, it may provide assistance for activities that may affect historic properties, may be located in or affect wetland areas or the 100-year floodplain, and/or may involve critical actions within the 500-year floodplain. I. Public Notice – Major Disaster Declaration FEMA-4580-DR-CT and Overview of Authorized AssistanceThe President declared a major disaster for the State of Connecticut on January 12, 2021, as a result of Tropical Storm Isaias (“incidentâ€?) that occurred on August 4, 2020, pursuant to his authority under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, Pub. L. No. 93-288 (1974) (codified as amended at 42 U.S.C. § 5121 et seq.) (“Stafford Actâ€?). This declaration, numbered FEMA-4580-DR-CT, authorized the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program statewide and Public Assistance Grant Program for Fairfield, Hartford, Litchfield, Middlesex, New Haven, New London, Tolland, and Windham Counties and the Mashantucket Pequot Indian Tribe and Mohegan Tribe of Indians. It is possible that Public Assistance may later be authorized for additional counties and Individual Assistance may later be authorized for one or more counties. The Public Assistance Grant Program is authorized by, inter alia, Sections 403, 406, 407, and 428 of the Stafford Act (codified as amended at 42 U.S.C. §§ 5170b, 5172, 5173, and 5189f). FEMA may provide assistance under the Public Assistance Grant Program for state agencies, local and tribal governments, and private nonprofit organizations to perform debris removal, emergency protective measures, and permanent restoration of facilities damaged or destroyed by the incident. In the case of permanent restoration of damaged or destroyed facilities, FEMA may provide financial assistance to restore facilities to their pre-disaster condition, in conformity with the latest published editions of relevant consensus-based codes, standards, and specifications, and including hazard mitigation measures to reduce the effects of future hazards. A “facilityâ€? is any publicly or privately owned building, works, system, or equipment, built or manufactured, or an improved and maintained natural feature. Land used for agricultural purposes is not a facility. The Hazard Mitigation Grant Program is authorized by Section 404 of the Stafford Act (codified as amended at 42 U.S.C. § 5170c). Under the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, FEMA may provide financial assistance for state agencies, local and tribal governments, and private nonprofit organizations to take mitigation measures to substantially reduce the risk of, or increase resilience to, future damage, hardship, loss, or suffering. II. Public Notice – Financial Assistance for Activities Located in or that Affect Wetlands Areas or Floodplains or that Affect Historic PropertiesSome of the activities for which FEMA provides financial assistance under the Public Assistance and Hazard Mitigation Grant Programs may affect historic properties, may be located in or affect wetland areas or the 100-year floodplain, and/or may involve critical actions within the 500-year floodplain. In those cases, FEMA must comply with Executive Order 11988, Floodplain Management; Executive Order 11990, Protection of Wetlands; the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, Pub. L. No. 89-655 (1966) (codified as amended at 54 U.S.C. § 300101 et seq.) (“NHPAâ€?); and the implementing regulations at 44 C.F.R. pt. 9 (Floodplain Management and Protection of Wetlands) and 36 C.F.R. pt. 800 (Protection of Historic Properties). The executive orders, NHPA, and/or regulations require FEMA to provide public notice for certain activities as part of approving the award of financial assistance for specific Public Assistance and Hazard Mitigation Grant Program projects. A. Federal Actions in or Affecting Floodplains and WetlandsExecutive Orders 11988 and 11990 require that all federal actions (including federal awards of financial assistance) in or affecting the floodplain or wetlands be reviewed for alternatives to avoid adverse effects and incompatible developments in those areas. The regulations at 44 C.F.R. pt. 9 set forth the FEMA policy, procedure, and responsibilities for implementing the Executive Orders. Certain actions are totally excluded from being covered by 44 C.F.R. pt. 9, such as emergency protective measures necessary to save lives and protect property and public health.For those actions not excluded from 44 C.F.R. pt. 9, FEMA will identify and evaluate practicable alternatives to carrying out a proposed action in the wetlands or floodplain and use social, economic, historical, environmental, legal, and safety factors when analyzing the practicability of the alternatives. Where there is no practicable alternative, FEMA will undertake a detailed review to determine what measures can be taken to minimize potential harm to lives and risk from flooding, the potential adverse impacts the action may have on others, and the potential adverse impact the action may have on floodplain and wetland values. The public is invited to participate in the process of identifying alternatives and analyzing their impacts. FEMA has determined that there are normally no practicable alternatives outside the floodplain or wetlands for restoration of certain damaged facilities and structures for which FEMA is providing financial assistance under the Public Assistance Grant Program. These include Public Assistance projects for the replacement of building contents, materials, and equipment and projects for the restoration of facilities or structures that meet all the following: 1. The FEMA estimated cost of repairs is less than 50% of the estimated replacement cost of the entire facility or structure and is less than $100,000.2. The facility or structure is not located in a floodway or coastal high hazard area.3. The facility or structure has not sustained structural damage from flooding in a previous Stafford Act major disaster or emergency. 4. The facility or structure has not sustained structural damage on which a flood insurance claim has been paid.5. The restoration of the facility or structure is not a critical action. A critical action means an action for which even a slight chance of flooding is too great. For these types of Public Assistance projects, FEMA may provide financial assistance under the Public Assistance Grant Program to restore the facility to its pre-disaster condition, in conformity with the latest published editions of relevant consensus-based codes, standards, and specifications, and including hazard mitigation measures to reduce the effects of future hazards. Code, specification, or standard-triggered upgrades and/or hazard mitigation measures could include, for example, increasing the size of a culvert. This is the only public notice that FEMA will provide before providing financial assistance for such restoration activities. Other Public Assistance Grant Program projects will undergo more detailed review, including an evaluation of practicable alternatives, and FEMA may publish subsequent public notices regarding such projects as necessary as more information becomes available.FEMA also intends to provide Hazard Mitigation Grant Program funding for state agencies, local and tribal governments, and private nonprofit organizations to perform various mitigation projects. These projects may include construction of new facilities, modification of existing, undamaged facilities, relocation of facilities out of floodplains, demolition of structures, or other types of projects to mitigate future disaster damage. FEMA may publish subsequent public notices regarding such projects as necessary as more information becomes available.B. Federal Actions Affecting Historic PropertiesSection 106 of the NHPA requires FEMA to consider the effects of its activities (known as “undertakingsâ€?) on any historic property and to afford the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation an opportunity to comment on such projects before the expenditure of any federal funds. Both Public Assistance and Hazard Mitigation Grant Program projects are “undertakingsâ€? for the purposes of the NHPA and a historic property is any property that is included in, or eligible for inclusion in, the National Register of Historic Places. For historic properties that will not be adversely affected by an undertaking, this will be the only public notice. FEMA, on the other hand, may provide additional public notices if a proposed FEMA undertaking would adversely affect a historic property. III. Further Information or CommentThis will be the only public notice regarding the actions described above for which FEMA may provide financial assistance under the Public Assistance and Hazard Mitigation Grant Programs. Interested persons may obtain information about these actions or a specific project by writing to the following: Federal Emergency Management Agency Joint Field OfficeAttn: Federal Coordinating Officer273 Locust StreetDover, NH 03820All comments concerning this public notice must be submitted in writing to FEMA within 15 days of its publication.
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