Post on 23-Dec-2015
US Army Corps of Engineers
PLANNING SMARTBUILDING STRONG®
Project Planning with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE)
Presenter Name
Presenter Title
Duty Location
Date of Presentation
BUILDING STRONG®
Initiating a Water Resources ProjectLocal perception of water resources problem or opportunityLocal perception of water resources problem or opportunity
Contact local USACE District Office
Contact local USACE District Office
Existing Authority to Investigate
Existing Authority to Investigate
District requests funding in the President’s budget and / or local sponsor requests Congressional delegate for Appropriations funding
District requests funding in the President’s budget and / or local sponsor requests Congressional delegate for Appropriations funding
No Current Authority to Investigate
No Current Authority to Investigate
Congressional Authority for Study
Congressional Authority for Study
When funding is appropriated,USACE District initiates study
When funding is appropriated,USACE District initiates study
Potential Sponsor submits “Letter of Intent” to DistrictPotential Sponsor submits “Letter of Intent” to District
BUILDING STRONG®
Implementing a Single Phase Feasibility Study
All feasibility studies subject to “3x3” rule – expected study duration of 3 years; total study costs $3 million
► 3x3 complaint Feasibility Cost Share Agreement (FCSA) will be used to initiate study
► Exemption process in place for complex and large scale studies that cannot meet 3x3 target, and considered after initiation of study
Study work does not begin until FCSA is signed The Project Delivery Team (PDT) will develop a 3x3 compliant
Project Management Plan (PMP) – or exemption request - by the Alternatives Milestone
SMART Planning Process reinforces risk-informed decisions and early vertical engagement
BUILDING STRONG®
Role of the SponsorA Study Sponsor is:
A 50-50 Cost Sharing Partner in the planning (feasibility) phase► Able to identify non-monetary (in-kind) services that support cost sharing
Fully engaged in the development and execution of the study
A Study Sponsor should be: Familiar with the SMART Planning process and the decisions to be
made at each milestone Familiar with USACE and Administration policies that influence
alternative formulation, screening, and selection and other key study decisions
Able to communicate a “locally preferred plan”, if there is one
BUILDING STRONG®
The Study Begins with the FCSA
The feasibility study starts – and 3-year clock starts – when the Feasibility Cost Sharing Agreement (FCSA) is signed
► Sponsors should work with local USACE District representatives to understand 3x3 model FCSA and importance of study’s first 90 days
What’s new with the model FCSA (2015 update)► No Project Management Plan (PMP) is developed before FCSA is
signed► Both USACE and the Sponsor assume some risk in agreeing to a
general 3x3 compliant scope without a PMP► The time and cost estimates for the study PMP will be developed
and verified during the Scoping phase
BUILDING STRONG®
SMART Feasibility Study Process Up to 36 Months
Release draft report for concurrent review
DE transmits final report package
ALTERNATIVE FORMULATION & ANALYSIS
FEASIBILITY-LEVEL ANALYSIS
CHIEF’S REPORT
TSP Milestone Vertical Team concurrence on tentatively selected plan
Civil Works Review Board Release for State & Agency Review
Agency Decision MilestoneAgency endorsement of recommended plan
Chief’s ReportChief’s Report Signed
2
3
4 5
SCOPING3-6 months
Alternatives MilestoneVertical Team concurrence on array of alternatives
1
• Identify study objectives
• Define Problems & Opportunities
• NEPA Scoping• Inventory & Initial
Forecast• Formulate
Alternative Plans• Evaluate alternatives
and identify reasonable array
• Develop PMP and Review Plan
• Initiate Exemption Process if necessary
Focusing on the Scoping Phase
BUILDING STRONG®
Scoping Process of identifying significant issues to
be analyzed in the planning study Begin scoping as soon as the study starts Integrate with other early planning activities Include affected Fed, State, Local
agencies, the public, and other stakeholder groups
Refine scoping throughout study Complementary to NEPA scoping
BUILDING STRONG®
Communication and Decision Making Tools
Hold a Charette or Workshop in Scoping phase: Ensure distinctly different viewpoints are represented► Invite the Sponsor, Fed and State resource agencies, the
vertical & horizontal team, stakeholders and the public to participate and share their views
► Or, collect different views as you see fit Use Available Tools for Documenting and Managing
the Study:► Decision Management Plan► Risk Register ► PMP Template► Decision Log► Report Synopsis
Tools Available on the Planning Community Toolbox AND http://www.iwrmsuite.us/
BUILDING STRONG®
For More Information
Your District Planners Planning Community Toolbox:
www.corpsplanning.us Manuals and Handbooks about Corps
Planning available on the Toolbox►Planning SMART Guide (2012, online)►Project Partnership Kit (IWR Report, 2001)►Planning Manual (1996)►Planning Primer (1997)