NORTH ISLAND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE RFPs

[Lenny Siegel <lsiegel@igc.org>]

NORTH ISLAND RAB SEEKS TECHNICAL HELP

Though the Defense Department is still working on its Technical 
Assistance for Public Participation program, the North Island Naval Air 
Station in San Diego, California, has agreed to provide $25,000 for 
interim technical assistance to the Restoration Advisory Board there. 
The RAB Technical Assistance Committee has issued four RFPs (requests 
for proposals), responses to which must be submitted by July 15, 1997.

The RFP covers the review of documents for four projects: Groundwater 
pollution at the chemical waste disposal area; Storm Drain Outfalls; 
the Radioactive Slag Site; and Health Risk Assessments for those sites. 
Expertise needed includes health and ecological risk assessment; marine 
biology, chemistry; and toxicology; toxicology; groundwater hydrology; 
groundwater remediation technology options; and radiochemistry.

The RAB Committee has developed a conflict of interest policy that 
includes the following statement: "It is a problem in San Diego that 
most consultants either receive Navy contracts or would like to receive 
Navy contracts. Because the RAB's consultants may be in a position to 
criticize Navy policies or actions, the RAB wishes to remove any 
question of conflict of interest by contracting only with consultants 
that are qualified AND do not work for the Navy or DoD."

For copies of the RFPs, contact Laura Hunter at the San Diego 
Environmental Health Coalition, 1717 Kettner, Suite 100, San Diego, CA 
92101. Voice: 619/235-0281. Fax: 619/232-3670. E-mail: ehcoalition@igc.org.

To the best of my knowledge, this is the first situation where one of 
the armed services is directly supporting independent technical 
assistance for RAB members. It should be a good test of the program. Is 
$25,000 enough to attract bids from qualified technical consultants? 
Have too many cleanup decisions already been made for independent 
assistance to be useful?

Lenny Siegel