Agency Recovery Plan

Last updated: 2009-05-15

• Number of Programs:14
  

Program Plans

Broad Recovery Goals

The Recovery Act includes $3 billion appropriated to bureaus within the Department. All of these investments will focus on job creation, and the majority will contribute to the goals outlined in the Recovery Act for renewable energy and infrastructure. The opportunity provided by the Act will: accelerate a move toward a clean energy economy by directly supporting the use and generation of renewable sources and reduce energy consumption by improving energy efficiency in existing facilities; put young adults to work in jobs that provide an opportunity to build employable skills and develop an appreciation for environmental stewardship; and preserve and restore the Nation’s iconic and treasured structures, landscapes, and cultural resources.

The Department’s geographically dispersed and field-based service delivery network will afford unprecedented opportunities to employ individuals in communities in all fifty states. The Department of the Interior manages one of every five acres of land in the United States, with 391 national park units, 550 wildlife refuges, and a 26-million acre National Landscape Conservation System. Nearly every American lives within a one-hour drive of lands or waters managed by the Department. With 165,000 buildings and structures at 2,400 operating locations, Interior is second only to the Department of Defense in managed assets. Programs in Indian Affairs provide services to 562 federally recognized Tribes and provide education services to 44,000 students in 23 states. Interior’s investments in water infrastructure programs are unrivaled, with 479 dams and 348 reservoirs. The Bureau of Reclamation delivers irrigation water to 31 million people and is the largest supplier and manager of water in the 17 western States.

The Recovery Act funding will be used for projects in parks, refuges, and public lands throughout the Nation; to improve conditions in Indian Country; to strengthen the Department’s scientific infrastructure; and for water projects throughout the western states.

Competition on Contracts

In 2008, DOI awarded 55.46% of contract dollars competitively. DOI intends to compete Recovery Act projects to the maximum extent practicable and expects the dollars to be competitively awarded to be significantly higher. The estimate of the expected rate of competition will be provided in the next update to the agency plan. Any contracts proposed for non-competitive award will be reviewed by both the Bureau Procurement Chief and the Department's Chief Acquisition Officer prior to solicitation. DOI is also requesting a waiver from the Small Business Administration to allow competition on 8(a) construction contracts under $3.5 million.

Contract Type

In 2008, DOI awarded 84.73% of contract dollars via firm-fixed price contracts. DOI intends to leverage fixed-price contracts whenever practicable for Recovery Act projects. For the Recovery Act, DOI expects to maintain its historical rate of 84.73% of contract dollars awarded under fixed-price contracts. All non firm-fixed price contracts will be reviewed by both the Bureau Procurement Chief and the Department's Chief Acquisition Officer prior to solicitation.

Accountability Plan

The Department’s oversight and administration is led by the Secretary with leadership by the Recovery Act Coordinator. He utilizes an Executive Board and Department-wide Task Force to assist. The Executive Board is the entity responsible for ensuring compliance with the Recovery Act execution reporting, and audit requirements. The Board will be convened once project decisions are made and plans are finalized. The Board consists of nine members, and is chaired by the Department’s Chief of Staff. The other board members are the Recovery Act Coordinator, Solicitor, Inspector General, and the four programmatic Assistant Secretaries within Interior and the Assistant Secretary for Policy, Management and Budget.

The Recovery Act Task Force ensures consistent implementation of the Recovery Act, promotes collaboration and sharing of skills and best practices among bureaus, develops implementation guidance, oversees the process for completion of Recovery Act plans and project lists, and develops the infrastructure needed for on-going monitoring of progress and performance. It is co-chaired by the Recovery Act Coordinator and the Assistant Secretary for Policy, Management and Budget, and is responsible for implementation of the Recovery Act. The Task Force has representatives from each bureau, as well as all the functional areas across the Department.

In addition to these Departmental groups, each bureau has established its own governance structure. Bureau task forces and boards will ensure that programs execute projects effectively and meet the accountability and transparency objectives of the Act. A Recovery Act coordinator has been designated for each bureau.

The bureau task forces have responsibilities from the development of project lists through completion. They develop the project lists, establish the necessary controls, and develop tracking mechanisms to ensure they are managing schedules and performance, and meeting the reporting requirements. The task forces meet regularly to ensure proper oversight. Each bureau has developed a leadership structure to manage the Recovery Act implementation. Responsibility for key components, such as reporting and oversight, has been delegated to the bureaus’ senior management officials. The bureaus will also use staff in the field to provide direct oversight and leadership and provide reports to their executive leadership.





Source: Data provided by the Agency through the Office of Management and Budget.