NAVFAC Utility Infrastructure and Condition Assessment Program (UICAP)

MCI East- Performing inventory and condition assessment of utility assets at marine bases Cherry Point and Camp Lejeune. The PEER team is collecting all mandatory and priority-one attributes for each utility asset assigned by the Utility Works JV Utilities Inventory and Condition Assessment Program (UICAP). The team is responsible for assessing and assigning a Degradation Index (DI) score to each asset in accordance with the UICAP Sustainment Guide.

MCI West - PEER Consultants is providing utility infrastructure management services to assist the prime contractor in performing inventory and condition assessment of production and distribution utility assets at multiple U.S. Marine Corps bases. Bases include: MCAS Yuma, AZ; Camp Pendleton, CA; MCAGCC 29 Palms, CA.

The team is helping to collect all mandatory and priority-one attributes for each utility asset assigned by the Utility Works JV Utilities Inventory and Condition Assessment Program (UICAP) Coordinator in accordance with the UICAP Sustainment Guide to the extent possible. Responsible for assessing and assigning a Degradation Index (DI) score to each asset in accordance with the UICAP Sustainment Guide in consultation with a base-assigned subject matter expert, when available.

The data of the assets in the California bases are entered using an electronic tablet, where the information is entered after the asset encountered is scored. If the asset encountered is a newly discovered asset, a new entry is created for that given asset and then the details and qualifying score, etc. are entered in the database.

WSSC Asset Management BOA

WSSC's Asset Management Program (AMP) is responsible for long-term strategies to manage over a million assets across four (4) networks in support of WSSC's mission. The networks are:

• Water (vertical and linear);

• Wastewater (vertical and linear);

• Support Services (vertical); and Communications.

The Asset Management Office (AMO) is responsible for the framework, coordination and direction of asset management at WSSC. Enterprise and Network Asset Management Plans are developed by AMO to provide annual reporting on the state of WSSC's Assets, Business Risk Exposure (BRE), Levels of Service (LOS), and recommendations to improve infrastructure and related business processes. Associated 10- and 30-year financial investment plans and additional resources are also reported. Through this contract, WSSC requested advanced asset management support to enhance the framework/knowledge base and assist with data collection, asset modeling, and analysis to produce high quality asset management plans.

So far, PEER is working on the following two task orders as it pertains to this project:

• Potomac WFP Condition Assessment

  • Review available drawings, specifications, O&M manuals, and shop drawings.

  • Perform visual mechanical condition assessment of the sedimentation basins.

  • Prepare Mechanical Condition Assessment technical memo including condition scores and recommendations to address observed mechanical issues to help prepare the overall condition assessment report.

• Parkway WRRF Condition Assessment

  • Review available process mechanical and HVAC drawings, specifications, O&M manuals and shop drawings. 

  • Review asset management data that contains the age of the equipment.

  • Site visits to the facility to perform Visual condition assessment — the grit removal building including structural and mechanical equipment (grit mixers, grit pumps, piping, slide gates, etc.), as well as HVAC systems (unit heaters, air handlers, etc.).

  • Prepare Mechanical Condition Assessment technical memo including condition scores and recommendations to address observed mechanical issues to help prepare overall condition assessment report. 

DC Water Wastewater Treatment Program Management

This project demonstrates PEER’s experience in wastewater evaluation, investigation and reuse studies; wastewater permit compliance sampling and analysis; sludge and wastewater characterization, sampling and analysis; wastewater evaluations, investigation, reuse studies; sludge and wastewater characterization sampling and analysis; preparing NPDES permit applications and monitoring reports for indirect and direct wastewater discharges for wastewater collection and treatment systems; conducting wastewater treatment plant operational evaluations.

As a Subcontractor, PEER provided 3 full-time staff (environmental engineer, civil construction engineer, clerical staff) that were co-located with the project team at the Blue Plains AWWTP. PEER also provided additional key staff on an as-needed basis such as technical writers, electrical and mechanical engineers, MAXIMO specialists, and financial analysts. The environmental engineer was assigned to the team working on treatment process additions, and upgrades and modifications. The civil/construction engineer was assigned to the High Priority Team that manages upkeep and repair of the AWWTP facilities; he also conducts emergency tasks or items that must be resolved quickly, such as the replacement of the heating and ventilation system at the O Street pump station, which pumps most of the flow to the AWWTP.

RiverRenew Tunnel System Project, Alexandria, VA

The RiverRenew also known as the RiverRenew Tunnel System (RRTS) is part of the largest infrastructure project in Alexandria, Virgina’s history. This is a signature project of the Alexandria Renew Enterprise (AlexRenew, the Owner). RPTS will capture millions of gallons of combined sewage from four existing outfalls each year and transport them to AlexRenew for treatment.

The RRTS project includes a waterfront tunnel and four construction staging areas (CSAs), a system of surface facilities, deep shafts, tunnels, diversion sewers, and treatment facility upgrades to divert, convey, store, pump, and treat flows from the combined sewer outfalls

On this project, PEER is part of the design team and is providing critical project control and document management services. The PEER team assists the design team with day-to-day task scheduling and maintenance, cost estimating, updating project and task status, and performance reporting. PEER also assists the design team in tracking design submittal dates, documents, versions and in providing overall data quality checks.

DC Water CCTV and LIDAR Inspections - Traffic Control Plans, Marriner S. Eccles Federal Reserve Building, Washington, DC

The PEER team performed the CCTV inspections in coordination with Arthur Engineering, its CCTV subcontractor, and DC Water to inspect the trunk sewers, ranging from 18” to 126” located in Constitution Ave., NW, Virginia Ave, NW, C St., NW, 19th St., NW, and 21st St., NW.  PEER prepared over 40 traffic control plans to date that were approved by the DDOT.

Program Management Services for Baltimore City's Water Main Replacement Program (COB 1318R)

PEER was selected, as a Subcontractor, to support in providing Program Management Services for the City of Baltimore’s on-going Water Main Replacement Program. The City requires these program management services to provide supportive and integrative approaches to City’s water infrastructure management to meet or exceed annual goals for the replacement of water mains. The program addresses various planning, design, scheduling, and associated activities required to meet these goals and provide quality water to consumers.

• Design Reviews/Constructability Reviews: Assist with reviews and provide comments of design project documents at the design memorandum (30% completion), intermediate (70% completion) and near final (90% completion), final (100% completion) and bid ready design stages. 

• Assist with In-House Designs: Assist with engineering, design, and technical support to perform in-house design of water main replacement and rehabilitation projects. 

• Construction Inspection Services: When requested, provide construction inspection services for assigned water main replacement or urgent need contracts.  

WSSC Pre-Stressed Concrete Cylinder Pipe (PCCP) BOA

PEER was selected as a subcontractor to support the WSSC Pre-stressed  Concrete Cylinder Pipe (PCCP) BOA program. These services include Coordination, Inspection, Condition Assessment, Recommendation,  and  Program Development activities. These activities include, but are not limited to, conducting a visual and sounding inspection of PCCP water transmission infrastructure, sonic/ultrasonic pulse-echo testing,  related PCCP engineering services, forensic field investigation, and laboratory testing. 

PEER is responsible for multiple tasks to be performed along multiple Water Main alignments in Prince George’s and Montgomery Counties. PEER participated in the walkover inspection for the 60” Adelphi Steel Water Transmission Main and was tasked with the elaboration and filing of necessary environmental and non-environmental permits for the potential addition of 11 more entry ports along this Water Main. Additionally, PEER was in charge of the elaboration of the construction drawings depicting all the surveyed features and plans for the respective permits and finally the construction of these enhancing features. PEER, was also responsible for the creation of Site Plans and Profiles for multiple pipe sections that required Replacement or CFRP Rehabilitation along the Potomac 48” Main Zone Pipeline, 42” Montgomery Village Avenue Pipeline, 36” Mid County Pipeline, 66” PCCP I-270 Gaithersburg Pipeline, 60” PCCP Montgomery High Zone, 66” & 72” PCCP MZ, 36” Dower House Road Pipeline, Leisure World 36” Pipeline, 36” NIST Water Transmission Main and 54” Prince George’s High Zone Water Transmission Main. In addition to Plan and Profiles, PEER also worked in obtaining the required permits to perform the necessary Rehabilitation/Replacement. Mr. Ricardo Martinez, our Director of Environmental Management, acted as the project manager for all activities, acquisition of permits, consultation with environmental scientists, agencies representatives, and interaction with our Prime to ensure the project was running smoothly. 

Twenty-seven (27) tasks have been performed by PEER under this contract thus far.  

Complementary NESHAP Hazmat Survey for the Calverton Elementary-Middle school

PEER Consultants performed an assessment of regulated building materials at the Calverton Elementary/Middle School, including Asbestos, Lead-Based Paint, and Other Hazardous Materials based on previous inconclusive investigations. The owner was interested in a National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) report given that the current building on the ground would be demolished in preparation for a new school building. 

A NESHAP Asbestos report was prepared, the report contained all the proportioned asbestos information (e.g. Asbestos-Containing Materials Plan, dated May 9, 1989) and other results from sampling in comprehensive tables. This report contained a summary of the sampled areas, a review of previous inspections and abatements, a discussion of analytical laboratory results, and recommendations for abatement prior to demolition. PEER also performed a site investigation for Phase I Environmental Site Assessment (ESA). The Phase I ESA was conducted in accordance with ASTM Standard E-1527 “Standard Practice for Environmental Site Assessments: Phase I Environmental Site Assessment Process.” The report contained observations in reference to the apparent environmental condition of the site and recommendations and input on the further additional environmental investigation if deemed necessary. 

DOEE Consolidated Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) Implementation Plan and Monitoring Program

The District of Columbia is responsible for improving the quality of its urban waterways. Under a Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) permit, the District is obligated to manage and reduce pollution in urban stormwater. The District Department of the Environment (DDOE) is the agency designated with primary responsibility to administer and oversee the District’s MS4 permit. A major component of the MS4 permit is the development of a Consolidated Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) Implementation Plan, which will guide the agency in reducing pollution on its discharges to surrounding water bodies.

Starting in 2013, PEER Consultants, P.C. (PEER) served as a subcontractor. on this project. The goal was to enhance the Stormwater Management Database using ArcGIS Online (AGOL) - among other tools - to track, evaluate, and report on the presence and operation quality of Green Infrastructure (GI), commonly known as Low Impact Development (LID) installations in the District, and to provide baseline data for compliance with the 2013 Stormwater Rule adopted by DOEE.

MDOT SHA Environmental Engineering & Compliance

The PEER team is serving as a District Environmental Coordinator (DEC) for the Maryland Department of Transportation’s State Highway Administration’s (MDOT SHA) Environmental Compliance Division (ECD). In this role, the team liaises between the ECD and SHA facilities to ensure all sites are compliant with state and federal environmental regulations. This initially requires establishing communication with facility staff, subsequently going onsite to perform facility inspections, and then following up with corrective actions, as required.

Facility inspections are performed on multiple types of SHA facilities, including primary maintenance facilities, salt storage barns, rest areas, and satellite shops each with site specific standards that needed to be met. The environmental regulations applied to each site are collated from multiple sources including the Code of Maryland Regulations (COMAR), Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES), and the Maryland General Discharge Permit (12-SW) for qualified sites.

Inspections focused on environmental compliance in areas such as the storage and/or disposal of hazardous waste, hazardous materials, universal waste, solid wastes, pesticide usage and storage, and scrap tires at SHA facilities and right of ways. Additionally, stormwater management practices, spill prevention and response plans, and onsite material storage are also inspected to minimize the possibility of pollution discharge from SHA facilities into local waters. Review of stormwater management features aims to ensure they continued to mitigate storm flow and minimize pollution in surface runoff as designed. The inspection of above ground storage tanks (chemical, oil, and salt) and vehicle storage areas is aimed at detecting any evidence of leaks and the presence of tools to quickly remediate the area if leaks or spills occurred.

The team visited and inspected approximately 30 SHA facilities ranging from Maryland’s Eastern Shore to the western mountains in the course of this project. The staff members filled a valuable gap in ECD at a time of great transition within the division that allowed it to continue meeting its mandate of ensuring environmental compliance at SHA facilities.

WMATA Environmental Management and Industrial Hygiene Compliance

The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) selected PEER as a qualified contractor to provide consulting expertise in the Authority’s Environmental Management and Industrial Hygiene (EMIH) compliance programs, policies, and procedures, including performing surveys and assessments, developing and implementing sampling plans and corrective actions, conducting compliance audits and planning studies, and documenting its work through the draft and final reports.

The team will be responding to a wide variety of regulatory compliance and engineering tasks that may require specific expertise including, but not limited to, environmental science, geotechnical, civil, structural, mechanical, electrical, engineering, and industrial hygiene, can provide operations and maintenance support for environmental remediation, pretreatment, and other systems as required, and can provide engineering assistance in the preparation and/or review of plans for the construction of new facilities, the modification of existing facilities, and the abandonment and/or closure of facilities no longer used by the Authority.

The Office of Environmental Management and Industrial Hygiene (EMIH) is responsible for the overall management of design, construction, operation, and maintenance of environmental systems including wastewater, stormwater, asbestos, air emissions, groundwater and soil remediation, underground and aboveground storage tanks, monitoring equipment, control equipment, information systems, sampling and testing, and anything related to environmental compliance. In addition, the Office is responsible for industrial hygiene oversight to include periodic testing for air quality and noise, chemical evaluations, program development, and implementation.

Solar for All Program

PEER was awarded one of the first 13 grants to generate at least 500 kW of power using PV panels mounted on rooftops of mastered-metered, income-qualified buildings. The power generated will offset the electricity bills of 100 low-income households in the District for a 15-year period. PEER is responsible for all aspects of the project including stakeholder engagement for building residents, owners, and other interested stakeholders, and monetizing the financial benefits of the DER to ensure project sustainability over the 15-year operating period.

The PEER team was responsible for performing community outreach, engagement, education and online social ideation focused on identifying and understanding the barriers to low-income solar PV proliferation. We worked to increase awareness of sustainable energy and environmental programs within the District by creating/developing the necessary material to explain the program in detail to District residents. Material included door hangers, brochures, and fact sheets, and the use of mySidewalk/MindMixer®, an online, interactive platform used for the purpose of engaging community members.

PEER is providing the engineering design and permitting services and installing the PV System. On PEER’s Staff, John M. Corliss, PE, Chief Engineer: Principal Program Manager, responsible for the overall design, installation, DOEE Grant application management, and project financing. Tom Gustafson, PE: Design Manager, responsible for final permit layout and design packages to support building permit applications. Brandon Cote: Engineer responsible for the conceptual design, site layout, and design coordination of proposed solar array energy systems at various sites throughout the Washington, DC area. Support with determination on the feasibility of sites for a solar array installation. Activities included coordination of aerial imagery and GIS information used for the plans and base map development, site accessibility logistics, AutoCAD drawings of sites, and general analysis of site conditions to support solar array development at each site location.

WSSC Condition Assessment of Buried Water Assets

PEER is responsible for Task Order 1 within the WSSC Condition Assessment of Buried Water Assets . The purpose of this Task Order is to develop a Condition Assessment Program for metallic water mains for WSSC. The Program objective is to assess and recommend metallic water pipeline candidates for condition assessment and the inspection technologies to be used, as it relates to leak detection, air/gas pockets, pipe wall deterioration, corrosion, structural integrity, and soil and/or material condition surrounding the pipe. The objective of this task order is to establish the overall program framework for condition assessment and data management of metallic water mains in WSSC’s distribution and transmission systems and to develop procedures for managing and integrating asset and inspection data for metallic water pipes.

Water and Sewer Services Comprehensive Business Process Review

The City of Baltimore and Baltimore County have interconnected water and sewerage systems. Pursuant to a 1972 intergovernmental water agreement, the City provides water services to County customers, including distribution, treatment, metering, billing, collections, and customer service. Pursuant to a 1974 intergovernmental sewerage agreement, the City provides sewerage (treatment and conveyance) services to the County through the operations of “jointly used facilities”. The County maintains its own sanitary sewer collection system in what is known as the Metropolitan District.  

The two agreements are central to the overall governance and coordination of the business, technical, and financial aspects between the City and the County. The City and County must continuously coordinate and collaborate on various business processes including infrastructure planning and expansion, maintenance and repair, information and data exchange, customer service, and financial transactions. 

The City and County hired PEER Consultants as subcontractors - to provide a comprehensive review of their water and sewerage services business processes.  

The goal is to perform a comprehensive and integrated review of the existing City and County business processes that are critical to the delivery of water and sewerage services. The team is developing documentation of the existing business processes, policies, and pertinent aspects to enhance the understanding of the current inter-governmental governance aspects, business processes, organization, and financial frameworks. The idea is to create a benchmark to assess the alignment of the existing business processes with industry best practices and provide objective observations. 

PEER Consultants was responsible for tasks 4 and 6. For Task 4, we are reviewing and summarizing the processes involved in the overall capitals program, water loss management program, drought response planning, safety & risk mitigation programs, source water protection, and land use management planning, and performance management, and continuous improvement. The office tracks various performance data and they are in the process of streamlining the data capture and tracking. The team also reviewed inter-jurisdiction communication, IT systems review and disaster recovery, and sewer capacity planning processes. For task 6, the PEER team is responsible for reviewing the field operations coordination between the County and the City and also handling evaluating the protocols regarding customer complaints.

Ultimately, the City and County envision creating the “Utility of the Future”, with intergovernmental coordination of processes and policies to ensure effective delivery of high quality and sustainable water and sewerage services and deliver service excellence to City and County customers.

Green Line Extension Pre-Construction Survey

PEER Consultants, P.C. is providing Pre‐Construction Survey services for the Green Line Extension for the purpose of documenting existing conditions prior to the initiation of construction activities. The Pre‐Construction activities encompass all abutting buildings, structures, roadways five-mile railway right of way (Lechmere, Cambridge to Winthrop St, Medford). The survey encompasses approximately 400 properties and 2,100 individual units.

PEER is conducted community outreach to all property owners for the purpose of obtaining permission to complete the Pre‐Construction Survey.  

PEER was responsible for compiling property owner information and coordinating a notification program. The notification process involved compiling publicly available property owner information, door hanger notification, and certified mailings. 

 The pre-construction activities consist of site visits at each property during which PEER conducts a detailed examination of internal and external spaces of all buildings or structures to document the state of each property prior to construction. PEER collects high-resolution digital images, geographic data, and high-definition video recordings with audio descriptions.

Each observed feature (cracks, defects, etc.) is documented with photos, location, and descriptions.

The locations, photos, and videos are collected utilizing a computer tablet, and PEER-created cloud-based, data capture apps.

If any cracks greater than 1/8-inch are identified, PEER requests permission to install a crack gauge for further monitoring.

Following the completion of the survey, PEER generates spatial and tabular data sets and a report for each unit for submittal to the property owners and client.

Performance Measurement Services and Organizational Assessment

WSSC hired PEER Consultants as subcontractors to assist with the implementation of a performance oversight and monitoring program within the Office of the General Manager to identify opportunities for process and operational improvements within critical functional areas. The program was set up to assess and analyze key performance indicators in specific organizational and operational areas within the utility and engage Commission staff and managers in a continuous effort to improve service delivery and operational effectiveness.

Over the period of the two-year project, the project team provided direct assistance to the Office of the General Manager and the Commission’s executive staff in support of the implementation of WSSC’s Stat Office.

As a subcontractor, PEER was involved with Task 1, Stat Program Development. The team evaluated WSSC’s Stat program and provided continuous feedback to the Stat Office Director on the program approach and effectiveness. The program evaluation focused on analytical capabilities, identifying appropriate performance metrics, report organization, data utilization, and staffing needs. The team provided training to staff and management on the overall Stat process. The team provided assistance to the State Office in identifying and developing performance indicators associated with the Commission’s strategic goals. Under Task 2, PEER assisted with data collection, data organization, and information management activities, and also was involved with data analysis, GIS analysis, preparation of briefing materials, preparation of meeting materials, meeting coordination, field investigation, and post-briefing follow-up activities. The PEER data analyst assigned to the project assessed WSSC’s performance and customer satisfaction for road repairs performed by WSSC.

The main challenge faced when performing work on this contract involved WSSC’s organizational structure. WSSC has a very hierarchical structure that can best be described as silos – there was little communication between silos, except the top (i.e., Director level managers who reported to the Deputy GM or GM directly).  Very often the responsibility for one function (e.g., pavement repair) was split between silos so that internal communication was poor.  Other functions (e.g., claims processing) were all handled within one silo, but there were no established productivity standards, and output varied wildly from one claims processor to another.  In other cases (MWBE Office), there was a significant backlog of cases because the director of the group (who was very bright and worked very hard) required that all applications had to move through her, and her health problems caused extended absences.  Senior-level management was very helpful in removing these impediments to efficiency, and some organizational and operating procedures were modified.

Environmental Site Assessments

PEER was awarded this contract to perform Phase I Environmental Site Assessments (ESAs) and NEPA Environmental Assessments on various sites in the District. PEER has already performed these assessments on Lincoln Heights, Richardson Dwellings, and Kelly Miller which are all public housing sites owned by DCHA.

The environmental assessment consulting services are required resources to administer program objectives in support of the DCHA’s and its subsidiaries’ mission to “provide quality affordable housing to extremely low- to moderate-income households and foster sustainable communities.”

The Phase I ESAs were conducted in accordance with ASTM Standard E 1527 “Standard Practice for Environmental Site Assessments: Phase I Environmental Site Assessment Process.” As part of the scope, the PEER team prepared a final report that summarized the results of the assessment, relating to the apparent environmental condition of the site and a recommendation as to whether additional environmental investigation is required on the subject property. As part of the assessment, historical research, records review, site reconnaissance, and interviews with owners/occupants were conducted.

WSSC General Wastewater Engineering Services

The Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (WSSC) retained the professional services of PEER Consultants, P.C. (PEER) to perform sewer inspections and develop comprehensive strategies for rehabilitating deteriorating elements of the collection system, especially on large diameter and right-of-way sewers throughout Prince George’s and Montgomery Counties. The contract also requires the PEER team to address the aging wastewater infrastructure and develop strategies for rehabilitating deteriorating elements of the collection system. Thus far PEER has performed Fourteen (14) task orders under this BOA. These task orders can be found listed below.

• Development of Standard Procedures for Inspecting Large Diameter Sanitary Sewers

• 18-Inch Horsepen Force Main Contract No. 77CT 3241-B Pipeline Inspection & Condition Assessment

• General Consulting Services

• Emergency Response Plans for High-Risk Wastewater Collection System Assets

• Flow Monitoring Network Analysis

• Preventive Maintenance Optimization and Implementation

• 16-Inch Reddy Branch Force Main Pipeline Inspection & Condition Assessment

• WSSC Effectiveness of Maintenance Activities

• Update of Sewer Analysis Inspection Review Manual

• Collection System Performance Assessment Pilot

• Wastewater Force Main Inspection Prioritization

• Force Main Valve Inspection and Repair Pilot

• Sewer Siphon Inspections and Cleaning Procedures

• Large Diameter Gravity Sewer and Siphon Condition Assessment and Cleaning

DC Water Asset Management Program

PEER Consultants, P.C. is working as part of a team to provide support for the Asset Management Program at the Blue Plains AWTP. PEER’s main responsibilities include administration and development of the ‘IBM Maximo Asset Management’ program with the following specific tasks: Maximo Administrative Assistance, PCS Coordination, and supporting commissioning conformance related to new assets. PEER is also responsible for Preventative Maintenance Optimization (PMO) and the pilots, with specific tasks including work history analysis, PMO planning, and PMO analysis and recommendations.  

The PM optimization-analysis of assets from the pilot unit process and pump station is approximately 500 assets total. PEER revises the PM by eliminating/adding tasks or by changing the frequency of execution. As part of the process, PEER maintains the PM as written, adds a PM (or PM task) to improve asset reliability and we make changes to the PM Job Plans, as recommended, once its approved. 

Back River Wastewater Treatment Plant Improvements

The Back River Wastewater Treatment Plant Improvements project included the complete demolition, removal, and disposal of all equipment, facilities, and structures associated including but not limited to: existing Hydrogen Peroxide Facility; existing Grit Removal Facility. Installation of stormwater management facilities including collection, conveyance, drainage, storage. Site grading, preparation, and construction of roadways and installation of bollards and guardrail systems. Placement of topsoil, seeding, and surface restoration. This project also included the construction of the Influent Junction Chamber and the cast-in-place and precast concrete conduits.