USACE & ACI Debris Subcontracting

After a major disaster, FEMA can assign debris missions to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). This page explains how those missions are contracted and how Omni Construction can support them as a subcontractor. It does not state or imply that Omni Construction holds a current USACE contract or an Advance Contracting Initiative (ACI) award.

How the USACE debris mission works

• ESF #3, Public Works and Engineering. Under the National Response Framework, USACE leads Emergency Support Function #3 for FEMA. When FEMA issues a debris mission assignment, USACE debris Planning and Response Teams either remove debris directly (direct federal assistance) or give technical help to state and local debris operations.
• Advance Contracting Initiative (ACI). USACE awards debris removal contracts in advance, region by region, to prime contractors. This lets debris crews mobilize soon after a mission assignment, with task orders issued against contracts already in place.
• Primes rely on subcontractors. ACI prime contractors typically fill out their crews with subcontractors, including local and small businesses. USACE directs contractors to give small businesses the maximum practicable opportunity. Under FAR 19.702, large-business primes on contracts over $900,000 ($2 million for construction) must have an approved small-business subcontracting plan.
• Federal registration. A prime contractor must be fully registered in SAM.gov. A subcontractor may need only a Unique Entity ID, though many primes require full registration and flow down federal clauses.

How Omni Construction plugs in

1. Before the season: prime contractors can request our capability statement and other documents they require.
2. On activation: we confirm crews, trucks and equipment against the prime’s task order and complete the prime’s truck certification and safety orientation.
3. In the field: we work under the prime’s USACE-accepted Accident Prevention Plan and quality control plan, and we follow USACE quality-assurance monitors’ directions on eligibility and load tickets.
4. Reporting: we provide the size status, certification and payment information the prime needs for its small-business subcontracting reports.

Past federal work (history)

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers appears in the Omni organization’s past client list (history; see major clients). Registrations, equipment and crew details are available to prime contractors on request.

Safety approach for USACE work (EM 385-1-1)

USACE contracts require compliance with EM 385-1-1, Safety and Occupational Health Requirements. The current edition is dated 15 March 2024 and replaced the 2014 edition; contracts follow the edition in effect at solicitation. On USACE work, subcontractors work under the prime’s Accident Prevention Plan and activity hazard analyses.

References

• U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Emergency Operations (ESF #3)
• USACE, Contracting in Disasters (Advance Contracting Initiative)
• USACE Small Business, subcontracting resources
• FAR 19.702, small business subcontracting plans
• SAM.gov entity registration and Unique Entity ID
• USACE EM 385-1-1, Safety and Occupational Health Requirements (15 March 2024 edition), USACE Engineer Manuals