HUBZone Certification Not Required At Solicitation Issuance, Says GAO

A Treasury Department solicitation did not require contractors to be certified HUBZone participants at the time the solicitation was issued, despite language in the solicitation arguably requiring just that in order to receive a high rating for socioeconomic status.

In a recent GAO bid protest decision, the GAO held that the agency properly interpreted the solicitation to require HUBZone certification at the time proposals were due, not the time the solicitation was issued.  The GAO’s ruling comports with the HUBZone program regulations, which do not require contractors to be certified at the time a solicitation is issued in order to be considered HUBZone participants for purposes of that solicitation.

The GAO’s decision in Government Acquisitions, Inc.; PCi Tec, Inc., B-407877.2, B-407877.3, B 407877.4 (Mar. 25, 2013) involved a Treasury Department solicitation for computer equipment and accessories.  The solicitation was not set-aside for HUBZone contractors.  However, the solicitation included a “socioeconomic status” evaluation factor under which HUBZone businesses were to receive the highest possible score, “Excellent.”  The Solicitation stated, “HUBZone contractors must be certified by the Small Business Administration (SBA) at time of solicitation and at time of award.”

After reviewing competitive proposals, the agency made award to Signet Computers, Inc.  Signet was evaluated as a HUBZone small business, and therefore received an “Excellent” socioeconomic status score.

Two unsuccessful offerors filed GAO bid protests challenging the award to  Signet.  The protesters contended, in part, that the phrase “at time of solicitation” meant the date on which the solicitation was issued.  The protesters pointed out that although the solicitation had been issued on June 6, 2012, Signet was not certified as a HUBZone firm until June 22.  The protesters argued that Signet was therefore not entitled to an “Excellent” score on the socioeconomic status factor.

The agency argued that the phrase “at the time of solicitation” meant “as long as the solicitation is open, which would be at least until the time proposals were due.”  The agency argued that since Signet obtained its HUBZone certification before the due date for proposals, it satisfied the solicitation’s requirement.

The GAO held that the phrase “at the time of solicitation” was ambiguous.  ”While one interpretation of ‘time of solicitation’ may be when the solicitation was issued, it is not the only reasonable interpretation,” the GAO wrote.  ”As a result, we conclude that the agency complied with the terms of the solicitation.”

The GAO also held that because the solicitation contained a patent ambiguity, the protesters were required to challenge the ambiguity in a pre-award protest, and that the post-award protest was untimely under the GAO’s timeliness rules.  ”[S]ince any ambiguity was apparent from the face of the RFQ, the protesters may not now assert that the only permissible interpretation of the requirement is their own,” the GAO stated.

Although the GAO did not raise the issue, the agency’s interpretation was more closely aligned with the SBA’s HUBZone regulations.  Under 13 C.F.R. 126.601, in order to submit an offer on a HUBZone set aside contract, a firm must be HUBZone certified both at the date of initial offer and the date of award.  This procurement, of course, was not a HUBZone set-aside, but if certification on the initial proposal date is good enough for a HUBZone set-aside, shouldn’t it also be good enough for qualifying as a HUBZone contractor for purposes of a socioeconomic status factor?

The Reason why Hubzone Small Business Exists

To 'increase employment opportunities, investment and economic development' for small companies that operate as well as employ people in areas defined as 'historically underutilized business zone' (HUBZone) is the reason why Hubzone program exists. This program aims to create incentives for the U.S. federal government in order to contract business with companies operating and creating jobs in communities with statistically proven economic needs.

There are numerous management groups that support the mission of the hubzone empowerment program of the small businesses of providing opportunity to distressed communities. A certified hubzone business has a strong understanding of the hubzone program along with its requirements.

In 2010, Micah Group was able to provide new hubzone employment positions from both urban and rural hubzone designated areas. Apart from environmental construction, job opportunities to both professionals and tradesman in economically oppressed areas significantly increased. The company's environmental remediation services have also backed up many project of other businesses in hubzone designated areas.

www.micahgroup.com is also keyed up regarding the forecasted hubzone small business growth this present year. It is has elicited and also shared a fantastic part on the good impact of hubzone contractors to both the corporate community and regional hubzone locations.

With the hubzone program under consideration, hubzone contractors continue to work with local economic leaders and state officials employing hubzone federal contracting to be able to market strong business roots in the affected communities. This way, small businesses plus affected communities are given the chance to grow economically.

Remediation Is Necessary For Maintaining Health And Safety Of Human And Environment

The health and safety of humans, environment and wildlife is in danger because of contamination. This is because toxic substances are released to our environment that may bring direct danger to humans and wildlife through causing diseases or even death. Moreover, water, air or land contamination can cause vegetation to distress or die.

Environmental remediation is necessary to address contamination in land and water caused by industries. Remediation is basically the process of eliminating contamination from dirt and water caused by industries.

In general, an environmental contractor company that is certified as Hubzone Company is hired to conduct remediation in order to alleviate health hazards in certain areas and populations. Another purpose of such process is to make the site ready for construction and use. Such work is generally directed by scientists and environmental engineers.

The fact is, one of the growing industries today is industrial site remediation. Last 2010, $5.6 million was set by the U.S Department of Energy as a yearly budget for nuclear development site remediation.

Environmental remediation contractors are solution providers to clean up the main components of our environment such as air, water and land. Environmental contractors are composed of engineers providing environmental services that are also looking for solutions to environmental issues such as water supply, sanitation, waste water treatment, waste management and environmental impact assessment.

In reducing water contamination, certain technologies and government provisions or local authority developed Acts and Regulation are used in order to remediate bodies of water that are polluted or contaminated.

In remediating lands that are contaminated, the contaminated sites are cleaned up using certain technologies while adhering to acceptable contaminant levels developed through acts, regulations or guidelines. The nature and the quantity of the contamination on the land will determine the technology to be used.

Although there are many causes of pollution yet one of the biggest contributors to our polluted landscapes is clearly industrial pollution. No matter what kind of pollution we face, it is important to do our share in preventing more pollution.

If you are looking for a hubzone contractor and specialist in waste management, disposal and recycling of hazardous and non-hazardous waste, micahgroup.com has you covered. www.micahgroup.com is self-performing contractor that possesses industrial capabilities that can increase client profitability and work with environmental liability. Moreover, they own and operate industrial waste equipment such as vacuum trailers and trucks as well as frac tanks to service waste water disposal needs. They also provide on-site treatment, temporary storage for liquid waste or waste water and carry out off-site disposal.

Environmental Contractors play a huge role in providing environmental solutions for a better and brighter tomorrow.

What Environmental Contractors Provide To Eliminate Pollution

More often than not, corporations get Environmental Contractors so as to repair and clean up buildings and lands managed by said companies to ensure that the place is safe from chemical and biological contamination and is suited to human use.

Micah Group is a major provider of mechanical as well as environmental contracting services. Their services include energy assssment, HVAC retrofits, environmental remediation, restoration as well as demolition.
Many groups of environmental contractor is likewise in with the campaign of utilizing recyclable, economical, as well as environmental friendly materials, processes and systems for restoration of ex existing buildings. Such services are very helpful when it comes to conserving energy as they make use of renewable energy. Furthermore, it minimizes air and water pollution. These contractors are often times are responsible for environmental remediation; they eliminate contaminants as well as hazardous wastes from a structure or land, in order to make that part of land ideal as well as safe for use once again. A number of the hazardous hazards are asbestos, metals, petroleum hydrocarbons, PCBs, along with inorganic and chemical toxins. Furthermore they simply get rid of these pollutants from the location in order to completely make use of the infected area, furthermore they remediate the soil, sediments, ground water, open water, and media that are affected by the pollutants.

Environmental contractors assess the area before conducting environmental remediation procedures. They will first assess the type of contaminants that are needed to be removed from that location, likewise they'll show a step by step plan to their clients on how to minimize and eliminate the contamination problem.
A quality environmental contractor has got a comprehensive understanding of regulations recognized by different government departments for example U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and also the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Other specialized services that contractors can give, depending on their credentials, are the following: on-site debris screening, full service plant decommissioning and restoration, handling, transporation and disposal of liquid waste, treatment and stabilization of heavy metals, along with PCB removal and disposal.

Contractors are also in favor of Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) goals, renovations, and innovations. With this, increasingly more companies as well as clients alike go for the “green” infrastructure when planning in renovating or building another infrastructure.

You ask, why go “green”? It is mainly because it has loads of considerable and positive impact to our environment, financial state and the overall health of our communities. A few of its benefits are improved water and air quality, conservation of natural resources, reduced costs while still enhanced profits, enhanced comfort and health, and it minimizes strain to the infrastructure. Some of services that are LEED approved are green waste management, erosion control, green materials and resources, and blower door and also air quality testing.

It is necessary that contractors are bi-annually backed up with special training programs simply because as each year passes more and more innovations are discovered, that's why it's critical to continually keep on learning these new practices.

Environmental Contractors That Render The Ideal Solutions For A Brighter Future

Micah Group Environmental Contractors is among the leading companies offering environmental and mechanical contracting services. Their services include: electrical system upgrades, HVAC retroits, energy assessments, and environmental restoration. The company was established in 1998 to provide environmental remediation services. As being one of the top notch environmental contractors, Micah Group has tremendously advanced their name in the said discipline. Now the company is headed by CEO Aaron Jamison and their official website is www.micahgroup.com. The Company have a couple of certifications; certified Health Physicist, certified Energy Auditor, EPA AHERA certifications, NGWA monitoring well installer and many more.

Today, such environmental contractor offers a range of services; from alternative energy solutions to building health services. Their specialization comprises environmental assessments, hazardous waste management, and petroleum storage facility compliance, facility commissioning to name a few.

The company is definitely unique simply because it self-performs 80% of the company's contracts, and therefore they utilize their own outstanding staff as well as superior quality equipment for the assignment at hand. Their experience is well known throughout 32 states and they've been branded a Federal prime contractor. In the company, the staff and personnel are given semi-annual internal and external training courses to make sure that their employees are fit, plus for them to be informed with improvements in the industry and brand new technologies that come. The training areas are; OSHA 8 Hour Annual Refreshers, OSHA 10 Hour Construction Safety, EPA 8 Hour Asbestos Training and others to help the employees attain the only top quality of training they can have!

Micah Group's client encompasses US National Park Services, Defense Logistics Agency, and the US Department of Navy. Because of their contract with National Park Services, the environmental contractor rehabilitates and upgrades several buildings and infrastructures in the National Mall and Memorial Parks in Washington, D.C. It incorporates replacing of cooling towers, natural gas heater units, HVAC package unit systems, split unit systems, heat pumps and condenser units. The centers it catered to were the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial, Vietnam and Korean War Veterans Memorials plus the Park Police headquarters. For their contract with the Defense Logistics Agency, Micah Group handled their building at Defense Supply Center in Columbus, Ohio. They replaced HVAC Components including air units, pumps, fans and motors, packaging units and heat pumps. Last but not least, with the US Department of Navy, they are responsible for the demolition and hazardous materials abatement. Found at the Naval Weapons Station in Charleston, SC, they perform lead and asbestos abatement, removal of underground ammunition bunkers and also of railroad tracks. Their work entails elimination plus recycling of these materials.

Micah Group ensures solutions for a much better future - safeguarding Mother Nature from dangerous materials with their enviromenta friendly expert services!

Environmental Contractors For Sustainable Growth

Environmental contractors today must make sure that all of their pursuits turn out good not only to the company they serve but most especially to the natural environment. With the growing effects of climate change and globalization, we must keep up-to-date with the technologies that could and will increase efficiency in our energy along with resources utilization with no damage to nature. People want sustainable growth which we can be satisfied with - and Micah Group can give that to you.

As environmental contractors who, since 1998, we have been promoting greener plus more efficient usage of energy and resources, along with the suitable handling and treatment of contaminated materials and also sites, we want everyone to enjoy the main advantages of having to not be worried about hazards as well as stresses which mostly are made of industrialization. In a very fast moving industrial along with global economy, all of us want to enjoy sustainable growth with minimal cost however with higher advantages. And it has proven that with superior care for the protective steps accomplished before, during and following the construction a certain establishment, costs can be and will be reduced. Every single environmental contractor from the Micah Group is backed up with the skills and the heart for the job which is being asked of them, or maybe more, to ensure that you can acquire excellent services each time you make use of the expertise of the group.

Micah Group’s environmental contractors are actually very competent to handle specialized plus common issues that are typically raised by our customers. We provide them with accurate assessments and suggest the best option for them - all taking into consideration the proficiency in time, cost along with use of some other resources. We make sure you cover all bases so that if anything else comes up later on, we can deal with them as well as resolve them instantly. There’s no need to worry about things that could be remedied quickly mainly because Micah Group assures you of a job that has no fall backs and is guaranteed to take full advantage of what we can to provide your company and the environment the very best.

With our vast number of services starting from the management of hazardous contaminants, building of green and renewable structures, industrial waste and cleaning services, petroleum mobilization services plus recycling and handling of radioactive machines and so forth, we assure that we have everything that you'd ever need from an environmental contractor. We assure you of correct and effective service that you can’t get from other groups. We mean business and we know that the job that you required for us to do is really important therefore we wish to provide you with the best that we can provide.

Micah Group - setting up and also advocating sustainable growth to make a brighter future for generations to come.

The Objective Of Remediation

Environmental Remediation is definitely an imperative process that site full of toxic hazards must go through. When considering reusing old abandoned industrial site, you cannot just simply remodel the building structures. Doing this without any regard for toxic cleanup may risk the people who will land up occupying the locations. For this reason, environmental remediation is extremely important.

Advancements in environmental cleanup are being continuously made. A number of researchers, environmentalists and even company put in lots of time, effort, and resources so as to further improve environmental cleanup procedures. Tar sands, to illustrate, can now be separated from oil in a much friendlier manner. This environmentally friendlier means of removing oil from tar sands was created by a number of research workers from Penn State University. This process, uses the unique properties of ionic liquids to take out the heavy viscous oil from sand. And for this reason, it furthermore has the ability to clean massive oil spills from beaches and also other bodies of water.

Tar sands, which are also known as oil or bituminous sands, represent somewhere around 60% of the earth’s estimated volume of oil reserves. Canada is the world’s largest manufacturer of non traditional petroleum from sands. The USA then imports more than a million barrels of oil per day from Canada. That rate of posting is all about twice as much as from rate of importing with Saudi Arabia. A lot of this oil is gotten from the tar sands of rural Alberta.

Even if this kind of oil is beneficial for both industrial and also civilian uses, the production of this type of oil - the process by which oil is obtained from tar sands - results in major environmental damage. A few of the damage results from the keeping of contaminated waste water from the separation process in large open air ponds. Waste water from the ponds can then be combined with ground water. When waste water integrates with ground water, lakes and rivers will in the end get polluted. Furthermore, the large amounts of required water for the separation process can certainly deplete the availability of local fresh water. The Penn State University’s recently designed method of separation makes use of very little energy as well as water nonetheless all solvents are reprocessed as well as reused.

Though this method is ideal for the application of oil companies, establishments involved with the remediation business may also utilize this process for industrial sites whose functions, once they’re reused, contain industrial processes like the separation of oil from tar sands. Apart from that, companies who provide remediation services could use this procedure whenever they contracted to clean out oil spills. Environmental remediation contractors will sure have the benefit of this brand new discovery. In the event that you are an environmental remediation contractor, you'll realize that his new discovery will in fact bring way more profits.