1. US Army Corps of Engineers PLANNING SMART BUILDING STRONG ® Project Planning with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Presenter Name Presenter Title Duty Location Date of Presentation

2. BUILDING STRONG ® Initiating a Water Resources Project Local perception of water resources problem or opportunity Contact local USACE District Office Existing Authority to Investigate District requests funding in the President’s budget and / or local sponsor requests Congressional delegate for Appropriations funding No Current Authority to Investigate Congressional Authority for Study When funding is appropriated, USACE District initiates study When funding is appropriated, USACE District initiates study Potential Sponsor submits “Letter of Intent” to District

3. BUILDING STRONG ® Implementing a Single Phase Feasibility Study  All feasibility studies subject to “3x3” rule – expected study duration of 3 years; total study costs $3 million ► 3x3 complaint Feasibility Cost Share Agreement (FCSA) will be used to initiate study ► Exemption process in place for complex and large scale studies that cannot meet 3x3 target, and considered after initiation of study  Study work does not begin until FCSA is signed  The Project Delivery Team (PDT) will develop a 3x3 compliant Project Management Plan (PMP) – or exemption request - by the Alternatives Milestone  SMART Planning Process reinforces risk-informed decisions and early vertical engagement

4. BUILDING STRONG ® Role of the Sponsor A Study Sponsor is:  A 50-50 Cost Sharing Partner in the planning (feasibility) phase ► Able to identify non-monetary (in-kind) services that support cost sharing  Fully engaged in the development and execution of the study A Study Sponsor should be:  Familiar with the SMART Planning process and the decisions to be made at each milestone  Familiar with USACE and Administration policies that influence alternative formulation, screening, and selection and other key study decisions  Able to communicate a “locally preferred plan”, if there is one

5. BUILDING STRONG ® The Study Begins with the FCSA  The feasibility study starts – and 3-year clock starts – when the Feasibility Cost Sharing Agreement (FCSA) is signed ► Sponsors should work with local USACE District representatives to understand 3x3 model FCSA and importance of study’s first 90 days  What’s new with the model FCSA (2015 update) ► No Project Management Plan (PMP) is developed before FCSA is signed ► Both USACE and the Sponsor assume some risk in agreeing to a general 3x3 compliant scope without a PMP ► The time and cost estimates for the study PMP will be developed and verified during the Scoping phase

6. BUILDING STRONG ® SMART Feasibility Study ProcessUp to 36 Months Release draft report for concurrent review DE transmits final report package ALTERNATIVE FORMULATION & ANALYSIS FEASIBILITY-LEVEL ANALYSIS CHIEF’S REPORT TSP Milestone Vertical Team concurrence on tentatively selected plan Civil Works Review Board Release for State & Agency Review Agency Decision Milestone Agency endorsement of recommended plan Chief’s Report Chief’s Report Signed 2 3 4 5 SCOPING 3-6 months Alternatives Milestone Vertical Team concurrence on array of alternatives 1 Identify study objectives Define Problems & Opportunities NEPA Scoping Inventory & Initial Forecast Formulate Alternative Plans Evaluate alternatives and identify reasonable array Develop PMP and Review Plan Initiate Exemption Process if necessary Focusing on the Scoping Phase

7. BUILDING STRONG ® Scoping  Process of identifying significant issues to be analyzed in the planning study  Begin scoping as soon as the study starts  Integrate with other early planning activities  Include affected Fed, State, Local agencies, the public, and other stakeholder groups  Refine scoping throughout study  Complementary to NEPA scoping

8. BUILDING STRONG ® Communication and Decision Making Tools  Hold a Charette or Workshop in Scoping phase: Ensure distinctly different viewpoints are represented ► Invite the Sponsor, Fed and State resource agencies, the vertical & horizontal team, stakeholders and the public to participate and share their views ► Or, collect different views as you see fit  Use Available Tools for Documenting and Managing the Study: ► Decision Management Plan ► Risk Register ► PMP Template ► Decision Log ► Report Synopsis Tools Available on the Planning Community Toolbox AND http://www.iwrmsuite.us/

9. BUILDING STRONG ® For More Information  Your District Planners  Planning Community Toolbox: www.corpsplanning.us www.corpsplanning.us  Manuals and Handbooks about Corps Planning available on the Toolbox ► Planning SMART Guide (2012, online) ► Project Partnership Kit (IWR Report, 2001) ► Planning Manual (1996) ► Planning Primer (1997)