FEMA Accelerated Awards Strategy (FAASt)

In 2020, FEMA announced the FEMA Accelerated Awards Strategy (FAASt), which allows critical infrastructure projects to be grouped together in order to expedite energy grid work in Puerto Rico.

As one of the largest and most complex disasters in FEMA history, Hurricane María (en español) provided an opportunity to implement FEMA’s Accelerated Awards Strategy (FAASt) to help streamline recovery projects.

FAASt Cost Estimates

Due to the volume of inspections and the time required to finalize cost estimates for the disaster-damaged assets of the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (PREPA), FEMA and the Puerto Rico Central Office of Recovery, Reconstruction and Resiliency (COR3) agreed to use a Statistical Sampling Methodology to arrive at fixed cost estimates.

This led to the obligation of four FAASt projects.

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Graphic of an Electric Power Tower

Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (PREPA)

$9.4 billion

Sept. 23, 2020

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Outside view of a school graphic

Puerto Rico Department of Education (PRDE)

$2 billion

Sept. 23, 2020

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Illustration of faucet with drop of water

Puerto Rico Aqueduct and Sewer Authority (PRASA)

$3.6 billion

Jan. 8, 2021

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Graphic of a community of buildings

Puerto Rico Public Housing Administration (PRPHA)

$554 million

Jan. 24, 2022

FAASt Project Descriptions

Learn about the Hurricane María (en español) recovery projects FAASt funding is supporting in Puerto Rico.

Maunabo Streetlighting

  • Project type: Distribution
  • Project ID: 542690
  • Federal cost share: $6,199,877

There are an estimated 500,000 streetlights in Puerto Rico that are owned by Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority "PREPA" and serviced by LUMA. While assessing the distribution streetlighting system, it is anticipated that numerous damaged streetlights will be identified that require immediate repair to avoid safety hazards, violations of federal or local ordinance, and imminent equipment failures.

The strategy for these repairs is to create a project per municipality. Maunabo municipality has a total of 2,359 luminaires of which damage was estimated for 70% of these luminaires. For work execution purposes, the municipality was divided in areas.

All this information will be evaluated by FEMA PA/EHP/HM for the final obligation.

FAASt: Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (PREPA)

Arecibo Short Term Group 2

  • Project type: Distribution feeders
  • Project ID: 542762
  • Federal cost share: $1,250,703

The facilities in the project are part of the feeder systems in the Arecibo Region. These interconnected and inter-functional distribution feeders (sites) establish the electrical distribution system. The feeders all originate from a substation (start) and serve customers along a route to various locations (end). The coordinates represented by GPS end is the end of the mainline backbone of each feeder.

These feeders are a subset of projects identified in the Distribution Feeders – Arecibo Short Term projects in the PREPA 10-Year Infrastructure Plan. All this information will be evaluated by FEMA PA/EHP/HM for the final obligation.

FAASt: Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (PREPA)

Cataño-Rebuild 1801

  • Project type: Substation
  • Project ID: 174422
  • Federal cost share: $16,300,000

As part of the FAASt project, Cataño substation sustained damage during prior hurricanes, which also caused flooding of the control building.

The following repairs will be implemented to modernize and harden the Cataño substation: Applicant request A/E services to comply with SOW, Codes and standards for the recovery and resiliency of the substation.

All this information will be evaluated by FEMA PA/EHP/HM for the final obligation.

FAASt: Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (PREPA)

Ponce Short Term Group 1

  • Project type: Distribution feeders
  • Project ID: 334323
  • Federal cost share: $1,200,000

Applicant Intents is having a group of Engineers perform an assessment of the sites to design and develop a plan that will repair/replace poles/structures, damaged cross arms and porcelain insulations in a soundless and stable manner so that they are resilient and meet applicable codes and standards.

Assets involved in this project are - Distribution Feeders - Ponce Short Term Group 1 consists of 7 interconnected and inter-functional distribution feeders (sites) establish the electrical distribution system as follows: Rambla 13KV (5004-06), Rambla 13KV (5004-07), Rambla 13KV (5004-09), Canas T.C. 13KV (5018-03), Yauco Hidro Ii (5303-01), Guayanilla Pueblo (5501-04) and Guanica TC (5602-02).

All this information will be evaluated by FEMA PA/EHP/HM for the final obligation.

FAASt: Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (PREPA)

MDOE215 20362 Dr. José N. Gándara

  • Project ID: 173062
  • Federal cost share: $3,005,321.31

El plantel Dr. José N Gándara consta de 3 estructuras y terrenos circundantes fuera de las zonas de inundación en el municipio de Aibonito. La escuela fue construida en 1981. Edificio 1 (40,320 pies cuadrados), edificio 2 (6,864 pies cuadrados) y edificio 3 (81 pies cuadrados). Para este proyecto de recuperación, el solicitante utilizará contratos para las reparaciones de la escuela y para restaurar las instalaciones a su diseño, capacidad y función previas al desastre dentro de la huella existente y con materiales en especie. El solicitante pedirá asistencia al personal del HMP de FEMA para desarrollar la propuesta de mitigación de riesgos adecuada para reconstruir una instalación más resistente en beneficio del sistema de escuelas públicas de Puerto Rico, específicamente para este municipio de Aibonito. Este proyecto fue obligado con su Versión 1 (HMP incluido) en febrero de 2022 y la mejor participación federal en los costos de $3,005,321.31.

FAASt: Puerto Rico Department of Education (PRDE)

Ponce Short Term Group 2

  • Project type: Distribution feeders
  • Project ID: 334329
  • Federal cost share: $672,112

Applicant Intents is having a group of Engineers perform an assessment of the sites to design and develop a plan that will replace poles/structures, damaged cross arms and porcelain insulations in a soundless and stable manner so that they are resilient and meet applicable codes and standards.

Assets involved in this project are - Distribution Feeders - Ponce Short Term Group 2 consists of 6 interconnected and inter-functional distribution feeders (sites) establish the electrical distribution system as follows: Jobos T.C -4003-01, Patillas 4201-01, Coamo Urbano 4603-01, Ponce District Hospital 5012-03 and Aguila 4 kV 5617-02.

All this information will be evaluated by FEMA PA/EHP/HM for the final obligation.

FAASt: Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (PREPA)

Last updated June 2, 2022