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.

Caguas Short Term Group 4

  • Project type: Distribution feeders
  • Project ID: 334488
  • Federal cost share: $83,912

This project is part of the feeder systems in the Caguas Region. Feeders are a subset of projects identified in Caguas Short Term projects in the PREPA 10-Year Infrastructure Plan.

The specific facilities included in this project are poles and structures (including their foundations), framing and insulators, load break switches (manual and automated), capacitor banks, voltage regulators, transformers (including lightning arresters and fuse cut-outs), conductors, guy wires, anchoring, grounding assemblies, underground cable, underground cable systems, fault interrupting equipment (fuses, reclosers, and sectionalizes), and any other associated components. Feeders will undergo comprehensive distribution modeling, analysis, and simulation to validate planning criteria.

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

FAASt: Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (PREPA)

35840 Maria M Simmons De Rivera

  • Project ID: 335264
  • Federal cost share: $2,782,720.04

The Maria M Simmons De Rivera campus consists of two structures and surrounding grounds outside of flood zones in Vieques Municipality. The school was constructed in 2001. For this recovery project the applicant will utilize contracts for school’s repairs and to restore facilities back to pre-disaster design, capacity, and function within the existing footprint and with in-kind materials. The Applicant will repair roof water proofing system for three school building within the campus, electrical wiring to improve lighting system, repair and or remove/replace windows, doors, and steel gates damaged by heavy winds and wind driven debris.

The applicant will request assistance from FEMA HMP staff to develop the proper Hazard mitigation proposal to reconstruct a more resilient facility for the benefit of the Puerto Rico public school system specifically for this Vieques municipality. The approximate estimated project cost for this project is 3 million USD including mitigation cost. This project was obligated with its Version 1 (HMP included) back in February 2022 with and best federal cost share of $2,782,720.04.

FAASt: Puerto Rico Department of Education (PRDE)

Rehabilitation of Hormigueros and Mayaguez Trunk Sewer

  • Project ID: 180346
  • Federal cost share: $21,000,642.36

The Puerto Rico Aqueduct and Sewer Authority (PRASA) proposes rehabilitating the Hormigueros-Mayaguez Sanitary Trunk Sewers (TS) located in the municipality of Hormigueros and Mayaguez. These trunk sewers convey raw sewage to the Mayagüez Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) for treatment.

The system is facing problems related to the Hurricane María event of 2017. These concrete sewer pipes suffered widespread damages caused by flooding, wind, flood transported debris, wind driven rain, wind driven debris, falling trees, sediment accumulation, power interruption, and other damages caused by the hurricane. The damaged components and equipment are necessary for operation of sewer system that deliver wastewater to the WWTPs. Damaged equipment includes (but is not limited to) pipes (gravity and pressure), manholes, risers, covers, siphons, pipe supports, and eroded topsoil and roadways. As part of the proposed project to rehabilitate the mentioned system PRASA will use a trenchless method to install an interior liner to the damaged pipe. This project will benefit the south part of the municipality of Hormigueros-Mayaguez by eliminating any potential risks to life and health, and potential contamination hazard to nearby water bodies.

FAASt: Puerto Rico Aqueduct and Sewer Authority (PRASA)

Cambalache Power Plant Permanent Repairs

  • Site type: Generation
  • Project ID: 663383
  • Federal cost share: $995,587

The Cambalache Power Plant in Arecibo sustained damages in the following areas, that needed immediate repair to bring the units back on-line as quickly as possible: Sanitary Water Pumping System, Hydraulic Equipment, Different areas of the Plant, Different A/C of the Plant, Generation Plant Fences, Storm Water Pump System, Fuel Transfer Pump, Cable Trays, and Lighting.

FAASt: Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (PREPA)

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)

Luquillo Streetlighting

  • Site type: Distribution
  • Project ID: 542517
  • Federal cost share: $10,600,000

As a result of Hurricane Maria, it was estimated that 70% of the ~500,000 streetlights in Puerto Rico were damaged because of this event. Many of these damaged streetlights (estimated at ~343,000) require repair or replacement to bring up to applicable Codes and Standards.

Damages include, but are not limited to, broken or missing lighting (luminaires), broken or damaged electrical pipes, pipe connectors, junction boxes and grounding rods that ensure grid capacity, broken poles, and pole arms, broken or missing photocells, streetlighting wiring, circuit contactors and circuit breakers and their corresponding electric housing for powering supply line along Luquillo Distribution Streetlighting area.

FAASt: Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (PREPA)

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