ALTERNATE CARE SITES (ACS)
In the event of a disaster or public health emergency, Alternate Care Sites (ACS) may be created to enable healthcare providers to provide medical care for injured or sick patients or continue care for chronic conditions in non-traditional environments. These ACS may include locations that need to be converted (e.g. convention centers, warehouse, stadiums etc.) or they may include facilities like mobile field hospitals. Below is an example of a parking garage being utilized as a non-acute ACS.
Alternate Care Sites Implementation Process
Below is a general senescence often utilized by several federal agency, your situations may differ.
1. Identify potential sites
Review real estate assets. Use epidemiological and hospital data to determine where ACSs will be needed. Determine the State’s intended strategy for use of ACSs.
2. Conduct site assessments
Potential sites should be assessed for suitability as ACSs. State will need to prioritize which ones should be selected for use as an ACS. USACE and HHS may provide technical assistance with Site Assessments if tasked by FEMA.
3. Secure funding
The establishment and operation of Alternate Care Sites by state, local, tribal and territorial entities and certain private non-profit organizations (eligible applicants) to expand capacity for COVID-19 are eligible emergency protective measures under FEMA's Public Assistance (PA) Program. Eligible applicants may perform or contract for the work directly and seek reimbursement through PA or submit a resource request for Direct Federal Assistance (DFA) to FEMA through the state, tribe (if direct recipient) or territory. Both options are cost shared.
4. Secure property
States are responsible for securing the Real Estate, and often identify Real Estate they already own. If they will be receiving Federal Assistance, they must provide the lands, easements, and rights of way necessary to accomplish the approved work to the construction agent.
5. Convert site for healthcare use
If any construction will be required to convert the facility for medical use, prepare a design and issue a contract for this work. A State or municipality could use the materials below as a starting point to issue the construction contracts. Alternately, FEMA could assign the mission to USACE, who could issue the contract and manage the work.
The General Scope of Work below will support a broad range of contracting mechanisms and is intended to be combined with one of the performance work statements and supplemented with State or Federal contract clauses as applicable. The performance work statements are based on Department of Defense Unified Facilities Guide Standards, and any discrepancies with Local/ State medical standards should be resolved between the State/ local governments and the construction agent. They cover conversion of the bare rooms with no furnishings or equipment.
Design and Construction Submittals