Freese and Nichols, JV Partners Support FEMA on Flood Risk Resilience Under 5-year, $300 million Contract

Freese and Nichols will provide engineering services as part of a joint venture to help the Federal Emergency Management Agency improve flood risk resilience across FEMA’s Zone 1, which stretches from New England to Virginia and includes the Great Lakes region, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.

In this image, modeling provides a visual representation of hazard, showing areas of highest flood risk (in red).

Michael Baker International is leading the Advancing Resilience in Communities Joint Venture (ARC JV) supporting FEMA’s administration of the National Flood Insurance Program. The ARC JV also includes Wood, Moffatt & Nichol, Tetra Tech, NV5 Geospatial and more than 20 subconsultants.

Under a five-year, $300 million maximum value indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity contract for Production and Technical Services, the ARC JV will provide technical expertise that includes generating/evaluating flood hazard and risk information, along with mitigation, planning, flood mapping and modeling activities. The contract falls under the Federal Insurance and Mitigation Administration’s Risk Mapping, Assessment and Planning program (Risk MAP).

“Freese and Nichols has been assisting state and municipal clients for 127 years, integrating solutions across all disciplines to identify flood risk, support flood-resilient growth, implement mitigation solutions, and support disaster response activities,” said Krista Bethune Melnar, Freese and Nichols Principal and Stormwater Practice Leader. “We look forward to working with our JV partners in supporting FEMA’s vital work to reduce flood risks across vulnerable communities.”

Through the Risk MAP program, FEMA works with federal, state, tribal and local partners across the nation to identify flood risk and promote informed planning and development practices to help reduce that risk. The ARC JV team will oversee project management and integration of the mapping projects, hazard mitigation and disaster support throughout Zone 1, which covers geographic areas affected primarily by North Atlantic storm events, severe winter storms and coastal storm surge.

Zone 1 encompasses the following FEMA regions:

  • FEMA Headquarters in Washington, D.C.
  • Region 1: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont
  • Region 2: New Jersey, New York, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands
  • Region 3: District of Columbia, Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia
  • Region 5: Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Wisconsin