SEDA-COG Seeking Subcontractors for Weatherization Assistance Program
Request for Proposals: Weatherization Subcontractors
FOR QUALIFIED RESIDENTIAL ELECTRICAL, PLUMBING, HVAC, ASBESTOS ABATEMENT, MOLD REMOVAL, RADON MITIGATION AND ROOFERS.
Project: WEATHERIZATION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
For ongoing services in Columbia, Juniata, Lycoming, Luzerne, Mifflin, Montour, Northumberland, Perry, Snyder, and Union counties.
This project is fully supported by grant funds that are administered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) in conjunction with the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED), Pennsylvania Department of Health and Human Services (DHS), Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency (PHFA), and SEDA-Council of Governments (SEDA-COG).
Scope of Work
SEDA-COG is seeking to establish and maintain a list of qualified contractors who can perform and install electrical, heat system repair and replacement measures, radon mitigation, mold removal, asbestos abatement and minor roofing repairs in program‐eligible homes located in Columbia, Juniata, Lycoming, Luzerne, Mifflin, Montour, Northumberland, Perry, Snyder, and Union counties. The Agency reserves the right to accept or reject contractors for the contract year based on the number of active contractors already in its contractor pool. Professional Service contractors (electricians, plumbers, HVAC, radon mitigators, asbestos abatement contractors, mold removal contractors, and roofing contractors) will submit hourly billing rate information as part of the RFP. The duration of a contract awarded as a result of this Proposal will be for one year from November 1, 2022 through October 31, 2023.
Subcontractors that demonstrate qualifications and meet all the requirements will be considered a qualified contractor and may be eligible for a contract to provide services as required by SEDA-COG. Subcontractors SHALL BE RESPONSIBLE for third party post-installation inspections of the work completed, if applicable. Being on the contractor list and having an active contract DOES NOT guarantee any work.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR CONSIDERATION:
- Subcontractors wishing to be considered for Weatherization work must submit Subcontractor Information Form and executed Agreement for Subcontractor Services for Activities.
- Subcontractors will be required to carry all applicable certifications required to perform their applicable scope of work.
- It is required that all prospective Subcontractors visit the following websites and read the Core Competencies for the Weatherization Assistance Program prior to requesting program participation. The document provides guidance for the Subcontractor of the expectations and standards required for participation in the Weatherization program. The website is located at https://nascsp.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/wap-core-competencies.pdf.
- Also, the Standard Weatherization Specifications may be found at https://sws.nrel.gov/. Subcontractors working this program will be held to these standardrequirements. All work performed under this contract will be subject to a Quality Control Inspection by a SEDA-COG inspector and held to the standards set forth by the Standard Weatherization Specifications as stated above. Installation or repair services must pass the SEDA-COG Quality Control Inspection and if applicable, receive all third-party inspection approvals prior to the release of any payment for the services rendered by the contractor.
- Any Subcontractor who is found listed on the Federal Debarment List will not be allowed to participate.
- Subcontractors will be required to carry Commercial General Liability Insurance with SEDA-COG listed as a certificate holder and additional insured as follows: $1,000,000 each occurrence, $1,000,000 personal and advertising injury, $2,000,000 Products-Complete Operations, and $2,000,000 Aggregate Limit. Contractors shall also be listed as a PA Home Improvement Contractor licensee through the Office of the Attorney General.
- Once a Subcontractor is accepted, they are subject to all the terms and conditions of the contracts obtained by SEDA-COG. Those terms and conditions become an addendum to SEDA-COG’s contract with the Subcontractor and/or its contractor(s).
- The Subcontractor is required to submit detailed analysis, testing, photos, and documentation to SEDA-COG. Per state guidelines, SEDA-COG is required to receive detailed invoicing for any services provided.
- Inquiries should be directed to Christine Bohart, WX Assistant at 570-522-7219. Application information can be found on our website www.SEDA-COG.org, Request for Proposals / Quotes sections. They may also be picked up at our Weatherization office at 201 Furnace Road, Lewisburg, PA 17837.
All proposals must be submitted in a sealed envelope and delivered either by mail or in person to SEDA-COG WX, 201 Furnace Road, Lewisburg, PA 17837 by Friday, October 14th, 2022, no later than 2:00pm and shall be marked, “WX Subcontractor Work”. All submitted applications will become the exclusive property of SEDA-COG.
For more information, please contact Elaine Stauder, communications coordinator, SEDA-Council of Governments, at 570-522-7249 or estauder@seda-cog.org
SEDA-COG… Building Strong Economies & Strong Communities
Bloomsburg Municipal Authority Announces Sewer Rate Restructuring
The sewer rate schedule for customers of the Town of Bloomsburg will change effective January 1, 2023 (the first billing period that begins after this date). In an effort to develop a rate schedule that allows the Municipal Authority to meet its financial obligations to operate the local wastewater treatment plant, the Municipal Authority partnered with its engineering firm, Rettew, Inc. to conduct a comprehensive sewer rate study. The results of this study identified the need to establish a base rate for sewer service for town customers. The wastewater treatment plant and pump stations incur expenses regardless of the volume of wastewater that is treated. Operations at the wastewater treatment plant and pump stations must be maintained 24 hours a day, 7 days a week in order to meet the state and federal requirements for permitting of the treatment plant. For this reason, a minimum base service rate of $30.00 will be assessed monthly for all properties connected to the Bloomsburg sewer system. The minimum service fee will no longer include up to 2,000 gallons of consumption. Customers will pay for consumption using the following rate schedule in addition to the monthly base service rate effective January 1, 2023:
Water consumption is determined by information provided by Veolia Water PA. Veolia Water PA is the water service provider for customers with public water in the Town of Bloomsburg. Veolia Water PA is not affiliated with the Bloomsburg Municipal Authority and is a separate utility with a separate rate schedule for water service.
The new rate schedule will result in a decrease in cost for those using less than 2,000 gallons of water monthly. For example, customers who currently use zero gallons of water pay $34.00 per month. Under the new schedule, these customers will pay $30.00. Those using 1,000 gallons currently pay $34.00 and with the new schedule, those customers will pay $32.50.
For customers using over 2,000 gallons, the increase will vary based on water consumption. Most residential users of water will see rates increase by $1.00/month (those using less than 10,000 gallons of water monthly) and users in excess of 10,000 gallons monthly could experience increases of 3-22% dependent on water usage.
All properties connected to the sewer system in the Town of Bloomsburg will pay the minimum monthly service fee regardless of whether the property has water service. If there is no water consumption at the property as reported by Veolia Water PA, the property will be charged just the $30.00 minimum monthly service fee.
Contact the Municipal Authority office at 570-784-5422 with any questions.
The Chamber of Commerce is also interested in receiving information from businesses on cost increases. Details can be shared with Fred Gaffney at 570-784-2522 or fgaffney@columbiamontourchamber.com.
For more, check out Adobe's member listing, here.
Introducing the Newly Merged Five-County Susquehanna Valley United Way
The Official Merger of Greater Susquehanna Valley and Columbia-Montour United Ways.
Bloomsburg and Sunbury, PA, September 16, 2022 – The Greater Susquehanna Valley and Columbia-Montour United Ways are now Susquehanna Valley United Way. The name was released at United Way’s merger celebration and campaign kick-off on Thursday night. It was also announced that the newly merged organization will award $464,869.83 in grants to 57 local Funded Partners for 2022 and currently has $3,634,409.55 in active and pending grants.
“During our hybrid year, as a combined organization, we have already seen an increase in grant funding due to our expanded footprint,” said Adrienne Mael, President and CEO of Susquehanna Valley United Way. “Our two organizations have been collaborating and sharing programs, such as United in Recovery and the Revolving Car Loan, for over five years. This merger allows us to be more competitive in going after grant dollars that will benefit our community.”
The boards of directors for both organizations voted unanimously on June 22, 2022, to join forces. The merger, which was official as of September 1, follows a thorough and thoughtful process that begin in June of last year.
“The entire mission of the United Way is to better the lives of those we serve, and as a board of directors, we felt that by coming together we could greater serve our region,” said Liz Masich, Board President of Susquehanna Valley United Way. “As of today, we are now five-counties, working and Living United.”
Susquehanna Valley United Way serves over 260,000 residents across Columbia, Montour, Northumberland, Snyder, and Union counties. The merged United Way will continue to champion the unique identities of each community. At the same time, a consolidated organization will have a great ability to address community needs that are common across the region, such as transportation, youth mental health, and substance use disorder prevention, intervention, and community building.
“The opioid epidemic has really hit our region hard over the past 20 years and overdose deaths are on the rise,” said Olivia Oden, Stigma Reduction and Education Coordinator for United in Recovery. “This merger truly solidifies us in the five-county footprint and allows us access to more resources. We are now able to go into communities we may not have had a strong presence in and provide education and resources.”
Leaders from both Greater Susquehanna Valley and Columbia-Montour United Ways will serve on the new board and operating committees ensuring local stakeholders and community involvement from businesses, organizations, and individuals from both regions. Staff will continue to work from existing regional offices in Bloomsburg and Sunbury.
United Way’s mission remains the same - to mobilize the caring power of communities to advance the common good. Through community listening and data collection, United Way works to understand the needs of the local community. Then, brings partners and experts together to collaborate on solutions with the goal of ensuring all residents have access to the basic building blocks of a good life. As a consolidated organization, United Way will be able to increase efficiencies, reduce duplications, build on collective strengths, and is expected to mobilize human and financial resources more effectively across the region.
"The issues faced by our communities in the areas of Health, Education, and Financial Stability do not end at county lines,” Mael said. “Together, we can fundraise more effectively and access grants more competitively making us a stronger organization better equipped to address the needs of our local communities throughout the region.”
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About Susquehanna Valley United Way:
The United Way improves lives by mobilizing the caring power of communities to advance the common good. We fight for the Health, Education, and Financial stability of every person in our community and are located at 228 Arch Street, Sunbury, PA, and 36 East Main Street, Bloomsburg, PA. To learn more, please visit www.svuw.org.
Member News – September 14, 2022
Did You Miss the Tipped Wages Webinar? We've Got It
Restaurants and tipped wage employers can access up-to-date Labor & Industry information from the recorded PRLA webinar here. Here's the presentation from the Department of Labor & Industry too!
Community Giving Foundation Bloomsburg Highlights Giving Stories
Read more about the stories that celebrate the philanthropic spirit of the Bloomsburg area.
Knoebels Amusement Resort Wins Three Awards
Congratulations to Knoebels Amusement Resort, who celebrated a few big wins this week. First, at the Golden Ticket Awards, hosted in San Antonio, TX, Amusement Today named Mr. Dick Knoebel a “Gold Ticket Legend”. Knoebels cleaned up at this year’s awards, taking home prizes for Best Wooden Roller Coaster (The Phoenix) and Best Food (for the 19th time in 22 years).
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TKO Graphix Recognizes 20 Years of Service 
Congratulations to Becky Maners, Accounts Receivable/Credit Manager, on 20 years at TKO Graphix!
Cub Scout Fun Day at Montour Preserve is Sept. 17
The Columbia-Montour Council, BSA invites all interested youth to join them for hiking, exploring, boating and picnicking at the Montour Preserve on September 17 between 10am and 2pm. There's lots of ways to connect with local Scouts.
Brainstorming Session on Childcare as Workforce Strategy Sept. 19
The MADE in Central PA Livability Action Team is hosting a brainstorming session Monday, September 19th from 10:00am to 12:00pm via Zoom to discuss childcare. Read more.
Medicare & Medicaid Basics Event Sept. 20
Steinbacher, Goodall & Yurchak are offering “Medicare & Medicaid 101: Understanding the Basics”, on September 20, 2022 at 4:30pm in Williamsport. Register here.
Sept. 29 Webinar: Cybersecurity: What the Nonprofit Executive Needs to Know
McKonly & Asbury to offer ways to mitigate and reduce risks to nonprofits. Register here.
Geisinger Provides Resources About Annual Flu Shots
Check out Geisinger's flu resource page, which includes FAQ's, walk-in and drive-thru locations.
Susquehanna Valley Medical Specialites To Host Four Flu Clinics
The scheduled flu clinics are all 8:15 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and 1:15 p.m. to 3:15 p.m. The dates we have chosen so far are 9/14/22, 9/21/22, 9/23/22 and 10/4/22. Both the regular dose and (for senior patients) the high dose are available. Request an appointment through the MyChart portal or contact our Family Practice staff by calling 570-784-7300 ext. 201.
First Columbia Bank & Trust Co. to Host Photography Competition
Competition categories include animals/wildlife, flowers, close-up/macro, nature/landscape, and black & white. Registration and digital photo submission due October 1. Download the competition packet here.
The Bloomsburg Public Library Strategic Planning Survey
The Bloomsburg Public Library needs your help completing a strategic planning survey.
Local United Way Named “Most Supportive Nonprofit”
Congratulations to the United way of Columbia and Montour Counties, as they were named the “Most Supportive Nonprofit” at the inaugural Columbia Montour Pride Community Service Awards.
CareerLink To Host Employer Seminars
Check out these additional business training seminars.
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Brainstorming Session on Childcare as Workforce Strategy To Take Place Sept. 19
The MADE in Central PA Livability Action Team is focused on finding innovative solutions to make our region more livable to increase the pool of qualified available workers. Childcare has come up again and again in discussions about recruitment and retention, especially in the post-pandemic landscape. Across the region dozens of centers have closed, wait-lists are up to 18 months long, and a labor shortage of qualified care providers have all contributed to the decreasing ability of our communities to take care of the families that keep us in business.
There are state and regional efforts to engage employers in the effort to address the severe need for more access to childcare and higher quality early childhood education opportunities. As manufacturers, our workforce is uniquely impacted by the childcare crisis, and we need to organize ourselves to connect with these efforts to have our voices heard and needs met. We need coverage not just for the typical 9-5 workers, but also for shifts outside of traditional hours. We need care in locations convenient to our workforce, making this a regional issue rather than something a single employer can tackle alone. That’s why we are inviting you to be part of a solution that makes sure our industry is represented in the efforts to change the way things are done.
MADE in Central PA is hosting a brainstorming session Monday, September 19th from 10:00am to 12:00pm via Zoom. During this session we will discuss childcare as a workforce strategy, the business case for investing in childcare, and brainstorm what an ideal solution for employers would look like on a local and regional scale. The goal of this meeting is to establish a vision for employer involvement in regional childcare and early childhood education opportunities.
Register to attend and get the Zoom link using the Eventbrite here.
UC Trust Fund Balance Projected to Avoid Employer Tax Increases
New Unemployment Compensation Trust Fund projections show Pennsylvania employers are well-positioned to avoid federal tax increases that were feared to be triggered next year.
Pennsylvania’s UC Trust Fund was depleted early in the pandemic when business shutdown orders and collapse of the economy prompted historic demand on the system. The Commonwealth was ultimately forced to borrow from the federal government and employers in states with debt after two years are subject to automatic tax increases that rise annually until the debt is paid off. For Pennsylvania employers, this would have meant paying hundreds of millions of dollars beyond the billions in UC taxes already paid every year.
Projections in early 2022 estimated the need for ongoing borrowing from the federal government over the next several years to the tune of nearly $1.5 billion. The PA Chamber successfully advocated for the legislature to utilize federal American Rescue Plan dollars to replenish the trust fund, though it was feared more funding might be necessary to avoid borrowing and tax increases.
Over the last several months, however, as hiring has increased and UC claims have decreased, the trust fund status has gradually improved.
Now, the PA Department of Labor & Industry reports that the outstanding loan balance has been paid in full and that they project “no need to incur additional Title XII loans from the federal government between now and January 1,2023.” In other words, employers avoid tax increases that would have gone into effect in 2023.
The PA Chamber will continue to closely monitor the situation.
U.S. Chamber Calls for Urgent Action on Railroad Negotiations to Avoid ‘National Economic Disaster’
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Suzanne P. Clark issued the following statement regarding the negotiations between the nation’s six largest freight railroads and twelve unions.
“A national rail strike would be an economic disaster – freezing the flow of goods, emptying shelves, shuttering workplaces, and raising prices for families and businesses alike, but that is exactly what is likely to happen in less than four days. To avoid a strike and the catastrophic economic impacts that would follow, one of three things needs to happen: the remaining unions who have not agreed to a deal need to join the ones who have; an agreement to extend the current ‘cooling off’ period must be reached; or Congress intervenes, as it has in prior situations. If action is not taken, the nation’s rail service will come to a halt, the negative impacts of which cannot be understated.”
Today the U.S. Chamber sent the following letter to Congress, urging them take immediate action and implement the recommendations of President Biden’s Presidential Emergency Board if the railroads and unions are unable to come to a voluntary agreement.
Surprising Statistics About Print Media
It’s easy to assume that print marketing has lost its relevance in the digital era. This isn’t so. In fact, there are compelling statistics to warrant advertising and marketing in print as a key part of your business strategy. As a Chamber, we’re compelled to pursue the options that help your business to tell its story. That’s why we offer to the public the quarterly “Business Matters” publication in partnership with Press Enterprise, and why we continue to offer as a key member benefit the opportunity to advertise in ChamberPack, the direct mail packet sent nearly each month to our members.
As more and more consumers are trading traditional print materials for smartphones, tablets, and laptops, businesses are also moving their advertisements online. Why do we continue to offer these publications? Here are a few statistics that might convince you that print is still important:
Compelling Statistics
- 70% of households with an income above $100,000 are newspaper readers (Mansi Media, n.d.)
- 95% of people under 25 years old read magazines (Top Media Advertising, n.d.).
- 82% of consumers trust print ads the most when making a purchase decision (Burstein, 2017).
- Print readers usually spend 20 minutes or more with their publication in hand, while a typical visitor to a digital news site sticks around for less than five minutes (Heitman, n.d.).
- Print ads require 21% less cognitive effort to process (R.C. Brayshaw, 2020).
- By combining print and digital ads, it will make online campaigns 400% more effective (Top Media Advertising, n.d.).
While it’s easy for marketers to jump on the bandwagon and put all their money on digital marketing, a closer look at these digital vs print advertising statistics show us that print ads provide better results when it comes to brand recall and response rate.
- Nearly 80% of consumers act on direct printed mail advertisements compared to 45% of consumers that act on electronic advertisements (Potochny, 2017).
- Print and direct mail marketing bring a 9% customer response rate compared to other digital marketing channels, which hover around 1% or less (R.C. Brayshaw, 2020).
- Print ads generate a 20% higher motivation response—even more so if it appeals to more senses beyond touch (R.C. Brayshaw, 2020).
- If you’re curious about brand marketing, you’ll be happy to know that advertising in print drives higher levels of brand recall vs. digital (77% vs. 46%) (Newsworks, 2020).
- 92% of 18- to 23-year-olds find it easier to read print over digital content (Forer, 2017).
- The response rate for direct-mail marketing is 37% higher than the email rate (Medina, 2019).
- Digital ads are less recalled than print ads but they are more effective than print ads at converting engaged readers into action takers (64% vs 55% for print) (Newsworks, 2020).
Print Options from Your Chamber
Each quarter, the Chamber partners with the Press Enterprise to publish “Business Matters”, a special edition of the newspaper driven by Chamber content and our members’ news. Sent to more than 21,000 readers of the Press Enterprise, this edition allows the Chamber and its members the opportunity to reach a wide audience in Columbia and Montour Counties in the most traditional of communications mediums. To put this out each quarter, the partnership works like this: the Chamber assists in soliciting and laying out the content from its members, while the Press Enterprise offers the ads that pay for the edition to go to print. Said another way, content submitted to the Chamber to layout is free to our members, while the ad rates are competitive.
Also in print, your Chamber regularly assembles “ChamberPack”, a nearly monthly packet of flyers printed by members, assembled by the Chamber, and mailed directly to our members’ doors. The price of advertising helps us to cover the cost of postage for the packets.
We’d love it if you would consider submitting news and content for both publications, working with the Press Enterprise for your Business Matters advertising, and directly with the Chamber for ChamberPack. For more information, contact Chris Berleth, Vice President, at cberleth@columbiamontourchamber.com.
The deadline to participate in the next Business Matters is September 27, for the October edition. The Chamber's next ChamberPack is set to be mailed in November. Check out the ChamberPack Reservation Form.
Chamber Releases 2022-2023 Membership Directory
The Chamber is pleased to announce that the 2022-2023 Chamber Membership Directory is now available in digital form on the website and that distribution to member businesses and the public will begin on Monday, September 19, 2022.
While featuring the more than 400 members of the Chamber, the 2022-2023 Directory serves as an essential resource about the community, and includes information about our area, local demographics, local human services contacts and the vision and mission of The Chamber.
Thanks to the outstanding work of the Chamber’s long-time publication partner, Victor Koons Graphic Design, the release date affords the Chamber the opportunity to feature printed guides at the Bloomsburg Fair, in partnership with the Columbia Montour Visitor’s Bureau.
Remarking on the quality of the final product, Chamber President Fred Gaffney said, “Victor Koons Graphic Design has once again produced a high-quality
publication that represents The Chamber, our members, and the area well. Thank you to Victor, Lois, and all the members that supported this year’s Directory.”
While every Chamber member will receive a copy of the Directory, member businesses are more than welcome to request additional copies for their human resources departments, customer spaces and more. To request additional copies, please contact Chris Berleth, Vice President, at cberleth@columbiamontourchamber.com.