Force Account

Environmental Improvement Fund

Environmental Improvement Fund (EIF) loan recipients may request reimbursement for project related force account work. An EIF project manager must review and approve proposed force account work prior to preparing the Financial Assistance Agreement. The department may approve financial assistance for force account work if the applicant submits an executed "Environmental Improvement Funds Force Account Certification" (Form 8700-245).

"Force Account Work" means the work a municipality performs using its own employees or equipment for project planning, design, construction, construction-related activities, inspections, repairs or improvements to a treatment works or structural urban BMP, a water system, a site or facility.

In general, costs eligible for force account consideration include costs for work that is typically contracted out but can be more economically performed by qualified municipal staff. For example, application preparation, planning, design, landscaping and inspection costs may be included as force account if performed by municipal staff.

Costs that are ineligible for force account consideration are ordinary operating expenses of local government such as salaries and expenses of elected officials and on-staff municipal attorneys, or an annual financial audit.

If the department approves force account work, the municipality is required to have a financial management system that provides accountability and control for all financial transactions associated with the municipality's EIF project ( see Financial Management).

Contact Debra Olson at (608) 266-5889 or debra.olson@wisconsin.gov to request a copy of the Force Account Certification form.