Dear OWEB Stakeholders,

In February of this year OWEB staff began discussions regarding grantee insurance coverage and the risk associated with implantation of OWEB projects. A workgroup was formed, which included external stakeholders from watershed councils, soil and water conservation districts, land trusts, and representatives from Oregon Department of Agriculture and Oregon Department of Administrative Services. They helped develop guidance on what types of insurance should be required for all OWEB grantees. The new requirements, described below and in the attached document, take effect May 1, 2017.

Highlights of changes

The OWEB insurance requirements are split into two categories:

1. General insurance.

This coverage is considered best practices for organizations conducting activities commonly implemented by OWEB grantees. The minimum coverage amounts provided below will be required of all OWEB grantees receiving construction, restoration, technical design, assessment, or monitoring project funds from OWEB. In addition, grantees must ensure all contractors and consultants hired under these projects to complete construction, restoration, technical design, assessment, or monitoring activities will also carry the minimum insurance types and amounts described below.

General liability: $1,000,000 per occurrence, $2,000,000 aggregate
Auto liability: $1,000,000 combined single limit

The minimum insurance requirements do not apply to contractors engaged in the following types of activities: facilitation, data analysis, web design, etc. Contractor insurance limits do not apply to landowners when the grantee is contracting with the landowner to perform work on the landowner’s property.

2. Specialized insurance.

This will be required for projects that carry a greater risk to the organization, organization’s employees, volunteers, and the community. The types of projects considered higher risk are listed in the attached document. It is the grantee’s responsibility to assess the risk of projects carrying a greater risk and ensure the organization has the appropriate insurance coverage types and amounts for these projects.

Implementation

These new insurance requirements take effect in May 1, 2017. The insurance requirements will be implemented through a new Exhibit in the grant agreement.

How do I learn more?

See the documents on OWEB Forms page

Contact Courtney Shaff at courtney.shaff@oregon.gov or 503-986-0046 if you have additional questions.

• Insurance-Requirements.pdf