140R8123Q0070_Sources_Sought_Synopsis_1.pdf

THIS IS A SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE ONLY. THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR

QUOTE. The Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) in Denver, Colorado and the Acquisition Operations Branch (AOB) are performing market research to determine if there is a sufficient number of qualified Small Businesses, (i.e., small, small disadvantaged, woman-owned, Hub Zone, serviced-disabled veteran-owned small business) to set aside a Firm Fixed Price Contract.

Reclamation will use responses to this notice to make the appropriate acquisition decision. The contemplated solicitation will be issued in accordance with FAR Part 13.

Reclamation intends to award a Firm Fixed Price Contract for a peer review of a specific component of the Klamath River Revised Natural Flow Study (Study). This Study will leverage current science, methods, and tools to develop new naturalized streamflow estimates for certain locations in the Klamath River basin. Naturalized streamflow is defined as the streamflow that would have occurred in the absence of agricultural and other development (roads, railroads, municipalities, etc.) and water management. Estimates for the Study are being developed using the historical baseline period October 1980 through September 2020. The Study consists of three phases, corresponding with geographic regions within the basin. Analyses and findings from the Study are likely to inform future planning in the Klamath River basin. The Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) Technical Service Center (TSC), in collaboration with the Klamath Basin Area Office (KBAO), other federal agencies and stakeholders, have developed a scope of work (SOW) to estimate naturalized streamflow at several locations throughout the basin. The naturalized streamflow estimates dataset and documentation will be peer reviewed to ensure quality, transparency and agreement on scientific approaches used.

The Bureau of Reclamation is looking to award a Subject Matter Expert (SME) to conduct a peer review of the evapotranspiration modeling as part of the Study. The peer review shall include a review of methodological choices, model development, including a review of input data, model calibration, results, and documentation. This review shall be based solely on the scientific information provided and not on any agency decision or policy.

The following tasks shall be performed:

1.1. Review of the et-demands model – A dual-crop coefficient et-demands model has been developed at a 1/24th degree spatial resolution to simulate crop consumptive use, effective precipitation, and net irrigation water requirement. This model simulates the diversity of crops found in each grid cell identified by examining all available Cropland Data Layer datasets (2008-2020). Model parameters have been calibrated using a combination of growing season information provided by local irrigation districts, KBAO, and using growing season cycles observed from remote sensing (e.g.

Normalized Difference Vegetation Index). The et-demands model will be reviewed for the following –

1.1.1. the suitability of and uncertainty associated with the input forcing data,

1.1.2. the identification of crops simulated within each grid cell

1.1.3. the suitability of data used for calibration

1.1.4. the calibration of the model

1.1.5. overall model output performance including (but not limited to) simulation of crop evapotranspiration, net irrigation water requirement, and effective precipitation

1.1.6. a discussion of the uncertainty associated with model outputs

1.2. Review of the methods used in developing irrigated agricultural field boundaries and their respective irrigation type – Irrigated agricultural field boundaries have been developed using a range of remote sensing data. Irrigation type has been added as an attribute to each field by year to be used in combination with average irrigation efficiencies by type to estimate total applied water. The dataset does not need to be reviewed in detail, but rather a review of the methods used and data used to identify their suitability to the tasks.

1.3. Review of the OpenET crop evapotranspiration estimates –METRIC has been run using the OpenET system with Landsat data covering the years 1984-2020 to develop field scale estimates of crop evapotranspiration. The OpenET modeling will be reviewed for overall model output performance including the simulation of crop evapotranspiration

1.4. Review of the OpenET wetland evapotranspiration estimates and empirical groundwater evapotranspiration estimates for the historical baseline and the development of wetland evapotranspiration under pre-development conditions – wetland extents by vegetation type and groundwater dependent ecosystems (GDEs) have been identified and mapped, and OpenET METRIC data has been used to develop estimates of wetland evapotranspiration. Pre-development wetland extent by vegetation type has also been mapped and related to existing wetland to develop estimates of pre-development wetland and phreatophyte evapotranspiration.

1.5. Review documentation. The review should answer the following questions. If there is a concern or suggested improvement, recommendations shall be provided on actions that could be taken to alleviate those concerns for each of the following:

1.5.1. Are the goals, definitions, methods, and results understandable and make sense?

1.5.2. Are the methods technically sound?

1.5.3. Are methods appropriately applied and results technically sound?

1.5.4. Are assumptions and uncertainties appropriately characterized?

1.5.5. Are there any additional issues, concerns, or suggestions with this work?

2. PERSONNEL QUALIFICATIONS

2.1. Contractor shall be highly experienced working in the field of evapotranspiration.

2.2. The Contractor shall hold a Doctor of Science or Philosophy degree in water resources engineering or in civil engineering with a focus in water resources.

2.3. The Contractor shall also have experience working with METRIC and the et-demands model.

2.4. The Contractor shall have experience working within the Klamath River Basin to have a baseline understanding of the local hydrology, geology, consumptive use, and water operations.

Work shall be performed at the Contractor’s business location.

The tentative period of performance will start March 30, 2022 and will end September 30, 2024.

Award is currently anticipated in March 2023.

All interested contractors, including small businesses and other than small businesses, who can perform the services listed above shall respond with information describing their interest, capabilities statements, and indicate which small business category for which they qualify (if applicable). The due date for responses to this Sources Sought Notice is at 5:00 pm Eastern Standard Time (EST) on Wednesday, January 25, 2023. Email responses are required. Please email your responses to Contract Specialist Edward Bradford at ebradford@usbr.gov.

The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) 541620 – Environmental Consulting Services, which contains a size standard of $16.5 million, is applicable to this acquisition. Interested firms are reminded that in accordance with FAR 4.12, prospective contractors shall complete electronic annual representations and certifications and in conjunction with FAR 4.11, are required to be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) at the time an offer or quotation is submitted.