APEX NOI.doc

United States Department of the Interior

BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT

Financial Assistance

NOTICE OF INTENT TO AWARD

This Funding Announcement is not a request for applications. This announcement is to provide public notice of the Bureau of Land Management’s intention to fund the following project activities without full and open competition.

ABSTRACT

OVERVIEW, RECIPIENT AND BLM SUBSTANTIAL INVOLVEMENT

Background: The Colorado River Basin (CRB) covers about 640,000 sq. km across seven western states. The Colorado River transports between 7-9 million tons of salt annually to the Gulf of California. Irrigation consumes 70% of the Colorado River flow and contributes to salinity in the area. Recent analyses by the Bureau of Reclamation indicate quantifiable damages from excessive salt concentrations are about $382 million per year. Most of the soils in the irrigation districts are developed on the Mancos Shale, suggesting that naturally occurring marine saline soils and regolith can contribute to amplifying anthropogenic salt loads in the CRB. To date, no single model offers capacity of simulating the fate and transport of salt rigorously in a distributed and coupled surface and subsurface hydrological system. There is a need for an integrated modeling tool based on extensively tested public domain models to accurately address the salinity issue in the CRB. There are five models that are considered to be most suitable for representing surface and subsurface hydrologic processes, reactive transport processes, overland flow on a cascade of planes, and mechanistic wind erosion processes that are significant in CRB. The APEX model is a comprehensive water hydrology, soil and land management model used worldwide to examine the impacts of changes on the resilience and sustainability of natural resources. This model can be simulated on multiple spatial scales.

Objectives: The APEX model, a comprehensive water hydrology, soil, and land management model that has been used worldwide to examine the sustainability of natural resources among other issues, is having other components added for the purpose of tracking salts and sediment transport within the Colorado River Basin. A groundwater model will be added to the existing surface water model to represent the entire water column; chemical transport will be added to represent the salt solution and solids present as distributed from BLM lands. Other tools will be used as needed to better understand salinity and sediment transport from within the Colorado River Basin to the Colorado River.

Recipient :Texas A&M University

Program Goals:

· Compiled APEX executable with KINEROS runoff algorithm incorporated along with other components (MODFLOW/RT3D/PHT3D); Compiled APEX-AERO executable

· Compiled APEX-CUTE installer executable

· Updated user manual with an example study

· Updated theory documentation

· Compiled ArcAPEX installer program

· Annual progress reports as required by July 1 per BLM Salinity Program

BLM’s Substantial Involvement:

The BLM's substantial involvement in this cooperative agreement may include, but not be limited to, the following:

· Joint collaboration between the BLM and recipient in carrying out management, development, implementation, and evaluation of the proposed work;

· Training of recipient personnel;

· Review and approval by the BLM of one stage of work prior to the start of the next stage;

· Review and approval by the BLM of modifications or subawards prior to their award;

· Participation in selecting recipient project staff;

· Directing or redirecting of recipient work by the BLM because of relationships to other projects;

· The ability to immediately halt work because of failure to meet agreement objectives; and

· Close monitoring and/or operational involvement in the proposed work.

In addition: The BLM Salinity Coordinator will contribute to and oversee the chemical transport equations and coding algorithms that are prepared on portions of the APEX model. In addition, the BLM Salinity Coordinator will oversee the final approach and test the model final version with physical data that already exists.

SINGLE-SOURCE JUSTIFICATION

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

SINGLE SOURCE POLICY REQUIREMENTS

Department of the Interior Policy (505 DM 2) requires a written justification which explains why competition is not practicable for each single-source award. The justification must address one or more of the following criteria as well as discussion of the program legislative history, unique capabilities of the proposed recipient, and cost-sharing contribution offered by the proposed recipient, as applicable.

In order for an assistance award to be made without competition, the award must satisfy one or more of the following criteria:

(1) Unsolicited Proposal – The proposed award is the result of an unsolicited assistance application which represents a unique or innovative idea, method, or approach which is not the subject of a current or planned contract or assistance award, but which is deemed advantageous to the program objectives;

(2) Continuation – The activity to be funded is necessary to the satisfactory completion of, or is a continuation of an activity presently being funded, and for which competition would have a significant adverse effect on the continuity or completion of the activity;

(3) Legislative intent – The language in the applicable authorizing legislation or legislative history clearly indicates Congress’ intent to restrict the award to a particular recipient of purpose;

(4) Unique Qualifications – The applicant is uniquely qualified to perform the activity based upon a variety of demonstrable factors such as location, property ownership, voluntary support capacity, cost-sharing ability if applicable, technical expertise, or other such unique qualifications;

(5) Emergencies – Program/award where there is insufficient time available (due to a compelling and unusual urgency, or substantial danger to health or safety) for adequate competitive procedures to be followed.

BLM did not solicit full and open competition for this award based the following criteria:

(4) Unique Qualifications – Texas A&M University is uniquely qualified to perform the activities of this project because the university worked on the original model development and is the only organization that can accept programming changes into the formal model code and model documents (theory, user, and training). Additionally, the university is the only organization that can authenticate and accept the new graphical user interface and all added components and modifications to model framework. Due to known codes, programming, development and teamwork, this combination of collaboration is uniquely qualified to expedite the time needed to be successfully efficient and effective to complete this project.

BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT

Financial Assistance (Cooperative Agreements)

PROJECT PROPOSAL

(Suggested Format)

Instructions: A Project Proposal must be submitted with the Standard Form (SF) 424 Application for Federal Assistance for all BLM Assistance Agreements. Complete each section below. Use additional sheets as needed.

Person Submitting Proposal:

Date:

Organization Name:

Agreement or Announcement No.:

Agreement or Announcement Title:

Estimated Period of Performance:

Proposed Project Location:

This work will occur on: ☐ Public Lands ☐ Private Lands ☐ Both Public & Private Lands

YOUR MISSION:

(Describe your mission. Describe why this support is being requested.)

OBJECTIVE:

(Describe your objectives and how these objectives support your mission.)

TECHNICAL APPROACH:

(Describe the details of the project, the procedures to be used, how data will be collected, analyzed, and interpreted, etc. Discuss expected goals and outcomes and how project effectiveness will be measured and evaluated. Include a detailed project work plan narrative and a table such as below to summarize the project schedule.)

PUBLIC BENEFIT:

(Describe how this project benefits the general public.)

QUALIFICATIONS & PAST PERFORMANCE:

(List key personnel and their responsibilities. Describe similar successful projects completed in the past and any unique qualifications your organization may possess.)

BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT

Grants & Cooperative Agreements

BUDGET DETAIL

(Suggested Format - Use Figures from SF-424A)

Instructions: Using the estimated amounts listed on your SF-424A Budget Information form, use this worksheet to provide details of those estimated costs. In the Narrative Boxes, explain the purpose of each cost and provide sufficient detail so costs may be analyzed for reasonableness.

Agreement or Funding Opportunity No.:

Date:

Organization Name:

Project Title:

A) PERSONNEL COSTS (SF-424A Object Class Category 6a.)

Estimated costs of salaries/wages, not including fringe benefits, paid to Recipient employees working directly on this agreement. Indicate Key Personnel with an asterisk (*), provide more detail in the Narrative Box if needed.

(if applicable)

BLM

Funds

A)

TOTAL PERSONNEL COSTS:

(SF-424A Object Class Category 6a. Personnel)

Narrative:

B) FRINGE BENEFIT COSTS (SF-424A Object Class Category 6b.)

Estimated costs of fringe benefits (e.g. health insurance, vacation, FICA, etc.) paid to Recipient employees working on this agreement. List employees/positions below, and their fringe benefit rates as a percentage (%) of their salaries. List what are considered fringe benefits in the Narrative Box.

(BLM Amounts budgeted in Section A above)

(if applicable)

BLM

B)

TOTAL FRINGE BENEFIT COSTS:

(SF-424A Object Class Category 6b. Fringe Benefits)

Narrative:

C) TRAVEL COSTS (SF-424A Object Class Category 6c.)

SUB-TOTAL, LODGING & PER DIEM - The cost of lodging & meals while traveling for agreement activities. Give details and purpose of the travel in the Narrative Box. Current Federal rates may be found online at: http://www.gsa.gov/portal/category/21287.

Proposed Travel

(Lodging & Per Diem)

(if applicable)

BLM

Funds

To:

From:

To:

To:

To:

Example:

Portland, OR

Eugene, OR

Day

SUB-TOTAL, MILEAGE REIMBURSEMENT - The cost of reimbursement for estimated mileage traveled in recipient vehicles for agreement activities. Give details and the purpose of the travel in the Narrative Box. Current Federal mileage reimbursement rates may be found online at: www.GSA.gov. NOTE: Mileage reimbursement rates include all vehicle costs, i.e. fuel, insurance, maintenance, etc.

Proposed Travel

(Mileage Reimbursement)

(if applicable)

BLM

Funds

To:

To:

To:

To:

Example:

Portland, OR

Eugene, OR

Mile

SUB-TOTAL, OTHER TRAVEL COSTS - The costs of airfare, bus fare, car rental, etc., required for agreement activities. Explain the details and the purpose of the costs in the Narrative Box.

Proposed Other

(Travel Reimbursement)

(if applicable)

BLM

Funds

To:

To:

To:

C)

TOTAL TRAVEL COSTS:

(SF-424A Object Class Category 6c. Travel)

Narrative:

D) EQUIPMENT COSTS (SF-424A Object Class Category 6d. Equipment)

The cost of equipment purchased for use on this agreement. Equipment is defined as items with a useful life of more than one (1) year and a cost of $5,000+ per unit. If your organization has a written policy for purchasing equipment, please submit a copy with your application. Explain the need and purpose of the equipment in the Narrative Box below.

(if applicable)

BLM

D)

TOTAL EQUIPMENT COSTS:

(SF-424A Object Class Category 6d. Equipment)

Narrative:

E) SUPPLY COSTS (SF-424A Object Class Category 6e. Supplies) Estimated costs of materials and supplies used directly on this agreement, e.g. safety glasses, work gloves, office supplies, etc. If your organization has a written policy for purchasing supplies, please submit a copy with your application. Explain the purpose of the costs in the Narrative Box below.

(if applicable)

BLM

E)

SUPPLY COST TOTAL:

(SF-424A Object Class Category 6e. Supplies)

Narrative:

F) CONTRACTUAL COSTS (SF-424A Object Class Category 6f. Contractual) Estimated costs of contracted/sub-contracted services and sub-grant/recipient awards. If your organization has a written contracting policy, please submit a copy with your application. Provide contractor names, if available, and explain the details and purposes of the costs in the Narrative Box below. NOTE: Calculation of your Indirect Costs may be affected by contracted and/or pass-through expenses. See Section J) INDIRECT COSTS, for more information.

(if applicable)

BLM

F)

CONTRACTUAL COST TOTAL:

(SF-424A Object Class Category 6f. Contractual)

Narrative:

G) CONSTRUCTION COSTS (SF-424A Object Class Category 6g. Construction) The estimated costs of construction. "Construction" is the intent to construct, alter, or repair (including dredging, excavating, and painting) buildings, structures, or other real property - FAR Part 2 Definitions. Explain the details and purpose of the costs in the Narrative Box below.

(if applicable)

BLM

G)

CONTRUCTION COST TOTAL:

(SF-424A Object Class Category 6g. Construction)

Narrative:

H) OTHER COSTS (SF-424A Object Class Category 6h. Other) Estimated costs which don't fit any other Object Class Category, e.g. duplicating and printing costs, postage and freight, rental of equipment, etc. Explain the details and purpose of the costs in the Narrative Box below.

(if applicable)

BLM

H)

OTHER COSTS TOTAL:

(SF-424A Object Class Category 6h. Other)

Narrative:

I) TOTAL DIRECT COSTS (SF-424A Object Class Category 6i. Sum of 6a.-6h.)

The total of all direct costs applicable to this project.

(if applicable)

BLM

Funds

I)

TOTAL DIRECT COSTS:

(SF-424A Object Class Category 6i. Total, Sum of 6a.-6h.)

J) INDIRECT COSTS (SF-424A Object Class Category 6j. Indirect Charges)

Indirect costs are expenses which cannot be readily identified and charged to a particular project or agreement, e.g. building rent, utilities, office supplies, etc. Such costs are charged to the project as a percentage of the Direct Costs (items A through H above) and this percentage is called the Indirect Cost Rate. If your organization has a Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (NICRA) please submit a copy of the agreement with your application. If your organization has no NICRA, the BLM may allow a "de minimis" indirect cost rate of up to 10% of your Modified Total Direct Costs (MTDC), which are your Direct Costs excluding sub-grant and sub-contract costs in excess of $25,000. See 2 CFR 200.68 Modified Total Direct Cost (MTDC) and 2 CFR 200.414(f) Indirect (F&A) Costs for more information.

If your organization is a Cooperative Ecosystems Studies Unit (CESU) partner, your indirect cost rate will be 17.5% of your NICRA-determined indirect cost base.

Use the Narrative Box below to explain how you calculated your indirect cost base and resulting indirect costs.

Indirect Cost Rate to be used on this Grant (%):

(if applicable)

BLM

Funds

J)

TOTAL INDIRECT COSTS:

(SF-424A Object Class Category 6j. Indirect Charges)

Narrative:

K) TOTALS (SF-424A Object Class Category 6k. TOTALS) The sum total of all Direct and Indirect Costs (Sum of 6i. & 6j.) applicable to this agreement.

(if applicable)

BLM

Funds

K)

TOTAL COSTS:

(SF-424A Object Class Category 6k. TOTALS)

I certify that to the best of my knowledge the costs detailed above are correct and complete and for the purposes set forth in the associated application for Federal Assistance.

Name & Title of Person Completing Budget

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Version May 2016