BOR-MP-19-N001 NOI.pdf

Reclamation NOI

Template version date 06/2018

NOTICE OF INTENT TO AWARD

This notice is not a request for applications. This provides public notice of the Bureau of

Reclamation’s intention to fund the following project activities without full and open competition.

ABSTRACT

Opportunity

Number

BOR-MP-19-N001

Project Title Friant-Kern Canal Capacity Correction Project

Recipient Friant Water Authority

Anticipated

Total Project Costs $9,837,644

Anticipated

Federal Amount $7,852,703

Anticipated

Completion Date September 30, 2020

Statutory Authority P.L. 111-11, Sec. 10004(b)(2), Sec. 10201(a)(1)(b) and Sec. 10203(a);

P.L. 114-322, Sec. 4007(b)(2)

CFDA Number 15.555

Reclamation Point of Contact Kellye Kennedy; kkennedy@usbr.gov

SUMMARY OF PROJECT ACTIVITIES

Friant is undertaking evaluations of potential conveyance and operational improvements to the

Friant-Kern Canal (FKC) to address original design and subsidence induced capacity reductions.

The FKC has been subject to regional subsidence for several years. This subsidence-induced capacity reduction is most prevalent in the FKC Middle Reach (MP 88 and MP 122). Following the severe drought of 1977 Reclamation performed corrective action work in 1979 by raising the liner through a 17-mile long portion of this reach. More recent regional subsidence, including that induced by increased groundwater pumping during the drought period from 2012 through

2016, has caused further subsidence of the FKC and reduced canal capacity to levels that impair water delivery operations.

Specific tasks to be performed include the following:

Immediate Repair Work – To temporarily mitigate further reduction in a capacity. Friant

Water Authority plans to construct immediate works including several miles of liner raise, sealing of bridge underlayment and liner joints, and treating seepage problem areas.

mailto:kkennedy@usbr.gov

Bureau of Reclamation Form, RF-102

12-2011

Subsidence Correction Work – To partially restore lost capacity. This partial restoration could range between 2,000 cfs and 3,500 cfs and is the common operating range below the subsidence restriction.

Capacity Correction Work – To fully restore the original design maximum capacity (up to 4,000 cfs) through the section. This objective is to fully correct the design deficiency for the FKC Middle Reach (MP 88 to MP 122).

Noninterference – To ensure noninterference with existing programs, planned programs, and work being conducted throughout the entire length of the FKC.

Storage – To design and eventually construct long-term alternatives aimed at delivering full operational capabilities during wet season operations, thus increasing the usable storage space at Millerton Reservoir during key times of the water year.

The FKC Subsidence Correction Project includes three identified projects: (1) Upper Reach –

MP 29 (Downstream of Kings River Siphon) to MP 88 (Fifth Avenue Check); (2) Middle Reach

– MP 88 (Fifth Avenue Check) to MP 122 (Lake Wollomes Check); and (3) Lower Reach – MP

122 (Lake Woollomes Check) to MP 152 (Kern River Check), and is designed to address the phased objectives mentioned above and restore the designed conveyance capacity caused by subsidence and design deficiencies from MP 88 to MP 122.

SELECTION JUSTIFICATION

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

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.

The Friant-Kern Canal (FKC) is a Reclamation facility, operated and maintained by the Friant

Water Authority pursuant to Contract No. 8-07-20-X0356, as amended and supplemented, dated

March 1, 1998. The Canal carries water over 151.8 miles in a southerly direction from Millerton

Lake on the San Joaquin River (25 miles northeast of Fresno) to the Kern River, four miles west of Bakersfield, for agricultural and urban uses.

Friant Water Authority (FWA) has been the operating non-federal entity of the since 1986 and as of March 1, 1998, the “Agreement to Transfer the Operation, Maintenance and Replacement

(OM&R) and Certain Financial and Administrative Activities Related to the Friant-Kern Canal and Associated Works” (hereinafter Transfer Agreement) became effective for the Friant Water

Users Authority (FWUA). The Transfer Agreement was assigned to Friant Water Authority

(FWA) on June 30, 2004. Under the Transfer Agreement, Friant Water Authority operates and maintains the FKC with funds collected directly from Friant Division water contractors.

As described above, Friant Water Authority is the responsible entity for OM&R of the FKC for the benefit of all Friant Division contractors receiving water from these facilities. They are in the unique position to be able to represent the interests of all of the water districts in carrying out this scope of work.

Bureau of Reclamation Form, RF-102

12-2011

Friant Water Authority has a unique and detailed understanding of the FKC and its daily operations, maintenance requirements, site specific issues, security and safety knowledge, and access to the site. FWA provides technical expertise on the canal and all appurtenant facilities and can collect and provide detailed data necessary to determine the size and location of reverse pump facilities. FWA field experience operating the canal, including prior capacity reduction correction design and construction activities, is critical input to the design process, providing a reality check of how designs would work on the ground and suggestions for changes that would improve future operation and maintenance. FWA is the local authority for the Friant-Kern Canal

(O&M responsibility) and has such a unique knowledge of the effects subsidence has on the

FKC capacity and is the best position to determine a feasible solution. No other entity could achieve a similar level of familiarity and expertise without first engaging in the lengthy process of studying and analyzing the data acquired thus far.