NOI_BOR-UC-17-N020.pdf

Bureau of Reclamation Form, RF-102

02-2016

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

ABSTRACT

Funding

Announcement N/A

Project Title Linking morpho-dynamic and biological-habitat conditions on the

Middle Rio Grande

Recipient Colorado State University

Principal

Investigator /

Program Manager

Dr. Pierre Julien

Dr. Thomas Turner

Anticipated

Federal Amount $1,425,335.00

Anticipated

Non-Federal

Amount

There is no cost-share requirement for this grant.

New Award or

Continuation?

New Award

Anticipated Period of Performance 2 years

Award Instrument Cooperative Agreement

Statutory Authority Upper Colorado and San Juan River Basins Endangered Fish Recovery

Programs, Public Law 106-392 as amended through P.L. 112-270

CFDA # and Title 15.529 Upper Colorado and San Juan River Basins Endangered Fish

Recovery

Single Source

Justification

Criteria Cited

(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;

(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;

Reclamation Point of Contact Ossie Taylor – (801) 423-3806

12-2016

OVERVIEW

The Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish Recovery Program is a collaborative program aimed at recovery of endangered fish while allowing water development to continue in the Upper

Colorado and San Juan River Basins. The actions taken under this project will ensure endangered species existence are not jeopardized.

In recent decades, the Rio Grande river has experienced significant morphological changes resulting from a scarcity of water (frequency, duration, and intensity of events), reduced peak flows, increased lower flow durations, and important sediment issues. These changes have created more uniformity in the physical attributes of the Rio Grande, resulting in more homogeneous river morphology. Over the same period of time, changes have occurred in the primary production that help sustain fish populations, such as the endangered Rio Grande Silvery

Minnow (RGSM). Review of previous studies on the Middle Rio Grande (MRG) indicate there is a need to make linkages between the known river morphology and the biological conditions on the MRG. Due to conditions in the area and limited water resources, this project will help gain insight into the MRG.

The goal of this study is to perform an integrated multi-disciplinary analysis to improve the understanding of the changing morpho-dynamics of the MRG between Bernalillo, NM and the

Elephant Butte Reservoir in regard to the habitat for the RGSM.

RECIPIENT INVOLVEMENT

1. Identify links between the known river morphology and the biological conditions on the

Middle Rio Grande River (MRG). Linking the fields of engineering/geomorphology and biology will help gain insight into the complexity of the MRG.

2. Sustain fish populations, including the endangered Rio Grande Silvery Minnow (RGSM).

3. Document and publish the results in peer-reviewed literature to ensure broad dissemination of information and facilitate public access of results.

4. Perform an integrated and multi-disciplinary analysis to improve the understanding of the changing morpho-dynamics of the MRG in regard to the habitat for the RGSM.

5. Measure the changes in the fish populations.

6. Utilize experts to build upon the existing knowledge base and improve the understanding of the MRG relationship to the bio-habitat conditions in the RGSM.

7. Build upon past work by evaluating, assessing, and observing trends of the MRG.

Enhance researchers’ ability to forecast future projections.

RECLAMATION INVOLVEMENT

Substantial involvement on the part Reclamation is anticipated for the successful completion of the objectives to be funded by this award. In particular, Reclamation will be responsible for the following:

Provide the necessary background information (data and pertinent papers) for the morpho-dynamic and biological-habitat conditions.

Provide technical peer review and expert consultation on project activities, results, and products on an ongoing basis and at key project milestone points.

Participate in the annual workshops and other collaborative meetings related to this research.

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.

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

(2) CONTINUATION

(4) UNIQUE QUALIFICATIONS

Single Source Justification Description:

1) Continuation: The recipient was involved in a prior project that identified these fish on the Middle Rio Grande River. The recipient developed unique techniques, including ways to gain insight into the complexity of the MRG, to identify fish and determine where they came from. In the past 15 years, CSU has completed numerous studies on the morphology, hydrology and hydraulics, bed material and sediment transport, bed forms, changes in planform geometry, and sediment plugs of the MRG. Several reports produced by the recipient for Reclamation also described and documented the river changes since 1918.

2) Unique Qualifications:

a. The recipient participated in the development of the study plan for the San Juan

River Basin Recovery Implementation Program.

b. The recipient has knowledge of this area and knows how to access it.

c. The recipient are familiar with the area below the waterfall.

d. The recipient has the tools and equipment required to get to the work location and complete the work.

e. Equipment has been purchased under another project and can be repurposed to do the research work in this project.

f. The Department of Civil Engineering at recipient offers expertise on the analysis of complex river engineering problems including the effect of a changing hydrologic cycle and imbalanced sediment load on rapidly-evolving river morphology.

g. In the past 15 years, recipient has completed numerous studies on the morphology, hydrology and hydraulics, bed material and sediment transport, bed forms, changes in planform geometry and sediment plugs of the MRG.

STATUTORY AUTHORITY

P.L. 106–392

To authorize the Bureau of Reclamation to provide cost sharing for the endangered fish recovery implementation programs for the Upper Colorado and San Juan River Basins.

SEC. 3. AUTHORIZATION TO FUND RECOVERY PROGRAMS.

(a) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS FOR FEDERAL PARTICIPATION IN

CAPITAL PROJECTS. –

(1) There is hereby authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary, $46,000,000 to undertake capital projects to carry out the purposes of this Act. Such funds shall be considered a non-reimbursable Federal expenditure.

(d) BASE FUNDING. –

(1) Beginning in the first fiscal year commencing after the date of the enactment of this

Act, the Secretary may utilize power revenues collected pursuant to the Colorado River

Storage Project Act for the annual base funding contributions to the Recovery

Implementation Programs by the Bureau of Reclamation. Such funding shall be treated as non-reimbursable and as having been repaid and returned to the general fund of the

Treasury as costs assigned to power for repayment under section 5 of the Colorado River

Storage Project Act.

(2) For the Recovery Implementation Program for the Endangered Fish Species in the

Upper Colorado River Basin, the contributions to base funding referred to in paragraph

(1) shall not exceed $4,000,000 per year. For the San Juan River Recovery

Implementation Program, such contributions shall not exceed $2,000,000 per year. The

Secretary shall adjust such amounts for inflation in fiscal years commencing after the enactment of this Act. The utilization of power revenues for annual base funding shall cease after the fiscal year 2011, unless reauthorized by Congress.

P.L. 112-270

To amend Public Law 106-392 to maintain annual base funding for the Upper Colorado and San

Juan fish recovery programs through fiscal year 2019.

SEC 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the "Endangered Fish Recovery Programs Extension Act of 2012".

SEC. 2. EXTENSIONS OF AUTHORITY UNDER PUBLIC LAW 106-392; REPORT.

Section 3(d)(2) of Public Law 106-392 is amended-

(1) by striking "2011" each place it appears and inserting "2019";

(2) by striking "2008" and inserting "2018"; and

(3) by inserting before "Nothing in this Act" the following:

"Such report shall also describe the Recovery Implementation Programs actions and accomplishments to date, the status of the endangered species of fish and projected dates for downlisting and delisting under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, and the utilization of power revenues for annual base funding.".