NOI.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 BOR-UC-17-N008

Project Title Water Quality Intern Recipient The Student Conservation Association (SCA) Principal Investigator / Program Manager

Robert Radtke

Anticipated Federal Amount $10,428.75

Anticipated Non-Federal Amount

$2,607.19

New Award or Continuation? New Award

Anticipated Period of Performance Six Months

Award Instrument Cooperative Agreement Statutory Authority Public Lands Corps Act of 1993 (16 USC 1721-1730) §1723. Public

Lands Corps program (c) Qualified youth or conservation corps (1) CFDA # and Title 15.546, Youth Conservation Program 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;

Reclamation Point of Contact Heidi Hansen

OVERVIEW

This student intern position, provided by the Student Conservation Association, will be located in the Water Quality Group, Technical Services Division of the Upper Colorado Region, Bureau

12-2011 of Reclamation. The intern will assist Reclamation scientists and engineers in conducting water quality field investigations and studies, processing and reviewing data, preparation of reports, and the accomplishment of other water quality tasks.

RECIPIENT INVOLVEMENT

The recipient will recruit and hire an intern for the Bureau of Reclamation Upper Colorado Regional office. The recipient will be responsible to pay a portion of the intern’s wages.

The intern will assist with preparing and conducting water quality field investigations on Reclamation reservoirs and for other Reclamation projects. Investigations on Reclamation reservoirs will be conducted from watercraft operated by trained Reclamation personnel. The intern will receive training on the use of water quality sampling apparatus and equipment and in sample and data collection methods. The intern will assist with documentation of field conditions, data, and samples. On other Reclamation projects the intern may assist with groundwater monitoring and sampling and stream water quality monitoring and sampling. Field investigations and monitoring will be conducted within the states of Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming.

The intern will assist with processing and reviewing data for accuracy and completeness. The intern will utilize general and specialized computer software to review and summarize data under the direction and training of Reclamation personnel.

The intern will also assist with analyzing and preparing data for technical reports and studies and other water quality related tasks.

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:

1. For federal monitoring and oversight of activities performed under this agreement.

Monitoring activities could include site visits and other on and off-site monitoring activities.

2. For providing a scope of work for tasks in the areas of water quality sampling and monitoring, database entry and management, and data analysis.

3. For providing transportation when necessary to carry out field site visits and other monitoring activities.

4. For providing a work location equipped with a computer, telephone, and other materials as necessary.

5. For providing oversight, supervision, and training for field tasks and for data analysis and review.

6. For providing and operating watercraft (motorboats) for reservoir water quality monitoring activities. Reclamation will provide training and safety equipment such as PFDs and ensure proper use of safety equipment while aboard watercraft.

7. For training and directly supervising the intern in water quality sampling procedures and methods. Reclamation will provide sampling apparatus and equipment.

8. For training and directly supervising the intern to operate monitoring equipment and related software programs and collect physical water quality data using this equipment. Reclamation will provide the monitoring and computing equipment and software.

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

Single Source Justification Description:

The Bureau of Reclamation posted a funding Opportunity Announcement for the fiscal year 2016 Water Quality Intern program. The Student Conservation Association (SCA) was determined to be qualified to complete the project, based on past successful completions of these projects. Furthermore, SCA has completed these projects for the Upper Colorado Region, in previous years.

STATUTORY AUTHORITY

Public Lands Corps Act of 1993 (16 USC 1721-1730) §1723. Public Lands Corps program

(c) Qualified youth or conservation corps (1) In general The Secretary is authorized to enter into contracts and cooperative agreements with and qualified youth or conservation corps to perform appropriate conservation projects referred to in subsection (d) of this section.

16 U.S.C §1723.

(d) Projects to be carried out

(1) In general The Secretary may utilize the Corps or any qualified youth or conservation corps to carry out appropriate conservation projects which the Secretary is authorized to carry out under other authority of law on public lands

16 U.S.C. §1725. Resource Assistants

(a) Authorization The Secretary is authorized to provide individual placements of resource assistants with any Federal land managing agency under the jurisdiction of the Secretary to carry out research or resource protection activities on behalf of the agency. To be eligible for selection as a resource assistant, an individual must be at least 17 years of age. The Secretary may select resource assistants without regard to the civil service and classification laws, rules, or regulations of the United States. The Secretary shall give a preference to the selection of individuals who are enrolled in an institution of higher education or are recent graduates from an institution of higher education, with particular attention given to ensure full representation of woman and participants from historically black, Hispanic, and Native American schools.

To carry out research and research protection activities on behalf of Reclamation, the Secretary has authorized interns to be hired and assist in this intern work through the Youth Conservation Program.