noi-maturango.docx

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

OVERVIEW

The California leaf-nosed bat and Townsend’s big-eared bat are evaluation species under the Lower Colorado River Multispecies Conservation Program (LCR MSCP). As such, monitoring and research of these species is necessary to manage their populations along the Lower Colorado River (LCR). This will aid conservation measures that require the current distribution of each species be known. Habitat will be created near their roosts in order to provide them with quality foraging areas. The most effective way to monitor their populations is by annually conducting roost outflight counts during the winter and spring periods when roosts are the most stable. These counts have been conducted by Dr. Pat Brown through a grant with Maturango Museum since 2002, and she has been funded previously by others prior to this. Dr. Pat Brown has been studying bat populations along the LCR since 1968.

RECIPIENT INVOLVEMENT

Conduct roost outflight counts during the appropriate season at the following mine systems: Homestake, Gold Dome, Jackpot, Californian, Mountaineer, Stone House, Hart, Golden Dream, Islander, Eureka, Golden Dream, and the 3C.

Collect data from all counts and enter it electronically either in excel or access. Submit an annual report each year, and a final report at the close of the grant that includes study areas, methods, results and discussion. Progress reports will be submitted twice a year (see timeline). It is anticipated that the length of the grant/agreement will be 5 years, determined annually by available funding.

Catalog and begin monitoring mines in the vicinity of Planet Ranch, near the Bill Williams River, AZ. This will entail visiting all mines in the area and determining each ones importance as a roost for the California leaf-nosed bat and Townsend’s big-eared bat.

Compile and organize all banding data that has been collected through the years of the California leaf-nosed bat along the Lower Colorado River. Assuming data can be used for a journal publication, Reclamation will work with the researchers who collected the data for the publication.

Compile and organize acoustic Anabat call files that had been collected by Pat Brown and Bob Berry. This includes analyzing all files to species or species group and submitting results in table format in either excel or access. Data will be used as a baseline for acoustic activity prior to the large scale restoration that’s has begun under the LCR MSCP.

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:

LCR MSCP will assist in the compiling and organizing of the banding data that has been collected through the years on the California leaf-nosed bat along the LCR. This data will be used as a baseline for acoustic activity. Assuming this data can be used for journal publication, Reclamation will work with the researchers who collected the data and co-author the publication.

Additionally the data collected will be put on media acceptable for making available to the public through the established process for LCR MSCP. Reclamation will assist the Recipient with this task and ensure both parties have the data necessary for their programs.

Reclamation may also provide technical assistance to the Recipient in support of the Scope of Work and objectives of this Agreement.

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 most effective way to monitor both the California leaf-nosed bat and Townsend’s big-eared bat is by annually conducting roost outflight counts during the winter and spring periods when roosts are the most stable. These counts have been conducted by Dr. Pat Brown through a grant with Maturango Museum since 2002, and she has been funded previously by others prior to this. Dr. Pat Brown has been studying bat populations along the LCR since 1968.

Reclamation is awarding this on continuation to ensure the data collected is consistent with previous years and to provide a base for the program of these species.

STATUTORY AUTHORITY

Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act of 1934 as amended by Public Law 85-624 (16 U.S.C. 661 et. Seq.), as amended.

The Commissioner, Bureau of Reclamation, is delegated so much of the authority of the Secretary under the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act, 16 U.S.C. 661 et seq., as is necessary to provide assistance, through grants and cooperative agreements, to the public or private organizations for the improvement of fish and wildlife associated with water systems or water supplies affected by Reclamation projects.

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