NOI-Mod003-R16AC00025.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-DO-17-N032

Project Title Ephemeral Tributary Sediment Transport Measurement

Recipient New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology

Principal Investigator / Program Manager

Dr. Daniel Cadol

Anticipated Federal Amount $210,000.00

Anticipated Non-Federal Amount

$0.00

New Award or Continuation? Continuation

Anticipated Period of Performance September 2017 – June 2020

Award Instrument Cooperative Agreement

Statutory Authority Public Law 111-11, Section 9509, Research Agreement Authority

CFDA # and Title 15.560 Research Agreements Secure Water Act

Single Source Justification Criteria Cited

(2) Continuation

Reclamation Point of Contact

Irene M. Hoiby ihoiby@usbr.gov 303-445-2025 mailto:ihoiby@usbr.gov

12-2011

OVERVIEW

In March 2016, Recipient and Reclamation entered into Cooperative Agreement R16AC00025 to collect and analyze surrogate measurements coincident with definitive (physical) measurement of sediment flux in an ephemeral channel that will help establish a relationship between surrogate data and sediment flux. The research will make a determination of what surrogate measurements need to be collected in order to develop a relationship between surrogate data and definitive sediment flux. Under this agreement, Recipient will also assist in the design, construction and operation of the research site on the Arroyo de los Pinos in Soccoro County, New Mexico.

RECIPIENT INVOLVEMENT

Recipient will operate and maintain the equipment installed at the research site. During storm events, Recipient will collect and analyze physical and acoustic data from the site. Recipient may also develop reports and journal articles to disseminate the results of this research project.

Activities will include, but are not limited to:

• Monitoring and collection of data from flows within the watershed which includes manual sampling efforts as well as maintenance of the up-basin data loggers.

• Identifying relationships between the amount and intensity of precipitation and the size and shape of flood events.

• Furnishing and installing additional monitoring equipment up basin to precisely define where flow is generated in the watershed.

• Coordinate with Reclamation and its contractors to ensure that construction of the Piños site is completed to the required specifications for watershed monitoring and sampling.

• Developing detailed maintenance, sampling, and analysis procedures for operation of site.

• Developing digital terrain models of the basin using drone and photogrammetry technologies to explore how it changes through time.

• Comparing data collected from the Arroyo de los Piños to similar installations around the world in an attempt to highlight the unique characteristics of ephemeral channels in the semi-arid southwest United States.

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:

• Collaborate with Recipient to finalize the design for the research site.

• Specify items and instruments to be purchased for the data collection platform.

• Contract for and oversee construction of the research site

• Coordinate the data collection plan with Recipient

• Participate in the analysis of the data collected

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 activities to be funded under this award are necessary to satisfactory complete the project currently being performed under Cooperative Agreement R16AC00025. Competition would significantly delay the project and increase the cost to the Federal government. A delay in the project could also result in the loss of data which could adversely impact the results of the research study.

STATUTORY AUTHORITY

Public Law 111-11, Section 9509, Research Agreement Authority.

The Secretary may enter into contracts, grants, and cooperative agreements, for periods not to exceed 5 years, to carry out research within the Bureau of Reclamation.