NOI - Oklahoma.pdf

NOTICE OF INTENT TO AWARD

This Funding Announcement is not a request for applications. This announcement is to provide public notice of the U.S. Geological Survey’s intention to fund the following project activities without full and open competition.

ABSTRACT

Funding Announcement USGS-19-FA-0007

Project Title Developing and Analyzing Response of Landscape-level Hydrology and Streamflow to Climate Projections in the Upper Rio Grande Basin

Recipient University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK Anticipated Federal Amount $5304.10 year 1, $16,389.70 year 2

Cost Share $0 Total Anticipated Award Amount $21,693.80

New Award or Continuation? New Award

Anticipated Period of Performance 12/15/2018 through 12/14/2020

Award Instrument Cooperative Agreement CFDA # and Title 15.820 National Climate Adaptation Science Center/Climate Adaptation

Science Centers USGS Point of Contact

Carolyn Enquist, Acting Director, South Central Climate Adaptation Science Center, Phone: 520-260-7761, Email: cenquist@usgs.gov

OVERVIEW

This project will produce projections of changes to local hydrologic variables and streamflow in the Upper Rio Grande Basin based upon climate projections produced by the South Central Climate Adaptation Center (SC CASC). The first year will be devoted to providing appropriate, detailed climate projections to the project team at the New Mexico Water Science Center and assisting with properly integrating these data into their hydrological models for the Upper Rio Grande.

The second year will focus on analysis of the uncertainty in the climate projections and the resulting projected changes to local hydrologic variables and streamflow in the Upper Rio Grande Basin in coordination with the rest of the project.

mailto:mlangston@usgs.gov

RECIPIENT INVOLVEMENT

The recipient involvement includes working with stakeholders and natural resource managers in the Upper Rio Grande Basin (URGB) to develop maps, tools, and stakeholder presentations that address identified gaps in water supply and demand in the URGB, which are expected to worsen with changing climate conditions. The researchers will disseminate the results of the project to natural resource managers in the region, where the products are planned for immediate use to assist water-management decisions.

USGS INVOLVEMENT

This project is cooperative research between the USGS New Mexico Water Science Center and the University of Oklahoma. In addition, the USGS SC CASC Director will provide broad guidance to the project team on how to best involve stakeholders in the project to ensure that the work meets the needs of water managers (especially tribal) in NM. Furthermore, the USGS staff at the SC CASC will work with the project team to disseminate the results through meetings and other media.

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.

(6) Cooperative Agreements - USGS Unique Authority cited at 43 U.S.C. 36d (Federal, State, and academic partners) or DOI Authority cited at 43 U.S.C. 1457b (not-for-profit organizations).

(4) UNIQUE QUALIFICATIONS

Single Source Justification Description:

(4) UNIQUE QUALIFICATIONS - The applicant is uniquely qualified to perform the proposed scientific research because of its earlier work to develop a new (and unique) high-resolution climate projection dataset that will be used in this project. No other such high-resolution dataset exists specifically developed for the south-central U.S. using the most appropriate down-scaling techniques.

STATUTORY AUTHORITY

- Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2008, Div. F, Title I (P.L. 110-161)

- USGS Unique Authority cited at 43 U.S.C. 36d (Federal, State and academic partners) § 36d. Cooperative agreements: Notwithstanding the provisions of the Federal Grant and Cooperative Agreement Act of 1977 (31 U.S.C. 6301–6308), the United States Geological Survey is authorized to continue existing, and on and after November 10, 2003, to enter into new cooperative agreements directed towards a particular cooperator, in support of joint research and data collection activities with Federal, State, and academic partners funded by appropriations herein, including those that provide for space in cooperator facilities.