noi r15an20012.pdf

Bureau of Reclamation Form, RF-102

12-2011

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

R15AN20012

Project Title Lahontan Cutthroat Trout and Cui-ui Protection and Management

Recipient Pyramid Lake Fisheries

Principal

Investigator /

Program Manager

Albert John, Pyramid Lake Fisheries Executive Director

Anticipated Federal

Amount $585,844.00

Cost Share NONE

Total Anticipated

Award Amount $585,844.00

New Award or

Continuation?

NEW AWARD

Anticipated Period of Performance Date of execution through April 30, 2018

Award Instrument Grant

Statutory Authority Agricultural Act of 2014 (Farm Bill), Title II, Section 2507, Public Law

113-79 enacted February 7, 2014.

CFDA # and Title 15.508 - Providing Water to At-Risk Natural Desert Terminal Lakes

Single Source

Justification

Criteria Cited

(4) Unique Qualifications

Reclamation Point of Contact Vivian Davis

OVERVIEW

Background and Need for Project: The mission of Pyramid Lake Fisheries is to operate and maintain fishery facilities at Pyramid Lake and the lower Truckee River for the purpose of enhancing cui-ui and Lahontan cutthroat trout populations, while creating a balance within natural resources management actions, which reflects the social, cultural, economic, and natural resource values of the Pyramid Lake Paiute people.

The goal of PLF is to maintain both a recreational and trophy fishery for Lahontan cutthroat trout, while working collaboratively with partners to protect, conserve, and restore aquatic resources, fish habitats, and water quality within the Pyramid Lake - Truckee River watershed.

PLF has completed the first phase of fish hatchery improvements on a Desert Lake Terminal

Lake grant. The work included well water supply modifications, water treatment improvements, bio-filter media, aeration, oxygenation for the recycle water systems, Lake Operations pump systems modifications, drum filters, covers for drum filters, and sediment removal to settling ponds. There are additional tasks needed at the fish hatchery facilities that PLF proposes for new grant funding for phase II of the hatchery-related improvements and upgrades.

Summary of Proposed Project: The proposed project is to provide funding assistance for improvements and upgrades to the Laboratory building and to the Lake Operations facilities at

Pyramid Lake Fisheries in Sutcliffe, Nevada. One of the upgrades would be at the Laboratory building and four at the Lake Operations site.

RECIPIENT INVOLVEMENT

Proposed activities to be funded by the award: This grant would provide funding for the following activities:

The task objectives include improvement of equipment for removing exhaust fumes from the water quality testing from re-entering the Laboratory Building; replacement of aging and rusting metal pools used for processing 500,000 Lahontan cutthroat trout through the Lake Operations facility system; replacement of two generators at the Lake Operations facility needed for power outages that provide enough time to maintain conditions or move fish out of the system until repaired; repair of the water pump for the North Side Lake Operations pumping system by removing existing water pump, repairing and replacing it to provide between 1500 and 2000 gallons of water per minute for the rearing of Lahontan cutthroat trout; and extension of the

Spawning Channel Breakwater for protection of Lahontan cutthroat trout spawning grounds.

RECLAMATION INVOLVEMENT

No substantial involvement on the part of Reclamation is anticipated for the successful completion of the objectives to be funded by this award. It is anticipated that Reclamation’s involvement will consist of standard federal stewardship responsibilities such as monitoring project performance, technical assistance at the request of the recipient, etc.

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:

(4) UNIQUE QUALIFICATIONS

Single Source Justification Description:

(4) UNIQUE QUALIFICATIONS

The applicant, Pyramid Lake Fisheries (PLF), is uniquely qualified to perform the activities based upon a variety of demonstrable factors such as location, property ownership, technical expertise, and extensive history with managing Pyramid Lake fish hatcheries and the federally listed fish species of the lake.

The proposed grant funding would be used by the PLF recipient to improve and upgrade fish hatchery and laboratory facilities owned by PLF and located on the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe reservation property. PLF has completed phase I of the fish facility upgrades under another

Desert Terminal Lakes grant, which makes them uniquely qualified to implement the phase II work proposed for this grant. PLF is the tribal entity that manages the fish hatcheries and raises the federally listed fish species for Pyramid Lake. PLF has the existing staff, facilities and offices, organizational infrastructure, and technical expertise to manage the fish hatchery facilities and its associated operations. For these demonstrable reasons, PLF is uniquely qualified to perform the proposed grant activities.

STATUTORY AUTHORITY

Public Law 113-79 - ‘‘SEC. 2507. TERMINAL LAKES ASSISTANCE

‘‘(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section:

‘‘(3) TERMINAL LAKE.—The term ‘terminal lake’ means a lake and its associated riparian and watershed resources that is—

‘‘(B) considered terminal because it has no natural outlet and is at risk due to a history of consistent Federal assistance to address critical resource conditions, including insufficient water available to meet the needs of the lake, general uses, and water rights.

‘‘(d) WATER ASSISTANCE.—

‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Commissioner of

Reclamation, may use the funds described in subsection (e)(2) to administer and provide financial assistance to carry out this subsection to provide water and assistance to a terminal lake described in subsection (a)(3)(B) through willing sellers or willing participants only—

‘‘(A) to lease water;

‘‘(B) to purchase land, water appurtenant to the land, and related interests; and

‘‘(C) to carry out research, support, and conservation activities for associated fish, wildlife, plant, and habitat resources.

‘‘(2) EXCLUSIONS.—The Secretary of the Interior may not use this subsection to deliver assistance to the Great Salt Lake in Utah, lakes that are considered dry lakes, or other lakes that do not meet the purposes of this section, as determined by the Secretary of the Interior.

‘‘(e) FUNDING.—

‘‘(2) COMMODITY CREDIT CORPORATION.—As soon as practicable after the date of enactment of the Agricultural Act of 2014, the Secretary shall transfer to the ‘Bureau of Reclamation— Water and Related Resources’ account $150,000,000 from the funds of the Commodity Credit Corporation to carry out subsection (d), to remain available until expended.