R12AP30002 (Mod 003) - NOI.doc

Bureau of Reclamation Form, RF-102 12-2011 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

Unique Qualifications

OVERVIEW

This is a modification to agreement number R12AP30002 awarded in on October 13, 2011 to Marsh and Associates, LLC to support the continued maintenance, expansion, and management of the Lake Mohave Native Fishes Database. This action adds $242,633.62 in additional funding to continue two additional years of project work and to extend the term of the agreement by two-years until September 30, 2016. The scope of work remains the unchanged from the original award, which is described below.

The Lower Colorado River Multi-Species Conservation Program (MSCP) was implemented in April 2005 to conserve 26 native species and their habitats. It is a long-term plan that geographically encompasses the river and its corridor from Lake Mead downstream to the southerly U.S. and Mexico boundary. Three fishes, humpback, bonytail and razorback sucker, are federally listed endangered species. The MSCP also maintains conservation actions for the flannelmouth sucker, a native but unlisted species that resides in portions of the lower river. A large amount of data currently exists for these fishes, and substantial amounts of new information will be acquired for all of these species with the exception of the humpback. It is the responsibility of the MSCP to manage that information for the duration of the program.

The Lake Mohave [Lower Colorado River (LCR)] Native Fish Database began under the direction of P. C. Marsh and the late W. L. Minckley, Arizona State University (ASU) in 1988. Beginning in 2009 responsibility for these data transferred from ASU to Marsh & Associates (M&A) under continued direction of P. C. Marsh. Tagging of native fishes in the LCR began in the late 1970’s with external tags being fixed to razorbacks in Lake Mohave. Over time, native fish tagging and the native fish data base have evolved to include numerous species, tag types, and geographic locations. Current tagging protocols include the use of both wire and Passive Integrated Transponder (PIT) tags throughout the LCR corridor. As scanned, PIT tags read either 7-, 9-, or 10- character alphanumeric sequences of any possible combinations of the digits 0 through 9 and letters A through F; HDX tags that are now in the database have 7 hexadecimal digits (0-9, A-F).

Field data acquired by the Native Fish Work Group (NFWG) participants from bonytail, flannelmouth sucker, and repatriated (stocked) and wild adult razorback suckers are regularly generated and fish augmentation programs are expected to stock tens of thousands of native fish each year. All this data is incorporated into the native fish database, which is then accessible in a user friendly database.

Database management, application and use consists of: (1) data entry from field notes and electronic stocking files for activities associated with the MSCP and its partners, (2) manipulations that organize or structure/ restructure the files, records, and their contained information, such as performance of sort routines, (3) manipulations that yield summary statistics for individuals and populations, such as days at large, change in length, and growth, (4) input to software that performs specific functions, such as mark-recapture analysis to estimate population size, (5) generation of summaries and information for reporting, and (6) capture history access via the internet.

Database maintenance is labor intensive and demands meticulous control at all levels. Collection of sample data in the field is the first step to ensure completeness and accuracy of information. The recipient shall brief all field personnel in data acquisition methods and use of a standardized form/format to help towards keeping a complete record. Field data will be transmitted in original or duplicate copy to the recipient, where data are entered by keyboard into the database system. All incoming electronic files will be stored in their original condition on a computer, sorted by year and reservoir or river location, printed out, and then mated and stored with field data collection sheets. Each individual entry will be quality checked with text-to-speech software so that all database records are complete and correct relative to an original. If/when a discrepancy or other problem is detected, an attempt is to be made to make a correction. In some instances the original collector may be contacted to provide clarification or elaboration. Newer versions of the database will be regularly uploaded to a web server.

RECIPIENT INVOLVEMENT

The Recipient shall carry out the Scope of Work in accordance with the terms and conditions stated herein. The Recipient shall adhere to Federal, state, and local laws, regulations, and codes, as applicable, and shall coordinate with Reclamation on all required approvals and permits. The following are specific Recipient Responsibilities to this award:

· The Recipient will maintain and manage the Native Fishes Database.

· The Recipient shall provide online access to a current version of the database for the purpose of PIT tag searches and capture histories for individual fish.

· The Recipient shall provide a current copy of the database in an electronic format at the end of each quarter (December 31, March 31, June 30, and September 30), to support assimilation into a comprehensive MSCP data management system.

· The Recipient shall submit a draft annual report following each year of the agreement. The draft report shall be submitted on or before the 14th of November for each year of review.

· The Recipient shall provide an oral presentation of progress and findings annually at the Colorado River Aquatic Biologist (CRAB) meeting, American Fisheries Society (AFS), or other regional conferences.

· The Recipient shall coordinate with Reclamation to ensure compliance with the LCR-MSCP data management and metadata standards for all collected datasets.

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:

(2) Continuation

(4) Unique Qualifications

Single Source Justification Description Under the direction of Dr. Paul Marsh, and the late W.L. Minckley, Arizona State University (ASU), the Lake Mojave Native Fish Database has served as a central repository for southwestern native fishes tagging data since 1988. Beginning in 2009, responsibility for these data transferred from ASU to Marsh & Associates (M&A) under continued direction of Dr. Paul Marsh. Information has been assimilated from a suite of mark-capture and other studies of bonytail, flannelmouth sucker and its hybrids, and razorback sucker at locations along the lower Colorado River from Glen Canyon Dam to the U.S. and Mexico International Boundary. Only Lake Havasu and Lake Mohave data involving bonytail and razorback sucker are under active study by M&A, but data from all entities working on Lakes Havasu and Mead, in the lower river Cibola, Havasu, Imperial and Palo Verde divisions, and elsewhere along the lower Colorado River are received, processed, archived, and made available to qualified users. To ensure the continuation and integrity of the project, it is imperative that the maintenance, management and expansion of the database. Marsh and Associates is uniquely qualified to perform this work, as the owner of the data base, subject matter expert for the Lower Colorado River Native Fish Database and technical expertise for the database requirements and supporting programmatic needs.

STATUTORY AUTHORITY

This Agreement is entered into pursuant to the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act of 1934 as delegated by Department Manual (DM) 255 DM 1.1.B. The following section, provided in full text, authorizes Reclamation to award this financial assistance agreement:

1.1 Delegation. Subject to the exceptions in Section 1.2, the Commissioner of Reclamation (Commissioner) is delegated the authority of the Assistant Secretary – Water and Science to:

B.

Take the following actions, either directly or by providing financial assistance to non-Federal parties, pursuant to the Conservation of Wild Life, Fish and Game Act of March 10, 1934 (Pub. L. 73-121; 48 Stat. 401) as amended by the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act of August 14, 1946 (Pub. L. 85-624; 72 Stat. 563; 16 U.S.C. 661-666c); Section 5 of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, December 28, 1973 (Pub. L. 93-205; 87 Stat. 884; 16 U.S.C. 1534); and Section 7(a) of the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act of 1956, August 8, 1956 (70 Stat. 1122; 16 U.S.C. 742f(a)), regarding the construction and/or continued operation and maintenance of any Federal reclamation project:

(1) plan, design, and construct, including acquiring lands or interest therein as needed for:

(a) fish passage and screening facilities at any non-Federal water diversion or storage project; or

(b) projects to create or improve instream habitat.

(2) acquire or lease water or water rights from willing sellers or lessors; or

(3) monitor and evaluate the effect of Reclamation actions on Endangered Species Act-listed species.

The Lower Colorado River Multi Species Program (LCR MSCP) is activity working to conserve threatened and endangered species in the Lower Colorado through research, habitat enhancements and conservation initiatives. This project will support efforts to advance species conservation efforts as defined in Work Task G1: Data Management of the LCR-MSCP Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP). The purpose of this work task is to develop and maintain accessible, multi-disciplinary, spatially referenced relational database to consolidate, organize, document, store and distribute scientific information related to the LCR MSCP.

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