r15an20021 rf-102-noi ucd--genetic signatures.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

R15AN20021

Project Title Genetic Signatures of Drought Conditions and Diseases in Central Valley

Salmonids

Recipient University of California, Davis (UC Davis)

Principal

Investigator /

Program Manager

Dr. Richard Connon, Principal Investigator

Anticipated Federal

Amount $307,242.00

Cost Share $0.00

Total Anticipated

Award Amount $307,242.00

New Award or

Continuation?

New Award

Anticipated Period of Performance April 1, 2015 through December 31, 2017

Award Instrument Cooperative Agreement

Statutory Authority Public Law 102-575, Central Valley Project Improvement Act, Title

XXXIV, Section 3406 (b)(16) and Section 3407(e)

CFDA # and Title 15.512—Central Valley Project Improvement Act (CVPIA)

Single Source

Justification

Criteria Cited

(4) Unique Qualifications

Reclamation Point of Contact Joshua Israel / Megan Bryant

OVERVIEW

Due to regional weather patterns that have resulted in some of the driest years on record for

California, specifically Water Year 2014 (October 1, 2013 through September 30, 2014), on

January 17, 2014 California Governor Jerry Brown issued a drought proclamation. The proclamation declared a statewide emergency directing state resources to take all necessary actions to make water immediately available while concurrently requesting that resource managers consider modifying requirements for releases of water from reservoirs or diversion limitations so that water may be conserved in reservoirs to protect cold water supplies for salmon, maintain water supplies and improve water quality. In April 2014, the U.S. Bureau of

Reclamation (BOR) through collaboration with Department of Water Resources (DWR), US

Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), California

Department of Fish & Wildlife (CDFW), and the State Water Resources Control Board released the Central Valley Project and State Water Project Drought Operations Plan (DOP) and

Operational Forecast April 1, 2014 through November 15, 2014. The DOP requested a number of operational flexibilities to help balance the multiple water uses during a drought as well as required the lead agencies to develop a process to identify and implement opportunities for longer‐term fish monitoring and science that would improve operational decision‐making during drought and other year types. For Water Year 2015, a Drought Strategic Plan has been developed by the federal and state agencies. A Drought Monitoring Plan, developed by CDFW and NMFS, was provided to BOR and DWR for fulfillment as necessary activities to improve understanding the effects of the drought on ESA-listed species' populations and habitats, as well as, modeling useful for operational decision-making during drought management periods.

RECIPIENT INVOLVEMENT

The UC Davis Principal Investigator and staff will perform the data collection activities of the investigations, including all logistics associated with this work; data management, data storage and retrieval; and the analysis and subsequent reporting of the results of the field and analytical work.

UC Davis shall complete the following objectives and provide the following deliverables.

Objective #1: Evaluate the presence or absence of pathogens on exposed Chinook salmon

Objective #2: Evaluate the levels of infection and disease state in wild caught Chinook salmon throughout the delta

Deliverables:

Presentations of study results at the Interagency Ecological Program Workshop or another scientific conference;

Manuscripts of study results suitable for publication in a peer reviewed journal

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:

Collaborate on the study design and cooperative tissue sampling

Collaborate on election of genetic marker panel

Assist with study design and collaborative tissue sampling among Interagency Ecological

Program monitoring studies

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:

Dr. Richard Connon and the laboratory in the Veterinary Medicine Department at the University of California, Davis are uniquely qualified to carry out these particular objectives of the experimental research program, focused on understanding the mechanisms behind Central Valley organisms’ tolerance and adaptations to changing environments. The UC Davis laboratory’s expertise is utilizing genomic approaches to understand these imperiled species’ sensitivity to contaminants, disease, temperature, and other water quality constituents, some of which are the focus of this agreement’s investigation. The laboratory has published extensively on this topic in the past decade. The research from spring 2015 can be generated and utilized in future years, when a shifting climate is likely to continue to cause unusual conditions in the Sacramento and

San Joaquin rivers and Delta, which will impact Chinook salmon species’ viability.

STATUTORY AUTHORITY

Central Valley Project Improvement Act (CVPIA), Public Law 102-575, Title XXXIV

Section 3406 (b)(16) and Section 3407 (e):

(b) FISH AND WILDLIFE RESTORATION ACTIVITIES- The Secretary, immediately upon the enactment of this title, shall operate the Central Valley Project to meet all obligations under

State and Federal law, including but not limited to the Federal Endangered Species Act, 16

U.S.C. 1531, et seq., and all decisions of the California State Water Resources Control Board establishing conditions on applicable licenses and permits for the project. The Secretary, in consultation with other State and Federal agencies, Indian tribes, and affected interests, is further authorized and directed to:

(16) Establish, in cooperation with independent entities and the State of California, a comprehensive assessment program to monitor fish and wildlife resources in the Central Valley to assess the biological results and effectiveness of actions implemented pursuant to this subsection. 37.5 percent of the costs associated with implementation of this paragraph shall be reimbursed as main project features, 37.5 percent shall be considered a nonreimbursable

Federal expenditure, and 25 percent shall be paid by the State of California.

and

SECTION 3407 (e) FUNDING TO NON-FEDERAL ENTITIES- If the Secretary determines that the State of California or an agency or subdivision thereof, an Indian tribe, or a nonprofit entity concerned with restoration, protection, or enhancement of fish, wildlife, habitat, or environmental values is able to assist in implementing any action authorized by this title in an efficient, timely, and cost effective manner, the Secretary is authorized to provide funding to such entity on such terms and conditions as he deems necessary to assist in implementing the identified action.