r15an20031 rf-102-noi dc--wef.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

R15AN20031

Project Title Public Outreach and Bay-Delta Awareness

Recipient Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Conservancy

Principal

Investigator /

Program Manager

Shakoora Azimi-Gaylon, Assistant Executive Officer

Anticipated Federal

Amount

$2,664,767.13 / FY15: $962,593.18

Cost Share $915,581.39

Total Anticipated

Award Amount $3,580,348.52

New Award or

Continuation?

New Award

Anticipated Period of Performance March 1, 2015 through December 31, 2019

Award Instrument Grant Agreement

Statutory Authority Public Law 108-361, Title I, CALFED Bay-Delta Authorization Act, Section 103 Bay Delta Program, Sections (b) and (f)(4)(A)(v)(vi)

CFDA # and Title 15.533—California Bay-Delta Authorization Act

Single Source

Justification

Criteria Cited

(4) Unique Qualifications

Reclamation Point of Contact Sandra O’Roak / Megan Bryant

OVERVIEW

The Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Conservancy (Conservancy), is a significant participant in the CALFED Bay-Delta Program and environmental education is part of its statutory mandate.

The Conservancy considers public outreach efforts as integral actions in helping the public understand the process of how water resources are being protected and where tax dollars are being spent.

The Conservancy, in partnership with the Water Education Foundation (Foundation), will provide public outreach programs, such as water tours and briefings, that present information to educate and provide meaningful communication about the activities that affect the California

Bay-Delta watershed. Activities identified in the CALFED Bay-Delta Record of Decision are water supply reliability, water quality, and ecological restoration efforts in the Delta. Annual public outreach programs will be conducted in the Central Valley, San Joaquin Valley, Sacramento River Valley, and Bay-Delta regions of the state as well as an annual executive briefing in Sacramento. These programs are targeted to participants of the general public, as well as local, state, and federal officials. During these public outreach efforts, participants will be provided educational materials including, but not limited to, briefings, tours, session reports, layperson’s guidebooks, factsheets, and online materials. Participants will also have the opportunity to hear from 30 to 40 experts on water supply reliability and eco-system health.

The objective of the project is to provide public outreach programs, such as water tours and briefings, that present information regarding: 1) implementation of large-scale Delta planning efforts; 2) climate change impacts specific to the Delta; 3) Safe Harbor Agreements for local entities; 4) identifying and coordinating key Delta restoration projects; and 5) reduction of flood event impacts related to contaminates in the Delta through pre-flood event preparedness.

RECIPIENT INVOLVEMENT

The Program Manager and Conservancy staff will provide education and outreach forums regarding watershed protection, restoration in the Delta, and the complexity of water supply issues. The Conservancy, in partnership with the Foundation, will develop and sponsor a series of roundtable conferences. The Foundation will provide four California tours and an executive briefing annually.

Deliverables:

Roundtable Conferences and Education and Outreach Coordination Forums will be conducted by the Conservancy.

Annual Executive Briefing, California Project Water Education for Teachers workshops, Public Television Documentary, and White Papers will be conducted by the Foundation.

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.

Reclamation will review and approve the Roundtable Conference topics prior to the

Recipient finalizing the conference.

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:

Shakoora Azimi-Gaylon, the Conservancy Project Manager, and her staff in partnership with the

Water Education Foundation (Foundation), are uniquely qualified to carry out these particular objectives of the Public Outreach and Bay-Delta Awareness project; which focuses on water supply reliability, water quality, and ecological restoration efforts in the Delta. The Conservancy is a significant participant in the CALFED Bay Delta Program and is mandated by California law to educate the public about the process of how resources are being protected in the Sacramento-

San Joaquin Delta. Founded in 1977, the Foundation’s mission is to create a better understanding of water resources and foster public understanding and resolution of water resource issues through facilitation, education and outreach. The Foundation reaches a broad audience including policy makers and leading agricultural, environmental and urban stakeholders; journalists; and, school-aged children and their families. Additionally, the Foundation has received many prestigious awards for their work, including the Bureau of Reclamation’s highest award in the

Water Conservation Awards Program. The Conservancy will partner with the Foundation because of their shared goals of public education and outreach on Delta issues.

Through a prior financial assistance agreement with Reclamation, the Conservancy and the

Foundation have spent three years conducting the public outreach efforts providing participants with high quality tours, briefings, forums, reports, and other materials. This substantial body of knowledge and expertise in conducting the public outreach is necessary to successfully educate the public about the Delta issues.

STATUTORY AUTHORITY

Public Law 108-361, Title I, CALFED Bay-Delta Authorization Act, Section 103 Bay Delta

Program, Sections (b) and (f)(4)(A)(v)(vi):

SEC. 103. Bay Delta Program.

(b) AUTHORIZED ACTIVITIES.—The Secretary and the heads of the Federal agencies are authorized to carry out the activities described in subsections (c) through (f) in furtherance of the Calfed Bay-Delta Program as set forth in the Record of Decision, subject to the cost-share and other provisions of this title, if the activity has been— (1) subject to environmental review and approval, as required under applicable Federal and State law; and (2) approved and certified by the relevant Federal agency, following consultation and coordination with the

Governor, to be consistent with the Record of Decision

(f) DESCRIPTION OF ACTIVITIES UNDER NEW AND EXPANDED AUTHORIZATIONS.—

(4) PROGRAM MANAGEMENT, OVERSIGHT, AND COORDINATION.—

(A) IN GENERAL.—Of the amounts authorized to be appropriated under section 109, not more than $25,000,000 may be expended by the Secretary or the other heads of Federal agencies, either directly or through grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements with agencies of the State, for—

(v) coordination of public outreach and involvement, including tribal, environmental justice, and public advisory activities in accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C.

App.); and

(vi) development of Annual Reports.