r15ap00022 revised noi.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 R15AP00022

Project Title Las Vegas Wash Coordination Committee Program Management Recipient Southern Nevada Water Authority Principal Investigator / Program Manager

Ms. Kathy Flanagan

Anticipated Federal Amount $303,972.00

Cost-Share $0.00 Total Anticipated Award Amount

$303,972.00

New Award or Continuation? New

Anticipated Period of Performance Approximately 3 Years

Award Instrument Grant Agreement

Statutory Authority P.L. 106-541, the Lake Mead / Las Vegas Wash Program, S. 1751 Report Number 110-127

CFDA # and Title 15.540 Single Source Justification Criteria Cited

(3) Legislative Intent and (4) Unique Qualifications

Reclamation Point of Contact Shawna M. Thompson

OVERVIEW

The Las Vegas Wash (LVW) carries more than 170 million gallons of water a day. Decades ago, the flows of the LVW created more than 2,000 acres of wetlands. By the 1990’s, only about 200 acres of wetlands remained. The dramatic loss of vegetation reduced both the LVW’s ability to support wildlife and serve as a natural filer for water that flows to Lake Mead, the source of our community’s water supply. In 1997, a citizen’s advisory committee made recommendations to manage and protect the LVW. While many area organizations were concerned with the LVW’s deterioration state, no single agency was responsible for managing it. To bring these interests together, the LVW Coordination Committee (LVWCC) was formed. The LVWCC includes representatives from more than two dozen local, state and Federal agencies, environmental groups, business owners, and concerned citizens. The committee’s goal was two-fold: Develop a long-term management plan for the LVW, and oversee implementation of the plan. The Southern Nevada Water Authority (SNWA) was appointed as the lead agency in effectuating the LVWCC’s mission and to meet this goal, the SNWA formed the LVW Project Coordination Team to lead the effort. Within two years, the committee completed the LVW Comprehensive Adaptive Management Plan, a several hundred page roadmap that includes 44 specific action items related to water quality, habitat management, erosion control, and other key LVW issues.

The LVWC also created internal study teams and an advisory committee, the Management Advisory Committee, now known as the Lass Vegas Valley Watershed Advisory Committee.

RECIPIENT INVOLVEMENT

The LVWCC consists of 30 stakeholders and they have been meeting for over 16 years. The program has been successful because SNWA has been using a robust and transparent administrative process. The process used is known as adaptive management and it has allowed the LVWCC to exchange and share information, convene forums for discussion/debate, and develop management/other actions. The scope of this proposal is to fund the SNWA staff to administer program management/other actions. The scope of this proposal is to fund the SNWA staff to administer program management functions to ensure that the LVWCC is successful. At minimum, a variety of internal and external administrative and technical support to the LVWCC public process is needed. Activities include but are not limited to support to the LVW Team, seeking positive external and internal communication, ensuring meetings are set-up, and preparing, editing, and submitting summaries, agenda, and other process related documents, and preparing and printing media-type materials.

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:

(3) LEGISLATIVE INTENT AND (4) UNIQUE QUALIFICATIONS

Single Source Justification Description:

The LVW Project Coordination Team (LVW Team) ensures that the LVWCC stakeholder programs are successful and by doing so, is the primary implementer of LVWCAMP action items. The LVW Team organizes and facilitates a minimum of three quarterly study team meetings, a quarterly LVWCC meeting, and quarterly LVVW Advisory Committee meetings. A variety of duties are required for these programs to be successful. As an extension of the stakeholder programs, the LVW Team, with the guidance of the Administrative Study Team, invests resources and staff time into providing learning opportunities and educating Southern Nevadan’s about the importance of the LVW and its water quality, plant and animal species, stabilization activities and archaeological discoveries. As directed by the LVWCAMP, outreach activities inform the community and encourage local stewardship. Every year, the LVW Team attends or hosts a variety of events designed to involve the community in the LVW’s mission, such as tours on land and water, student field trips, classroom presentation, both displays at events across the Valley, and semi-annual LVW Green-Up events. Each member of the LVW Team lends their support and expertise in education and outreach functions. The Administrative Study Team oversees public information, coordinates message-sharing opportunities regarding the LVW and continually explores ways to expand community knowledge of the LVW’s value.

STATUTORY AUTHORITY

Statutory authority for this award is identified in Public Law 110-161, Section 206, in furtherance of Section 529, as amended, Public Law 106-541, the Lake Mead / Las Vegas Wash Program, S. 1751 Report Number 110-127. The following section, provided in full text, authorizes Reclamation to award this Financial Assistance Agreement (Agreement):

The Secretary of the Interior shall continue to participate in and delegate the authority for continued support and implementation of the Project at Lake Mead and the LVW in accordance with the LVW Comprehensive Adaptive Management Plan (Plan), to provide financial assistance to the SNWA to carry out implementation of the Project at Lake Mead and the LVW in accordance with the LVW Plan: Provided, that issuance of any such grants shall not modify the 35% SNWA / 65% Reclamation cost-share requirement.

Award of this Agreement will assist the SNWA to meet the following LVW Plan action items:

• Action Item 1 - Install erosion control structures

• Action Item 10 - Update public officials and interested parties throughout the process

• Action Item 15 - Identify opportunities for interagency coordination efforts

• Action Item 17 - Ensure interagency coordination

• Action Item 19 - Continue implementation of feedback mechanisms and measurements of progress and results

• Action Item 20 - Provide updates to elected officials

• Action Item 26 - Develop a central database

• Action Item 29 - Develop a long-term monitoring plan

• Action Item 32 - Promote interagency coordination

• Action Item 38 - Identify issues of concern

• Action Item 40 - Develop long-term management and monitoring plans

• Action Item 41 - Conduct additional research

• Action Item 44 - Facilitate interagency coordination to ensure projects are implemented

This Agreement supports the project as a sole source award to the SNWA, as mandated by the public law cited above which has been reviewed and approved by the Lake Mead / LVW Project Manager, who recommends the award.