r15ap00033 noi revsed.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 R15AP00033

Project Title Water Quality Monitoring in the Las Vegas Wash Mainstream and Tributaries

Recipient Southern Nevada Water Authority Principal Investigator / Program Manager

Ms. Kathy Flanagan

Anticipated Federal Amount $300,220.00

Cost-Share $0.00 Total Anticipated Award Amount

$300,220.00

New Award or Continuation? New

Anticipated Period of Performance Approximately 5 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. The Southern Nevada Water Authority (SNWA) has been regularly monitoring the LVW and its tributary water quality for more than a decade through various programs. These programs were implemented to fulfill LVW Comprehensive Adaptive Management Plan (LVWCAMP) Action Items 40 and 41.

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

• Action Item 41 - Conduct additional research

In order to better coordinate water quality monitoring activities in the LVW by various agencies and to prevent duplication, the Las Vegas Wash Surface Water Quality Monitoring and Assessment Plan was developed and implemented by the SNWA and cooperating agencies in 2011. With this plan, financial and human resources were comprehensively coordinated so that both the individual goals of the stakeholders and the cumulative goals of the LVWCAMP were achieved. This plan also helped the involved entities develop and maintain strong collaborative partnerships. Water quality monitoring activities in the LVW and its tributaries have since been coordinated and integrated effectively among different entities. Water quality data collected by each sampling entity has been uploaded into a centralized water quality database (the Lower Colorado River Water Quality Database) that is readily accessible by professionals and public users.

RECIPIENT INVOLVEMENT

SNWA has several years of experience conducting water quality sampling and analysis. The scope of this proposal is to continue conducting quarterly LVW mainstream and tributary water quality monitoring from March 1, 2015, to February 28, 2020. Although the term is five years, the agreement will be funded in one year increments, as funding is available. None of the work to be conducted under this proposal will be duplicative of work conducted under any other previously awarded Agreement and this work is not duplicative of water quality work currently conducted by the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation). This proposal requests sufficient funding to cover the costs for operating 3 real-time water quality data collection stations and water quality samples to be collected at 10 mainstream sites and 6 tributary sites. Sample sites and sample frequencies in this proposal are consistent with the sites shown in the Las Vegas Wash Surface Water Quality Monitoring and Assessment Plan. Water samples will be analyzed for metals, cations-anions, organics, and nutrients, among other analytes (see table for summary of the proposed data to be collected). The SNWA may alter sample frequency or number of sample sites as determined through collaboration with the cooperating agencies and as described in the Las Vegas Wash Surface Water Quality Monitoring and Assessment Plan.

Mainstream Sampling

Tributary Sampling

Real-time Water Quality

Monitoring No. of Sample Sites 10 6 3 stations Sample Frequency (No. of times a year) 4 4 52 (weekly)

Analysis Parameter Metals (total) 40 24 Temperature Metals (dissolved) 40 24 pH Cations-Anions (total) Group B 40 24 DO Organics 4* 24 Conductance Nutrients Group B 40 24 Selenium (low level) 40 24 Chromium (3+) 24

* Only one mainstream site is sampled for organics.

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:

SNWA has been implementing water quality monitoring program on the LVW for many years, and in working to improve water quality and management through implementation activities and the construction of erosion control structures on the LVW. Data collected from some of these activities meet the dry weather monitoring requirements of the Clark County Regional Flood Control District (and co-permittees) for their Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System permit from the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection. The LVWCAMP expressly intends for data to be shared for stakeholder purposes, and therefore it is anticipated that other users may use the data for other compliance related purposes.

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 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.