r15ap00034 noi reveg (rev aamd review).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 R15AP00034

Project Title Revegetation Implementation, and Monitoring Along the Las Vegas Wash

Recipient Southern Nevada Water Authority Principal Investigator / Program Manager

Ms. Kathy Flanagan

Anticipated Federal Amount $872,770.00

Cost-Share $0.00 Total Anticipated Award Amount

$872,770.00

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. As the lead agency of the Las Vegas Wash Coordination Committee (LVWCC), the SNWA has been implementing revegetation projects in the Clark County Wetlands Park for more than 14 years. Due to the impact on wetlands by the installation of erosion control structures throughout the LVW, the SNWA conducts wetland revegetation to mitigate for that loss as required by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 404 permits. Ground disturbance within the temporary footprint of the construction activities surrounding the wetland areas requires revegetation to comply with Nevada Division of Environmental Protection (NDEP) stormwater permits. Other funding obtained to assist in the construction of erosion control structures requires the creation of additional revegetation areas not already being created for permit mitigation.

Revegetation sites require frequent visitation, oversight and occasional remediation often for a minimum of two years after initial planting. Such activities include but are not limited to irrigation, adjustment of irrigation components, herbivore control, the sporadic removal of vegetative debris and/or other debris deposited by storms and natural events, and invasive species removal when required to benefit the site. After the initial two years, oversight is typically less intensive and occurs on an “as-needed” basis.

To properly document and report the success of mitigation to permitting agencies, annual monitoring must take place for revegetated sites. Annual monitoring of the success of the various irrigation practices, planting techniques and plant choices provides the LVWCC with pertinent information to make future decisions that will improve the success of the revegetation program.

RECIPIENT INVOLVEMENT

The SNWA will contract with an experienced native landscape contractor to perform tasks to ensure site success. The contractor will be utilized according to project need. Contractor services will include, but will not be limited to, planting, watering, clearing paths, removing debris deposited by storms and other natural events, and general site cultivation. Other projects that both the SNWA and the contractor will be involved in include plant propagation, cottonwood and willow harvesting, tamarisk clearing, and weed treatments, if needed for site remediation. The contractor and the SNWA regularly monitor revegetation success over the history of a site. Annual monitoring activities include the preparation of a detailed log for plant growth, condition, and response to watering, weeding, and flooding.

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 implements revegetation projects in the Wetlands Park and the LVW mainstream and tributaries which empty into Lake Mead. Temporary footprints from construction activities surrounding the Wetlands Park and LVW areas require revegetation, and monitoring to comply with Nevada Division of Environmental Protection storm water permits. Due to impacts from erosion control structures installed throughout the area, the SNWA has to conduct wetlands revegetation to mitigate for impact loss, as required by Army Corps of Engineers 404 permits, and because installation of erosion control structures require the creation of additional revegetated areas that are not already being created for permit mitigation. To properly document and report the success of mitigation to permitting agencies, annual monitoring must take place for revegetated sites.

SNWA has been implementing revegetation projects in the Wetlands Park and LVW for many years, and is working to improve water conservation through implementation of project activities created specifically for revegetating sites. Annual monitoring of the success of the various irrigation practices, planting techniques and plant choices, also provides the Las Vegas Wash Coordination Committee with information necessary to make future decisions to improve the success of SNWA’s revegetation program. Revegetated sites require frequent visitation, oversight and occasional remediation for a minimum of two years after initial plantings to ensure the success of revegetated sites. SNWA’s water conservation initiatives were designed in direct support of highly successful, on-going water conservation programs. SNWA is uniquely qualified to conduct revegetation projects and activities that directly support the legislative intent to accomplish the Lake Mead / LVW Plan action items.

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 37 - Ensure implementation of mitigation measures

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

• Action Item 41 - Conduct additional research

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.