WaterUse_Notice of Intent_Guam.pdf

NOTICE OF INTENT TO AWARD

This Funding Announcement is not a request for applications. This announcement is to provide public notice of the U.S. Geological Survey’s intention to fund the following project activities without full and open competition.

ABSTRACT

Funding Announcement USGS-18-FA-0265

Project Title Water Use Data and Research Cooperative Assistance Recipient University of Guam, Water & Environmental Research Institute fo the

Western Pacific Anticipated Federal Amount $26,000

Cost Share $0 Total Anticipated Award Amount $26,000

New Award or Continuation? New

Anticipated Period of Performance October 1, 2018 through September 30, 2019

Award Instrument Cooperative Agreement CFDA # and Title 15.808 USGS Point of Contact Cheryl Dieter (cadieter@usgs.gov)

OVERVIEW

Water Use Data and Research Cooperative Agreements will be issued under the provisions of section 9508 of the SECURE Water Act of 2009 (Public Law 111–11). Section 9508 of the SECURE Water Act directs the Secretary of the Interior to administer grants to State water resource agencies to assist in developing water use and availability datasets that are integrated with each appropriate dataset developed or maintained by the Secretary or grants that integrate any water use or water availability dataset of the State water resource agency into each appropriate dataset developed or maintained by the Secretary. Responsibility for administration of this State Water Use Grants program has been delegated to the U.S. Geological Survey.

mailto:cadieter@usgs.gov

RECIPIENT INVOLVEMENT

State Water Resources agencies will use cooperative agreement funds to develop workplans that outline priorities for use of funds, with the goal of reporting, to the USGS, withdrawal and ancillary information for each major category of water use that improve national water withdrawal and consumptive use estimates. The USGS has developed a draft baseline standard table for all water use categories and will require that States identify current data collection levels (tiers) for each category as part of workplan development. States will be required to use these standards to identify categories for improvement in data collection and/or research activities that improve data estimation techniques nationally. For States that already meet the baseline standards, goals are provided in Tier 2 and 3 for additional data that would benefit national estimates and provide information for water availability studies by water managers, academia, federal, and or local agencies. In order to receive awards as part of the competitive process that began in FY16, States must submit a completed workplan.

USGS INVOLVEMENT

Substantial involvement on the part USGS is anticipated for the successful completion of the objectives to be funded by this award. In particular, USGS will be responsible for the following:

The program will be carried out in close collaboration with USGS researchers during the development of technical requirements and categorical water use data collection and methods development. The recipients will be integral in data collection, methods development, and data management activities, working with local cooperators and other federal agencies to facilitate project development and data acquisition and management. The USGS will manage and develop all the technical requirements and guidance associated with this program. Together the USGS and state collaborators will refine existing water use databases, develop new techniques for estimating water use, and establish data management policies for sharing of water use data that adhere to baseline standards previously developed by the USGS for all water use categories nationally. Data and information collected as part of this program must be stored electronically in existing USGS databases but may be disseminated via a variety of means, including graduate student theses, USGS series reports, and scientific publications that are jointly authored by USGS and their state partners.

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.

(6) Cooperative Agreements - USGS Unique Authority cited at 43 U.S.C. 36d (Federal, State, and academic partners) or DOI Authority cited at 43 U.S.C. 1457b (not-for-profit organizations).

USGS did not solicit full and open competition for this award based the following criteria:

(3) Legislative intent - The language in the applicable authorizing legislation or legislative history clearly indicates Congress’ intent to restrict award to a particular recipient or purpose.

Single Source Justification Description:

State Water Resource agencies currently report water use data to the USGS on a 5-year cycle, they are the local experts and know these sites and the data that have been collected and are available for collection. State Water Use Cooperative Agreements will be used to improve the collection and reporting frequency of water use categories in the Guam, including the inclusion of categories that have been discontinued in the past due to limited resources. State Water Resource agencies can best choose the data that will most effectively and efficiently improve water use and availability data sets within the State.

STATUTORY AUTHORITY

Water Use Data and Research Cooperative Agreements will be issued under the provisions of 43 USC 2 § 36d.

TITLE 43 - PUBLIC LANDS

CHAPTER 2 - UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY

§ 36d. Cooperative agreements Notwithstanding the provisions of the Federal Grant and Cooperative Agreement Act of 1977 (31 U.S.C. 6301–6308), the United States Geological Survey is authorized to continue existing, and on and after November 10, 2003, to enter into new cooperative agreements directed towards a particular cooperator, in support of joint research and data collection activities with Federal, State, and academic partners funded by appropriations herein, including those that provide for space in cooperator facilities.

(Pub. L. 108–108, title I, Nov. 10, 2003, 117 Stat. 1254.)