Fall Chinook Fish Acclimation and Release at Prosser Hatchery

This is a special notice prepared in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 5.2 “Synopses of Proposed Contract Actions.”

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Portland District (NWP) intends to negotiate/award a sole source contract with the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation (Yakama Nation).  All requirements necessary will be provided for the annual acclimation and release of up to 1.7 million sub-yearling upriver bright (URB) fall Chinook juveniles (received from Little White Salmon Hatchery) and for an additional 210 thousand yearling URB fall Chinook juveniles (received from Bonneville Hatchery) at Prosser Hatchery. This fish production satisfies a portion of USACE’s mission in fulfilling mitigation obligations for The Dalles and John Day Dams.   Pursuant to 10 U.S.C. § 2304(c)(1), as implemented by Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 6.302-1 and the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation (DFARS) 206.302-1, only one responsible source and no other vendor will satisfy agency requirements.

In 2008, the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) issued a revised Biological Opinion that concluded that the Federal Columbia River Power System jeopardizes the continued existence of various Endangered Species Act-listed anadromous fish in the Columbia River Basin. Jeopardy and adverse modification may be avoided by implementing reasonable and prudent alternatives (RPAs) composed of discrete actions covering, among other things, hatchery operations. RPA action number 40 calls for a review of the hatchery program associated with the mitigation for The Dalles and John Day Dams. After reviewing the program, USACE, among other agencies and organizations, ultimately arrived at a plan to move the hatchery operations into or above the exclusive Zone 6 Indian fishery to better meet mitigation objectives.

Prosser Hatchery is situated just downstream of Prosser Dam at river kilometer 75 of the Yakima River. The Yakima River feeds into the Columbia River near Richland, Washington, above Zone 6. Prosser Hatchery possesses the appropriate water temperature, rearing pond space and availability during the required months to acclimate and release the subject fall Chinook juveniles into the Yakima River. No other acclimation and release facilities exist in, or near, the lower Yakima River that are 1) capable of acclimating these fish, and 2) not already in use by USACE for similar purposes.

The underlying land, facilities and equipment at Prosser Hatchery are under the ownership of the Yakama Nation. Therefore, Yakama Nation has sole control and use of the facilities at Prosser Hatchery and does not permit other contractors to utilize these facilities. Regional fisheries experts from NMFS, USFWS and USACE agree that Prosser Hatchery is the only reasonable location to perform these specific rearing and release activities.

A SOLICITATION WILL NOT BE POSTED.

The Government intends to proceed with this sole source action. The NAICS code is 112511, Finfish Farming and Hatcheries. The size standard as defined by the U.S. Small Business Administration is $3.75 million.

THIS NOTICE IS NOT A REQUEST FOR COMPETITIVE PROPOSALS OR QUOTATIONS. All responsible sources may submit a capability statement to the contracting officer before the notice end date.  If no affirmative written responses are received by 9:00 AM Pacific Time on Day, 27 September 2023, the Contracting Officer will proceed with the sole source action. Oral communications are not acceptable in response to this notice. A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed requirement is solely within the discretion of the Government.  Please limit responses to allow the Government to determine interested parties, socioeconomic status availability, and capabilities.  The Government intends to use responses to make an appropriate acquisition decision for this project.

Electronic responses and questions shall be submitted via email to all POCs listed, below.  The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is not responsible for any costs incurred by responding to this notice.

Contracting Office Address:

US Army Corps of Engineers, Portland District

ATTN: CECT-NWP-P

333 SW 1st Avenue     

Portland, OR  97204

Points of Contact for this notice:         

Email: Antwain.R.Burks@usace.army.mil