Snow Surveys with Dept of Water Resources

The Bureau of Reclamation, under the Department of the Interior, has issued a Special Notice announcing its intent to award a sole source contract to the State of California Department of Water Resources (DWR) for snow survey and water forecasting services. This is a civilian federal contracting opportunity posted on March 3, 2026, with a deadline for submission on March 17, 2026. The contract falls under the Geophysical Surveying and Mapping Services NAICS category and the Special Studies/Analysis—Scientific Data PSC category. The Bureau of Reclamation requires these specialized services to support operations of the Central Valley Project, which manages critical water resources across California. No set-aside restrictions apply to this procurement.

The primary objective of this contract is to secure snow survey services and resultant water forecasting capabilities necessary for operating reservoirs within the Central Valley Project, including Shasta Lake, Folsom Lake, New Melones Lake, and Millerton Lake. The anticipated contract structure is firm fixed price with a five-year term consisting of a base year from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027, followed by four option years extending through June 30, 2031. DWR qualifies as the sole source because it is the only entity authorized under California Water Code Section 228 to gather information and conduct snow surveys for seasonal water crop forecasting, a determination confirmed through market research on the Dynamic Small Business Site and internet searches. The government conducted a fair and reasonable cost analysis using a USDAFS Agreement with DWR as the basis for the Independent Government Cost Estimate, which encompasses labor, travel, equipment, and logistics costs across multiple survey locations. A Notice of Intent to Sole Source will be posted to SAM.gov to provide visibility of this future contracting opportunity to potential sources.