Department of the Interior Grant: Fish Screen Improvement Project Funding

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
R14AN20025
Project Title Fish Screen Corrective Action and Improvements
Recipient Contra Costa Water District
2411 Bisso Lane – P.O. Box H20
Concord, California 94524
Principal Investigator / Program Manager
Chris Hentz
Engineering Manager
Phone: (925) 688-8311
E-mail: chentz@ccwater.com
Anticipated Federal Amount $2,100,000.00
Cost Share 75%
Total Anticipated Award Amount $2,800,000.00
New Award or Continuation? New Award
Anticipated Period of Performance Date of execution through March 31, 2016.
Award Instrument
Cooperative Agreement
Statutory Authority Public Law 102-575, Central Valley Project Improvement Act, Section 3406(b)(5), Section 3407(e)
CFDA # and Title 15.512 Central Valley Project Improvement Act, Title XXXIV
Single Source Justification Criteria Cited
Continuation (2)

Reclamation Point of Contact
J. Carl Dealy, Project Manager, jcdealy@usbr.gov

OVERVIEW

The Contra Costa Canal (Canal) is part of the Central Valley Project’s Delta Division. Water from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta is diverted at Rock Slough conveyed to the beginning of the Canal. This Canal is a major water supply and delivery system for the Contra Costa Water District. Between 120,000 and 130,000 acre-feet of water per year is diverted by the Canal for irrigation and municipal and industrial uses. The Canal diversion at Rock Slough is one of the largest unscreened Delta sites. A number of resident and migratory fish species, including the threatened Delta smelt and the endangered winter-run Chinook salmon, can be drawn into the Canal. A fish screen has been constructed to keep fish from entering the Canal intake. The fish screen functions to:

1. Minimize the entrainment of fish resources associated with the diversion of water at the Rock Slough Intake of the Contra Costa Canal.
2. Reduce potential predation on target species in the Rock Slough Intake.
3. Fulfill legal requirements of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s 2008 Biological Opinion for the threatened Delta smelt.
4. Complete the mitigation for the Los Vaqueros Biological Opinion.
5. Complete Central Valley Improvement Act requirements in Section 3406(b)(5).

The project fish screen (R0920R09) was substantially complete in November 2011.

There have been operational problems primarily associated with the automated debris handling system. This has included the take of salmon. The system has undergone extensive testing, currently all four rake units are operational, completing the construction contract obligations pending the final punch list details that were sent to the construction contractor Flatiron.

A re-design effort has been active since July 2012 to produce new specifications for removing and replacing the rake system. Monitoring of fish response to the automated debris handling system is also ongoing, having been initiated in November 2011 when the first salmon take was identified.

RECIPIENT INVOLVEMENT

The objectives of this Agreement are:

• Rake Modification and Debris Handling.
Complete the rake modification for the remaining 3 units based upon prototype improvements currently installed at one of the stations.
• Extend the Rake Motor Access Platform.
Extend the access platform the full width of the intake structure. To provide safe access to the screen rake(s) appurtenances in the event of rake system failure at an intermediate position.
• Boat Launch Facility.
Design and build the Davit Crane Boat Launch that will adequately meet the District’s needs to launch their 14 and 16 foot boats as well as personnel access stairs – Canal and Rock Slough.
• Remote Camera Improvements.
Enable remote monitoring of this unmanned facility. This should provide coverage, particularly in the event of an alarm, mechanical failure, environmental release or fish entrapment.

Under this Agreement, both the Recipient and Reclamation shall be responsible for coordinating the various tasks required to complete this project and manage the work identified in the Agreement to complete all project tasks defined herein:

Design of the project shall be accomplished in a partnered approach between the Recipient and Reclamation. Recipient and Reclamation will coordinate review and comment of these documents. Reclamation will have final approval of all solicitation documents offered for construction.

The Recipient is responsible for completing all scope of work activities identified in the Objective Section of the Scope of Work.

The Recipient shall commit no funds made available through this agreement for acquisition of equipment or components until Reclamation has reviewed and approved any and all plans and specifications.

The Recipient shall comply with the property standards under this Agreement.

Work Performed by Reclamation: Reclamation shall be responsible for review and approval of any and all drawings and specifications prepared in support of the Contra Costs Canal Fish Screen Facility.

RECLAMATION INVOLVEMENT

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

The primary responsibility for development of final designs and specifications, procurement of engineering /fisheries contractor(s), and changes in management of fish screen features shall be assigned to the Recipient as provided in this Agreement. To accomplish all work associated with engineering of fish screen features; various tasks will require development of intermediate work products, coordination, and communications from both Parties to this agreement. To accomplish individual and coordinated tasks Reclamation and Recipient shall each appoint one or more Project Managers with responsibility for day to-day coordination between the Parties and performance under this agreement.

Progress Reviews: Any and all work undertaken by the parties pursuant to this Agreement shall be open and subject to inspection by the other party or his/her representative in accordance with applicable laws, rules and policies during the progress thereof and upon completion.

The Project may be executed pursuant to multiple contracts. The Project Managers shall determine the number of contracts and the scope of each contract. However, it is expected that the contracts will generally fall within the following categories with respective responsibilities as identified, although distribution of work may change by mutual agreement of the Parties

Reallocation of work responsibility will be made only upon written mutual agreement of the South-Central California Area Manager, the Mid-Pacific Region Grant Officer, and the Recipient

Format of deliverables under this agreement shall be as follows (See deliverable section):

a. Letters and reports include performance, progress, and financial reports, shall be prepared using Microsoft Word.
b. Specifications shall be prepared using Microsoft Word.
c. All spreadsheets shall be prepared using Microsoft Excel
d. Drawings shall be prepared using AutoCAD 2007, and Reclamation’s drawing standards.

Reclamation shall be responsible for review and approval of any and all drawings and specifications prepared in support of the Contra Costs Canal Fish Screen Facility.

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:

(2) CONTINUATION

Single Source Justification Description:

This is a continuation to agreement R09AC20R09 objectives related to this particular Fish Screen Appurtenance CCWD is to provide similar assistance. CCWD has not finalized task due to operational problems primarily associated with the automated debris handling system.

The Contra Costa Water District (CCWD) is uniquely suited to provide Reclamation with these services because (1) they are have operated the Rock Slough diversion for more than 40 years; (2) The CCWD, a “Public Trust” agency organized under the Statures of the State of California and is responsible for all appurtenances of the delivery system; (3) The CCWD has an excellent record of data collection; promptly providing data and cooperation on analyses of the effects of our management actions on the engineering and fisheries.

STATUTORY AUTHORITY

This Cooperative Agreement is entered into under the authority of The Central Valley Project Improvement Act of 1992 – P.L. 102-575, Title 34 (CVPIA, Section 3406(b)(5),3407(e).

Section 3406 – Fish, Wildlife and habitat Restoration
(b) FISH AND WILDLIFE RESTORATION ACTIVITIES- The Secretary, immediately upon the enactment of this title, shall operate the Central Valley Project to meet all obligations under State and Federal law, including but not limited to the Federal Endangered Species Act, 16 U.S.C. 1531, et seq., and all decisions of the California State Water Resources Control Board establishing conditions on applicable licenses and permits for the project. The Secretary, in consultation with other State and Federal agencies, Indian tribes, and affected interests, is further authorized and directed to:
(5) develop and implement a program to mitigate for fishery impacts resulting from operations of the Contra Costa Canal Pumping Plant No. 1. Such program shall provide for construction and operation of fish screening and recovery facilities, and for modified practices and operations. Costs associated with this paragraph shall be reimbursed in accordance with the following formula: 37.5 percent shall be reimbursed as main project features, 37.5 percent shall be considered a non-reimbursable Federal expenditure, and 25 percent shall be paid by the State of California.

Section 3407 – Restoration Fund

(e) of CVPIA also states in part that “If the Secretary of the Interior determines that the State of California or an agency or subdivision thereof … concerned with restoration, protection, or enhancement of fish, wildlife, habitat, or environmental values is able to assist in implementing any action authorized by this title in an efficient, timely, and cost effective manner, the Secretary is authorized to provide funding to such entity on such terms and conditions as he deems necessary to assist in implementing the identified action.”