BiOp Monitoring

TheThe Bureau of Reclamation, Columbia-Cascades Area Office, Umatilla Field Office intends to negotiate a sole source contract with the Confederatied Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR). The purpose of this contract is to obtain assistance for the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR) participation in fisheries monitoring and evaluation (M&E) activities related to Umatilla Basin Project and Umatilla Project operations and maintenance (O&M). These M&E activities are associated with Endangered Species Act (ESA) non-discretionary actions as described in the 2004 NOAA Fisheries Biological Opinion (BiOp) and Essential Fisheries Habitat Consultation "Ongoing Operation of the Umatilla Project and the Umatilla Basin Project, Columbia River, Umatilla River, and McKay Creek, HUCs - 17070103 (Umatilla) and 17070101 (Middle Columbia-Lake Wallula), Umatilla and Morrow Counties, Oregon".The authority for use of other than full and open competition for this transaction is implemented by FAR 6.302- 1, Only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements. The cited authority must be used because it is the only practicable method of acquisition due to the nature of the supplies or services to be acquired as follows:CTUIR has the proven ability to conduct these specific work tasks which require designated staff, equipment, federal and state authorizations for handling ESA-listed steelhead, existing Umatilla River hatchery fish management plans, etc.CTUIR, which is a co-manager of fisheries in the Umatilla Basin, has requested to participate with specific monitoring tasks of Reclamation's M&E Program for steelhead from the Umatilla Hatchery Program. Consideration of other sources for the performance of the specific work requested during this time period do not exist for the following reasons. Other federal or state agencies (ODFW, FWS, USGS, Reclamation, etc) or other private contractors do not have the appropriate staff or equipment available within the Umatilla Basin during the required time period. Most other sources do not have access to Umatilla River Hatchery Program steelhead, and also do not have access to hatchery fish acclimation sites in the upper Umatilla Basin. Many other sources also do not currently possess, and cannot obtain within the designated timeframe for this work, the required federal and state authorizations for handling and conducting experiments with Umatilla Hatchery Program steelhead.This contract will commence on April 15, 2012 to facilitate the continued M & E of the Umatilla Basin. A Justification for Other than Full and Open Competition has been prepared in support of this acquisition. This notice is not a request for competitive proposals. A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed action is solely within the discretion of the Government. Inquiries received will be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement in the future, if the need arises. Inquiries will be accepted no later than close of business April 10, 2012 via e-mail to [email protected]