May 24, 2016

USACE Funding: Willamette River Assessment and Salmonids

REQUEST FOR STATEMENTS OF INTEREST
PACIFIC NORTHWEST CESU
NUMBER W912HZ-16-SOI-0022
PROJECT TO BE INITIATED IN FY 2016
Project Title:Willamette River Instream Ecological Flow Assessment and Adult Salmonids Trap and Transport Success above Dams
Responses to this Request for Statements of Interest will be used to identify potential investigators for studies to be sponsored by the US Army Corps of Engineers (Portland District) and the Engineer Research and Development Center to provide research monitoring and evaluation services in the Willamette River Basin. The estimated level of funding for FY16 is approximately $600,000.00. Additional funds of $600,000/yr for 4 additional years may also be available for follow on work providing the potential funding of $3M over 5 years to the successful Recipient/Awardee.
Background and Public Benefit:
This research and data collection will be used to develop and implement a monitoring and evaluation study for the reintroduction of salmonids listed under the Endangered Species Act in the Willamette River Basin. Research and monitoring results will provide public benefit through enhanced fish passage and survival of key threatened and endangered fish species in the Columbia and Willamette rivers and their tributaries. Through these efforts, these fish and their habitat will be conserved and preserved so as to maintain these natural resources for future generations.
Brief Description of Anticipated Work:
Objective 1: Use existing information and input from regional scientific expertise (e.g., fishery biologists, aquatic ecologists, geomorphologists, hydrologists, and water quality/ temperature modelers) to review flow-ecology relationships through the development of a model or models relating flows in the Willamette River to ecological resources such as: aquatic taxa, herpetofauna, and riparian-dependent terrestrial plants and animals. Based on this review, document available data, data gaps, and the extent key ecological resources identified in the model(s) relate to flow in the Willamette Basin, with a focus on the Willamette River mainstem and its tributaries effected by Portland District dams.
Objective 2: Utilize current and emerging genetic methods to determine the effectiveness of trapping and transport of adult salmonids above and below Portland District hydro-electric projects in the Willamette River Basin to increase population abundance, productivity and diversity. This includes determining if returning spawners are progeny of previous transports and the lifetime fitness of transported individuals.
Vendor Requirements:
Candidate must be a non-Government member of the Pacific Northwest CESU Unit and accept the negotiated indirect cost rate of 17.5% for CESU cooperative agreement studies.
Government Participation:
The Portland District will participate in study setup and sampling activities as appropriate. The Portland District will participate in infrastructure development to address prioritized objectives. The Portland District will participate in the review/selection of proposed methods to accomplish the prioritized objectives. The Portland District will also facilitate coordination with local, state and federal agencies as needed. The Portland District will provide technical review of data and reports to offer opinion on presentations and publications that disseminate the results of accomplished work.
Materials Requested for Statement of Interest/Qualifications:
Please provide the following via e-mail attachment to: Deberay.R.Carmichael@usace.army.mil (Maximum length: 2 pages, single-spaced 12 pt. font).
1. Name, Organization and Contact Information
2. Brief Statement of Qualifications (including):
a. Biographical Sketch,
b. Relevant past projects and clients with brief descriptions of these projects,
c. Staff, faculty or students available to work on this project and their areas of expertise,
d. Any brief description of capabilities to successfully complete the project you may wish to add (e.g. equipment, laboratory facilities, greenhouse facilities, field facilities, etc.).
Note: A proposed budget is NOT requested at this time.
Review of Statements Received: Based on a review of the Statements of Interest received, an investigator or investigators will be invited to prepare a full study proposal. Statements will be evaluated based on the investigator’s specific experience and capabilities in areas related to the study requirements. Additionally, the evaluation method and selection criteria for research and development awards must be: (1) The technical merits of the proposed research and development; (2) Potential relationship of the proposed research and development to the Department of Defense missions; and (3) experience working in the Willamette Basin.
Please send responses or direct questions to:
Deberay Carmichael
U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC)
ERDC Contracting Office (ECO)
3909 Halls Ferry Road
Vicksburg, MS 39180
Deberay.R.Carmichael@usace.army.mil
Timeline for Review of Statements of Interest: Review of Statements of Interest will begin after the SOI has been posted on the CESU website for 10 working days.

Posted 5/24/16