May 9, 2018

USACE RSOI Riverine Water Quality Models

REQUEST FOR STATEMENTS OF INTEREST
NUMBER W912HZ-18-SOI-0004
PROJECT TO BE INITIATED IN FY 2018
Civil Works Research and Development
Posting to the Pacific Northwest Region

Project Title: Development and Validation of Riverine Water Quality Models
Responses to this Request for Statements of Interest will be used to identify potential investigators for studies to be sponsored by the Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) to provide development and validation of riverine water quality models. The estimated level of funding from FY18 to FY18 to FY20 is approximately $990,000: $345,000 (Yr 1), $300,000 (Yr 2), $345,000 (Yr 3).

Background
Introduction: The transport of nutrients from watersheds to aquatic resources (streams and rivers, lakes and reservoirs, and coastal zones) directly influences their environmental quality and ecosystem. While this is a natural process, excessive inputs from anthropogenic sources (e.g., intensive agriculture) can exceed the assimilative capacity and resilience of aquatic ecosystems. The result is accelerated rates of eutrophication and destabilized ecological communities susceptible to the establishment of invasive species or to changes in food web structure, loss of valuable habitat, threats to human health, and reduced economic and societal benefits.

Public Benefit
The resulting water quality modeling systems advance the Public’s most pressing needs for cost-effective, science-based impact assessment, ecosystem restoration and management. These models establish a broad-based dialogue between end users and the research and development community for encouraging a healthier watershed.
Brief Description of Anticipated Work:
To evaluate the impacts of excessive eutrophication and to develop alternatives to mitigate these impacts, ERDC is developing multi-dimensional riverine modeling systems that fully integrate riverine hydraulics, channel sedimentation, water quality kinetics, and riparian vegetation dynamics.
In addition to model development, ERDC is participating in the Missouri River Recovery Management Plan and Programmatic (MRRMP) Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and the Columbia River Systems Operation (CRSO) Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). Both projects are evaluating and comparing a range of alternatives, including a no-action alternative, defined as the current system operations and configuration. Other CRSO EIS alternatives will be developed through the scoping period based on public input and the Action Agencies (AA’s) expertise. Alternatives will likely include changes to hydrosystem operations only; hydrosystem operational changes plus structural or non-operational changes; and combinations of both with appropriate mitigation options to offset or minimize any remaining unavoidable impacts. Based on views expressed in the Court’s Order, one or more alternative will also include structural modifications that have the potential to improve fish passage, including breaching one or more dams in the system.
The CRSO EIS will also identify measures to avoid, minimize, and mitigate impacts associated with the system operations and configuration, where feasible. The level of analyses to compare trade-offs and mitigation requires development and assessment of models and methods for effects on resources, such as water quality (Total Dissolved Gas (TDG), Temperature), fish, and flood risk, hydropower, irrigation, and navigation. Scaled economic analysis will be necessary. Mitigation measures accompanying each alternative will also be evaluated in the EIS for effectiveness, impacts, and environmental compliance coverage.

Objectives:
Objective 1: Participate with ERDC researches in the development, validation, and application of new water quality and vegetation dynamic models.
Objective 2: Participate with ERDC and other agencies on developing plans necessary to perform Environmental Impact Statements for promotion of healthy watersheds.
Objective 3: Read and synthesize other modeling approaches from journal papers to arrive at additional analytical methods that may be valuable in water quality and vegetation modeling.
Objective 4: Perform dissemination of the project’s findings, to include presentations at conferences, public meetings, as well as the preparation and submission of peer-review science journal articles related to findings of these studies.

Methods: In collaboration with ERDC-EL, investigators will use all available resources and contacts to achieve the four stated objectives. Investigators will coordinate frequently with the ERDC-EL at decision points for all objectives to ensure ongoing
coordination, communication, and execution of the projects. As planning progresses, identification of potential new technologies that could be suitable for model development and application will be done in close coordination with the ERDC-EL which will be co-led by ERDC-EL staff.

Requirements: Success applicants should have expert knowledge in water quality and vegetation model development, validation, and application. In addition, they should have experience working with groups in the development of EIS.
Government Furnished Property and Services: The Government will work cooperatively with the contractor to identify and acquire the use of resources needed for the projects. The Government may provide workspace and equipment.
Government Participation: The ERDC will work with the selected investigator in modeling system design, selecting field sites and collecting data associated with model validation. ERDC will work closely with the selected investigator to provide the necessary resources (source code and data) to complete TDG development and to assist in the CRSO and MRRMP EIS applications.

Materials Requested for Statement of Interest/Qualifications:
Please provide the following via e-mail attachment to:
Amanda.Andrews@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, 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; and (2) Potential relationship of the proposed research and development to the public.

Please send responses or direct questions to:
Amanda Andrews
U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC)
ERDC Contracting Office (ECO)
3909 Halls Ferry Road
Vicksburg, MS 39180
Amanda.Andrews@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 (reposted 4/24/2018, 5/7/2018).