Loren Data's SAM Daily™

FBO DAILY ISSUE OF AUGUST 23, 2003 FBO #0632
SOLICITATION NOTICE

R -- Provide agriculture related non-point sources (agriculture land, owner/operators, irrigation interests, and range land owners/operators) information needed to actively engage in water quality markets.

Notice Date

8/21/2003
 

Notice Type

Solicitation Notice
 

Contracting Office

BUREAU OF RECLAMATION PACIFIC NORTHWEST REGION 1150 N. CURTIS RD, SUITE 100 BOISE ID 83702
 

ZIP Code

83702
 

Solicitation Number

03SQ1100047
 

Response Due

9/4/2003
 

Archive Date

8/20/2004
 

Point of Contact

MARIE DAY PURCHASING AGENT 2083832228 MDAY@PN.USBR.GOV;
 

E-Mail Address

Email your questions to Point of Contact above, or if none listed, contact the IDEAS EC HELP DESK for assistance
(EC_helpdesk@NBC.GOV)
 

Small Business Set-Aside

N/A
 

Description

This announcement is not a request for proposals. The Bureau of Reclamation Snake River Area Office intends to issue a sole source contract with Ross and Associates Environmental Consulting, Ltd, to develop information needed to actively engage agricultural related non-point sources in water quality markets. In January 2003, the United States Environmental Protection Agency issued a Water Quality Trading Policy enabling and supporting the adoption of market-based programs for improving water quality. The policy specifically enables and endorses the use of water quality trading to accelerate compliance with the Clean Water Act (CWA). Reclamation has the opportunity to participate in water resource planning activities through the Geographically Defined Program (GDP) authorized under the Reclamation Act of June 17, 1902. The GDP directives and standards allow Reclamation to participate in emerging problems, issues, and needs as they occur in the area of water resources. Reclamation's water projects are subject to the CWA and Total Minimum Daily Load (TMDL) requirements. Reclamation is participating in the development of innovative approaches, including effluent or water quality trading, to help water users meet federal laws and regulations while using project waters. Water quality trading is a business-like way of focusing on cost-effective, local solutions to problems caused by pollutant discharges to surface waters. In typical water quality trades, a party facing relatively high pollutant reduction costs compensates another party to achieve an equivalent, though less costly, pollutant reduction. Water quality trading has been discussed as a potential tool to tackle a variety of water quality issues found in watersheds around the country. Its flexibility is one of its strongest selling points. However, the various stakeholders have very little experience in trading. In addition, there are limited resources available to non-point sources designed to educate them on water quality trading, what makes trading work, and the processes used to trade. This lack of information may suppress trading activity beneficial to individual dischargers as well as the watershed as a whole. Under this contract, the vendor will produce educational materials that will educate non-point sources and other stakeholders about water quality trading. This will require consultation with pertinent agencies, directly or indirectly, engaged with watershed stakeholders. In addition it will be important to interact directly with non-point sources to understand their depth of trading knowledge, the information they need to actively engage a market, and the form of presentation that is likely to be accessed and used by these dischargers. Providing information in various forms will increase potential contact with point sources and potentially increase the number of non-point sources participating in water quality trading markets. Under this contract, the vendor will produce the following materials: 1) A "Dummy Trade Booklet" focused on the steps and processes used in the Lower Boise Water Quality Trading Pilot Project; 2) A tri-fold brochure giving a brief introduction to water quality trading and the role non-point sources can play in an active market; and 3) A website providing non-point sources and other watershed stakeholders with information on water quality trading, the factors making trading viable in a specific watershed, and how to engage other stakeholders in the market. Water quality trading pilot project is a new innovative, alternative way to comply with federal, state and local water quality regulations. Water quality trading is an extremely technical and complicated concept. The Lower Boise Watershed Trading Demonstration project developed the process and frame work documents for Idaho Department of Environmental Quality for trading credits. A "dummy trade" booklet and brochure for the Lower Boise Water Quality Trading pilot project have never been developed. Reclamation intends to negotiate the contract using less than full and open competition procedures. The period of performance for this contract will be contract award through February 28, 2004. No solicitation is available. Parties who believe they have knowledge to develop a Water Quality Trading "dummy trade" booklet may send an SF254/255 demonstrating their firm's qualifications to the address listed above. No phone or fax inquiries will be allowed.
 

Web Link

Please click here to view more details.
(http://ideasec.nbc.gov/ecprod/owa/ec$cbd.sypfirstcount?P_SERVER_ID3=BR142511&P_OBJ_ID1=9110)
 

Place of Performance

Address: State of Idaho

Zip Code: 83702

Country: US
 

Record

SN00408988-W 20030823/030821214018 (fbodaily.com)
 

Source

FedBizOpps.gov Link to This Notice
(may not be valid after Archive Date)

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