USDI, Bureau of Reclamation, Attention: UC-458, 125 South State Street, Room 6107, Salt Lake City, Utah, 84138-1102

Y -- SALINITY CONTROL -- COLORADO RIVER BASIN DUE 022897 POC Contact Rebecca Williams, (801) 524-3770, Grants Specialist, or Dave Trueman, (801) 524-3753. This is a Notice for the Bureau of Reclamation, which has been authorized by Congress to evaluate and fund cost-effective alternatives to its traditional Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Program. Non-federal sponsors may propose projects (to be funded by Reclamation) to reduce salinity contributions originating from saline springs, leaking wells, irrigation sources, municipal and industrial sources, erosion of public and private land, or other sources above Hoover Dam in the Colorado River Basin. Reclamation will be requesting proposals from the public for comparison to projects planned by Reclamation. Innovative proposals to reduce costs and improve performance are encouraged. For example, proposals may include cost sharing to buy down the cost of traditional projects or provide performance guarantees to improve their competitiveness in the ranking system. A request for proposals (RFP) for fiscal year 1998 funding is available upon request. The offerors will have until February 28, 1997, tosubmit their proposals. Proposals may require up to five years of funding from the program. Reclamation may reopen the RFP process again each year as needed depending upon its previous obligations, the availability of funds, and future salinity control needs. Reclamation will award agreements resulting from this solicitation to the responsible offerors whose offers will be most advantageous to the Government. Cost-effectiveness (the cost to control each ton of salt) is Reclamation's primary criterion for ranking its implementation priorities. In ranking alternatives, the evaluation committee will also consider a variety of performance risk factors. These will include the uncertainty in both costs and tonnage reduction. Up-front funding or high initial payments for projects may add to the program's exposure to cost overruns, failures, and defaults. Proposals where the Program pays as salt is produced or as facilities are completed, inspected, and placed into operation greatly reduce this risk. All proponents will be required to limit (cap) the program's costs through performance bonds or other guarantees. Otherwise the lack of detailed plans, geological surveys, cost estimates, adequate contingencies, environmental compliance documents, detailed fish and wildlife mitigation plans, or state and local permitting, zoning, and water rights would increase the potential costs to the program and severely down rate the proposal's cost effectiveness ranking. Interested parties should contact Rebecca Williams to be placed on the mailing list for the RFP at (801) 524-3770, or by fax at (801) 524-3029. For general information, contact David Trueman at (801) 524-3753 or Internet at dtrueman@uc.usbr.gov. (0339)

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