Casitas Municipal Water District - Recreation Area Improvements
Notice of Intent to fund Casitas Municipal Water District for Recreation Area Improvements. OVERVIEW The proposed agreement will continue (R11AC20123) to build upon previous improvements and strive to maintain the level of maintenance required for the heavy-use recreation area. Public use facilities receive heavy visitor traffic during the peak summer months, which wears on the infrastructure of the park. This includes road damage, on-going boat inspections for invasive water species and playground upkeep that requires yearly maintenance. Front-Entrance replacement project is nearing completion, with Security Kiosks and additional vehicle entrance lane requirements remaining to be completed. These objectives need to be met in order for the Recreation Area to adequately meet its planned improved operation for public use of the area. RECIPIENT INVOLVEMENT Casitas Recreation Area has requested continued funding for its State mandated Quagga Mussle program, for continuing the yearly repaving of area roads, water park improvements and front entrance upgrades. The initial funds are designed to be used to complete the Front Entrance structure that has been under construction for the past 2 years. Additional requests will fund on-going projects, all subject to Reclamation funds being made available for improvements requested. RECLAMATION INVOLVEMENT No substantial involvement on the part of Reclamation is anticipated for the successful completion of the objectives to be funded by this award. SINGLE-SOURCE JUSTIFICATION DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR SINGLE SOURCE POLICY REQUIREMENTS Department of the Interior Policy (505 DM 2) requires a written justification which explains why competition is not practicable for each single-source award. The justification must address one or more of the following criteria as well as discussion of the program legislative history, unique capabilities of the proposed recipient, and cost-sharing contribution offered by the proposed recipient, as applicable. In order for an assistance award to be made without competition, the award must satisfy one or more of the following criteria: (1) Unsolicited Proposal – The proposed award is the result of an unsolicited assistance application which represents a unique or innovative idea, method, or approach which is not the subject of a current or planned contract or assistance award, but which is deemed advantageous to the program objectives; (2) Continuation – The activity to be funded is necessary to the satisfactory completion of, or is a continuation of an activity presently being funded, and for which competition would have a significant adverse effect on the continuity or completion of the activity; (3) Legislative intent – The language in the applicable authorizing legislation or legislative history clearly indicates CongressÂ’ intent to restrict the award to a particular recipient of purpose; (4) Unique Qualifications – The applicant is uniquely qualified to perform the activity based upon a variety of demonstrable factors such as location, property ownership, voluntary support capacity, cost-sharing ability if applicable, technical expertise, or other such unique qualifications; (5) Emergencies – Program/award where there is insufficient time available (due to a compelling and unusual urgency, or substantial danger to health or safety) for adequate competitive procedures to be followed. Reclamation did not solicit full and open competition for this award based the following criteria: (4) UNIQUE QUALIFICATIONS Single Source Justification Description: Single source justification was used in this proposal because Casitas Lake Recreation is operated through a Management Agreement between Reclamation and Casitas Municipal Water District. (11-L-L-20-0216). That Agreement states that the “Administration, Operation, Maintenance, and Development of Recreation uses and Facilities shall be managed by Casitas for Reclamation, for the term of the Agreement. Casitas operates all land around the facility and delivers water to Agriculture and Municipal and Industrial (M&I) users in the immediate area of the recreation facility. Casitas has a maintenance yard within 2 miles of the Park and maintains all water and electrical supplies for the Parks infrastructure. All equipment needed to operate a recreational facility is conveniently located 3 miles from the Park entrance; this reduces mileage to the equipment and facilitates the job of getting equipment to the job site in a timely manner. Casitas Municipal Water District has managed the Area for Reclamation since 1958. In February of 2010, Reclamation issued a Final Resource Management Plan (RMP)/Environmental Impact Statement. This document stated that Ă‚â€Implementing the RMP management actions will be the primary responsibility of the managing partner”. Casitas has been the Managing Partner since 1958 and has distinct and adequate background to continue in that capacity and to administer financial assistance when required. STATUTORY AUTHORITY The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation is proposing to enter into this agreement on a sole source basis. This document, Notice of Intent, sets forth the justification: P.L. 89-72, Federal Water Project Recreation Act, July 9, 1965, Section 1, Section 3(b)(1), Section 3(c)(1). The following section, provided in full text, authorizes Reclamation to award this financial assistance agreement:
Office: Bureau of Reclamation
Grants Officer
