Trinity River Restoration Program Watershed Grant Program Administration

administering a large, multi-faceted, multi-year grant program focusing on construction and non-construction related restoration activities with numerous local and regional sub-recipients. Note that all subrecipients of restoration grants must meet the same qualification requirements (State and local governments, nonprofit organizations and institutions, and Federally recognized Indian Tribal Governments) as the awardee. The principal objective of this solicitation is to have the Program Administrator/Recipient administer Reclamation funds used to support projects to improve habitat for SONCC coho salmon and other anadromous fish in tributaries of the Trinity River between Lewiston Dam and the confluence with the Klamath River at Weitchpec, inclusive of the South Fork Trinity River and its tributaries. Projects on the mainstem Trinity River, or its tributaries above Lewiston Dam, are ineligible. The Program Administrator/Recipient will use the Request for Proposal (RFP) process to initiate a pre-proposal phase whereby Reclamation and the TRRP Agencies in coordination with the Program Administrator/Recipient will select pre-proposals for formal proposal submission. The Program Administrator/Recipient is responsible for coordinating primarily with Reclamation and then as needed with the TRRP Agencies (as described on page 1 of this announcement) to formally select full proposals that rank projects based on established ratings focusing on those that provide fine sediment reduction or habitat improvements and have the greatest impact on promoting the survival and recovery of anadromous fish. The Program Administrator/Recipient will fund projects that comply with: Reclamation’s authority under the CVPIA; Project types specifically identified by watershed in the SONCC coho recovery plan; Priority projects identified in the Klamath Basin Integrated Fisheries Restoration and Monitoring Plan’s prioritization tool; The overall goals and objective of the Program as outlined above in Section A.1. The Program Administrator/Recipient will monitor all activities (construction and non-construction) conducted by others receiving funds under this grant opportunity. For projects that include construction elements, the Program Administrator/Recipient will ensure that sub-recipient has a Project Manager, responsible for ensuring the project is implemented per the stamped engineering and/or professional grade construction plans and that all applicable environmental compliance requirements are upheld. For both construction and non-construction projects, the Program Administrator/Recipient will ensure overall compliance with Federal and state environmental regulations, permitting, and reporting on permits by having on staff or hiring an Environmental Compliance Manager as a consultant (previously mentioned in section B.3) who is professionally trained and well versed in the Federal requirements that Reclamation is responsible for including, but not limited to the ESA, the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), Clean Water Act (CWA), the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA), etc. Note: Reclamation has recently received a 2020 Biological Opinion from NMFS and 2020 Letter of Concurrence from USFWS providing programmatic ESA coverage of Trinity River tributary restoration projects. ESA compliance needs should largely be informal. The Program Administrator/Recipient’s Environmental Compliance Manager will serve as the main point of contact for Reclamation staff reviewing and adopting environmental documents drafted by the sub-recipients. This Environmental Compliance Manager will participate in the overall sub-project selection process to reduce the need for Reclamation to participate in additional calls/etc. Additionally, the Environmental Compliance Manager will be responsible for ensuring that all sub-project applicants include environmental compliance budgets in pre-and full proposals (typically 10 percent of total project costs), that the sub-recipient have on staff or hire an environmental compliance consultant that is well versed in developing documents that meet Federal environmental compliance requirements (e.g., environmental assessments (EA), categorical exclusion checklists (CEC), and possibly Environmental Impact Statements (EIS(s)), etc.). At a minimum the Program Administrator/Recipient’s Environmental Compliance Manager will have the following criteria. (Note: the sub-recipient’s environmental compliance staff or hired consultant should have similar qualifications, but it is not required as the Program Administrator/Recipient’s Environmental Compliance Manager will be assisting to ensure all documentation meet Reclamation’s standard prior to Reclamation reviews and adoption): A minimum of 5 years of NEPA document preparation and project management experience in environmental consulting. Experience should include simple to complex, multi-disciplinary projects; leading meetings with clients and agencies; directing project teams including subcontractors; preparing or directing staff in the preparation of technical studies and NEPA documents (e.g. EA and Finding of No Significant Impacts (FONSI)); and setting and adhering to project budgets and delivery schedules. Ability to write concise, descriptive, and complete descriptions of all the elements of both construction and non-construction projects. Ability to create or direct the creation of project location maps containing, township, range, section, North arrow, proposed action boundaries, a complete map legend, etc. A minimum of a bachelor’s degree in environmental planning, environmental science, biology, environmental science, natural resource management, planning, geology or other science-related field. A working knowledge of and experience with developing, complying, and/or assisting a Federal agency develop compliance documents or Federal and California environmental regulations including NEPA, California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), the CWA, the ESA, the NHPA, etc. A working understanding of Federal agency internal processes and procedures including, but not limited to Reclamation, U.S. Forest Service, National Park Service, NMFS, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Natural Resource Conservation Service, and/or U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Excellent verbal and written communication skills; interpersonal skills; attention to detail; and organization, schedule, and budget management skills. Further, to reduce Reclamation’s need to review initial adequacy of environmental compliance documentation on any sub-grantee projects, the Program Administrator/Recipient’s Environmental Compliance Manager will ensure that sub-grantee’s environmental compliance documents (to be completed by the sub-grantee’s staff or environmental compliance consultant) are complete, near final, and ready for Reclamation’s final review and acceptance consistent with the compliance requirements identified in the RFP process and as directed by Reclamation during post award of sub-project meetings. Any details that Reclamation identifies as outstanding for a particular sub-grantee project will be coordinated through the Program Administrator/Recipient’s Environmental Compliance Manager who, as stated above will manage, coordinate, and assist all sub-recipients in environmental compliance documentation and consultant needs. It is the sole responsibility of the Program Administrator/Recipient’s Environmental Compliance Manager to ensure sub-recipients have budgeted for and hired qualified staff or consultants to develop environmental compliance documents (specifically regarding NEPA analysis and cultural resource surveys and reports under NHPA and CWA). The Program Administrator/Recipient will also be responsible for all sub-receipts accurately and completely answers a series of questions or provide additional information to Reclamation about the potential environmental impacts of a proposed sub-project. Reclamation will also require from the Program Administrator/Recipient bi-weekly status of environmental compliance of all projects, upcoming program and sub-project deadlines, perceived issues or concerns, and summary of correspondence with the sub-grantees, expenditures for each program, changes to any points of contacts with sub-grantees, action items, and any other information deemed necessary by Reclamation. Period of performance for the agreement is five years from the date of award with the anticipated end date of September 30, 2026. The Program Administrator/Recipient is required to have experience with administering projects using Federal and private funds with experience administering projects that focus on the problems facing SONCC coho salmon and other Pacific anadromous fish species. Some of the problems facing these species include impeded access to their historical habitat; loss of summer and winter rearing habitat, seasonal water quality impairment (temperature and flow in particular), water quality and flow-related effects on the incidence of disease in certain populations, excessive fine sediment recruitment due to poor land management, and reduced transport of sediment and large woody debris to important habitat. The successful applicant to this funding opportunity is responsible for: Annually soliciting, reviewing, collating, and coordination of project proposals within the defined reach of the Trinity River Basin to fund through requests for proposals and a selection process that includes direct coordination with Reclamation and the TRRP Agencies as needed. Annually facilitating meetings with the TRRP Agencies to prioritize project proposals and discuss overall Program administration. Annually administering Reclamation funds for anadromous fish restoration activities under this grant opportunity. Unless exempted by Reclamation, contracts for selected project proposals will be completed by mid-June annually. In addition, contracts will be finalized with applicants within 2 months from the date the TRRP Agencies agree on projects to fund and Reclamation confirms, and the Program Administrator/Recipient notifies for award. Ensuring the sub-receipt has a Project Manager managing all construction and non-construction related activities conducted by other entities receiving funds under this grant opportunity. The Program Administrator/Recipient should ensure that each project is implemented as described in the sub-recipient awarded full proposal and the associated environmental compliance. Monitoring and reporting activities associated with the administration of the Program as described in Section F.3. including both pre and post construction monitoring and reporting, as well as, quarterly and annual reporting for the Program and any/all summary reports requests by Reclamation. Establishing a public website as another method to (1) provide information about the funding (e.g., schedule of solicitation, review, and contracts; qualifying restoration projects; amount; geographic scope); (2) annually solicit project proposals; and (3) list awarded proposals for each year. All projects being considered for sub-award funding will require compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) before any ground-disturbing activity may begin. Compliance with all applicable state, Federal and local environmental, cultural, and paleontological resource protection laws and regulations is also required. These may include, but are not limited to, the Clean Water Act (CWA), the Endangered Species Act (ESA), National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA), consultation with potentially affected tribes, and consultation with the State Historic Preservation Officer (SHPO). Reclamation will be the lead Federal agency for NEPA compliance and will be responsible for evaluating technical information and ensuring that natural resources, cultural, and socioeconomic concerns are appropriately addressed. As the lead agency, Reclamation is solely responsible for determining the appropriate level of NEPA compliance. Further, Reclamation is responsible to ensure that findings under NEPA, and consultations, as appropriate, will support Reclamation’s decision on whether to fund a project. These costs will be considered in the ranking of applications. In Summary, the types of projects which may be funded through subawards in this Program include: Riparian Habitat Restoration Water Conservation Instream Habitat Improvements Instream Barrier Modification for Fish Passage Improvement Fish Passage Improvement at Stream Crossings Fish Screens Fine sediment reduction in watersheds where fine sediment is a major limiting factor No cost share is required for this award, though use of matching or in-kind support is encouraged. In-kind contributions constitute the value of non-cash contributions that benefit a federally assisted project. These contributions may be in the form of real property, equipment, supplies and other expendable property, as well as the value of goods and services directly benefiting and specifically identifiable to the proposed project or program. Costs incurred prior to Reclamation’s signing the financial assistance agreement will not be reimbursed under this award. The application must include the following elements to be considered complete: Mandatory Federal Forms: SF-424 Application for Federal Assistance SF-424A Budget Information Non-Construction Programs SF-424B Assurances Non-Construction Programs SF-LLL Disclosure of Lobbying Activities (if applicable) These forms may be obtained at www.grants.gov/web/grants/forms/sf-424-family.html. Title page Table of contents Technical proposal (limited to 30 pages) and evaluation categories: Executive summary Background data Technical project description Evaluation criteria: Project budget: Funding plan and letters of commitment Budget proposal Budget narrative Environmental and cultural compliance requirements and documentation needed Required permits or approvals Letters of project support, including from land manager or landowner (do not submit separately) Resolution authorizing participation from applicant’s board of directors or government body This NOFO is subject to Executive Order 12372, “Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs.” A list of states that have elected to participate in the intergovernmental review process is at www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/SPOC-February-2019.pdf. Applicants in these states must contact their state's Single Point of Contact (SPOC) to find out about and comply with the state's process under Executive Order 12372. The names and addresses of the SPOCs are listed in the Office of Management and Budget's website, www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/SPOC-February-2019.pdf Official Resolution Include an official resolution adopted by the applicant’s board of directors or governing body, or, for State government entities, an official authorized to commit the applicant to the financial and legal obligations associated with receipt of a financial assistance award under this NOFO, verifying: The identity of the official with legal authority to enter into an agreement The board of directors, governing body, or appropriate official who has reviewed and supports the application submitted The capability of the applicant to provide the amount of funding and/or in- kind contributions specified in the funding plan That the applicant will work with Reclamation to meet established deadlines for entering into a grant or cooperative agreement An official resolution meeting the requirements set forth above is mandatory. If the applicant is unable to submit the official resolution by the application deadline because of the timing of board meetings or other justifiable reasons, the official resolution may be submitted up to 30 days after the application deadline. Prior to making an award with a Federal total estimated amount greater than $150,000, Reclamation is required to review and consider any information about the applicant that is in the designated integrity and performance system accessible through SAM (currently Federal Award Performance Integrity Information System [FAPIIS]) (see 41 United States Code [U.S.C.] §2313). An applicant, at its option, may review information in the designated integrity and performance systems accessible through SAM and comment on any information about itself that a Federal awarding agency previously entered and is currently in the designated integrity and performance system accessible through SAM. Reclamation will consider any comments by the applicant, in addition to the other information in FAPIIS, in making a judgment about the applicant's integrity, business ethics, and record of performance under Federal awards when completing the review of risk posed by applicants as described in 2 CFR §200.205 Federal awarding agency review of risk posed by applicants.