This is a special notice prepared in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 5.2 "Synopses of Proposed Contract Actions" US Army Corps of Engineers; Portland District intends to award a sole-source, Firm-Fixed Price contract with the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW), 4034 Fairview Industrial Rd SE, Salem, OR, 97302-1142. The purpose of this acquisition is for the contractor to evaluate the habitat use of juvenile spring Chinook salmon and winter steelhead in the mainstem Willamette River and major spawning tributaries. The Contractor shall describe and characterize migration and rearing patterns (timing and physical habitat preferences) for juvenile Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) and winter Steelhead (O. mykiss) in the mainstem Willamette River and the lower reaches of major spawning tributaries relative to river flow. Period of performance for these services is from date of award thru February 28, 2017.

The ODFW Spring Chinook Research Project, funded by the federal Sport Fish Restoration Program, has long-term data on juvenile Chinook rearing in the mainstem Willamette, the North and South Santiam River downstream of flood control dams, and the McKenzie River. These data were collected by a beach seining survey that has been ongoing since 2002. Juvenile Chinook salmon captured during this survey were implanted with PIT tags and released at the same site where they were caught. Tagged fish were recaptured by repeated sampling of available rearing habitat and detected by PIT tag antennae at Willamette Falls, Leaburg Dam, and the Walterville power canal. Tag detections provide extensive data on migration timing through the mainstem Willamette River. These data will be summarized to provide information on the characteristics of rearing habitat, relative abundance of juvenile Chinook salmon, and migration timing. Important periods of rearing and migration will be highlighted for flow management planning. Steelhead and rainbow trout were also collected as part of this effort, but were far less numerous than Chinook salmon, and were not PIT tagged.

Use of the ODFW database to prepare this evaluation is critical to achieving both ESA compliance with NMFS RPAs and completion of the WBR Project allocating storage water for instream flow purposes. The ODFW database is not available to the public and therefore makes the ODFW the only source available for this analysis. For these reasons, it is in the best interest of the Government to award this contract to ODFW.

The statutory authority for this non-competitive acquisition is 10 U.S.C 2304(c) (1) as implemented by FAR 13.106-1(b) for purchases not exceeding the simplified acquisition threshold.

THIS NOTICE IS NOT A REQUEST FOR COMPETITIVE PROPOSALS OR QUOTATIONS, AND A SOLICITATION WILL NOT BE POSTED.

Interested concerns must show clear and convincing evidence that competition of this requirement would be advantageous to the Government. All responsible sources may submit a capability statement, proposal or quote to the contracting officer before the notice end date. If there are not any affirmative written responses received by 12:00 pm Pacific Daylight Time on 13 September 2016 an award will be made without further notice. Oral communications are not acceptable in response to this notice. A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed requirement is solely within the discretion of the Government. Electronic responses and questions shall be submitted via email to [email protected]. The US Army Corps of Engineers is not responsible for any costs incurred by responding to this notice.

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