Title
Consider recommendation from the Executive Committee to approve a contract with the United States Fish & Wildlife Service, Region 2, Texas Fish and Wildlife Aquatic Conservation Office for the San Marcos Salamander Monitoring Study, in the amount of $111,322.24.
Body
RECOMMENDED MOTION:
Move the board adopt Resolution and Order No. 12-24-115 of the Edwards Aquifer Board of Directors approving Contract No. 24-030-TES between the EAA and United States Fish & Wildlife Service, Region 2, Texas Fish and Wildlife Aquatic Conservation Office, for San Marcos Salamander Monitoring Study, in the amount of $111,322.24, for the period January 1, 2025 through December 31, 2026.
SUMMARY:
The purpose of this agenda item is for the board to consider an Executive Committee recommendation to approve a contract between the EAA and United States Fish & Wildlife Service, Region 2, Texas Fish and Wildlife Aquatic Conservation Office (USFWS).
Under the proposed contract, USFWS will test and refine a study design, survey methods, and statistical methodologies for the purpose of monitoring the San Marcos salamander population in Spring Lake and the upper San Marcos River.
To solicit the required services, EAA staff advertised a Request for Proposals (RFP) consistent with the standard EAA procurement process beginning August 11, 2024 through September 11, 2024. EAA staff, through direct notification and publication of the RFP with the Texas Purchasing Group - BidNet Direct and the State of Texas Electronic State Business Daily, reached 2,033 vendors with notification of the RFP, 1,289 were M/WBEs. In addition, newspaper publication of the RFP was provided in various newspapers throughout the EAA region.
On the submission deadline of September 11, EAA staff received 2 proposals, 0 were from M/WBEs. The proposals were evaluated according to the criteria described in the RFP. Attached to this summary is the scoring matrix used to evaluate the proposal. The evaluators scored and ranked USFWS as the highest and recommended contract award.
Attached to this summary is the draft contract and Resolution and Order No. 12-24-115, which have been reviewed by legal counsel.
At the meeting on December 3, the Executive Committee voted to recommend the board adopt a resolution and order of the Edwards Aquifer Authority Board of Directors approving Contract No. 24-030-TES between the EAA and United States Fish & Wildlife Service, Region 2, Texas Fish and Wildlife Aquatic Conservation Office, for San Marcos Salamander Monitoring Study, in the amount of $111,322.24, for the period January 1, 2025 through December 31, 2026.
M/WBE PARTICIPATION:
United States Fish & Wildlife Service, Region 2, Texas Fish and Wildlife Aquatic Conservation Office is not an M/WBE vendor.
STRATEGIC PLAN REFERENCE:
This agenda item supports the EAA’s policy direction to sustain Federally protected aquifer dependent species.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Funding for this contract will not exceed $111,322.24 for the duration of the contract.