Title
Consider recommendation from the Research & Technology Committee to approve a contract with BIO-WEST, to provide a comprehensive statistical analysis of long-term EAHCP biological and hydrological monitoring data, in an amount not to exceed $88,742.
Body
RECOMMENDED MOTION:
Move the board approve Contract No. 16-821-HCP between the EAA and BIO-WEST, for the purpose of conducting a comprehensive statistical analysis of long-term EAHCP biological and hydrological monitoring data, in an amount not to exceed $88,742, for the period January 1, 2017 through December 31, 2017.
SUMMARY:
The purpose of this agenda item is for the board to consider a Research & Technology Committee recommendation to approve a contract between the EAA and BIO-WEST, for the purpose of conducting a comprehensive statistical analysis of Comal and San Marcos long-term biological and hydrological monitoring data. This analysis was recommended by both the National Academy of Sciences and the EAHCP Science Committee.
To solicit the required services, EAA staff issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) consistent with the standard EAA procurement process. On August 1, 2016, EAA staff sent RFP packet to sixty (60) potential vendors. Of those vendors, eight (8) were M/WBEs.
On August 24, 2016, the EAA received proposals from 1) Beaver Creek Hydrology, LLC., 2) Bio-West, Inc. (with Tennessee Tech) and; 3) University of Texas at San Antonio of which none of the vendors are an M/WBE. Staff's proposal evaluation matrix is attached to this agenda item.
Due to the large and varied nature of the data, and the quality of the proposals received, EAA staff chose to recommend awarding contracts to each of the proposers assigning different tasks as follows: BIOWEST to analyze water quality/quantity, submerged aquatic vegetation, and Covered Species populations; University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) to analyze hydrology, submerged aquatic vegetation, and impacts caused by disturbance and; Beaver Creek Hydrology to analyze the biology of the two springs systems. Staff anticipates recommending the board consider a contract with UTSA at a future meeting. Beaver Creek Hydrology will be engaged through a General Manager letter agreement.
At the October 25 meeting, the Research & Technology Committee voted to recommend the board approve a contract between the EAA and BIO-WEST, for the purpose of conducting a comprehensive statistical analysis of long-term EAHCP biological and hydrological monitoring data, in an amount not to exceed $88,742, for the period January 1, 2017 through December 31, 2017. This contract which has been reviewed by legal counsel, is also attached to this agenda item.
M/WBE PARTICIPATION:
BIO-WEST, Inc. is not an M/WBE vendor.
STRATEGIC PLAN REFERENCE:
This item is related to Strategic Plan Goal A. Sustain Federally-protected Aquifer Dependent Species.
The Applied Research program, is required of the Edwards Aquifer Authority to maintain compliance with the Incidental Take Permit issued by USFWS on March 18, 2013. Specifically, this item is related to the obligations of Section 6.3 of the Edwards Aquifer Habitat Conservation Plan.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Funding in the amount of $88,742 is available in the 2017 EAHCP operating budget.