RECOVERY--Y--Sheepy Lake Waterfowl Nesting Habitat

This contract action was accomplished using other than competitive procedures because a statute exists that expressly authorizes or requires that the acquisition be made from a specific source or through another agency (FAR 6.302-5); specifically, Sole source awards under the 8(a) Program. Per FAR 6.302-5 a J&A is not required for this award. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Portland District (NWP) has aawarded a contract for the installation of a floating island water fowl nesting habitat. The project entails construction of one 3/4 acre floating island in Sheepy Lake, a permanent body of water located within within Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge (NWR). The island shall be anchored near the center of the southern lobe of Sheepy Lake (Figure 1). Sheepy Lake has an average surface elevation of approximately 4079 feet and is approximately 430 acres in size. The proposed island shall float on the lake's surface and be made of recycled material consisting of polypropylene (from recycled carpet) and polyester (from recycled drinking bottles). Layers of the matrix shall be bonded together with foam. The plastic material shall be stabilized with latex for enhanced UV protection. The island shall be covered by a mixture of small gravel/coarse sand and pumice in order to provide suitable nesting habitat for Caspian terns. Lower Klamath NWR is managed within the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) Klamath Basin National Wildlife Refuges Complex, approximately 140 miles inland from the west coast of California. Lower Klamath NWR is in northeastern California (Siskiyou County) and southern Oregon (Klamath County). The 50,092-acre refuge is a varied mix of intensively managed shallow marshes, open water, grassy uplands, and croplands that provide feeding, resting, nesting, and brood-rearing habitat for waterfowl and other water birds. Lower Klamath NWR receives water via a tunnel from sumps within Tule Lake NWR. Most of the water that is received is used at the wetland units. Any leftover water would flow into the Klamath Straits drain, which leads to the Klamath River. Sheepy Lake of Lower Klamath NWR may also receive water as part of the distribution throughout the refuge but also is fed by tributaries Sheepy Creek and Cottonwood Creek.