Opportunity Information: Apply for BOR MP 16 0019
Apply for BOR MP 16 0019
- The DOI-BOR in the natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "San Luis Demonstration Treatment Plant Operation and Maintenance" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.527.
- This funding opportunity was created on May 26, 2016 and posted on May 26, 2016.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 09, 2016. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $4,416,597.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Special district governments.
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Opportunity Summary:
The "San Luis Demonstration Treatment Plant Operation and Maintenance" opportunity is a U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation (DOI-BOR) cooperative agreement focused on operating and maintaining the San Luis Demonstration Treatment Plant (the Demo-Plant) in California's San Luis Unit of the Central Valley Project. The broader problem it addresses is the long-running lack of adequate agricultural drainage service on the west side of the San Joaquin Valley since the closure of Kesterson Reservoir in the mid-1980s. That drainage gap matters because irrigated agriculture in the San Luis Unit, which serves roughly 700,000 acres (including areas associated with Westlands, Broadview, Pacheco, Panoche Water Districts, and part of the San Luis Water District), generates subsurface drainwater that can concentrate naturally occurring constituents such as selenium and salts. Without a workable drainage solution, salts can accumulate in the root zone over time, undermining long-term soil productivity and creating water quality and environmental compliance risks.
The grant sits within a legal and planning history that includes federal statutory obligations and court oversight. Public Law 86-488 (1960) authorized construction, operation, and maintenance of the San Luis Unit and contemplated drainage works as part of that system. After litigation (Sumner Peck Ranch v. Reclamation) and a court order requiring Reclamation to promptly provide drainage services, Reclamation initiated a formal reevaluation of drainage alternatives, culminating in a Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) released in 2006 and a Record of Decision (ROD) signed in 2007. In that decision, Reclamation selected the "In-Valley Water Needs Land Retirement Alternative" for implementation, and later produced a Feasibility Report evaluating how to carry out the preferred approach. The documents are incorporated by reference in the opportunity, and the grant is framed as one practical step supporting the federal duty to provide drainage service while moving toward a sustainable salt and water balance for irrigated lands in and near the San Luis Unit.
At the center of the work is the Demo-Plant, a treatment facility intended to reclaim cleaner water from agricultural drainage water and reduce problematic constituents like selenium and salts. The facility uses a combination of Reverse Osmosis (RO) and bio-treatment, and one explicit goal of operating it under this agreement is to give the public and technical community a better chance to observe performance in real-world conditions and evaluate how other innovative or emerging technologies might integrate with, complement, or improve upon the existing treatment train. In other words, the plant is not just a utility operation; it is also a platform for demonstration, learning, and technology testing tied to drainage service needs.
The opportunity is also closely linked to regional drainage management efforts, particularly the Westside Regional Drainage Plan (WRDP) and the San Joaquin River Improvement Project (SJRIP). The Demo-Plant was originally designed to support the WRDP by adding treatment and disposal capacity for salts associated with SJRIP activities, which were developed in part to reduce salt and selenium discharges to the San Joaquin River under the Grassland Bypass Project. The notice explains that a 2015 settlement between the U.S. Department of Justice and Westlands Water District changed the long-term context by relieving the United States of financial obligations and legal liability for drainage service in Westlands, which in turn shifted the intended purpose of the demonstration facility away from being a precursor to a larger buildout of multiple plants. Instead, the Demo-Plant's role was refocused on reducing salts and selenium in drainwater within the SJRIP. Negotiations with the Northerly Districts were described as ongoing at the time of posting, indicating the broader drainage-service landscape remained partially unresolved.
The cooperative agreement outlines five core areas of recipient responsibility that are treated as critical to the plant's success: (1) operations staffing, (2) monitoring, (3) demonstration, (4) process optimization, and (5) technology evaluation. Practically, this means the recipient is expected to staff the facility appropriately, run it reliably, collect and report operational and water quality data, and actively work through the operational challenges that arise when influent water quality changes over time. The optimization and technology evaluation components underscore that the award is meant to produce operational learning, not just keep the plant running. The recipient is expected to build a working understanding of how the facility behaves under varying conditions, identify bottlenecks or failure modes, and determine which unit operations and potential add-on technologies are most promising as part of a drainage solution.
Because this is structured as a cooperative agreement rather than a more hands-off grant, Reclamation anticipates "substantial involvement" during performance. Reclamation's role includes reviewing staffing applications and assisting with interviews, and its Technical Service Center is assigned oversight responsibilities such as reviewing and approving the staffing plan and key personnel before plant operation proceeds. The agreement also requires Reclamation review and approval of the operational plan after plant turnover, and review/approval of submitted reports. Beyond formal approvals, Reclamation will provide technical assistance as needed, including help with defining and assessing optimization efforts, troubleshooting operational problems, and evaluating alternative technologies. This setup signals a collaborative, federally guided operational period where the agency stays closely engaged to ensure the plant is run correctly and that the demonstration and evaluation objectives are met.
A notable feature of this opportunity is that it was issued as a single-source award based on "unique qualifications," rather than being competed broadly. The justification provided is that Panoche Drainage District (PDD) is uniquely positioned to operate the Demo-Plant because it already operates and maintains nearby water supply and drainage infrastructure, holds title to the property where the plant is located, and installed and operates the tile drains that supply the plant's source water. The notice also credits PDD with successful implementation of the WRDP and progress in reducing agricultural discharges to the San Joaquin River through the SJRIP. PDD also had staff present during construction, design, and initial testing, and Reclamation anticipated transferring the Demo-Plant to PDD after the demonstration testing and O&M phases, making PDD the intended long-term owner/operator and direct beneficiary. The rationale is that another entity would likely face a steep learning curve in local drainage conditions, operational context, and institutional coordination, adding time and cost risk.
From an administrative standpoint, the opportunity is a discretionary funding action (Funding Opportunity Number BOR MP 16 0019) offered as a cooperative agreement under CFDA 15.527, categorized under Natural Resources. Eligibility is limited to special district governments. The posting shows an expected single award with an award ceiling of $4,416,597. It was posted May 26, 2016, created May 26, 2016, and carried a closing date of June 9, 2016. The statutory authority cited is Section 5 of Public Law 86-488, which authorizes the Secretary to construct, operate, and maintain a drainage system for the San Luis Unit and to permit use by other parties under appropriate contractual terms, including participation in construction and operation of drainage facilities serving the broader area. In plain terms, the grant funds the operation of a drainage-related treatment facility serving lands within the San Luis Unit service area, aligning the award with Reclamation's legal and programmatic responsibilities for drainage service and water quality management on the west side of the Central Valley.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the "San Luis Demonstration Treatment Plant Operation and Maintenance" opportunity?
This opportunity is a U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation (DOI-BOR) cooperative agreement to operate and maintain the San Luis Demonstration Treatment Plant (the Demo-Plant) located in California within the San Luis Unit of the Central Valley Project.
What problem is this cooperative agreement intended to address?
It supports efforts to address the long-running lack of adequate agricultural drainage service on the west side of the San Joaquin Valley after the closure of Kesterson Reservoir in the mid-1980s. That drainage gap matters because irrigated agriculture generates subsurface drainwater that can concentrate naturally occurring constituents such as selenium and salts, and without a workable drainage solution, salts can accumulate in the root zone over time and create soil productivity, water quality, and environmental compliance risks.
Where is the Demo-Plant located and what area does it relate to?
The Demo-Plant is in California in the San Luis Unit of the Central Valley Project. The broader setting described includes irrigated lands in and near the San Luis Unit service area, which is associated with roughly 700,000 acres and includes areas tied to Westlands, Broadview, Pacheco, Panoche Water Districts, and part of the San Luis Water District.
What is the Demo-Plant designed to do?
The facility is intended to reclaim cleaner water from agricultural drainage water and reduce problematic constituents like selenium and salts.
What treatment processes does the Demo-Plant use?
The Demo-Plant uses a combination of Reverse Osmosis (RO) and bio-treatment.
Is this award only about keeping the plant running, or is there a demonstration component?
It is both an operational award and a demonstration/learning platform. A stated goal is to allow the public and technical community to observe performance under real-world conditions and evaluate how innovative or emerging technologies might integrate with, complement, or improve the existing treatment train.
How does this opportunity connect to federal drainage obligations and planning history?
The notice places the award within a longer legal and planning history. Public Law 86-488 (1960) authorized construction, operation, and maintenance of the San Luis Unit and contemplated drainage works. Following litigation (Sumner Peck Ranch v. Reclamation) and a court order requiring Reclamation to promptly provide drainage services, Reclamation reevaluated drainage alternatives, producing a Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) in 2006 and a Record of Decision (ROD) in 2007. Reclamation selected the "In-Valley Water Needs Land Retirement Alternative" and later produced a Feasibility Report on implementation. These documents are incorporated by reference in the opportunity.
What selected alternative is referenced in the planning documents?
The Record of Decision (ROD) signed in 2007 selected the "In-Valley Water Needs Land Retirement Alternative" for implementation.
How does the grant relate to salt and water balance goals?
The award is framed as a practical step that supports the federal duty to provide drainage service while moving toward a sustainable salt and water balance for irrigated lands in and near the San Luis Unit.
How is this opportunity linked to the Westside Regional Drainage Plan (WRDP) and the San Joaquin River Improvement Project (SJRIP)?
The Demo-Plant was originally designed to support the WRDP by adding treatment and disposal capacity for salts associated with SJRIP activities. SJRIP activities were developed in part to reduce salt and selenium discharges to the San Joaquin River under the Grassland Bypass Project.
Did the purpose of the Demo-Plant change over time?
Yes. The notice explains that a 2015 settlement between the U.S. Department of Justice and Westlands Water District changed the long-term context by relieving the United States of financial obligations and legal liability for drainage service in Westlands. As a result, the Demo-Plant was refocused away from being a precursor to a larger buildout of multiple plants and toward reducing salts and selenium in drainwater within the SJRIP.
What does the notice say about negotiations with other districts?
It states that negotiations with the Northerly Districts were ongoing at the time of posting, indicating parts of the broader drainage-service landscape remained unresolved.
What are the core areas of responsibility for the recipient under this cooperative agreement?
The cooperative agreement identifies five critical areas of recipient responsibility: (1) operations staffing, (2) monitoring, (3) demonstration, (4) process optimization, and (5) technology evaluation.
What does "operations staffing" mean in this context?
It means the recipient is expected to staff the facility appropriately so it can be operated reliably.
What monitoring expectations are described?
The recipient is expected to collect and report operational and water quality data as part of the monitoring responsibility.
What is meant by process optimization in the agreement?
Process optimization emphasizes operational learning. The recipient is expected to work through operational challenges as influent water quality changes over time, build a working understanding of plant behavior under varying conditions, and identify bottlenecks or failure modes.
What does technology evaluation involve for this award?
Technology evaluation underscores that the award is intended to test and assess which unit operations and potential add-on or alternative technologies are most promising as part of a drainage solution, alongside the existing RO and bio-treatment processes.
Why is this a cooperative agreement instead of a more hands-off grant?
Because Reclamation anticipates "substantial involvement" during performance. The structure is intended to be collaborative and federally guided, with agency engagement to ensure the plant is operated correctly and that demonstration and evaluation objectives are achieved.
What kinds of involvement will Reclamation have during performance?
Reclamation will review staffing applications and assist with interviews. Its Technical Service Center is assigned oversight responsibilities including reviewing and approving the staffing plan and key personnel before plant operation proceeds. Reclamation will also review and approve the operational plan after plant turnover and review/approve submitted reports. The agency will provide technical assistance as needed for optimization, troubleshooting, and evaluation of alternative technologies.
Does the agreement require approvals from Reclamation before operations proceed?
Yes. The notice specifies review and approval steps, including approval of the staffing plan and key personnel before plant operation proceeds, and approval of the operational plan after plant turnover.
Is this opportunity competitive?
No. The notice describes it as a single-source award justified by "unique qualifications," rather than a broadly competed opportunity.
Who was identified as uniquely qualified for the single-source award, and why?
Panoche Drainage District (PDD) is identified as uniquely positioned because it already operates and maintains nearby water supply and drainage infrastructure, holds title to the property where the plant is located, and installed and operates the tile drains that supply the plant's source water. The notice also credits PDD with implementation of the WRDP and progress in reducing agricultural discharges to the San Joaquin River through the SJRIP. PDD staff were present during construction, design, and initial testing, and Reclamation anticipated transferring the Demo-Plant to PDD after demonstration testing and O&M phases.
What does the notice indicate about long-term ownership or operation of the Demo-Plant?
It states Reclamation anticipated transferring the Demo-Plant to Panoche Drainage District after the demonstration testing and operation and maintenance phases, making PDD the intended long-term owner/operator and direct beneficiary.
What is the funding mechanism and program identification for this award?
It is a discretionary funding action offered as a cooperative agreement under CFDA 15.527 and categorized under Natural Resources.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number?
The Funding Opportunity Number is BOR MP 16 0019.
Who is eligible to apply based on the notice?
Eligibility is limited to special district governments.
How many awards were expected?
The posting indicates an expected single award.
What is the award ceiling listed for this opportunity?
The award ceiling shown is $4,416,597.
When was the opportunity posted and what was the closing date?
It was posted (and created) on May 26, 2016, with a closing date of June 9, 2016.
What statutory authority is cited for this cooperative agreement?
The statutory authority cited is Section 5 of Public Law 86-488 (1960), which authorizes the Secretary to construct, operate, and maintain a drainage system for the San Luis Unit and to permit use by other parties under appropriate contractual terms, including participation in construction and operation of drainage facilities serving the broader area.
In plain terms, what does the grant fund?
In plain terms, it funds operation and maintenance of a drainage-related treatment facility intended to serve lands within the San Luis Unit service area, aligned with Reclamation's responsibilities for drainage service and water quality management on the west side of the Central Valley.
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