CR-358852

Under the FFY2023 UC Programmatic contract, which follows contract 89298, the UCSRB will provide Core Services as described below:

1. Provide Executive Level and regional/ Upper Columbia (UC) Programmatic coordination and facilitation with BPA among project sponsors, Action Agency (AA) partners and others through 1:1 dialogue with the Watershed Action Teams (WATs), Methow Restoration Council (MRC), and regional Implementation Team (IT), and through Regional Technical Team (RTT) meetings and discussions with the Project Work Group and Monitoring and Data Management subcommittee.
2. With BPA, adaptively manage the UC Programmatic proposal solicitation process and any associated documentation (e.g., Sponsor / BPA-Engineering & Technical Services (ETS)/ BPA-Environmental Compliance (EC) guidance, application materials, etc.) to incorporate updated regional Habitat Action Prioritization outputs with regard to biological benefit and reflect Programmatic adaptive management.
3. Use the FFY23 Programmatic proposal period (October 1-April 15, 2023) to identify quality projects for potential BPA funding.
4. Review proposals for strategic alignment with Programmatic goals & objectives; UC Regional Prioritization and RTT biological benefit score, the Biological Strategy; risk and the potential for partner contribution(s).
5. Provide early, focused technical input and assistance to Programmatic sponsors, as needed, so that only robust proposals that reflect biological goals and SMART objectives linking species / life-history / habitat-specific needs are advanced for funding consideration.
6. For new projects under development, contribute early, focused input to BPA ETS staff and the Habitat Area Lead on fish/ potential biological benefit from Concept to 15% Design, and again at 30% Design.
7. Coordinate RTT review/ comment of Programmatic projects prior to-at 15%, Scoring at 30% design, and final scoring at 60% or 80%.
9. Provide on-call technical support for specific BPA requests (e.g., water resources-related inquiries, prioritization information, data transfer)
10. Assist BPA with Programmatic portfolio coordination, management, and forecasting and provide contract development support to the HAL as needed/ requested.
11. Develop reports (monthly summaries, quarterly status reports, annual non-technical reports / other)
12. Coordinate any needs for maintenance and/or monitoring of instream structures previously constructed through the Programmatic.
13. Collaborate with BPA staff re: other "Umbrella" projects/ regions, potential use of BPA’s GIS resources, access to BPA’s RM&E Team, and access and coordination with ETS and EC staff.
14. Participate in and, if requested, convene regular project-level calls with UCSRB, BPA, sponsors, others to help ensure the portfolio of Programmatic projects is advanced in an integrated and coordinated manner.
15. With BPA, engage in any requested follow-up with Council staff regarding the summary UC RM&E Matrix developed in under FFY22 contract 89298, and to discuss/ address any Council questions that may arise during the FFY23 contract period.
16. Participate remotely in PNW-level science coord. mtgs./ forums to support adaptive management of UC Prioritization/ and the Biological Strategy.
17. Curate the UC Prioritization framework, which includes RTT coordination for updates, and create/ provide public access to updated online-digital resources (GIS WebApp/ Maps/ Database/ Tool).

In support of WE E: Regional Science Alignment, the UCSRB proposes to subcontract with BioAnalysts/ the RTT Chair to provide oversight and assistance to incorporate new data, generated under the FFY22 UCSRB Technical Services contract, into Prioritization, and oversee scoring rule and Biological Strategy updates. In FFY23, resources are included in WE E for UCSRB staff to incorporate these new data into the Prioritization framework. The UCSRB also proposes to subcontract Aspect Consulting for ArcGIS/ on-call Prioritization tool expertise, as needed, and staff will coordinate among subcontractors and partners to QA/QC outputs and formally update the regional Prioritization Tool.

Personnel classifications for UCSRB staff operating under the FFY2023 contract are Executive Director (ED) and Program Manager (PM).

• Executive Director (ED)
The ED is responsible for oversight of UCSRB operations and will work closely with BPA to execute this contract. The ED will:
- Provide executive oversight of the Programmatic and compliance, including reporting, contract management, voucher submission and coordination with BPA.
- Facilitate implementation of the Programmatic through internal coordination with the UCSRB BOD and staff and external collaboration with regional partners.
- Identify time-sensitive issues that may affect successful implementation of Programmatic projects and communicate any thoughts to BPA.
- Serve as mediator when necessary to resolve gridlock or conflict.

• Program Manager - Project Administration/Policy Support (PM-A/P):
The PM-A/P acts as the primary point of contact for day-to-day Programmatic administration within the UC region. The PM-A/P will work closely with all BPA,staff, sponsors and partners (AA and others) to:
- Advance Programmatic-funded activities and identify and help address issues or delays.
- Play a coordination and facilitation role among BPA, partners, sponsors: the ED, PM-S/T, and PM-D/M; and share information as the Programmatic evolves.
- Help coordinate RTT review of Programmatic projects at key junctures.
- Adaptively manage the Programmatic and Targeted solicitation process with BPA
- Help identify other priority projects for potential Programmatic funding.
- Support UCSRB-BPA contract development and compliance, including preparation of reports and presentations about the Programmatic

• Program Manager - Science/Technical Support (PM-S/T):
The PM-S/T, in close coordination with BPA, serves as the primary point of contact for regional technical information, data, and UC Habitat Action Prioritization outputs that support Programmatic project development, implementation and adaptive management. The PM-S/T will:
- Help identify high quality projects within the region for BPA funding consideration.
- Contribute early input on fish habitat and fish utilization to support sponsors' development of appropriate biological goals and objectives for Programmatic projects, and ensure they are tiered to identified limiting factors and UC Habitat Action Prioritization outputs.
- Identify, help assemble and provide reasonable habitat and fish use data and information and summarize available data and results from similar projects to support the development of Programmatic proposals and projects.
- Provide focused review and input during concept development through pre-design/15%. This early input will help best align the early design process with UC Habitat Action Priorities. The PM-S/T may coordinate with project sponsors, regional engineer consultant (potential FY21 contract), BPA PM/COR, BPA engineers, and BPA EC and ETS Leads  to provide input.
- Provide biological input on concepts, 15%, 30% design to BPA ETS staff and Habitat Area Lead.
- Provide technical support and coordination to project sponsors and the RTT fully implement the  regional Habitat Action Prioritization tool.
- Explore opportunities to develop standardized metrics/measurable objectives by project type to support discussions of biological benefit for project proposals.

• Program Manager - Data Management (PM-DM)  
The PM-DM, in close coordination with BPA, serves as the primary point of contact for the UC Habitat Action Prioritization Tool and outputs. Under the FFY23 UCSRB Admin Contract, the PM-DM will:
-Curate and update underpinning technical information and data, managing Tool updates and QA
- Provide technical support to the PWG as they work to make recommendations to update and refine the tool, and ensure coordination with the RTT for final QA/QC and approval of Prioritization changes.
- Assist sponsors with Prioritization Tool use and data retrieval to support Programmatic proposal development
- Coordinate the integration of FFY21-22 UCSRB Technical Services subconsultant deliverables with regional/ RTT process to formally update select Tier 1 Data Gaps in Prioritization. This data integration piece is unique to this FFY23 Admin contract and results from the need
for UCSRB staff to complete RTT approval-data integration without a subsequent/ new Technical Services contract with BPA.

Background:
The Upper Columbia Salmon Recovery Board (UCSRB) coordinates with numerous federal and state agencies, county and city governments, Soil and Water Conservation Districts, the State of Washington Salmon Recovery Funding Board (SRFB), two Tribes, local landowners and public interest groups in implementing the Upper Columbia Spring Chinook and Steelhead Recovery Plan. The purpose of this BPA Programmatic contract is to facilitate the process of targeting BPA funding towards tributary habitat restoration that contribute to the recovery of the Upper Columbia spring Chinook ESU and the Upper Columbia steelhead DPS, and provide mitigation opportunities for BPA. Funded conservation actions are prioritized, identified, and implemented through a collaborative science-based process that lead to efficient, cost-effective, and biologically beneficial on-the-ground mitigation actions.  BPA will only evaluate projects proposed for funding that have been objectively identified and prioritized by the Upper Columbia (UC) Upper Columbia Biological Strategy/Habitat Action Prioritization within the Upper Columbia River Basin. Proposed projects must also meet BPA’s responsibilities under the Columbia River System Operations (CRSO) BiOp and the Northwest Power Act; utilize the HIP BiOp for environmental compliance (or comply with associated technical criteria); and meet BPA's objectives as outlined in its 2018-2023 Strategic Plan. BPA’s participation is executed through the F&W Habitat Program and administered through the area lead structure, the respective roles and responsibilities and the conditions within this contract.