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15.510 COLORADO UTE INDIAN WATER RIGHTS SETTLEMENT ACT

(Colorado Ute Settlement Act/Animas La Plata)

FEDERAL AGENCY
BUREAU OF RECLAMATION, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

AUTHORIZATION
Colorado River Basin Project Act, Public Law 90-537, 82 Stat.885; Colorado Ute Indian Water Rights Settlement Act of 1988, as amended, Public Law 100-585, 102 Stat. 1973; Colorado Ute Settlement Act Amendments of 2000, Public Law 106-554, 114 Stat. 2763A-266.

OBJECTIVES
To supply both irrigation and municipal and industrial water supply to the Ute Mountain Ute and Southern Ute Indian Tribes from the Animas-La Plata Project in settlement of water rights claims for the Tribes, and also fulfill other project activities that may be required as a result of the construction, such as relocation of roads and moving power lines. To complete construction of, and to operate and maintain, a reconfigured Animas-La Plata Project, consisting of facilities to divert and store water from the Animas River to provide for an average annual depletion of 57,100 acre-feet of water, to be used for municipal and industrial water supply only, for the Ute Mountain Ute and Southern Ute Indian Tribes, and other tribal and non-tribal entities in the Four Corners Region of the United States.

TYPES OF ASSISTANCE
Project Grants.

USES AND USE RESTRICTIONS
The Bureau of Reclamation is specifically authorized to: (1) Construct, operate and maintain a reservoir, a pumping plant, a reservoir inlet conduit, and appurtenant facilities with sufficient capacity to divert and store water from the Animas River to provide for an average annual depletion of 57,100 acre-feet of water to be used for a municipal and industrial water supply; (2) Meet specific annual depletion rates for water allocation delivery. The design and construction functions of the Bureau of Reclamation with respect to the Dolores and Animas-LaPlata Projects shall be subject to the provisions of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (ii Stat. 2203; 25 U.S.C. 450 et seq.) to the same extent as if such functions were performed by the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

Applicant Eligibility
Federally Recognized Indian Tribal Government - Projects shall be subject to the provisions of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (ii Stat. 2203; 25 U.S.C. 450 et seq.) to the same extent as if such functions were performed by the Bureau of Indian Affairs; and for projects not awarded subject to Public Law 93-638: State, local, Federally recognized Indian Tribal governments, small businesses, individuals, and profit organizations.

Beneficiary Eligibility
Federally recognized Indian Tribal Government members and the general public in southwestern Colorado and northwestern New Mexico.

Credentials/Documentation
None.

Preapplication Coordination
None. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.

Application Procedure
The Bureau of Reclamation is required by Public Law 100-585 to use Public Law 93-638 procedures to contract for construction of the Animas-La Plata Project with the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe and the Southern Ute Indian Tribe. Construction contracts for estimated quantities and with firm fixed unit pricing are issued to accomplish the work. For projects under this program that are not required to be awarded subject to Public Law 93-638, funding opportunity announcements, along with registration procedures, application packages and instructions, SF-424 forms and any other forms to be used to submit application information, points of contact, and procedures for submitting applications will be available on http://www.grants.gov/ .

Award Procedure
An initial statement of work is issued to the Tribe for review and pricing by the Contract Specialist. The Tribe reviews the initial statement of work, submits and proposal with an estimate for completion of the work. The proposal with cost estimate is evaluated by the Government Technical Team, the Government Cost and Price Analyst, Contract Specialist, Contract Administrator, and Contracting Officer. Negotiations are held on the various elements until an agreement is reached and an award is then made. For projects not awarded subject to Public Law 93-638, all applications will be initially screened for eligibility and compliance with the requirements stated in the program funding announcement. Applications passing this screening process will be forwarded for review by a proposal evaluation panel comprised of qualified experts in the program area. Applications will be reviewed against the proposal evaluation criteria, and any additional review factors, as stated in the funding announcement. Final selection will be determined by the Commissioner, Bureau of Reclamation, or regional officials, as applicable to the project.

Deadlines
Varies by project. Deadline information will be included in all funding opportunity announcements posted on www.grants.gov.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time
Varies depending on the type and complexity of the project. Further information will be available for each specific project at the time the funding opportunity announcement is posted on www.grants.gov and may be obtained by contacting the Reclamation personnel listed as the point of contact in the funding announcement.

Appeals
None. Final award decisions are not subject to appeal; however, the Bureau of Reclamation will provide all applicants with information on why their proposals were not selected for award.

Renewals
None.

Formula and Matching Requirements
None.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance
Public Law 93-638 contracts and agreements are written for a specific period of time to complete a project, but normally not over 5 years. Funds are disbursed by progress payments, based on percentage of completion of estimated quantities of work. Section 207, Section 17(b) of the Act as amended extended the project period through Fiscal Year 2012.

Reports
Unless otherwise stated in the agreement document, recipients shall submit the following reports on a quarterly basis: (1) SF-269/SF-269a Financial Status Reports, (2) SF-272 Report of Federal Cash Transactions, and (3) Program performance reports. Annually, recipients shall submit an annual program performance report. Upon completion of the agreement, recipients shall submit a final: (1) SF-269/SF-269a Financial Status Report, (2) final program performance report, and (3) other specific reports that may be applicable to the agreement such as property inventories, and patent and invention disclosures.

Audits
Audits are preformed by the Inspector General for the overhead rates on the Tribes. In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 27, 2003), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Nonprofit Organizations," nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance ($500,000 for fiscal years ending after December 1, 2003) or more a year in Federal awards will have a single or a program specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than ($500,000 for fiscal years ending after December 1, 2003) a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133.

Records
State, local and Indian Tribal governments shall maintain project records in accordance with 43 CFR 12.82. All other recipients shall maintain project records in accordance with 43 CFR 12.953.

Account Identification
14-4081-0-3-301.

Obligations
FY 07 $57,420,000; FY 08 est $35,000,000; and FY 09 est. $47,400,000.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance
FY 05 Range $210 - $84,851,143, average $200,000. FY 06 Range $600 - $2,229,810, average $20,000.

PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Since 2002, construction contracts in excess of $211 million have been awarded for the Animas-La Plata Project. Construction on Ridges Basin Dam and pumping plant continued in FY 2005. Excavation for the outlet works tunnel and foundation of the dam and the pumping plant was completed. Construction of 5 of 11 drop structures also was completed. Grouting of the dam foundation is well underway, with placement of dam embankment currently in progress. Placement of concrete for the pumping plant began in 2004 and continues. Final design of components to Navajo Nation Municipal Pipeline and of the inlet conduit is underway. Construction of the entire Animas-La Plata Project is nearly 25 percent complete.

REGULATIONS, GUIDELINES, AND LITERATURE
43 CFR 12 and 18, http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/cfr-table-search.html#page1; OMB Circulars, http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants/grants_circulars.html; Public Law 93-638, http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_06/25cfr900_06.html/; these documents may also be obtained by contacting the Bureau of Reclamation Office listed below.

Regional or Local Office
Rich Ehat, REhat@uc.usbr.gov, Construction Engineer, ALP 100, Western Colorado Area Office, 835 East 2nd Avenue, Suite 300 Durango, Colorado 81301 Telephone: (970) 259-1110 Ext. 1004, Fax: (970) 259-0059.

Headquarters Office
None.

Web Site Address
http://www.usbr.gov/library/annual_reports/FY2005/MDandA3.pdf/

RELATED PROGRAMS
None.

EXAMPLES OF FUNDED PROJECTS
Construction of Durango Pumping Plant Stage 2, Ridges Basin Dam Completion, and Outlet Works Tunnel Excavation; Archaeology: Cultural Resources Investigations; and Relocation of Atmos Gas Pipeline and Associated Facilities.

CRITERIA FOR SELECTING PROPOSALS
There are no criteria for selecting proposals for projects awarded under Public Law 93-638 procedures. When needed work is identified, a request for proposal is issued with a statement of work. The Tribe submits a proposal based on the statement of work. Negotiations are held to arrive at a mutually agreed upon Public Law 93-638 contract for award of the project and the costs associated with performance of the work. For any projects that may be identified that are not subject to Public Law 93-638 procedures, specific evaluation criteria will be included in the funding announcements posted on www.grants.gov.


General Services Administration
Office of Chief Acquisition Officer
Regulatory and Federal Assistance Division (VIR)