NRDAR Assessment of Reintroduced Mussel Populations in the Clinch and Powell Rivers

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THIS IS A NOTICE OF INTENT TO AWARD TO A SINGLE SOURCE, AND THERE IS NO FULL ANNOUNCEMENT ASSOCIATED WITH THIS NOTICE. This Notice is NOT a request for competitive proposals. This is a notice of intent to award a Cooperative Agreement between the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech) for the purpose of monitoring and evaluating the status of hatchery-reared mussels released in the Powell River, VA and TN and upper Clinch River near Cedar Bluff, VA under the authority CFDA 15.658 Natural Resource Damage Assessment, Restoration and Implementation. This work supplements ongoing restoration activities described within the Restoration Plans/Environmental Assessments for the Lone Mountain Processing, Inc. and Certus Inc. Natural Resource Damage Assessment and Restoration cases. These activities are being carried out as required by consent decrees that were entered with the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Virginia to address natural resource damages resulting from spills. The Restoration Plan specifically identifies the Virginia Tech mussel propagation facilities to implement the restoration, as they are uniquely qualified to accomplish mussel restoration tasks and have decades of experience and knowledge of the Clinch River mussel fauna assemblage. A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed assistance based upon Departmental Manual 505DM2, paragraph 2.14 (B) (2) is solely within the discretion of the Government. Questions concerning this announcement should be directed to Artela Jacobs (404) 679-7197 or by email at artela_jacobs@fws.gov.

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