MRG-River Eyes Monitoring

Background
The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, Upper Colorado Region, Albuquerque Area Office is seeking contractor assistance for the MRG-River Eyes Monitoring project. This initiative aims to support river managers in operations during potential river intermittency periods, particularly from April to October.

The River Eyes program is a cooperative interagency monitoring effort established to assist federal and state agencies in complying with the 2016 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Biological Opinion requirements. It provides field observations that lead to river intermittency and drying, which are crucial for managing the Rio Grande Silvery Minnow (RGSM) and coordinating water operations.

Work Details
The contractor will perform daily monitoring of river conditions between Cochiti Dam and Elephant Butte Reservoir, focusing on the Cochiti, Angostura, Isleta, and San Acacia reaches. Key tasks include:
- Observations of flow intermittency and pool formation.
- Stage readings at established staff gauges.
- Discharge measurements to confirm gauged flows or determine flows in ungauged portions of the river.
- Photo documentation and GPS surveying of river drying.
- Compiling data into tabular, graphical, and map formats.
- Sending daily text messages on river conditions and extent of drying.
- Providing verbal summaries during operations conference calls.
- Preparing written notes for each day of field observations distributed via email promptly.
- Drafting and finalizing an annual report summarizing collected data.

Period of Performance
The contract will be performed generally from April to October each year.

Place of Performance
Monitoring activities will occur between Cochiti Dam and Elephant Butte Reservoir in New Mexico.

Bidder Requirements
Bidders must demonstrate technical capability through a narrative addressing their planned approach to river monitoring tasks, experience in similar work, knowledge of the project area's biology, geology, hydrology, compliance with access policies, and provide a safety plan. Key personnel qualifications are required for positions such as Project Manager and Environmental Resource Specialist. Offerors must also provide past performance examples from similar projects completed within the last five years.

Incumbent Analysis (see Incumbents section for more detail)
This opportunity appears to have a confirmed incumbent based on prior contract 140R4021P0013 awarded to Geosystems Analysis for $1,359,604 (03/10/21–09/09/26). The prior award description matches the current River Eyes monitoring scope, including up to daily monitoring of river conditions along the Middle Rio Grande between Cochiti Dam and Elephant Butte Reservoir during April–October, with observations, stage/discharge measurements, photo/GPS documentation, and daily and annual reporting to support river operations during potential intermittency.