Single Source Funding for Mitigation Services within the Lower Rio Grande Valley, Texas

A cooperative agreement is being implemented in order to provide third party assistance for the Corpus Christi Ecological Services Field Office (CCESFO) of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) to assist the U.S. Corps of Engineers (Corps) in completing a conservation measure for the construction and operation of the new Los Ebanos Land Port of Entry. The purpose of the services is to acquire land (at least 23.62 acres) within the existing wildlife corridor in the Lower Rio Grande Valley. The International Boundary and Water Commission (IBWC) has requested Statement of Work proposals to assist IBWC in completing land acquisition included as a conservation measures and mitigation associated with the Lower Rio Grande Flood Control Project (LRGFCP) and the amended Biological Opinion issued by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in 2003. The purpose of the services is to acquire land (184.6 acres) within the existing wildlife corridor in the Lower Rio Grande Valley. Total land to be acquired is approximately 208.22 acres. Land Acquisition and associated mitigation services such as appraisals, holding costs, and management of the land for conservation, to be performed by a third party, is included in the scope of the work. This project will benefit the public by expanding the area conserved for public trust natural resources and the endangered ocelot and jaguarundi. Justification for Single Source Determination ¿ In accordance with Department of the Interior guidance (505 DM 2.14) the Fish and Wildlife Service Ecological Services (USFWS ES), Region 2, provides notice of its intent to make a single-source award in the amount of $1,215,71700 via an cooperative agreement and a grant with The Friends of the Wildlife Corridor to fund mitigation services in the Lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas. These services include acquisition of land for conservation and to provide for maintenance of these land until they can be transferred to a USFWS approved land trust, these land acquisition will help restore or preserve the wildlife corridor for ocelots, jaguarundi and other species that depend on the wildfire habitat along the Lower Rio Grande on both sides of the border. For the purposes of this agreement, land acquisition will only occur in Texas, from willing sellers, and from land tracts that will be approved by the USFWS as appropriate for inclusion in the corridor. The Friends of the Wildlife Corridor have over 10 years of expertise acquiring land and have good relationships with willing sellers in the area of interest. The Friends of the Wildlife Corridor are particular adept at acquiring small tracts of land and dealing with small purchases of $1 million or less. We expect that no land tract purchased under this agreement will exceed $1 million and that several smaller tracts will be purchased. The Friends of the Wildlife Corridor have been successful in placing lands they purchase into conservation status with other agencies or land trusts as appropriate for preservation of these lands in perpetuity. They use the same survey, titling and acquisition process that is required by Federal Standards. With this inherent expertise, they require no training or start-up time to get acquisition off the ground. Also, they have the manpower and the expertise in the local area to get projects done in a timely manner. They have expertise in collaborating with the staff of the South Texas Refuge Complex and Ecological Services and have always worked with the utmost professionalism and with the fulfilling the needs of the Wildlife Corridor as their highest priority.