Agency Agriculture Dept

Contractor University of Minnesota

SWIFT Contract Number #29823-PO#3(6)474

Project Name Assessment and Selection of Sentinel Watersheds

Project Number (if applicable) {Empty}

Summarize purpose of the contract, including why it was necessary: The goal of this project is to select sentinel watersheds in Minnesota. These are watersheds that will be used to monitor changes in water quality as a result of conservation practices on the ground.

A sentinel watershed is essentially a model; data collected in a sentinel watershed allows researchers to infer what they would see in another area of the state that has similar landscape features. This project was necessary to determine a method of selecting these watersheds and suggesting which they should be.

Project Duration

Start Date Mon, 08/01/2011 - 00:00

Original end date Mon, 12/31/2012 - 00:00

Actual end date Sun, 06/30/2013 - 00:00

Did project finish on time? Yes

Total billable hours utilized (if applicable) {Empty}

Contract Amounts

Original contract: $96738.01

Amendments {Empty}

Contract total $96738.01

Did project finish within budget? Yes

What was the funding source? Clean Water Fund Research Program, MDA

Is this a sole source contract? Yes

If this was a single source contract, explain why the agency determined there was only a single source for the services (if applicable) This project was awarded through a Request for Proposal (RFP) process, which included an RFP
looking for projects around several research ideas, a ranking process by a multi-agency panel for submitted research ideas, a presentation in front of the multi-agency panel explaining the projects and a final ranking process that led to the awarding of several projects that year, including this one.

Evaluator Name Heather Johnson

Evaluator Email Address heather.johnson@state.mn.us

Evaluate the contractor's timeliness Bruce Wilson, project leader and principal investigator of record, did an excellent job, providing project reports and asking questions when necessary to clarify any issues. His graduate student, Lori Krider, provided excellent work as well, making sure all quarterly projects were submitted on time.

Evaluate the contractor's quality There were several deliverables contained within this contract. The first was to put together an advisory team consisting of key federal, state and local professionals to assist in establishing selection criteria, to recommend potential sentinel watersheds and provide input in applying these criteria in the selection process of the watersheds. This was completed. The next was for the U of M to put on two workshops to gather information about the sentinel watershed project. This was completed. Both were well attended and helped provide feedback that was necessary to help with the writing of the final report. The other main deliverable was a final project report. It came in on time and contained all the information learned through the process, through the workshops, advisory team meetings and all the research Bruce Wilson and Lori Krider did during the time of the project. It gave the results about the selected watersheds as well as gave background on the assessment and selection process.

Evaluate the contractor's cost The overall cost of the project was adequate and fair.

Evaluate the contractor's overall performance Overall, the contractor did what they set out to do in the four objectives outlined in the work plan. They did a great job and fulfilled each of the objectives.

Would you engage the contractor's services again? Yes

Describe any negative action taken during the duration of this contract (i.e., termination, pursuit of suspension, etc.): None

Please rate the overall experience with the contractor 5 - very satisfied