National Park Service Grant: Native and Endangered Plant Restoration at Kaloko-Honokohau NHP

This Funding Announcement is not a request for applications. This announcement is to provide public notice of the National Park Service’s intention to fund the following project activities without full and open competition.

ABSTRACT
Funding Announcement Number: P11AC80785
Project Title: Native and Endangered Plant Restoration, Perpetuation and Care at Kaloko-Honokohau NHP
Recipient: Hawaii Forest Institute
Principle Investigator / Program Manager: Jill Wagner, Hawaii Forest Institute
Total Anticipated Award Amount: $27,000 (over 5 years)
Cost Share: None
New Award or Continuation?: New
Anticipated Length of Agreement: Five (5) Years
Anticipated Period of Performance: Five (5) Years
Award Instrument: Cooperative Agreement
Statutory Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1g
CFDA # and Title: 15.944 – Natural Resource Stewardship
Single Source Justification Criteria Cited: Unique Qualifications-The applicant is uniquely qualified to perform the activity based upon technical expertise with extremely rare endangered plants existing within Kaloko-Honokohau NHP, possession of appropriate endangered species permits, and expertise in rare species nursery propagation and maintenance of outplanted species.
NPS Point of Contact: Sallie Beavers, Chief of Resources, Kaloko-Honokohau NHP (sallie_beavers@nps.gov)

OVERVIEW, RECIPIENT AND NPS SUBSTANTIAL INVOLVEMENT

The Recipient agrees to:
1. Cooperate with the NPS in developing coastal dryland forest management practices and plans for Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park as described throughout this document.
2. Assign Jill Wagner as Project Leader and Point of Contact.
3. Provide technical expertise on restoration and management of dryland habitats.
4. Cooperate with the NPS in the Hawaii Island Seed Bank.
5. Provide technical assistance with planning and design of educational demonstration materials and programs of culturally significant plant species and exhibits around the visitor contact station.
6. Participate in discussions with US Fish and Wildlife Service, and State of Hawaii Department of Forestry and Wildlife regarding out-planting of threatened and endangered species within KAHO.

Substantial involvement on the part the National Park Service is anticipated for the successful completion of the objectives to be funded by this award. In particular, the National Park Service will be responsible for the following:

1. Cooperate with the Hawaii Forest Institute in developing coastal dryland forest management practices and plan for Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park as described throughout this document.
2. Assign Sallie Beavers as the ATR and point of contact for dryland habitat restoration projects.
3. Complete compliance documentation and secure permits for dryland ecosystem projects.
4. Provide park information including maps, existing plans, plant data, and literature pertaining to coastal dryland forest planning projects.
5. Provide NPS equipment and materials as needed, based on availability.
6. Participate in discussions with US Fish and Wildlife Service, and State of Hawaii Department of Forestry and Wildlife regarding out-planting of threatened and endangered species within KAHO.

The National Park Service did not solicit full and open competition for this award based the following criteria:

Unique Qualifications – The applicant is uniquely qualified to perform the activity based upon technical expertise with extremely rare endangered plants existing within Kaloko-Honokohau NHP. The key purposes of the Hawaii Forest Institute (HFI) are to improve and promote the health and productivity of Hawaii’s forests through: Scientific research in forestry, reforestation, forest species, forest habitats, and forest products; educational programs in forestry management practices and forestry related enterprises; and information dissemination and other charitable scientific and educational endeavors related to forestry. The Hawaii Forest Institute was created by a diverse group of volunteers who work together to promote awareness of the intrinsic value of Hawaii’s forests to the local and global community. The Board of Directors is made up of individuals who provide valuable contributions in the areas of education, environmental and cultural conservation, forest management, law, organizational governance, and academic research.

The Hawaii Forest Institute has specific and extensive dryland forest expertise in West Hawaii (where Kaloko-Honokohau NHP is located) and is involved in multiple dryland forest projects that are similar in nature to the project proposed here, including projects in Kona that are providing the West Hawaii community with “land-based,” cultural and environmental education and forest stewardship opportunities. Ms. Jill Wagner of the Hawaii Forest Institute and Hawaii Forest Industry Association, will be the PI on this project and holds a threatened and endangered species permit issued by the State of Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) with agreement from the US Fish and Wildlife Service for work collecting, propagating, and out-planting certain extremely rare species of interest to the National Park Service. Ms. Wagner also maintains the Hawaii Island Seed Bank Cooperative for Hawaii Forest Institute. The seed bank is currently the only seed bank on Hawaii Island. It is unlikely that another state permit for work with these rare species would be issued by DLNR while Ms. Wagner’s work is with Hawaii Forest Institute is ongoing. Ms. Wagner has over 17 years of horticulture experience that includes working with propagating and maintaining Hawaii’s rarest plant species. Ms. Wagner is a known expert in Hawaiian native plant horticulture and through HFI holds public education courses in native plants that are regularly attended by private, state, and federal landowners. Ms Wagner and Hawaii Forest Institute are uniquely qualified to carry out this project in partnership with the National Park Service at Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park.