Department of the Interior Grant: Collaboration on Western US Air Quality Issues

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 P14AS00023
Project Title Coordinate and Develop Products and Strategies of Mutual Interest on Western U.S. Air Quality Issues
Recipient Western States Resources Council / Western Regional Air Partnership
Principle Investigator / Program Manager Dan Johnson
Total Anticipated Award Amount $ Funds will be on Task Agreements
Cost Share none
New Award or Continuation? Continuation
Anticipated Length of Agreement From date of award until 02/28/2019
Anticipated Period of Performance From date of award until 02/28/2019
Award Instrument Cooperative Agreement
Statutory Authority 16 USC §1g and 16 USC §1a-2j
CFDA # and Title 15.944 Natural Resources Stewardship
Single Source Justification Criteria Cited (2) Continuation
NPS Point of Contact June Zastrow, 303-987-6718, june_zastrow@nps.gov

OVERVIEW

NPS and the WRAP, now administered by WESTAR, have been quite active in efforts to improve understanding of the formation and transport of air pollution and the effects of that pollution on natural resources, including park resources, and human health, including park visitors and employees. This work assists air quality planning in the region, including for the National Environmental Planning Act (NEPA) activities. In recent years, the NPS and the WRAP administered by the Western Governors¿ Association entered into a cooperative agreement to work together to further understanding of air quality issues in the western U.S. This agreement between NPS and WESTAR/WRAP is to set the stage for ongoing collaboration on Western air quality questions of mutual interest.

It is mutually agreed that the NPS and WESTAR/WRAP will cooperate in furthering the understanding of air quality formation, transport and effects in the western U.S. which includes but is not limited to ambient monitoring and data reporting, creation and operation of databases, development of emission inventories, performance of air quality modeling to understand the effects of pollution and to facilitate discussion of possible mitigation, and the development of outreach and education products toward bettering the understanding of Western air quality by the public and stakeholders.

This Agreement is to advance the cooperators¿ and the public understanding of air quality formation, transport and effects, advancing the missions of both NPS and WESTAR/WRAP.

RECIPIENT INVOLVEMENT

WESTAR/WRAP agrees to:

¿ Develop cooperative agreements or contracts with other well-respected organizations that are active in air quality technical and planning activities to further the purpose of this Agreement.
¿ Provide expertise and support for air quality projects of mutual interest.
¿ Provide basic administrative and clerical support as appropriate.
¿ Assist in education and outreach to stakeholders and the public.

NATIONAL PARK SERVICE INVOLVEMENT

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:

NPS agrees to:

¿ Provide financial assistance as provided in Article VI.
¿ Work cooperatively and collaboratively with WESTAR/WRAP to help advance the understanding of air quality and to disseminate that knowledge through agreed-upon projects.
¿ Make available NPS staff to participate substantively in the various projects.
¿ Provide the basic administrative and clerical support as appropriate.
¿ Ensure its employees follow the Code of Ethics for Government Employees.

THE NPS AND WESTAR/WRAP JOINTLY AGREE TO:

¿ Coordinate on research and education projects that further the purposes of this Agreement.
¿ Meet at least twice a year to discuss, identify and coordinate projects that further the purposes of this agreement.

SINGLE-SOURCE JUSTIFICATION

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
SINGLE SOURCE POLICY REQUIREMENTS

Department of the Interior Policy (505 DM 2) requires a written justification which explains why competition is not practicable for each single-source award. The justification must address one or more of the following criteria as well as discussion of the program legislative history, unique capabilities of the proposed recipient, and cost-sharing contribution offered by the proposed recipient, as applicable.

In order for an assistance award to be made without competition, the award must satisfy one or more of the following criteria:

(1) Unsolicited Proposal ¿ The proposed award is the result of an unsolicited assistance application which represents a unique or innovative idea, method, or approach which is not the subject of a current or planned contract or assistance award, but which is deemed advantageous to the program objectives;

(2) Continuation ¿ The activity to be funded is necessary to the satisfactory completion of, or is a continuation of an activity presently being funded, and for which competition would have a significant adverse effect on the continuity or completion of the activity;

(3) Legislative intent ¿ The language in the applicable authorizing legislation or legislative history clearly indicates Congress¿ intent to restrict the award to a particular recipient of purpose;

(4) Unique Qualifications ¿ The applicant is uniquely qualified to perform the activity based upon a variety of demonstrable factors such as location, property ownership, voluntary support capacity, cost-sharing ability if applicable, technical expertise, or other such unique qualifications;

(5) Emergencies ¿ Program/award where there is insufficient time available (due to a compelling and unusual urgency, or substantial danger to health or safety) for adequate competitive procedures to be followed.

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

(2) CONTINUATION

SINGLE SOURCE JUSTIFICATION DESCRIPTION:

THIS IS A NOTICE OF INTENT TO AWARD
This work is continued coordination of existing duties as part of a Three-State Air Quality Study. The same responsibilities are currently being performed under an agreement with the Western Governors Association (WGA)/Western Regional Air Partnership (WRAP). The responsibilities, staff and duties are being moved to the Western State Air Resources Council (WESTAR)/WRAP. Desired continuity and the sameness of the work suggest developing this agreement with WESTAR/WRAP. The work is to coordinate activities from three States, Wyoming, Utah and Colorado; for a study comprised of ambient monitoring and reporting, and development of a data warehouse to support National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) activities and other air quality planning, and future air quality modeling making use of the data warehouse

STATUTORY AUTHORITY

A. 16 U.S.C. § 1g. NPS authority to enter into cooperative agreements and transfer appropriated funds to nonprofit organization for the public purpose of NPS programs.

B. 16 U.S.C. § 1a-2(j). Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior, in order to facilitate the administration of the National Park System, to carry out the following activity under such terms and conditions as he may deem advisable: `Enter into cooperative agreements with public or private educational institutions, states and their political subdivisions, for the purpose of developing adequate, coordinated, cooperative research and training programs concerning the resources of the National Park System, and, pursuant to any such agreements, to accept from and make available to the cooperator such technical and support staff, financial assistance for mutually agreed upon research projects, supplies and equipment, facilities, and administrative services relating to cooperative research units as the Secretary deems appropriate; except that this paragraph shall not waive any requirements for research projects that are subject to the Federal Procurement Regulations.¿