National Park Service: Geo-Scientist in Parks & Mosaics in Science Youth Internship Program

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 P14AS00188
Project Title Geo-Scientists in Parks and Mosaics in Science Youth Internship Program
Recipient Geologic Society of America
Principle Investigator / Program Manager Dr. John Hess
Total Anticipated Award Amount `$66,262,50
Cost Share `$177,694.00

New Award or Continuation? Continuation of Cooperative Agreement P13AC00336
Anticipated Length of Agreement From date of award until 12/31/2016
Anticipated Period of Performance
Award Instrument Cooperative Agreement
Statutory Authority 16 USC 1(g); 16 USC 1f; 16 USC 1723©
CFDA # and Title 15.931 Youth Conservation Activities
Single Source Justification Criteria Cited (2) Continuation
NPS Point of Contact June Zastrow 303-987-6718 june_zastrow@nps.gov

OVERVIEW

Cooperative Agreement Number P13AC00336 was executed on 5/30/2013 between the Department of the Interior, National Park Service (NPS), and The Geological Society of America (GSA) for the purpose of providing program support for the Geoscientists-in-the-Parks (GIP) and Mosaics in Science (MIS) Youth Internship Programs. Unless otherwise specified herein, the terms and conditions as stated in the Cooperative Agreement will apply to this Task Agreement.

The GIP and MIS youth internship programs provide opportunities for geoscientists and other natural resource scientists to assist with inventorying, monitoring, research, and interpretation/education projects on lands administered by the NPS. The projects and work products enable the participants, public, and park staff to gain a better understanding of the natural resources in NPS units and assist park staff with managing its resources using sound science.
The National Park Service, the Department of Interior, and the President of the United States have sought to increase science-based resource management in national park units, to improve the understanding of resources and incorporation of such information by park managers in making decisions, to improve the quality of information given to the public, and to increase the number of NPS partners and volunteers helping parks. The actions to be undertaken will help address numerous NPS GPRA goals. Hiring interns through the GIP Program addresses unmet geoscience needs identified by parks, regions, networks, and central offices and advances the Departments of the Interior¿s and NPS¿ diversity and youth initiatives. The NPS benefits from addressing identified NPS objectives through the program partner, The Geological Society of America which has similar education and outreach goals.

RECIPIENT INVOLVEMENT

1. Maintain and update GSA¿s GeoCorps America and MIS websites and on-line volunteer opportunity application system.
2. Participate in the selection of GeoCorps-GIP/MIS projects with the NPS GIP/MIS Program Manager.
3. Recruit volunteer applicants through GSA¿s ongoing GeoCorps America¿ program.
4. Manage and carry out all administrative support during the recruitment, application, and selection processes for GeoCorps-GIP/MIS/MIS participants. Ensure completion of GSA participant agreement, non-disclosure agreement, and interagency volunteer agreement by all program participants. Provide all administrative support regarding distribution of participant stipends, travel advances and allowances, and as applicable, necessary tax forms and other program documentation.
5. Communicate directly with each GeoCorps-GIP/MIS participant regarding his/her obligations as a GeoCorps-GIP/MIS participant.
6. Provide the NPS Geologic Resources Division with copies of the items each GeoCorps-GIP/MIS participant is required to submit to GSA, including: five to ten digital photographs, captions for the photographs, a written report, a completed program evaluation, a sponsor thank-you letter, and products resulting from the project (if applicable). Instruct each GeoCorps-GIP/MIS participant to acknowledge both the NPS and GSA in all publications and audiovisuals developed as a result of this Cooperative Agreement.
Provide the NPS Geologic Resources Division with copies of annual reports and publications produced by GSA as a result of projects accomplished under the provisions of the Cooperative Agreement.

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:

1. Identify NPS geoscience-related needs and enter the project proposal(s) in GSA¿s on-line application system. Project identification may be completed by NPS staff in parks, regions, and other central offices.
2. Select a participant for each GeoCorps-GIP/MIS opportunity from the pool of qualified applicants provided by the GSA.
3. Provide all necessary tools; equipment (including safety equipment and use of facilities); project site transportation; project specifications; and applicable procedures, rules, and regulations for all GeoCorps-GIP/MIS participants.
4. Provide housing or a housing allowance for GeoCorps-GIP/MIS participants.
5. Communicate duty station and housing information, negotiate the term of the volunteer position with the selected participant(s), and provide an orientation concerning the NPS unit and mission; relevant NPS policies and procedures; government vehicle and equipment use; government housing rules; and a detailed project description to each GeoCorps program participant at the time of arrival at the duty station.
6. Provide fully qualified and experienced personnel for mentoring, technical oversight and direction for all volunteer project activities, corrections or changes to the project(s), and final approval of the products created by the GeoCorps-GIP/MIS volunteer.
7. Provide on-site safety and other project-related training necessary to ensure participants are competent and capable of safely performing their projects. Training will also be provided throughout the project to enhance the participant¿s understanding of the project¿s goals, objectives, and progress; and the participant¿s role in accomplishing the overall mission of the NPS.
8. Prepare a written evaluation from each participating park, region, network, or central office upon completion of each GeoCorps-GIP/MIS volunteer project. The evaluation will be prepared by the technical coordinator overseeing the GeoCorps-GIP/MIS project. The evaluation must be received by GSA before the participating NPS unit can advertise a subsequent GeoCorps/GIP or MIS project.
9. Instruct each GeoCorps-GIP/MIS participant to provide GSA with the following items: five to ten digital photographs, captions for the photographs, a written report, a completed program evaluation, a sponsor thank-you letter, and products resulting from the volunteer project (if applicable). Instruct each GeoCorps-GIP/MIS participant to acknowledge both the NPS and GSA in all publications and audiovisuals developed as a result of this agreement.
10. The NPS GIP/MIS Program Manager monitors and oversees the activities covered by the Program¿s Cooperative and Task Agreement(s) and serves as the technical coordinator to the GeoCorps-GIP/MIS participants.
11. Maintain program database and Intranet and Internet sites. These serve the dual purposes of providing program information to NPS staff and management and outreach and educational materials to the public.

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 is a Task Agreement (P14AC01247) under Cooperative Agreement (P13AC00336) in the amount of $66,262.50 with a period of performance from date of award until 12/31/2016

STATUTORY AUTHORITY

A. 16 U.S.C. §1g authorizes the NPS to enter into cooperative agreements that involve the transfer of NPS appropriated funds to state, local and tribal governments, other public entities, educational institutions, and private nonprofit organizations for the public purpose of carrying out National Park Service programs.

B. 16 U.S.C. §1f Challenge-Cost Share authority, authorizes the NPS to enter into agreements with cooperators for the purpose of sharing costs or services in carrying out authorized functions and responsibilities of the Secretary with respect to any unit or program of the national park system, any affiliated area, or any designated National Scenic or Historic Trail. This authority allows the agency to negotiate and enter into cooperative agreements with any State or local Government, public or private agency, organization, institution, corporation, individual, or other entity. A cooperative agreement may be utilized if there is substantial involvement in the project on the part of the NPS. This section principally gives authority for joint-funding arrangements entered into with non-federal partners (¿cooperators¿), although it also addresses ¿sharing¿services in carrying out authorized functions and responsibilities¿¿As with 16 U.S.C. §1g, this authority must also be read in conjunction with the Federal Grant and Cooperative Agreement Act of 1977 and other authorities to ensure that a Challenge Cost-Share agreement is not used when a procurement contract would be most appropriate.

C. 16 U.S.C. §1723 (c) Public Lands Corps, authorizes the Secretary to enter into contracts and cooperative agreements with any qualified youth or conservation corps to perform appropriate conservation projects referred to in subsection (d) of section 1723. The Secretary may also authorize appropriate conservation projects and other appropriate projects to be carried out on Federal, State, local, or private lands as part of disaster prevention or relief efforts in response to an emergency or major disaster declared by the President under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.).