U.S. Geological Survey Conference Sponsership Grant

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

ABSTRACT
Funding Announcement G15AS00003
Project Title Conference Sponsorship
Recipient San Francisco Estuary Institute, Aquatic Science Center
Principal Investigator / Program Manager Lawrence Leung

James Cloern
Anticipated Federal Amount $30,000.00
Cost Share No
Total Anticipated Award Amount $30,000.00
New Award or Continuation? New
Anticipated Period of Performance Three days in October 2015
Award Instrument Grant
CFDA # and Title 15.808 Research & Data Collection
USGS Point of Contact Stewart Evans

OVERVIEW

The U.S. Geological Survey will grant to the San Francisco Estuary Institute – Aquatic Science Center (SFEI-ASC) to organize and lead a scientific workshop that will guide restoration of the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta. Primary sponsorship of the workshop, to be held in October 2015, is expected to come from the Delta Science Program.

RECIPIENT INVOLVEMENT

In order to integrate expertise across different aspects of primary production and food web support, a 3 day workshop will be held to bring together scientists of diverse backgrounds to integrate existing data, scientific literature, and best professional judgment to form a new synthesis of past and contemporary production and its use to support invertebrate production. A subset of the workshop attendees will carry the approach forward to developing quantitative estimates of production for the modern and historical Delta. Following the workshop, the uncertainties, knowledge gaps, and research opportunities identified by this project will be used to develop a larger proposal to explore primary production in the Delta in greater detail through new data collection and modeling. In advance of the workshop, preparatory materials will be compiled and created to guide the development of a conceptual model and an approach for estimating primary production. This will include identifying and synthesizing relevant data from the peer-reviewed and gray literature and creating PowerPoint presentations for the workshop. A workshop agenda will be developed with input from expected workshop participants.
As the technical questions addressed by the workshop have substantial significance to the current policy planning processes it will be important to ensure the independence of this project. To accomplish this goal, SFEI-ASC — an independent science center — will bring together a highly qualified and diverse science team. Information and findings from the workshop will be made publicly available and will be broadly distributed.

USGS INVOLVEMENT

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

None.

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.

(6) Assistance Awards – USGS Unique Authority cited at 43 U.S.C. DOI Authority cited at 43 U.S.C. 1457b (not-for-profit organizations).

USGS did not solicit full and open competition for this award based the following criteria:

Single Source Justification Description:

Condition 4: Unique Qualifications: Unique qualifications derive from: this project building from previous research on habitat transformations of the Delta by SFEI-ASC, scientific independence of SFEI-ASC, and substantial work already completed by SFEI-ASC to secure funding for the workshop from the Delta Science Program, obtain commitments from scientific experts to participate in the workshop including preparatory work, and to provide a venue for the workshop.

Condition 6: TITLE 43 U.S.C. 31 DOI Authority cited at 43 U.S.C. 31 1457b (not-for-profit organizations) and PL 113-235 (Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2015)

STATUTORY AUTHORITY

43 USC31 1475b and PL 113-235.