Department of the Interior Grant: Supporting National Cave and Karst Research Institute with New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology

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 P15AS00192
Project Title New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology for the National Cave and Karst Research Institute
Recipient New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology
Principle Investigator / Program Manager Richard Cervantes
Total Anticipated Award Amount $294,000.00
Cost Share none
New Award or Continuation? Continuation
Anticipated Length of Agreement From date of award until 9/30/2016
Anticipated Period of Performance From date of award until 9/30/2016
Award Instrument Cooperative Agreement
Statutory Authority 16 USC 4310
CFDA # and Title 15.944 Natural Resources Stewardship
Single Source Justification Criteria Cited (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;
NPS Point of Contact June Zastrow 303-987-6718 june_zastrow@nps.gov

OVERVIEW

In 1998, Congress created the National Cave and Karst Research Institute (“NCKRI”) via Public Law 105-325, 16 U.S.C. ��4310 note (“The Act”). The Act states that the purposes of the NCKRI are: “(1) to further the science of speleology; (2) to centralize and .standardize speleological information; (3) to foster interdisciplinary cooperation in cave and karst research programs; (4) to promote public education; (5) to promote national and international cooperation in protecting the environment for the benefit of cave and karst landforms; and (6) to promote and develop environmentally sound and sustainable resource management practices.” Pursuant to the Act, the NCKRI is to be “jointly administered by the National Park Service and a public or private agency, organization, or institution, as determined by the Secretary.” 16 USC ��4 (a).

Via Cooperative Agreement (CA) H2360030007, executed on or about February 11, 2005, between the NPS and the NMT, NMT became the primary academic partner to jointly administer NCKRI with the NPS. Pursuant to ��4(b) of the Act, the NPS “would serve as the primary lead, with ultimate responsibility for the Institute, and would retain indirect control over its activities and responsibilities “The NPS discharges this responsibility primarily via its position as Chair of the Institute’s Budget Committee, and through its cooperative relationship with NMT as described in Cooperative Agreement H2360030007. A new Cooperative Agreement P14AC00029 was put into place and became effective on or about January 14, 2014. This new CA continues the work began by the original.

NCKRI’s first permanent Board of Directors was elected on May 15, 2006. On May 19, 2015, the Board of Directors approved the Federal portion of the NCKRI budget that sets the priorities for the Institute through May, 2016. Attachment A summarizes the federal portion of the approved budget.

The NPS seeks to continue its work with NMT and the Executive Director to support the Institute in carrying out the purposes under the Act, and the Institute’s Articles of Incorporation and By-Laws. Through this Task Agreement, the NPS is fulfilling its statutory duty to support the Institute.

RECIPIENT INVOLVEMENT

1. Improve the Institute’s capabilities at effective public outreach and communication by continuing to:

a) Upgrade the Institute’s website to include new information about the Institute, its progress and activities, general and advanced information on cave and karst resources and values, and on-line lessons about cave and karst resources;
b) Develop a cave and karst educator network in furtherance of the Institute’s goals; and
c) Develop the Institute’s headquarters as a center for educational and outreach programs on caves and karst.

2. Enhance the Institute’s image and abilities as a leading cave and karst research center by:

a) Developing research partnerships and programs locally, nationally, and internationally;
b) Attending conferences to present the Institute’s research results;
c) Organizing conferences that promote cave and karst science in general and raise professional awareness of the Institute as a leader in the field;
d) Undertaking at least one nationally significant cave and karst research project; and
e) Establishing the Institute as a national clearinghouse for cave and karst information.

3. Advance the completion of the Institute’s headquarters building by:

a) Researching and approaching potential sponsors for funds to complete the unfinished parts of the building;
b) Researching and approaching potential sponsors for funds to build permanent museum exhibits for public education.
c) Conducting contract research to develop independent funding to supplement general operating expenses and complete unfinished parts of the building.

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. Attend annual NCKRI Board meeting and fulfill its role on the Board as Chairman of the Budget Committee.
2. Collaborate with NMT on research or education projects that will further the purposes of the Institute.
3. Identify, in collaboration and cooperation with NMT, other projects that would fulfill the purposes of the Institute and the National Cave and Karst Research Institute Act of 1998.
4. Make available NPS staff to serve on Institute committees.

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:

(3) LEGISLATIVE INTENT

SINGLE SOURCE JUSTIFICATION DESCRIPTION:

THIS IS A NOTICE OF INTENT TO AWARD
This is a Task Agreement (P15AC01175) under Cooperative Agreement (P14AC00029) in the amount of $294,000.00 with a period of performance from date of award until 09/30/2016.

STATUTORY AUTHORITY

16 U.S.C. ��4310, note 4(c) Establishment of Cave Research Program, National Cave and Karst Research Institute, Sec. 4 Administration of the Institute, (c) Contracts and Cooperative Agreements

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 P15AS00192
Project Title New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology for the National Cave and Karst Research Institute
Recipient New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology
Principle Investigator / Program Manager Richard Cervantes
Total Anticipated Award Amount $294,000.00
Cost Share none
New Award or Continuation? Continuation
Anticipated Length of Agreement From date of award until 9/30/2016
Anticipated Period of Performance From date of award until 9/30/2016
Award Instrument Cooperative Agreement
Statutory Authority 16 USC 4310
CFDA # and Title 15.944 Natural Resources Stewardship
Single Source Justification Criteria Cited (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;
NPS Point of Contact June Zastrow 303-987-6718 june_zastrow@nps.gov

OVERVIEW

In 1998, Congress created the National Cave and Karst Research Institute (“NCKRI”) via Public Law 105-325, 16 U.S.C. ��4310 note (“The Act”). The Act states that the purposes of the NCKRI are: “(1) to further the science of speleology; (2) to centralize and .standardize speleological information; (3) to foster interdisciplinary cooperation in cave and karst research programs; (4) to promote public education; (5) to promote national and international cooperation in protecting the environment for the benefit of cave and karst landforms; and (6) to promote and develop environmentally sound and sustainable resource management practices.” Pursuant to the Act, the NCKRI is to be “jointly administered by the National Park Service and a public or private agency, organization, or institution, as determined by the Secretary.” 16 USC ��4 (a).

Via Cooperative Agreement (CA) H2360030007, executed on or about February 11, 2005, between the NPS and the NMT, NMT became the primary academic partner to jointly administer NCKRI with the NPS. Pursuant to ��4(b) of the Act, the NPS “would serve as the primary lead, with ultimate responsibility for the Institute, and would retain indirect control over its activities and responsibilities “The NPS discharges this responsibility primarily via its position as Chair of the Institute’s Budget Committee, and through its cooperative relationship with NMT as described in Cooperative Agreement H2360030007. A new Cooperative Agreement P14AC00029 was put into place and became effective on or about January 14, 2014. This new CA continues the work began by the original.

NCKRI’s first permanent Board of Directors was elected on May 15, 2006. On May 19, 2015, the Board of Directors approved the Federal portion of the NCKRI budget that sets the priorities for the Institute through May, 2016. Attachment A summarizes the federal portion of the approved budget.

The NPS seeks to continue its work with NMT and the Executive Director to support the Institute in carrying out the purposes under the Act, and the Institute’s Articles of Incorporation and By-Laws. Through this Task Agreement, the NPS is fulfilling its statutory duty to support the Institute.

RECIPIENT INVOLVEMENT

1. Improve the Institute’s capabilities at effective public outreach and communication by continuing to:

a) Upgrade the Institute’s website to include new information about the Institute, its progress and activities, general and advanced information on cave and karst resources and values, and on-line lessons about cave and karst resources;
b) Develop a cave and karst educator network in furtherance of the Institute’s goals; and
c) Develop the Institute’s headquarters as a center for educational and outreach programs on caves and karst.

2. Enhance the Institute’s image and abilities as a leading cave and karst research center by:

a) Developing research partnerships and programs locally, nationally, and internationally;
b) Attending conferences to present the Institute’s research results;
c) Organizing conferences that promote cave and karst science in general and raise professional awareness of the Institute as a leader in the field;
d) Undertaking at least one nationally significant cave and karst research project; and
e) Establishing the Institute as a national clearinghouse for cave and karst information.

3. Advance the completion of the Institute’s headquarters building by:

a) Researching and approaching potential sponsors for funds to complete the unfinished parts of the building;
b) Researching and approaching potential sponsors for funds to build permanent museum exhibits for public education.
c) Conducting contract research to develop independent funding to supplement general operating expenses and complete unfinished parts of the building.

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. Attend annual NCKRI Board meeting and fulfill its role on the Board as Chairman of the Budget Committee.
2. Collaborate with NMT on research or education projects that will further the purposes of the Institute.
3. Identify, in collaboration and cooperation with NMT, other projects that would fulfill the purposes of the Institute and the National Cave and Karst Research Institute Act of 1998.
4. Make available NPS staff to serve on Institute committees.

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:

(3) LEGISLATIVE INTENT

SINGLE SOURCE JUSTIFICATION DESCRIPTION:

THIS IS A NOTICE OF INTENT TO AWARD
This is a Task Agreement (P15AC01175) under Cooperative Agreement (P14AC00029) in the amount of $294,000.00 with a period of performance from date of award until 09/30/2016.

STATUTORY AUTHORITY

16 U.S.C. ��4310, note 4(c) Establishment of Cave Research Program, National Cave and Karst Research Institute, Sec. 4 Administration of the Institute, (c) Contracts and Cooperative Agreements