Department of the Interior Grant: Advancing Sustainable Outdoor Lighting & Promoting Stargazing

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 P14AS00130
Project Title Advancing Adoption of Fully Sustainable Outdoor Lighting and Promoting Stargazing Recreation
Recipient International Dark-Sky Association
Principle Investigator / Program Manager John Barentine
Total Anticipated Award Amount $100,000
Cost Share none
New Award or Continuation? New Award
Anticipated Length of Agreement From date of award for five years
Anticipated Period of Performance From date of award for five years
Award Instrument Cooperative Agreement
Statutory Authority 16 USC 1(g)
CFDA # and Title 15.944 Natural Resource Stewardship
Single Source Justification Criteria Cited (1) Unsolicited Proposal
NPS Point of Contact June Zastrow 303-987-6718 june_zastrow@nps.gov

OVERVIEW

The International Dark-Sky Association (IDA) is a non-profit membership-based organization established in 1988 that seeks to preserve the nighttime environment and heritage of dark skies through environmentally responsible outdoor lighting. They promulgate environmentally sensitive lighting techniques, promote research into better lighting practices, educate the public on the deleterious effects of poor quality lighting, and coordinate a variety of interests and concerns regarding the protection of the view of the starry night sky. They promote public understanding and engineering guidance that protect the nighttime environment while improving energy efficiency and meeting the needs of public safety. As an authority on light pollution and sustainable lighting, IDA is uniquely qualified for this cooperative role.
The NPS Night Skies Program was established in 1999 and is now part of the NPS Natural Sounds & Night Skies Division. The program¿s purpose is to help parks characterize the condition of night sky resources, further understanding about the importance of natural darkness and starry skies overall, provide superlative opportunities for the public to experience starry night skies and to assist parks and others in the protection of dark sky resources through more fully sustainable outdoor lighting for the future enjoyment of generations to come. Concern for this resource extends to both human and ecological realms, and involves many NPS units as well as partners across the landscape. The program has unique expertise in understanding the physical characteristics of the nighttime photic environment and the causes and effect of light pollution.
Dark nighttime environments unimpeded by outdoor lighting have become a valuable resource for tourism and are part of the enjoyment of scenery described in the NPS Mission. The NPS has been very successful in providing opportunities for the public to experience the mysteries and wonders of starry skies. . Likewise, the IDA has raised the level of stewardship of naturally dark areas through their International Dark Sky Park certification programs. Both organizations have an interest in promoting visitor enjoyment of the night sky and education about how easily light pollution can be prevented. Similarly, both organizations have an interest in identifying and promoting best management practices for fully sustainable outdoor lighting, particularly in areas that are environmentally sensitive, such as national parks, wildlife refuges, critical habitat, or other protected areas.
Cooperation between the NPS and IDA will provide a general benefit to the people of the United States by preserving the opportunity for citizens to experience a starry sky or naturally dark environment, more efficiently and effectively meet environmental challenges amidst the shrinking interface between rural and urban areas, provide opportunities for economic development through tourism, protect and make outdoor lighting more sustainable and cost effective.
RECIPIENT INVOLVEMENT

A. IDA agrees to:

1. Collaborate on the NPS on improvements to the Dark Sky Places Program (which certifies ¿International Dark Sky Communities,¿ ¿International Dark Sky Reserves,¿ and ¿International Dark Sky Parks¿), and its future implementation.
2. Collaborate with NPS on public education campaigns (such as Dark Sky Week), press releases on Dark Sky Places involving NPS lands, and other joint outreach campaigns.
3. Maintain involvement in the Colorado Plateau Dark Sky Cooperative as an advisory panel member.
4. Coordinate the hosting and sponsorship of conferences and other professional meetings. Provide cross-support and co-sponsor events where appropriate.
5. Jointly advance the knowledge base on outdoor lighting solutions in sensitive environments (Lighting Zone 0 and 1) by investigating methods for lighting assessment, testing applications, identifying and promoting market solutions, and sharing knowledge with wider audiences.
6. Share knowledge with the NPS on advancements lighting technology.
7. Jointly advance technical aspects of best management practices for outdoor lighting in sensitive environments. Share technical approaches taken by other organizations, successes, and evaluations.
8. Share knowledge of fully sustainable lighting with broad audiences, including the public through web, webinar, or video educational material. This may include technical aspects of lighting, lighting assessment, appropriate solutions, environmental and economic benefits, and training frameworks.
9. Provide a final report on activities.
10. Assign an appropriate IDA employee to track ongoing work and act as an on-site liaison among the parties.
11. Ensure that all activities relating to the NPS will be coordinated through the National Night Skies Program in Fort Collins, Colorado.

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:

B. NPS agrees to:

1. Provide input on the future IDA development and implementation of the Dark Sky Places Program, reflecting NPS Night Skies Program experience and expertise. Provide technical assistance to individual NPS units in their pursuit of International Dark Sky Park or International Dark Sky Reserve certification.
2. When requested in writing, assist communities in reducing impacts to national parks and other sensitive environments, inviting them to share in environmental stewardship.
3. Collaborate on public education campaigns (such as Stargazing Festivals), press releases on Dark Sky Places involving NPS lands, and other outreach campaigns.
4. Encourage IDA involvement in the Colorado Plateau Dark Sky Cooperative as an advisory panel member.
5. Coordinate the hosting and sponsorship of conferences and other professional meetings. Provide cross-support and co-host events where appropriate.
6. Jointly advance the knowledge base on outdoor lighting solutions in sensitive environments (Lighting Zone 0 and 1) by investigating methods for lighting assessment, testing applications, identifying and promoting market solutions, and sharing knowledge with wider audiences.
7. Share knowledge on light pollution assessment and measurement.
8. Jointly advance technical aspects of best management practices for outdoor lighting in sensitive environments. Share technical results of mitigation effectiveness.
9. Provide feedback and support IDA in sharing knowledge of fully sustainable lighting with broad audiences.
10. Provide feedback to help evaluate and improve future projects.
11. Assign an appropriate NPS Natural Sounds & Night Skies Division employee to monitor ongoing work, to respond to questions about the nature and goals of the project, and act as liaison among the parties.
12. Ensure that all activities relating to the IDA will be coordinated through the IDA office in Tucson, Arizona.

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:

(1) UNSOLICITED PROPOSAL

SINGLE SOURCE JUSTIFICATION DESCRIPTION:

The IDA proposed collaborating on four areas- Dark Sky Places, Conferences, Outreach, and Lighting over several conversations spanning 2/26/14 through 4/3/14. The scope of work and objectives were then developed jointly and the cooperative agreement formulated.

Collaborative work will assist the NPS in accelerating adoption of fully sustainable lighting in parks, thereby helping to preserve dark skies for park visitors. Fully sustainable lighting has broad application beyond parks, including other protected public lands and in communities wishing to reduce their impact. The agreement will also include public outreach and education, and promulgation of knowledge through conferences and professional meeting.

STATUTORY AUTHORITY

16 U.S.C. §1g provides that the NPS may enter cooperative agreements that involve the transfer of NPS-appropriated funds to non-profit organizations for the public purpose of carrying out NPS programs pursuant to 31 U.S.C. 6305.

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 P14AS00130
Project Title Advancing Adoption of Fully Sustainable Outdoor Lighting and Promoting Stargazing Recreation
Recipient International Dark-Sky Association
Principle Investigator / Program Manager John Barentine
Total Anticipated Award Amount $100,000
Cost Share none
New Award or Continuation? New Award
Anticipated Length of Agreement From date of award for five years
Anticipated Period of Performance From date of award for five years
Award Instrument Cooperative Agreement
Statutory Authority 16 USC 1(g)
CFDA # and Title 15.944 Natural Resource Stewardship
Single Source Justification Criteria Cited (1) Unsolicited Proposal
NPS Point of Contact June Zastrow 303-987-6718 june_zastrow@nps.gov

OVERVIEW

The International Dark-Sky Association (IDA) is a non-profit membership-based organization established in 1988 that seeks to preserve the nighttime environment and heritage of dark skies through environmentally responsible outdoor lighting. They promulgate environmentally sensitive lighting techniques, promote research into better lighting practices, educate the public on the deleterious effects of poor quality lighting, and coordinate a variety of interests and concerns regarding the protection of the view of the starry night sky. They promote public understanding and engineering guidance that protect the nighttime environment while improving energy efficiency and meeting the needs of public safety. As an authority on light pollution and sustainable lighting, IDA is uniquely qualified for this cooperative role.
The NPS Night Skies Program was established in 1999 and is now part of the NPS Natural Sounds & Night Skies Division. The program¿s purpose is to help parks characterize the condition of night sky resources, further understanding about the importance of natural darkness and starry skies overall, provide superlative opportunities for the public to experience starry night skies and to assist parks and others in the protection of dark sky resources through more fully sustainable outdoor lighting for the future enjoyment of generations to come. Concern for this resource extends to both human and ecological realms, and involves many NPS units as well as partners across the landscape. The program has unique expertise in understanding the physical characteristics of the nighttime photic environment and the causes and effect of light pollution.
Dark nighttime environments unimpeded by outdoor lighting have become a valuable resource for tourism and are part of the enjoyment of scenery described in the NPS Mission. The NPS has been very successful in providing opportunities for the public to experience the mysteries and wonders of starry skies. . Likewise, the IDA has raised the level of stewardship of naturally dark areas through their International Dark Sky Park certification programs. Both organizations have an interest in promoting visitor enjoyment of the night sky and education about how easily light pollution can be prevented. Similarly, both organizations have an interest in identifying and promoting best management practices for fully sustainable outdoor lighting, particularly in areas that are environmentally sensitive, such as national parks, wildlife refuges, critical habitat, or other protected areas.
Cooperation between the NPS and IDA will provide a general benefit to the people of the United States by preserving the opportunity for citizens to experience a starry sky or naturally dark environment, more efficiently and effectively meet environmental challenges amidst the shrinking interface between rural and urban areas, provide opportunities for economic development through tourism, protect and make outdoor lighting more sustainable and cost effective.
RECIPIENT INVOLVEMENT

A. IDA agrees to:

1. Collaborate on the NPS on improvements to the Dark Sky Places Program (which certifies ¿International Dark Sky Communities,¿ ¿International Dark Sky Reserves,¿ and ¿International Dark Sky Parks¿), and its future implementation.
2. Collaborate with NPS on public education campaigns (such as Dark Sky Week), press releases on Dark Sky Places involving NPS lands, and other joint outreach campaigns.
3. Maintain involvement in the Colorado Plateau Dark Sky Cooperative as an advisory panel member.
4. Coordinate the hosting and sponsorship of conferences and other professional meetings. Provide cross-support and co-sponsor events where appropriate.
5. Jointly advance the knowledge base on outdoor lighting solutions in sensitive environments (Lighting Zone 0 and 1) by investigating methods for lighting assessment, testing applications, identifying and promoting market solutions, and sharing knowledge with wider audiences.
6. Share knowledge with the NPS on advancements lighting technology.
7. Jointly advance technical aspects of best management practices for outdoor lighting in sensitive environments. Share technical approaches taken by other organizations, successes, and evaluations.
8. Share knowledge of fully sustainable lighting with broad audiences, including the public through web, webinar, or video educational material. This may include technical aspects of lighting, lighting assessment, appropriate solutions, environmental and economic benefits, and training frameworks.
9. Provide a final report on activities.
10. Assign an appropriate IDA employee to track ongoing work and act as an on-site liaison among the parties.
11. Ensure that all activities relating to the NPS will be coordinated through the National Night Skies Program in Fort Collins, Colorado.

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:

B. NPS agrees to:

1. Provide input on the future IDA development and implementation of the Dark Sky Places Program, reflecting NPS Night Skies Program experience and expertise. Provide technical assistance to individual NPS units in their pursuit of International Dark Sky Park or International Dark Sky Reserve certification.
2. When requested in writing, assist communities in reducing impacts to national parks and other sensitive environments, inviting them to share in environmental stewardship.
3. Collaborate on public education campaigns (such as Stargazing Festivals), press releases on Dark Sky Places involving NPS lands, and other outreach campaigns.
4. Encourage IDA involvement in the Colorado Plateau Dark Sky Cooperative as an advisory panel member.
5. Coordinate the hosting and sponsorship of conferences and other professional meetings. Provide cross-support and co-host events where appropriate.
6. Jointly advance the knowledge base on outdoor lighting solutions in sensitive environments (Lighting Zone 0 and 1) by investigating methods for lighting assessment, testing applications, identifying and promoting market solutions, and sharing knowledge with wider audiences.
7. Share knowledge on light pollution assessment and measurement.
8. Jointly advance technical aspects of best management practices for outdoor lighting in sensitive environments. Share technical results of mitigation effectiveness.
9. Provide feedback and support IDA in sharing knowledge of fully sustainable lighting with broad audiences.
10. Provide feedback to help evaluate and improve future projects.
11. Assign an appropriate NPS Natural Sounds & Night Skies Division employee to monitor ongoing work, to respond to questions about the nature and goals of the project, and act as liaison among the parties.
12. Ensure that all activities relating to the IDA will be coordinated through the IDA office in Tucson, Arizona.

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:

(1) UNSOLICITED PROPOSAL

SINGLE SOURCE JUSTIFICATION DESCRIPTION:

The IDA proposed collaborating on four areas- Dark Sky Places, Conferences, Outreach, and Lighting over several conversations spanning 2/26/14 through 4/3/14. The scope of work and objectives were then developed jointly and the cooperative agreement formulated.

Collaborative work will assist the NPS in accelerating adoption of fully sustainable lighting in parks, thereby helping to preserve dark skies for park visitors. Fully sustainable lighting has broad application beyond parks, including other protected public lands and in communities wishing to reduce their impact. The agreement will also include public outreach and education, and promulgation of knowledge through conferences and professional meeting.

STATUTORY AUTHORITY

16 U.S.C. §1g provides that the NPS may enter cooperative agreements that involve the transfer of NPS-appropriated funds to non-profit organizations for the public purpose of carrying out NPS programs pursuant to 31 U.S.C. 6305.