Department of the Interior – Collaborative Biological Research and Education Grant

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 P15AS00214
Project Title Collaborative Biological Research and Education
Recipient California Academy of Science
Principle Investigator / Program Manager Scott Loarie
Total Anticipated Award Amount $140,000.00
Cost Share none
New Award or Continuation? New Cooperataive Agreement
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 54 USC 101702(a)
CFDA # and Title 15.944 Natural Resources Stewardship
Single Source Justification Criteria Cited Unique Qualifications
NPS Point of Contact June Zastrow 303-987-6718 june_zastrow@nps.gov

OVERVIEW

The objective of this Agreement is to implement a program to engage in cooperating activities focused on promoting scientific research, fostering a greater understanding of species distribution and the communities they form, and improving ecological inventory and education related to NPS lands. Parks have critical research and project management needs required for guiding management and policy, so that decisions are based on sound scientific information. Furthermore, the NPS lacks specific technical expertise and information technology systems to address pressing research and data management issues. Examples of needs for research include analysis of non-native species distribution, threatened and endangered species occurrences, phenological development of organisms, and changes in species distribution in the face of climate change. Additionally, Academy develops and maintains iNaturalist, an interactive internet data platform already used by universities, agencies, and members of the public across the globe. Integration of NPS and existing Academy data will enrich the value of a widely used research, education, and data storage web portal. This partnership will allow NPS and Academy to collaboratively enrich research and education opportunities to the public.

The NPS is at a crossroads as it prepares for the Bureau���s second century. NPS is focused on a strategic integration of our national parks and community-based programs. These efforts will better leverage our resources and engage the American public and citizen scientists to learn more about and contribute to our stewardship mission. Through the Go Digital action, the NPS digital experience will bring our online presence fully into the 21st century not only for accurate information, but for compelling knowledge and extended reach for community-based programs.

This Agreement provides the terms and conditions under which the NPS and Academy will facilitate and cooperate in research and related activities of mutual benefit and of benefit to the people of the United States related to the protection and management of the natural resources of the NPS. Specifically, this Agreement will facilitate NPS and Academy cooperation in completing research and education programs that protect, explain, and restore natural resources of the United States.

The Academy is a California non-profit public benefit corporation, and is authorized to enter into agreements with the Federal government. The Academy is uniquely qualified to engage in community collaborations with stakeholders and private funders to enhance the mission of the NPS, including research and education. The Academy is also uniquely qualified to facilitate citizen involvement and create partnerships for the common goals of the NPS and community, including community representation in park initiatives.

Both NPS and Academy desire to cooperate with one another for their mutual benefit and for the general benefit of the people of the United States and future generations to enjoy the natural and cultural resources of the National Park System.

RECIPIENT INVOLVEMENT

1. Collaboratively undertake a project tentatively entitled ���Collaborative Biological Research and Education��� (the ���Project���) involving collaborative natural resources research and data sharing projects and programs as further described throughout this Article III Statement of Work.
2. Administer, facilitate and recruit interested students, organizations, agencies, or other individuals to participate in the collaborative natural resources research and data sharing programs under the Project.
3. Independently prepare application packages for research projects of mutual interest for scientific research, inventory, and monitoring related to the Objectives of the Project as defined in Article I of this Agreement.
4. Hire, assign and supervise scientists, technicians, and other support staff as needed to conduct research and education initiatives in any Task Agreements (TAs) and to implement NPS directed conservation projects and investigations in support of the Project Objectives.
5. Provide the staff and their expertise and resources and to carry out the Project Objectives.
6. Maintain functionality and capacity of existing iNaturalist software which includes open source iOS, Android and web apps.
7. Provide the NPS with final reports and/or refereed journal articles (as agreed upon in advance and as defined in each TA), progress reports, and research data (including metadata) generated by Academy personnel from projects and programs conducted under the Project.
8. Provide personnel, facilities, supplies, materials and equipment as available and necessary to perform individual project tasks under the Project.
9. Collaborate with NPS staff in supplying Academy data and information tools to students in natural resource research, monitoring, and restoration disciplines.
10. Acknowledge the NPS in any published or formally presented material developed or derived from this 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. Collaboratively undertake the Project as described throughout this Article III Statement of Work.
2. Review and provide comment and/or concurrence to Academy on plans, specifications and other documents submitted pursuant to Article III. A.1 above, within thirty (30) days of receipt.
3. Provide Academy with educational training regarding environmental and NPS values.
4. Assist with data collection and analysis on natural resources projects under the Project.
5. Provide Project guidance and orientation, and provide necessary NPS data for Academy use.
6. Participate in biodiversity research and education by providing park staff and expertise and database capabilities to collect and manage the information collected through this Project.
7. Provide a description of NPS research and management needs through the appropriate planning documents and from direct contacts between NPS staff and Academy.
8. Review all application packages submitted by Academy and consider supporting the research contingent upon availability of funds and relation to research needs of mutual interest. Proposals selected for funding shall be awarded under this Agreement as individual TA���s.
9. Initiate activities pursuant to the Project under this Agreement through the issuance of detailed TA���s.
10. Provide access to and use of the natural resources of the NPS for appropriate research, monitoring, and educational activities of Academy, except for those activities which may conflict with the values and purposes of the area as stated in federal law or policy.
11. Provide necessary NPS-issued permits (e.g. collecting, special use, research, etc.) pursuant to applicable law, and assist Academy in securing other agency permits, as needed, for work conducted within the National Parks under this Agreement.
12. Provide timely peer review of draft reports and technical publications that may be required.

The Academy and NPS, jointly, agree to:

1. Perform research, monitoring, and educational programs consistent with the nature and intent of this Agreement, and as described in individual TA���s placed under this Agreement.
2. Identify and obtain all necessary State and Federal permits required to conduct the Project.
3. Consult the other before publishing any Project results of joint effort.
4. Be substantially involved in all phases of planning, research, coordination, and publication and/or dissemination of final results. Field activities can be considered to be joint ventures with the NPS and Academy contributing either primary direction and/or field support to accomplish Project objectives.
5. Recruit and direct the participation of graduate and undergraduate students, and interns.

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:

(4) UNIQUE QUALIFICATIONS

SINGLE SOURCE JUSTIFICATION DESCRIPTION:

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;

��� Natural History Museum organization: Academy���s mission is to Explore, Explain, and Sustain Life. Academy curates one of the world���s largest specimen collections of biodiversity.
��� Relevant experience: Academy���s iNaturalist has been adopted as a wildlife recording platform by many organizations including Parks Canada, the Mexican Government���s CONABIO, and National Geographic. iNaturalist was used as the platform in the 2014 World Parks Congress BioBlitz, the 2015 Citizen Science Association BioBlitz, the 2014 Golden Gate National Parks BioBlitz, and will be used in the upcoming 2015 Hawaii Volcanoes National Park BioBlitz and National Geographic Global Snapshot. Cumulatively, the Academy through iNaturalist stored information provides a continental scope of biodiversity information.
��� Large existing user community: Academy���s iNaturalist program is supported by a vibrant user community of nearly 80,000 naturalists, scientists, managers, and members of the public that bring the benefits of crowdsourced species identification, curation of taxonomy, and sources of educational content to new collaborations that leverage this network. Over 1,180,000 wildlife observations from around the world representing over 60,000 distinct taxa are being shared and, to date, over 610,000 iNaturalist ���research quality��� observations have been archived by the Global Biodiversity Information Facility.
��� Collaborative effort: iNaturalist is an open source software effort and development of the platform has been aided by financial and development support by numerous collaborators such as the Mexican government���s CONABIO, Spain���s CREAF organization, and the New Zealand Biological Recording Network.
��� Taxonomic scope: Academy���s iNaturalist program spans the tree of life.
��� Geographic scope: Academy���s iNaturalist program spans the United States land area. Inclusion of all category II protected areas listed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) in Canada and the world.
��� Treatment of sensitive species locations: Academy���s iNaturalist includes all conservation statuses from the IUCN RedList of threatened species and has tools for obscuring the sensitive locations of threatened species from the public.
��� Ability to group and visualize observations against protected area boundaries: Academy���s iNaturalist database includes Global Information System functionality including the ability to filter, analyze, and visualize point observations within polygons such as protected area boundaries.
��� Availability of platform on iOS and Android devices: Academy���s iNaturalist is available as a web platform and also as native iOS and Android applications freely available from the iTunes and Google Play stores respectively.
��� Science tool – Availability of data for incorporation into scientific databases: Academy���s iNaturalist program generates research quality data which have been incorporated into the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF), Encyclopedia of Life, and NatureServe Kestrel scientific databases. Over 92% of digitized photos contributed to GBIF dated in the last five years have come from iNaturalist.
��� Open source software and licensed data promoting public access: Academy���s iNaturalist program is powered by open source software freely available for use by the public.

STATUTORY AUTHORITY

54 USC 101702(a) previously 16 U.S.C. ��1g Cooperative Agreements, Transfer of Service Appropriated Funds

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 P15AS00214
Project Title Collaborative Biological Research and Education
Recipient California Academy of Science
Principle Investigator / Program Manager Scott Loarie
Total Anticipated Award Amount $140,000.00
Cost Share none
New Award or Continuation? New Cooperataive Agreement
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 54 USC 101702(a)
CFDA # and Title 15.944 Natural Resources Stewardship
Single Source Justification Criteria Cited Unique Qualifications
NPS Point of Contact June Zastrow 303-987-6718 june_zastrow@nps.gov

OVERVIEW

The objective of this Agreement is to implement a program to engage in cooperating activities focused on promoting scientific research, fostering a greater understanding of species distribution and the communities they form, and improving ecological inventory and education related to NPS lands. Parks have critical research and project management needs required for guiding management and policy, so that decisions are based on sound scientific information. Furthermore, the NPS lacks specific technical expertise and information technology systems to address pressing research and data management issues. Examples of needs for research include analysis of non-native species distribution, threatened and endangered species occurrences, phenological development of organisms, and changes in species distribution in the face of climate change. Additionally, Academy develops and maintains iNaturalist, an interactive internet data platform already used by universities, agencies, and members of the public across the globe. Integration of NPS and existing Academy data will enrich the value of a widely used research, education, and data storage web portal. This partnership will allow NPS and Academy to collaboratively enrich research and education opportunities to the public.

The NPS is at a crossroads as it prepares for the Bureau���s second century. NPS is focused on a strategic integration of our national parks and community-based programs. These efforts will better leverage our resources and engage the American public and citizen scientists to learn more about and contribute to our stewardship mission. Through the Go Digital action, the NPS digital experience will bring our online presence fully into the 21st century not only for accurate information, but for compelling knowledge and extended reach for community-based programs.

This Agreement provides the terms and conditions under which the NPS and Academy will facilitate and cooperate in research and related activities of mutual benefit and of benefit to the people of the United States related to the protection and management of the natural resources of the NPS. Specifically, this Agreement will facilitate NPS and Academy cooperation in completing research and education programs that protect, explain, and restore natural resources of the United States.

The Academy is a California non-profit public benefit corporation, and is authorized to enter into agreements with the Federal government. The Academy is uniquely qualified to engage in community collaborations with stakeholders and private funders to enhance the mission of the NPS, including research and education. The Academy is also uniquely qualified to facilitate citizen involvement and create partnerships for the common goals of the NPS and community, including community representation in park initiatives.

Both NPS and Academy desire to cooperate with one another for their mutual benefit and for the general benefit of the people of the United States and future generations to enjoy the natural and cultural resources of the National Park System.

RECIPIENT INVOLVEMENT

1. Collaboratively undertake a project tentatively entitled ���Collaborative Biological Research and Education��� (the ���Project���) involving collaborative natural resources research and data sharing projects and programs as further described throughout this Article III Statement of Work.
2. Administer, facilitate and recruit interested students, organizations, agencies, or other individuals to participate in the collaborative natural resources research and data sharing programs under the Project.
3. Independently prepare application packages for research projects of mutual interest for scientific research, inventory, and monitoring related to the Objectives of the Project as defined in Article I of this Agreement.
4. Hire, assign and supervise scientists, technicians, and other support staff as needed to conduct research and education initiatives in any Task Agreements (TAs) and to implement NPS directed conservation projects and investigations in support of the Project Objectives.
5. Provide the staff and their expertise and resources and to carry out the Project Objectives.
6. Maintain functionality and capacity of existing iNaturalist software which includes open source iOS, Android and web apps.
7. Provide the NPS with final reports and/or refereed journal articles (as agreed upon in advance and as defined in each TA), progress reports, and research data (including metadata) generated by Academy personnel from projects and programs conducted under the Project.
8. Provide personnel, facilities, supplies, materials and equipment as available and necessary to perform individual project tasks under the Project.
9. Collaborate with NPS staff in supplying Academy data and information tools to students in natural resource research, monitoring, and restoration disciplines.
10. Acknowledge the NPS in any published or formally presented material developed or derived from this 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. Collaboratively undertake the Project as described throughout this Article III Statement of Work.
2. Review and provide comment and/or concurrence to Academy on plans, specifications and other documents submitted pursuant to Article III. A.1 above, within thirty (30) days of receipt.
3. Provide Academy with educational training regarding environmental and NPS values.
4. Assist with data collection and analysis on natural resources projects under the Project.
5. Provide Project guidance and orientation, and provide necessary NPS data for Academy use.
6. Participate in biodiversity research and education by providing park staff and expertise and database capabilities to collect and manage the information collected through this Project.
7. Provide a description of NPS research and management needs through the appropriate planning documents and from direct contacts between NPS staff and Academy.
8. Review all application packages submitted by Academy and consider supporting the research contingent upon availability of funds and relation to research needs of mutual interest. Proposals selected for funding shall be awarded under this Agreement as individual TA���s.
9. Initiate activities pursuant to the Project under this Agreement through the issuance of detailed TA���s.
10. Provide access to and use of the natural resources of the NPS for appropriate research, monitoring, and educational activities of Academy, except for those activities which may conflict with the values and purposes of the area as stated in federal law or policy.
11. Provide necessary NPS-issued permits (e.g. collecting, special use, research, etc.) pursuant to applicable law, and assist Academy in securing other agency permits, as needed, for work conducted within the National Parks under this Agreement.
12. Provide timely peer review of draft reports and technical publications that may be required.

The Academy and NPS, jointly, agree to:

1. Perform research, monitoring, and educational programs consistent with the nature and intent of this Agreement, and as described in individual TA���s placed under this Agreement.
2. Identify and obtain all necessary State and Federal permits required to conduct the Project.
3. Consult the other before publishing any Project results of joint effort.
4. Be substantially involved in all phases of planning, research, coordination, and publication and/or dissemination of final results. Field activities can be considered to be joint ventures with the NPS and Academy contributing either primary direction and/or field support to accomplish Project objectives.
5. Recruit and direct the participation of graduate and undergraduate students, and interns.

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:

(4) UNIQUE QUALIFICATIONS

SINGLE SOURCE JUSTIFICATION DESCRIPTION:

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;

��� Natural History Museum organization: Academy���s mission is to Explore, Explain, and Sustain Life. Academy curates one of the world���s largest specimen collections of biodiversity.
��� Relevant experience: Academy���s iNaturalist has been adopted as a wildlife recording platform by many organizations including Parks Canada, the Mexican Government���s CONABIO, and National Geographic. iNaturalist was used as the platform in the 2014 World Parks Congress BioBlitz, the 2015 Citizen Science Association BioBlitz, the 2014 Golden Gate National Parks BioBlitz, and will be used in the upcoming 2015 Hawaii Volcanoes National Park BioBlitz and National Geographic Global Snapshot. Cumulatively, the Academy through iNaturalist stored information provides a continental scope of biodiversity information.
��� Large existing user community: Academy���s iNaturalist program is supported by a vibrant user community of nearly 80,000 naturalists, scientists, managers, and members of the public that bring the benefits of crowdsourced species identification, curation of taxonomy, and sources of educational content to new collaborations that leverage this network. Over 1,180,000 wildlife observations from around the world representing over 60,000 distinct taxa are being shared and, to date, over 610,000 iNaturalist ���research quality��� observations have been archived by the Global Biodiversity Information Facility.
��� Collaborative effort: iNaturalist is an open source software effort and development of the platform has been aided by financial and development support by numerous collaborators such as the Mexican government���s CONABIO, Spain���s CREAF organization, and the New Zealand Biological Recording Network.
��� Taxonomic scope: Academy���s iNaturalist program spans the tree of life.
��� Geographic scope: Academy���s iNaturalist program spans the United States land area. Inclusion of all category II protected areas listed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) in Canada and the world.
��� Treatment of sensitive species locations: Academy���s iNaturalist includes all conservation statuses from the IUCN RedList of threatened species and has tools for obscuring the sensitive locations of threatened species from the public.
��� Ability to group and visualize observations against protected area boundaries: Academy���s iNaturalist database includes Global Information System functionality including the ability to filter, analyze, and visualize point observations within polygons such as protected area boundaries.
��� Availability of platform on iOS and Android devices: Academy���s iNaturalist is available as a web platform and also as native iOS and Android applications freely available from the iTunes and Google Play stores respectively.
��� Science tool – Availability of data for incorporation into scientific databases: Academy���s iNaturalist program generates research quality data which have been incorporated into the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF), Encyclopedia of Life, and NatureServe Kestrel scientific databases. Over 92% of digitized photos contributed to GBIF dated in the last five years have come from iNaturalist.
��� Open source software and licensed data promoting public access: Academy���s iNaturalist program is powered by open source software freely available for use by the public.

STATUTORY AUTHORITY

54 USC 101702(a) previously 16 U.S.C. ��1g Cooperative Agreements, Transfer of Service Appropriated Funds