National Park Service Grant: Monitoring Framework for Sea Otters in Glacier Bay National Park

ABSTRACT
Funding Announcement
Project Title NPS â¿¿ Development of a statistical adaptive monitoring framework for sea otters in Glacier Bay National Park & Preserve
Recipient Colorado State University
Total Anticipated Award Amount $200,000
Cost Share 0.00
Anticipated Length of Agreement 4 Years
Anticipated Period of Performance September 9, 2015 â¿¿ July 1, 2018
Award Instrument CESU Task Agreement
Statutory Authority 54 USC 101702(a) and 54 USC 101702(b)
CFDA # and Title 15.945, Cooperative Research and Training Programs
Single Source Justification Criteria Cited Continuation/CESU task agreement
Point of Contact Erica Cordeiro

OVERVIEW

This task agreement is modified to add $80,000 in support of a second project phase focused on development and documentation of monitoring methods. As described in the original task agreement, two project phases consisting of model development and testing (Phase 1, included in original agreement budget) and monitoring protocol development (Phase 2) are needed to meet project goals and objectives.

STATEMENT OF JOINT OBJECTIVES/PROJECT MANAGEMENT PLAN

Phase II â¿¿ Refinement, Testing, and Documentation of Methods for Monitoring Sea Otter Spatial Distribution and Abundance in Glacier Bay National Park
1. Refine and optimize spatio-temporal model (currently in review) from Phase I for use in long-term monitoring of the spatial distribution and abundance of sea otters in Glacier Bay National Park using photographic methods.
2. Conduct pilot-study using a preliminary adaptive design and photographic methods to evaluate performance.
3. Collaborate to prepare and produce a peer-reviewed manuscript that describes a model, sampling design, photographic approach, and optimization for monitoring the spatial distribution and abundance of sea otters in Glacier Bay National Park.
4. Collaborate to prepare and produce a protocol for monitoring of sea otters in Glacier Bay National Park, following the guidance of Oakley et al. (2003) and the NPS Inventory and Monitoring Division.

The protocol will serve to institutionalize a long-term commitment to monitoring sea otters as a ⿿Vital Sign⿝ in the Glacier Bay ecosystem. The resulting abundance estimates will form the foundation for understanding bottom-up responses and top-down effects of sea otter colonization in Glacier Bay.

RECIPIENT INVOLVEMENT

Ultimately, through work completed over the course of this agreement,
A. CSU will:
Assist in producing a monitoring protocol for sea otters in collaboration with Dr. Jamie Womble and the SEAN Data Manager, Bill Johnson, by contributing portions of the protocol narrative and detailed implementation SOPs (e.g., R code) for survey design and analysis

NATIONAL PARK SERVICE INVOLVEMENT

Milestone Activity Schedule
NPS, USGS, and CSU collaborate to publish adaptive design for monitoring sea otters in Glacier Bay in the scientific literature November, 2016 â¿¿ June 2017
NPS and CSU collaborate to produce draft protocol narrative and SOPs for final design November, 2016 â¿¿ December, 2017
NPS and CSU submit draft sea otter monitoring protocol narrative and SOPs for peer review in the NPS NRR series. December, 2017

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 â¿¿ 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 â¿¿ 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 â¿¿ The language in the applicable authorizing legislation or legislative history clearly indicates Congressâ¿¿ intent to restrict the award to a particular recipient of purpose;

(4) Unique Qualifications â¿¿ 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 â¿¿ 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.

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

Continuation of the CESU agreement under Master Agreement P14AC00749.