National Park Service SeaGrant Fellowship

ABSTRACT
Funding Announcement P16AS00592
Project Title SeaGrant Fellowship
Recipient University of Alaska Fairbanks
Total Anticipated Award Amount $35,385
Cost Share $35,385
Anticipated Length of Agreement 1 year
Anticipated Period of Performance 9/12/2016 â¿¿ 9/11/2017
Award Instrument Cooperative Agreement
Statutory Authority 54 USC 101702 (b)
CFDA # and Title 15.945 – Cooperative Research and Training Programs â¿¿ Resources of the National Park System
Single Source Justification Criteria Cited Not required â¿¿ CESU program
Point of Contact Tahzay Jones

OVERVIEW

The Alaska Sea Grant State Fellowship Program aims to build and strengthen the workforce dedicated to healthy fisheries and coastal environment by encouraging enthusiastic, bright students to launch their careers in Alaska. The state fellowship program provides a unique educational opportunity for graduate students who are interested both in marine resources and in the policy decisions affecting those resources in Alaska. Modeled after the highly successful Knauss Marine Policy Fellowship, the state fellowship program provides an opportunity to acquire on-the-job experience in the planning and implementation of marine and/or coastal resource policies and programs in Alaska. The program matches highly motivated graduate students and recent graduates with Alaska-based ⿿host⿝ state or federal agencies in Alaska for a 12- month paid fellowship. Graduate students who are close to completing their degree or have a recently earned degree in a relevant discipline can apply. Applicants either be completing their degree in an Alaskan academic institution or be an Alaska resident to be a fellow.

The National Park Service supports the education and development of future scientists, and has opportunities for engagement with early career scientists, particularly in the fisheries disciplines, within the Alaska Region. The Alaska Region has ongoing fisheries resource issues for which a graduate level fellow would be apt to support and aid in resolution. In consideration of the above premises and in the interest of the mutual advantages and attainment of common objectives, the parties hereto desire to cooperate and mutually agree to support a Fisheries Biologist fellow within the National Park Service Alaska Region.

STATEMENT OF JOINT OBJECTIVES/PROJECT MANAGEMENT PLAN
Provide an educational opportunity for a graduate student interested both in marine resources and in the policy decisions affecting those resources in Alaska the opportunity to work within the National Park Service on fisheries resource issues and policy implications.

RECIPIENT INVOLVEMENT
1. Build a sense of cohort community among the fellows during the year and support the hosts throughout the process.
2. Fund 50% of the fellowship

NATIONAL PARK SERVICE INVOLVEMENT
1. Supervise, mentor, and provide opportunities for involvement in substantive issues that contribute to the fellowâ¿¿s professional accomplishments and goals. The fellow will be expected to participate at a full time level within the host office and work on site and with other staff and/or leadership, as appropriate. Mentoring and supervising the fellow will be for one-year.
2. Engage the fellow in one or a few organized projects important to marine or fisheries science or policy.
3. Fund 50% of the fellowship

The performance of this project will be measured by successful integration of fellow into fisheries program for 1 year with a final outreach product in the form of the fellows choosing.

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: