National Park Service Grant: Developing Ground-Penetrating Radar to Quantify Harding Icefield Thickness

This Funding Announcement is not a request for applications. This announcement is to provide public notice of the National Park Service (NPS), intention to fund the following project activities.

ABSTRACT

Funding Announcement: J9845100013

Project Title: Quantify Thickness of Harding Icefield

Recipient: University of Alaska Fairbanks, Geophysical Institute

Principle
Investigator: Dr. Martin Truffer

Total Anticipated
Award Amount: $82,888

Cost Share: N/A

New Award
Or Continuation:New CESU award

Anticipated
Length of
Agreement: 5 Years

Anticipated
Period of
Performance: May 11, 2010 – September 30, 2014

Award
Instrument: Cooperative Agreement/CESU

Statutory
Authority: 16 U.S.C. §1a-2(j) authorizes the National Park Service (NPS) to enter into cooperative agreements that involve the transfer of NPS appropriated funds to educational institutions for the public purpose of carrying out NPS programs. More specifically, the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA), 16 U.S.C. Section 5933, authorizes the National Park Service to enter into cooperative agreements with colleges and universities, including but not limited to land grant schools, in partnership with other Federal and State agencies,to establish cooperative study units to conduct multi-disciplinary research and develop integrated information products on the resources of the National Park System, or the larger region of which parks are a part.

CFDA# and 0.00 Not Elsewhere Classified
Title:

Single Source
Justification
Criteria Sited:

BACKGROUND:

• A brief history of this project. Is this part of an on-going program, agreement, etc?
This project is a task agreement under Cooperative Ecosystem Study Unit Cooperative Agreement H9911080028; an agreement which was awarded through a competitive process.

1) 505 DM 2 Single Source – Only one responsible source will satisfy agency requirements.

• Identify the source and explain why specifically competition is not practical.
The source is the Geophysical Institute at the University of Alaska Fairbanks (Dr. Martin Truffer as Principal Investigator). Competition is not practical as the parent CESU Cooperative Agreement was previously competed, the service is not available from a commercial provider, the project focus is research and development of technological capacity in research requiring iterative efforts between the cooperator and the NPS, and the project is mutually beneficial to both the missions of the NPS and the University of Alaska Fairbanks. Given the requirement for extensive interaction between the cooperator and NPS, a partner that demonstrates willingness and ability to adapt and flex to the mutual demands of completing the project is essential.

2) Nature and description of the supplies or services required to meet the agency’s needs:

• Description of the item(s) or service(s) and the required delivery schedule.
The cooperator will develop technological capabilities which will be tested and proven in Kenai Fjords National Park, and then available for all DOI and other land management agencies to leverage. The technological capability is the development of a ground-penetrating radar system for measuring ice thickness on glacier systems, deployable on foot, by snow machine, and from aircraft. The required delivery schedule is: April 2010-develop radar system and field test on Exit Glacier in Kenai Fjords NP; Fall 2010-Test airborne capabilities; April 2011-conduct second round of data collection in Kenai Fjords NP; Fall 2011 and beyond-complete data analysis and report preparation (see Task Agreement for full details and terms).

• The minimum essential characteristics or unique features of the item(s).
If requesting a service, fully describe all services to be performed. The minimum characteristics of this service is that a scientifically rigorous ground penetrating radar system for use on glacier ice will be developed, the system will be used in at least two field data collection efforts in Kenai Fjords National Park, the collected data will be analyzed, and the project results will be summarized in a technical report summarizing findings regardless of the technical performance of the developed system.

• State the price of the requirement – base year and every additional anticipated agreement period thereafter.
This year (FY10) is the only anticipated award year of funding for the agreement (see agreement for $ amount). Field work will be completed over a two year period and final reporting completed thereafter—using funds awarded in FY10. Awarded funding is for implementation of all project components—developing radar system, field data collection, data analysis, and preparation of technical report.

3) Criteria for justifying award without competition. In order for an assistance award to be made without competition, the award must satisfy one or more of the following criteria. Please explain which criterion specifically addresses the proposed agreement.

• 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;

• 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.
The activity is a continuation of (task order under) an existing CESU Cooperative Agreement with the host institution being the University of Alaska Fairbanks.

• Legislative intent – The language in the applicable authorizing legislation or legislative history clearly indicates Congress’ intent to restrict award to a particular recipient or purpose.

• 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;
The applicant is uniquely qualified to perform the activity based upon the institutions designation as the regional coordinator for glaciological data for both the Nation and globally; their designation within the State and region as a research institution with a sustained commitment to maintaining and providing research and technical expertise in glaciological research; and their ability to leverage this research with other glaciological research in Alaska, Greenland, and Antarctica saving the government money in system development and provision of technical expertise as well extending the benefits of developing such technological capabilities.

• 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.

4) A description of the market research that was conducted and the results, or a statement of the reason a market research was not conducted:

• The type and degree of market survey conducted.
Market research was conducted by contacting Department of the Interior science experts on the subject (USGS employee Shad O’Neel), NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory staff (Dr. Eric Rignot), University of Alaska Fairbanks Geophysical Institute (Dr. Chris Larsen), and U. Kansas ‘Center for Remote Sensing of Ice Sheets’ staff. No commercial providers were identified, NASA JPL was the only government agency identified capable of providing such services but were unable to commit to such a project, the University of Alaska and University of Washington were recommended by all parties due to their proximity (cost and logistical savings) and demonstrated history and commitment to maintaining program expertise. University of Alaska Fairbanks and the Principal Investigator were selected given their availability and interest in making their system and services available for future cooperation throughout the NPS and other DOI (and other) land management agencies.

5) Any other facts supporting the use of other than full and open competition:

• State whether the request item or service has been purchased previously, and if so, state the purchase order, agreement, or document number (PR# or DI-1) under which the previous purchase was made. If the requirement is in support of on-going research, state the project title, project/protocol number, and the date the project was begun.
No such service has been previously purchased in Kenai Fjords National Park.

• Higher agency mandated requirement to utilize the known source (supported by written document).

6) A statement of the actions, if any, the agency may take to remove or overcome any barriers for competition before any subsequent acquisition for the supplies or services required:

• If known, provide information on any new technology or new source that will be available in the future.
A ground-penetrating radar system for use on glacier ice, and experienced University research institution partners will be available for future use upon completion of this agreement.

• Describe any measures being taken to foster competition for future acquisitions of the same item or service.
Future acquisitions will continue to be in accordance with DOI and NPS acquisition and cooperative agreement policies and practices.

National
Park Service
Point of Contact:Erica_Cordeiro@nps.gov