National Park Service: Soil Resources Inventory Enhancement Grant

OVERVIEW

Through a Task Agreement against the Rocky Mountain Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Units (CESU) Cooperative Agreement, the National Park Service (NPS) and Colorado State University will continue in a cooperative effort to work on the Soil Resources Inventory project in association with the NPS Inventory and Monitoring Program and the NPS Soil Resources Management Program.

STATEMENT OF JOINT OBJECTIVES/PROJECT MANAGEMENT PLAN

The overall goal of the project is to create the soil resource data management and information framework that will enable the NPS to facilitate that park soil resources remain unimpaired for future generations. The Soil Resources Inventory Enhancement Project will verify, modify, and develop a framework to facilitate the use and application of existing soils data to primarily benefit the ongoing research, information and education activities within Colorado State University and the NPS and to make soil resource information available in a variety of formats to the general public to better understand the importance of soil resources in the national parks.

RECIPIENT INVOLVEMENT

Colorado State University (CSU) agrees to:

¿ To design, develop, implement, and effectively manage soils data and soil resource information delivery strategies to accommodate the current and emerging needs of the CSU Soil Resources Inventory Enhancement Project;

¿ To design, develop, and implement decision-support systems to help facilitate the use of the products generated by the CSU Soil Resources Inventory Enhancement Project and to support the necessity to respond to emerging soil resource management issues within the NPS;

¿ To provide information and educational opportunities that promote an increased understanding of soil resources that will facilitate the use and application of soils information by park staff, students, and the general public.

¿ To provide Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and remote sensing technical assistance in supporting the utilization of the CSU Soil Resources Inventory Enhancement Project products and to further evaluate new technology and soil analysis in the utilization, interpretation and visualization of soils information.

NATIONAL PARK SERVICE INVOLVEMENT

National Park Service agrees to:

¿ Work closely with CSU staff and the Principal Investigators to facilitate the accomplishment of the various tasks of this agreement, and provide any needed technical support as it pertains to the use and application of soils data within the NPS.

¿ Identify workload needs and priorities, discuss how to meet those needs, and explore opportunities to institute new approaches to maximize project efficiencies.

¿ Will meet as needed, but at a minimum quarterly, with CSU staff, as well provide frequent communication via phone and email to discuss progress, and to ensure that work performed and products developed are meeting the needs of the agency.

¿ Provide office space, telecommunications, computer equipment, internet access, access to printers and plotters, and Information Technology (IT) support to CSU staff assigned to the project.

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

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.

Colorado State University (CSU) has previous experience working with the Soil Resources Inventory project in the development of enhanced soil datasets for NPS units.

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.

CSU, Department of Soil and Crop Sciences, is uniquely qualified due to its technical expertise in pedology, location, and availability of qualified student support. Other qualifications include: active participation in the National Cooperative Soil Survey (NCSS) program; knowledge and utilization of NCSS Standards and Soil Survey Geographic (SSURGO) data; familiarity with exports from the National Soils Information System (NASIS) database; experience in soil database management systems and archival procedures; and ability to design, develop, manage and implement data management strategies.