The National Park Service is offering a cooperative agreement grant to establish a Beringia climate change education and observation program in Chukotka, Russia.

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: H9911100024

Project Title: What’s Climate Change

Recipient: University of Minnesota

Principle
Investigator: Dr. Aaron Doering
Total Anticipated
Award Amount: $181,005

Cost Share: N/A

New Award
Or Continuation: New

Anticipated
Length of
Agreement: 4 Years

Anticipated
Period of
Performance: July 23, 2010 – July 22, 2014

Award
Instrument: Cooperative Agreement/CESU

Statutory
Authority: 16 U.S.C. §1(g): The National Park Service may in fiscal year 1997 and thereafter enter into cooperative agreements that involve the transfer of National Park Service appropriated funds to State, local and tribal governments, other public entities, educational institutions, and private nonprofit organizations for the public purpose of carrying out National Park Service programs pursuant to section 6305 of title 31 to carry out public purposes of National Park Service programs.

CFDA# and 0.00 Not Elsewhere Classified
Single Source
Justification
Criteria Sited:

BACKGROUND:

• A brief history of this project. Is this part of an on-going program, agreement, etc? This project has previously been competed through the Shared Beringian Heritage Program of the NPS. A nationwide announcement is conducted yearly requesting proposals. Projects are subsequently selected through a 3-step competitive process. The selection process includes: internal NPS review; ranking by a FACA compliant panel of external stakeholders; and final selection by the NPS. Projects must be of mutual interest and benefit to the cooperator and the NPS, and must involve substantial involvement by both parties.

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 cooperator proposed the project for consideration.

2) Nature and description of the deliverable required to meet the agency’s needs:

• Description of the deliverables and the required delivery schedule: establish a local and sustainable framework to deliver Beringia: What’s Climate Change to You (WCCY)? in Chukotka, Russia.
• The minimum essential characteristics or unique features of the item(s). WCCY is a Pan-Arctic-American network where students and teachers partner with scientists to do science and explore climate change around the circumpolar Arctic. The vehicle for WCCY is the “GoNorth!” Adventure Learning Series developed at the University of Minnesota and headed up by PI, Aaron Doering.
• State the price of the requirement – base year and every additional anticipated agreement period thereafter. Funding in FY10 of $34,995, FY11 of $48,400, and FY12 or $49,610.

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. This project has previously been competed (described above). The cooperator proposed the project for consideration and has the qualifications to complete the work.

DOCUMENTATION FOR USE OF A COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT

Cooperative Agreement Number or PR Number: H9911100024
University of Minnesota, Beringia: What’s Climate Change to You?

Type of funds to be used for this project: ONPS

1. What type of competition is appropriate? Nationwide announcement for Beringia proposals.

2. Why was this cooperator selected? Cooperator proposed the project through a 3-step competitive process, and had the necessary expertise to perform the selected project.

3. Who are the parties to the agreement? University of Minnesota and the Alaska Region, NPS.

4. What is the purpose of the agreement? Establish a local and sustainable framework to deliver “Beringia: What’s Climate Change to You (WCCY)?” in Chukotka, Russia.

5. What are the deliverables expected? Establish a regional office in Provideniya, 6 community teams, provide training and set up program; conduct on-going observations year-round and share results, hold annual rendezvous, submit annual reports and a final report at the conclusion of the project, publish a journal article and present at Beringia Days conference (or other approved venue).

6. Explain the nature of the anticipated substantial involvement. What will NPS specifically do to carry out the project?

– Provide technical assistance and expertise to the project. This assistance will include technical review of the documents; outreach with NPS interpretive and education specialists, and further assistance with outreach in Beringian communities in Alaska.
– Because NPS staff is involved in climate change programs; research; distance learning programs; and citizen-science initiatives, they will link this project to relevant NPS staffs, and non-governmental organizations working in this field.
– Connect this project with this network of initiatives and share how this effort is structured and the final results, to inform other efforts especially those working internationally.
– Partner to ensure the broadest distribution of the project though the above networks, local park units in interested communities (especially schools), and through the NPS interpretive and education networks.

7. Why is the substantial involvement considered to be necessary? For successful outcome.

Further: Substantial involvement on the part of the University of Minnesota is essential to complete the project because provide the technical IT expertise and existing structure to implement and sustain this program; they will ensure the scientific viability of observations; and have the experience and relationships in Russian necessary to complete the work in Chukotka. Substantial involvement from the NPS is necessary to provide educational expertise, technical assistance, ensure coordination with Russian governmental institutions with whom we have relations, to review and approve each stage of the project, to engage other Beringia partners, and ensure that the data collected is accessible and useful (as citizen science).

8. Explain why the project or activity entails a relationship of assistance rather than a contract. How will the NPS benefit from this collaboration? The NPS and NSB have mutual interest and benefit in the completion of this project.

Further: The Shared Beringian Heritage Program of the NPS seeks to build partnerships with parties working on either side of the Bering Strait, increasing international cooperation and the conservation of the shared heritage of the region. Therefore, project supported through the program need to be of mutual benefit with substantial involvement from both parties. These partnerships further the NPS program goals of fostering collaboration across research and cultural studies in the region; leading to increased understanding and appreciation of the region; and furthering the goals of international cooperation.

9. What is the public purpose of support or stimulation? Resource stewardship and conservation.

10. Which law or laws authorize granting of assistance for performance of this project or activity? 16 USC 1g, PL 104-208, Omnibus Consolidated Appropriations Act of 1997.

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