National Park Service Offering Grant for Artist-in-Residence Program and Art Collection Protection

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: J9834100028

Project Title: CESU – Artist in Residence Program

Recipient: Alaska Geographic

Principle
Investigator: Charles Money

Total Anticipated
Award Amount: $5,000

Cost Share: N/A

New Award
Or Continuation: New CESU award

Anticipated
Length of
Agreement: 2 Years

Anticipated
Period of
Performance: September 1, 2010 – August 30, 2012

Award
Instrument: Cooperative Agreement/CESU

Statutory
Authority: 16 U.S.C. Section 1g: 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 – CESU
Title:

Single Source
Justification
JUSTIFICATION FOR OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN
COMPETITION (or SINGLE SOURCE) FOR DISCRETIONARY COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS

BACKGROUND:

• A brief history of this project. Is this part of an on-going program, agreement, etc?

 For the past three years the National Park Service/Denali National Park and Preserve has partnered with Alaska Geographic in the ongoing management of the Artist-in-Residence (AIR) Program. This work involves coordinating all aspects of the program, including the proper care of park’s art collection.

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.

 In 2009 we discovered that excessive light has become an issue for some of the art pieces. To ensure proper action can be taken to protect the pieces, we have been required to monitor light levels on the pieces to discover the extent of the issue and advise next steps. As the AKGEO AIR coordinator is already familiar with the collection and dealing with the program holistically, it seems to follow that this additional duty be added to the list of tasks already required of the job to ensure the works are adequately cared for.

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

• Description of the deliverables and the required delivery schedule.
• The minimum essential characteristics or unique features of the item(s). If requesting a service, fully describe all services to be performed.
• State the price of the requirement – base year and every additional anticipated agreement period thereafter.

 AKGEO AIR Coordinator will ensure art is displayed at the Denali Visitor Center, Eielson Visitor Center and the Murie Science and Learning Center from May 15, 2010 through September 20, 2010.
 AKGEO AIR coordinator will ensure art is adequately protected from visitor contact while on displays, to include advising NPS on steps to take should art be vulnerable, e.g. help with signage, monitoring light levels, barriers to protect art.
 Communicate proactively with the four (4) artists participating in the program in 2010 to ensure a safe, productive visit and quality public presentation.
 Ensure that light data is collected throughout the summer season on the Eielson fabric art piece and deliver complete light data set to NPS by September 23, 2010.
 Using data, consult with experts and advise NPS on proper steps to mitigate light damage to ensure protection of pieces by October 29, 2010.

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.

• 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;

• 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.

 This is 1.) an unsolicited proposal and 2.) a continuation of activity ongoing with AKGEO regarding management of the AIR Program. 3.) The individual coordinating this program is a fine artist skilled in the display and protection of fine art, a skill not currently present in park staff who liaison with the AKGEO coordinator. Throughout the summer, the AKGEO coordinator has been sharing knowledge and expertise with park staff.

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 not conducted due to the fact the park was already working with AKGEO to administer the program. Additional duties aimed at the long-term care of the art are issues brought to light relatively recently when it was noticed that direct sunlight was falling on one of the pieces and that visitors were touching the artwork. Taking adequate steps to protect the work, while administering the growing project seemed like an extension of, then, current efforts.

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

• State whether the deliverable has been acquired previously, and if so, state the agreement document number. If the requirement is in support of on-going research, state the project title, project/protocol number, and the date the project was begun.
• Higher agency mandated requirement to utilize the known source (supported by written document).

 Again, there was an existing relationship with AKGEO in the protection of the art and growth of the AIR program.

6) A statement of the actions, if any, the agency may take to remove or overcome any barriers for competition before any potential future agreement award:

• If known, provide information on any new technology or new source that will be available in the future.
• Describe any measures being taken to foster competition for future acquisitions of the same item or service.

 At this time NPS has been working to acquire the capacity within staffing to administer adequate protect of the artwork in the future. Over the course of this summer, the AKGEO AIR coordinator has been working with park staff to build institutional knowledge in the coordination of the program and protection of the art. At this writing, it is not anticipated there will be the need for additional transfer of funds in FY11.

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