Department of the Interior: Appalachian Trail Accuracy Assessment Grant

This Funding Announcement is not a request for applications. This announcement is to provide public notice of the National Park Service¿s intention to fund the following project activities without full and open competition.

ABSTRACT
Funding Announcement P14AS00036
Project Title Appalachian Trail Accuracy Assessment
Recipient NatureServe
Principle Investigator / Program Manager Ery Largay
Total Anticipated Award Amount $285,485.00
Cost Share none
New Award or Continuation? Continuation of Cooperative Agreement P11AC26468
Anticipated Length of Agreement From Date of Award until April 30, 2015
Anticipated Period of Performance From Date of Award until April 30, 2015
Award Instrument Cooperative Agreement
Statutory Authority 16 USC 1g; 16 USC 4601-1 (f) (1-3)
CFDA # and Title 15.921, Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance
Single Source Justification Criteria Cited 2 Continuation
NPS Point of Contact June Zastrow 303-987-6718 june_zastrow@nps.gov

OVERVIEW

Cooperative Agreement Number P11AC26468 was entered into by and between the Department of the Interior, National Park Service, (NPS), and NatureServe for the purpose of assisting the Resource Mapping and Spatial Analysis Team (RMSAT) in the accuracy assessment, final product development and closeout meeting for the Appalachian National Scenic Trail (APPA) vegetation mapping project in support of the National Park Service (NPS) Vegetation Inventory Program (NPSVIP).

NatureServe will assist the Resource Mapping and Spatial Analysis Team (RMSAT) at the Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center (UMESC) in the accuracy assessment, final product development, and close-out meeting for the Appalachian National Scenic Trail (APPA) vegetation mapping project in support of the National Park Service (NPS) Vegetation Inventory Program (NPSVIP). Since 2006, NatureServe has compiled the standardized vegetation classification for APPA using the National Vegetation Classification System (USNVC) and has provided continuous vegetation classification and vegetation map development support for UMESC.

The project manager will organize the most efficient, cost-effective approach to provide support for the accuracy assessment of the vegetation map for the Appalachian National Scenic Trail (APPA) during the FY14, FY15, and FY16 fiscal years.

RECIPIENT INVOLVEMENT

NatureServe will focus on:
1. Hiring and training field contractors and qualified seasonal interns for accuracy assessment field work
2. Advising field teams on vegetation classification and accuracy assessment
3. Providing technical review of accuracy assessment field forms
4. Updating the vegetation classification and vegetation keys as needed
5. Supporting Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center (UMESC) as needed on all vegetation classification and accuracy assessment matters
6. Compiling final deliverables and attending project wrap-up meeting

NATIONAL PARK SERVICE INVOLVEMENT

Substantial involvement on the part the National Park Service is anticipated for the successful completion of the objectives to be funded by this award. In particular, the National Park Service will be responsible for the following:

NPS agrees to:

1. Provide substantial guidance and consultation to the Cooperator in connection with the project.

2. Provide the Cooperator with timely information on changes to park access, park boundaries or land ownership.

3. Provide the Cooperator with maps, reports, photography, and databases containing information relative to the biodiversity of APPA.

The Cooperator and NPS agree to:

1. Cooperate to the fullest extent possible to assure that the efforts of each party are coordinated and result in the completion of a quality project. The parties will meet or communicate frequently for the purposes of discussing individual actions and to assess progress made on the project.

2. Collaborate on project development and implementation including project plans, statements of work, methods, data standards, adaptive management, project oversight, data collection, data analysis and/or review, and development of products, reports, and presentations.

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 ¿ 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 ¿ 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 ¿ The language in the applicable authorizing legislation or legislative history clearly indicates Congress¿ intent to restrict the award to a particular recipient of purpose;

(4) 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;

(5) 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.

The National Park Service did not solicit full and open competition for this award based the following criteria:

(2) CONTINUATION

SINGLE SOURCE JUSTIFICATION DESCRIPTION:

THIS IS A NOTICE OF INTENT TO AWARD
This is a Task Agreement (P14AC00169) under Cooperative Agreement (P11AC26468) in the amount of $285,485.00 with a period of performance from date of award until April 30, 2015.

STATUTORY AUTHORITY

A. 16 USC §1g authorizes the NPS to enter into cooperative agreements that involve the transfer of NPS 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.

B. 16 USC 4601-1 §(f)(1-3) authorizes the NPS to sponsor, engage in, and assist in research relating to outdoor recreation, directly or by contract or cooperative agreements, and make payments for such purposes. Subsection (f) (2) authorizes NPS to undertake studies and assemble information concerning outdoor recreation, directly or by contract or cooperative agreement, and to disseminate such information. Subsection (f) (3) authorizes cooperation with educational institutions and others to assist in establishing programs and activities to encourage public use and benefits from outdoor recreation (funds may even be advanced if in the public interest).