Department of the Interior Grant: Assessing Risk of Caves to White Nose Syndrome

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 P14AS00171
Project Title Comprehensive Assessment of Risk of Caves to White-Nose Syndrome
Recipient Northern Arizona University
Principle Investigator / Program Manager Dr. Carol Chambers
Total Anticipated Award Amount `$92,000.00
Cost Share none
New Award or Continuation? Continuation
Anticipated Length of Agreement From date of award until 09/30/2015
Anticipated Period of Performance From date of award until 09/30/2015
Award Instrument Cooperative Agreement
Statutory Authority 16 USC 1(g); 16 USC 1a-2(j); 16 USC 5933
CFDA # and Title 15.945 Cooperative Research and Training Programs Resources of NPS
Single Source Justification Criteria Cited (2) Continuation
NPS Point of Contact June Zastrow 303-987-6718 june_zastrow@nps.gov

OVERVIEW

Purpose of Project: WNS has been confirmed in 27 states, and has spread as far west as Missouri. The disease represents a great risk to national parks in the U.S., especially in the west where bats inhabit relatively pristine cave systems that are important for long term persistence of species. As caves and mines (i.e., subterranean habitat) are refuge for both bat and fungus, a practical conservation tool is an index of cave vulnerability to the disease based on microclimate and species presence and abundance. We will assess the risk of subterranean habitat to the fungus via an approach that merges the disciplines of ecology and genetics, in a first effort of its kind. The project deliverables will have an array of practical applications for determining bat occupancy in subterranean habitat in the U.S. and beyond.

RECIPIENT INVOLVEMENT

1. Provide an inventory of bats through live capture and acoustics.
2. Assess microclimate of caves or mines used by bats in the NPS unit(s) that might be suitable for P. destructans.
3. Develop non-invasive approach to determine presence of bat species from feces collected in caves/mines or at other locations in the NPS unit(s).
4. Examine the microbiome of cave-dwelling bats and cave soil in the NPS unit(s) to determine the baseline microbial community in the absence of P. destructans.
5. Work with NPS to develop and refine scope of work.
6. Provide baseline data at sites for bat species, subterranean microclimate, and microbiome, in what is the most comprehensive approach yet to assess WNS risk to caves. This project provides practical (inventory, microclimate, genetic techniques to determine species [species from feces]) and proactive (microbiome) components.
7. Summarize research results and provide a report to the NPS by May 30, 2015
o Conduct presentations at professional meetings and with collaborators

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:

1. Assist in developing the goals of project.
2. Jointly develop and refine the scope and activities to be accomplished.
3. Shares information developed with other federal, state, tribal land management agencies and private sector to assist in conservation of bats throughout the U.S.
4. Identify parks with appropriate resources. These include; Organ Pipe NP, Colonial NHP and George Washington Memorial Birthplace, Canyon de Chelly and Navajo NM.

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 (P14AC01179) under Cooperative Agreement (P14AC00727) in the amount of $92,000.00 with a period of performance from date of award until 09/30/2015.

“This proposed project between Northern Arizona University and the National Park Service is authorized to go through the Colorado Plateau CESU at the negotiated overhead rate of 17.5% because it passes the test of substantial involvement by the NPS, public purpose and consistency with the mission of the CESU Network”.
Also, on the SF 424 forms that the partner sponsored programs office fills out for each project, requires a CFDA number – 15.945, which is the number associated with the CFDA Title: COOPERATIVE RESEARCH AND TRAINING PROGRAMS – RESOURCES OF THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE (CESU).

STATUTORY AUTHORITY
16 U.S.C. §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.

16 U.S.C. §1a-2(j) Cooperative research and training programs authorizes the NPS to enter into cooperative agreements with public or private educational institutions, states, and their political subdivisions, for the purpose of developing adequate, coordinated, cooperative research and training programs concerning the resources of the national park system. Pursuant to such agreements, the cooperator may accept from or make available to the NPS technical and support staff, financial assistance for mutually agreed upon research projects, supplies and equipment, facilities, and administrative services relating to cooperative research units as the Secretary deems appropriate (research projects subject to Federal Acquisition Regulation excluded).
Modified 5/31/05 ¿ Agreement Handbook Memorandum Number 2

16 U.S.C. §5933 Cooperative agreements The Secretary is authorized and directed 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.