Department of the Interior Grant: Empowering Hispanic Youth in Avian Research

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 P14AS00157
Project Title Hispanic Youth and Migratory Birds
Recipient Environment for the Americas
Principle Investigator / Program Manager Susan Bonfield
Total Anticipated Award Amount $5,000.00
Cost Share None
New Award or Continuation? New Award
Anticipated Length of Agreement From date of award until 7/31/2019
Anticipated Period of Performance From date of award until 7/31/2019
Award Instrument Cooperative Agreement
Statutory Authority 16 USC 1(g)
CFDA # and Title 15.944 Natural Resource Stewardship
Single Source Justification Criteria Cited (2) Unique Qualifications
NPS Point of Contact June Zastrow 303-987-6718 june_zastrow@nps.gov

OVERVIEW

EFTA is a non-profit organization and has created a Latino partnership that provides youth ages 15¿25 with the skills and experience necessary to effectively compete for positions in avian research, environmental education and other natural resource positions.

The Latino representation in conservation, natural resource and environmental education positions with government and non-government agencies is low.

The NPS actively seeks to engage Latino audiences and families in recreation and conservation opportunities and to increase awareness of public lands and participation in environmental education activities within Latino communities.

EFTA in working with Latino interns at six natural areas across the United States successfully doubled (and in some cases tripled) Latino participation in public events.

The NPS would like to build on these successes and use the National Science Foundation (NSF) funded Latino research outcome from EFTA more widely.
It is mutually agreed that the NPS and EFTA will cooperate in carrying out the furthering of the study of ornithology, fostering interdisciplinary cooperation related to bird habitat and migration information, promoting public education, promoting and protecting the environment for the benefit of native bird populations.
The objective of this Agreement is to further the mission and operation of the Environment for the Americas, and to provide a means for transferring federal funds from the NPS to EFTA.
RECIPIENT INVOLVEMENT

¿ Expand its existing Latino internship program and build on knowledge attained from NSF grant outcome in overcoming barriers to more effectively connect and engage Latino families with the outdoors and conservation and preservation fields.

¿ EFTA is widely considered a primary partner in regards to migratory bird issues, specifically International Migratory Bird Day activities and events. EFTA-designed bilingual teaching products are both necessary and relevant to conservation and preservation activities.

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:

¿ The NPS actively engaging Latino audiences and families in recreation and conservation opportunities to increase awareness of public lands and participation in environmental education activities within Latino communities.

¿ The keystone education program of EFTA, International Migratory Bird Day, raises awareness about bird conservation throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central and South America. The NPS is actively working to increase its level of partnership with EFTA regarding migratory bird issues, specifically International Migratory Bird Day activities and events.

¿ The NPS is actively working to increase dissemination of bilingual EFTA-designed teaching products. Applying the knowledge attained from EFTA research and being able to more widely use the existing Spanish teaching materials and content will increase the effectiveness of NPS efforts to communicate with Latino audiences and families

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:

(4) UNIQUE QUALIFICATIONS

SINGLE SOURCE JUSTIFICATION DESCRIPTION:

There are no other known organizations that match up Hispanic youth initiatives with migratory bird conservation efforts in the way that this organization does, and in such a way that is uniquely in sync with the conservation, preservation and ethnic outreach goals.

STATUTORY AUTHORITY

A. 16 U.S.C. § 1g. NPS authority to enter into cooperative agreements and transfer appropriated funds to nonprofit organization for the public purpose of NPS programs.

B. 16 U.S.C. § 1a-2(j). Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior, in order to facilitate the administration of the National Park System, to carry out the following activity under such terms and conditions as he may deem advisable: `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, and, pursuant to any such agreements, to accept from and make available to the cooperator such 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; except that this paragraph shall not waive any requirements for research projects that are subject to the Federal Procurement Regulations.¿

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 P14AS00157
Project Title Hispanic Youth and Migratory Birds
Recipient Environment for the Americas
Principle Investigator / Program Manager Susan Bonfield
Total Anticipated Award Amount $5,000.00
Cost Share None
New Award or Continuation? New Award
Anticipated Length of Agreement From date of award until 7/31/2019
Anticipated Period of Performance From date of award until 7/31/2019
Award Instrument Cooperative Agreement
Statutory Authority 16 USC 1(g)
CFDA # and Title 15.944 Natural Resource Stewardship
Single Source Justification Criteria Cited (2) Unique Qualifications
NPS Point of Contact June Zastrow 303-987-6718 june_zastrow@nps.gov

OVERVIEW

EFTA is a non-profit organization and has created a Latino partnership that provides youth ages 15¿25 with the skills and experience necessary to effectively compete for positions in avian research, environmental education and other natural resource positions.

The Latino representation in conservation, natural resource and environmental education positions with government and non-government agencies is low.

The NPS actively seeks to engage Latino audiences and families in recreation and conservation opportunities and to increase awareness of public lands and participation in environmental education activities within Latino communities.

EFTA in working with Latino interns at six natural areas across the United States successfully doubled (and in some cases tripled) Latino participation in public events.

The NPS would like to build on these successes and use the National Science Foundation (NSF) funded Latino research outcome from EFTA more widely.
It is mutually agreed that the NPS and EFTA will cooperate in carrying out the furthering of the study of ornithology, fostering interdisciplinary cooperation related to bird habitat and migration information, promoting public education, promoting and protecting the environment for the benefit of native bird populations.
The objective of this Agreement is to further the mission and operation of the Environment for the Americas, and to provide a means for transferring federal funds from the NPS to EFTA.
RECIPIENT INVOLVEMENT

¿ Expand its existing Latino internship program and build on knowledge attained from NSF grant outcome in overcoming barriers to more effectively connect and engage Latino families with the outdoors and conservation and preservation fields.

¿ EFTA is widely considered a primary partner in regards to migratory bird issues, specifically International Migratory Bird Day activities and events. EFTA-designed bilingual teaching products are both necessary and relevant to conservation and preservation activities.

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:

¿ The NPS actively engaging Latino audiences and families in recreation and conservation opportunities to increase awareness of public lands and participation in environmental education activities within Latino communities.

¿ The keystone education program of EFTA, International Migratory Bird Day, raises awareness about bird conservation throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central and South America. The NPS is actively working to increase its level of partnership with EFTA regarding migratory bird issues, specifically International Migratory Bird Day activities and events.

¿ The NPS is actively working to increase dissemination of bilingual EFTA-designed teaching products. Applying the knowledge attained from EFTA research and being able to more widely use the existing Spanish teaching materials and content will increase the effectiveness of NPS efforts to communicate with Latino audiences and families

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:

(4) UNIQUE QUALIFICATIONS

SINGLE SOURCE JUSTIFICATION DESCRIPTION:

There are no other known organizations that match up Hispanic youth initiatives with migratory bird conservation efforts in the way that this organization does, and in such a way that is uniquely in sync with the conservation, preservation and ethnic outreach goals.

STATUTORY AUTHORITY

A. 16 U.S.C. § 1g. NPS authority to enter into cooperative agreements and transfer appropriated funds to nonprofit organization for the public purpose of NPS programs.

B. 16 U.S.C. § 1a-2(j). Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior, in order to facilitate the administration of the National Park System, to carry out the following activity under such terms and conditions as he may deem advisable: `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, and, pursuant to any such agreements, to accept from and make available to the cooperator such 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; except that this paragraph shall not waive any requirements for research projects that are subject to the Federal Procurement Regulations.¿