Department of the Interior Grant for Integrated Alpine Monitoring Among Parks & Networks

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 P14AS00220
Project Title Integrated Alpine Monitoring Among Parks & Networks as Part of Global Research Initiative in Alpine Environments (GLORIA)
Recipient Colorado State University
Principle Investigator / Program Manager Joe Stevens
Total Anticipated Award Amount `$46,800.00
Cost Share none
New Award or Continuation? Continuation of Cooperative Agreement P14AC00728
Anticipated Length of Agreement From date of award until 05/01/2017
Anticipated Period of Performance From date of award until 05/01/2017
Award Instrument Cooperative Agreement
Statutory Authority 16 USC 1(g); 16 USC 5933; 16 USC 1a-2(j)
CFDA # and Title 15.945 Cooperative Research & Training Programs- Resources of NPS CESU¿s
Single Source Justification Criteria Cited (2) Continuation
NPS Point of Contact June Zastrow 303-987-6718 june_zastrow@nps.gov

OVERVIEW

Cooperative Agreement Number P14AC00728 was entered into by by and between the Department of the Interior, National Park Service (NPS), and the Rocky Mountains Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (of which Colorado State University (CSU) and the Colorado Natural Heritage Program (CNHP) are partner to) in order to:

Provide research, technical assistance and education to federal land management, environmental and research agencies and their potential partners;

Develop a program of research, technical assistance and education that involves the biological, physical, social, and cultural sciences needed to address resources issues and interdisciplinary problem-solving at multiple scales and in an ecosystem context at the local, regional, and national level; and

Place special emphasis on the working collaboration among federal agencies and universities and their related partner institutions

Unless otherwise specified herein, the terms and conditions as stated in the Cooperative Agreement will apply to this Task Agreement.

This project continues to implement long-term monitoring of alpine summits in national parks in the Rocky Mountains including a new site in and near Bandelier NM (BAND) [installed and monitored in 2015]. It also includes a second round of alpine monitoring in Yellowstone NP (YELL) in 2016. An important additional outcome will be greater collaboration among parks, I&M networks and other alpine ecologists/managers in monitoring and research into the status and trends in alpine systems in the Rocky Mountains through an alpine monitoring workshop facilitated by CNHP and the monitoring networks (in winter 2014-15 or perhaps 2015-16).

The project will result in a shared strategy for alpine monitoring among national parks (including Glacier (GLAC), Yellowstone, and Rocky Mountain NP (ROMO) and Great Stand Dunes NP(GRSA) and Bandelier NM) and I&M networks (including the Rocky Mountain, Greater Yellowstone, and Southern Colorado Plateau Networks (SCPN)) to conduct long-term alpine ecological monitoring using similar methods, shared field crews (ideally), and shared data management, analyses and reporting.

RECIPIENT INVOLVEMENT

Colorado Natural Heritage Program and Colorado State University agree to:
1. Provide a qualified CNHP botanist familiar with alpine plants of the Rocky Mountains and the GLORIA network and field methods to lead the field implementation of this project.
2. Lead the effort to identify and establish appropriate set of four GLORIA monitoring summits in and near the BAND in cooperation with BAND and SCPN staff.
3. Lead and coordinate a full GLORIA monitoring event in BAND in cooperation with BAND and SCPN staff in summer 2015.
4. Lead and coordinate a full GLORIA monitoring event at the existing GLORIA site in YELL in summer 2016.
5. Provide data and metadata to all NPS cooperators for inclusion in park and network databases and in the GLORIA database.
6. Write (in cooperation with NPS co-authors as appropriate) a NPS Natural Resources Technical report on the work (one report for BAND and one for YELL monitoring).
7. Assist NPS cooperators to plan and carryout an alpine monitoring as part of the GLORIA network workshop with the goal of sharing methods, data, problems and analsyis and reporting solutions among NPS and and CNHP and other alpine ecologists in the Rocky Mountains and western U.S.

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. ROMN – Provide financial assistance as provided for in Article VI.
2. SCPN and GRYN – Assist CNHP to obtain needed permits from BAND and YELL.
3. Networks and parks ¿ provide guidance and training as needed in safety and backcountry travel for park-specific risks (e.g. working safely in grizzly bear country for YELL) and policies.
4. ROMN ¿ provide assistance including recommendations on installation and monitoring GLORIA sites and a field crew member(s) for the BAND and YELL field monitoring events.
5. SCPN ¿ provide one or more qualified field technicians for the field installation and monitoring effort in BAND.
6. BAND ¿ provide advice and guidance and field assistance for the BAND install and monitoring effort.
7. GRYN ¿ provide one or more qualified field technicians for the field installation and monitoring effort in YELL.
8. YELL ¿ provide advice and guidance and field assistance for the BAND install and monitoring effort.
9. ROMN ¿ work with CSU/CNHP and SCPN and GRYN data managers to manage the data and information from this project (including uploading the data to the GLORIA database) and provide guidance and assistance in data analysis and writing the final reports.
10. Network and park ecologists ¿ provide guidance and advice on data analysis and interpretation and ensure that results are peer reviewed and published in scholarly journals and the NPS National Resource Publication Management Series.

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 (P14AC01362) under Cooperative Agreement (P14AC00728) in the amount of $XXX with a period of performance from date of award until XX/XX/XXXX.

“This proposed project between Colorado State University and the NPS is authorized to go through the Rocky Mountains 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

A. 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.

B. 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

C. 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.

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 P14AS00220
Project Title Integrated Alpine Monitoring Among Parks & Networks as Part of Global Research Initiative in Alpine Environments (GLORIA)
Recipient Colorado State University
Principle Investigator / Program Manager Joe Stevens
Total Anticipated Award Amount `$46,800.00
Cost Share none
New Award or Continuation? Continuation of Cooperative Agreement P14AC00728
Anticipated Length of Agreement From date of award until 05/01/2017
Anticipated Period of Performance From date of award until 05/01/2017
Award Instrument Cooperative Agreement
Statutory Authority 16 USC 1(g); 16 USC 5933; 16 USC 1a-2(j)
CFDA # and Title 15.945 Cooperative Research & Training Programs- Resources of NPS CESU¿s
Single Source Justification Criteria Cited (2) Continuation
NPS Point of Contact June Zastrow 303-987-6718 june_zastrow@nps.gov

OVERVIEW

Cooperative Agreement Number P14AC00728 was entered into by by and between the Department of the Interior, National Park Service (NPS), and the Rocky Mountains Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (of which Colorado State University (CSU) and the Colorado Natural Heritage Program (CNHP) are partner to) in order to:

Provide research, technical assistance and education to federal land management, environmental and research agencies and their potential partners;

Develop a program of research, technical assistance and education that involves the biological, physical, social, and cultural sciences needed to address resources issues and interdisciplinary problem-solving at multiple scales and in an ecosystem context at the local, regional, and national level; and

Place special emphasis on the working collaboration among federal agencies and universities and their related partner institutions

Unless otherwise specified herein, the terms and conditions as stated in the Cooperative Agreement will apply to this Task Agreement.

This project continues to implement long-term monitoring of alpine summits in national parks in the Rocky Mountains including a new site in and near Bandelier NM (BAND) [installed and monitored in 2015]. It also includes a second round of alpine monitoring in Yellowstone NP (YELL) in 2016. An important additional outcome will be greater collaboration among parks, I&M networks and other alpine ecologists/managers in monitoring and research into the status and trends in alpine systems in the Rocky Mountains through an alpine monitoring workshop facilitated by CNHP and the monitoring networks (in winter 2014-15 or perhaps 2015-16).

The project will result in a shared strategy for alpine monitoring among national parks (including Glacier (GLAC), Yellowstone, and Rocky Mountain NP (ROMO) and Great Stand Dunes NP(GRSA) and Bandelier NM) and I&M networks (including the Rocky Mountain, Greater Yellowstone, and Southern Colorado Plateau Networks (SCPN)) to conduct long-term alpine ecological monitoring using similar methods, shared field crews (ideally), and shared data management, analyses and reporting.

RECIPIENT INVOLVEMENT

Colorado Natural Heritage Program and Colorado State University agree to:
1. Provide a qualified CNHP botanist familiar with alpine plants of the Rocky Mountains and the GLORIA network and field methods to lead the field implementation of this project.
2. Lead the effort to identify and establish appropriate set of four GLORIA monitoring summits in and near the BAND in cooperation with BAND and SCPN staff.
3. Lead and coordinate a full GLORIA monitoring event in BAND in cooperation with BAND and SCPN staff in summer 2015.
4. Lead and coordinate a full GLORIA monitoring event at the existing GLORIA site in YELL in summer 2016.
5. Provide data and metadata to all NPS cooperators for inclusion in park and network databases and in the GLORIA database.
6. Write (in cooperation with NPS co-authors as appropriate) a NPS Natural Resources Technical report on the work (one report for BAND and one for YELL monitoring).
7. Assist NPS cooperators to plan and carryout an alpine monitoring as part of the GLORIA network workshop with the goal of sharing methods, data, problems and analsyis and reporting solutions among NPS and and CNHP and other alpine ecologists in the Rocky Mountains and western U.S.

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. ROMN – Provide financial assistance as provided for in Article VI.
2. SCPN and GRYN – Assist CNHP to obtain needed permits from BAND and YELL.
3. Networks and parks ¿ provide guidance and training as needed in safety and backcountry travel for park-specific risks (e.g. working safely in grizzly bear country for YELL) and policies.
4. ROMN ¿ provide assistance including recommendations on installation and monitoring GLORIA sites and a field crew member(s) for the BAND and YELL field monitoring events.
5. SCPN ¿ provide one or more qualified field technicians for the field installation and monitoring effort in BAND.
6. BAND ¿ provide advice and guidance and field assistance for the BAND install and monitoring effort.
7. GRYN ¿ provide one or more qualified field technicians for the field installation and monitoring effort in YELL.
8. YELL ¿ provide advice and guidance and field assistance for the BAND install and monitoring effort.
9. ROMN ¿ work with CSU/CNHP and SCPN and GRYN data managers to manage the data and information from this project (including uploading the data to the GLORIA database) and provide guidance and assistance in data analysis and writing the final reports.
10. Network and park ecologists ¿ provide guidance and advice on data analysis and interpretation and ensure that results are peer reviewed and published in scholarly journals and the NPS National Resource Publication Management Series.

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 (P14AC01362) under Cooperative Agreement (P14AC00728) in the amount of $XXX with a period of performance from date of award until XX/XX/XXXX.

“This proposed project between Colorado State University and the NPS is authorized to go through the Rocky Mountains 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

A. 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.

B. 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

C. 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.