Department of the Interior Grant Opportunity: Management Assessment Points Development

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 P14AS00208
Project Title Developing the Foundation for Management Assessment Points
Recipient University of Arizona
Principle Investigator / Program Manager Dr. Steven Archer
Total Anticipated Award Amount $31,824.00
Cost Share none
New Award or Continuation? Continuation of Cooperative Agreement H2370114000
Anticipated Length of Agreement From date of award until 10/31/2016
Anticipated Period of Performance From date of award until 10/31/2016
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 & Training Programs-Resources of the 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 H2370114000 was entered into by and between the Department of the Interior, National Park Service, (NPS), and the Desert Southwest Cooperative Ecosystems Studies Unit, The Regents of the University of Arizona for the purpose of furthering natural and cultural resource stewardship and interpretation. Unless otherwise specified herein, the terms and conditions as stated in the Cooperative Agreement will apply to this Task Agreement.

The objectives for this project will be (1) a detailed report synthesizing the results of the literature search, evaluations of conceptual models and MAPs, and leading management information needs that the research community could address; and, (2) a node on the IRMA database containing all of the relevant citations for this project.

RECIPIENT INVOLVEMENT

UA agrees to:
Lead the synthesis of relevant research, assessments of existing management assessment points (MAPs) and models, and identification of new potential MAPs as described in Attachment A. The PI will also lead the crafting of a NPS NRTR series report, and any subsequent manuscripts that the team determines (collectively) to be appropriate.

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:
Assist with the literature synthesis and MAPs assessments, lead the estimation of sampling precision for the existing monitoring protocols, populate a citation database (IRMA) with the relevant citations from the synthesis, and provide editorial support for the publication of the results in the NPS Natural Resources Publication 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 (P14AC01328) under Cooperative Agreement (H2370114000) in the amount of $31,824.00 with a period of performance from date of award until 10/31/2016.

“This proposed project between University of Arizona and the NPS is authorized to go through the Desert South West 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).
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.