Department of the Interior: Resource Stewardship Assistance for Teton Science School and Grand Teton National Park and the John D. Rockefeller National Memorial Parkway

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 Number: NPS-NOI P16AC00365
Project Title:Resource Stewardship Assistance for Teton Science School and Grand Teton National Park and the John D. Rockefeller National Memorial Parkway
Recipient: Teton Science School
Principle Investigator/ Program Manager:
Cindi Jacobsen
Chief Financial Officer
Teton Science Schools
Total Anticipated Award Amount: N/A
Cost Share: None Required
New Cooperative Agreement, P16AC00365
Anticipated Length of Agreement: Through March 23, 2016
Anticipated Period of Performance: Through March 23, 2016
Award Instrument: Cooperative Agreement
Statutory Authority: 54 U.S.C. §101702(a)
CFDA # and Title: 15.954 NPS Conservation, Protection, Outreach, and Education
Single Source Justification Criteria Cited:
#2 – Continuation
NPS Point of Contact: Tina Holland

OVERVIEW, RECIPIENT AND NPS SUBSTANTIAL INVOLVEMENT

Through this cooperative agreement, Teton Science Schools and Grand Teton National Park will be able to jointly leverage financial, technical, and educational resources for the protection and interpretation of natural and cultural resources that neither organization could implement on its own.
This agreement will facilitate new and expanded opportunities to make more of Teton Science Schools resources available to the public, including archival records and museum collections, historic buildings at the Murie Ranch, wildlife and other natural resources, and educational programs about the Murie legacy and environmental stewardship.

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 awarded this task to the University of Wyoming based on the following exception. Teton Science School
(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;
The long standing relationship between the NPS and Teton Science School, The Murie Center’s (now part of Teton Science School) is clear and the continued collaboration between the two entities is essential for the long term preservation of resources associated with the Murie Family and its association with the national conservation movement. It is this unique relationship and collaboration illustrates the need of the NPS to continue to support the work of Teton Science School.