National Park Service Grant: Conservation Interns for EPMT at Wrangle St Elias National Park

ABSTRACT
Funding Announcement P16AC00078
Project Title Conservation Interns for Wrangle St Elias National Park & Preserve
Recipient Student Conservation Association
Total Anticipated Award Amount $26,646.92
Cost Share $10,095.78
Anticipated Length of Agreement 4 weeks
Anticipated Period of Performance 4/22/2016 – 9/16/2016
Award Instrument Task Agreement
Statutory Authority 16 USC 1723 (c)(1)
CFDA # and Title 15.931
Single Source Justification Criteria Cited
Point of Contact James Cato

OVERVIEW

Cooperative Agreement Number P15AC00031 was entered into by and between the Department of the Interior, National Park Service, (NPS), and Student Conservation Association (SCA) for the purpose of Conservation Projects. Unless otherwise specified herein, the terms and conditions as stated in the Cooperative Agreement will apply to this Task Agreement.

STATEMENT OF JOINT OBJECTIVES/PROJECT MANAGEMENT PLAN

Project Title, Project Description; The objective of this Task Agreement is to support and stimulate work and/or education and training opportunities for young adults through collaborative participation with National Parks

RECIPIENT INVOLVEMENT

Scope of Work:
The Conservation Crew will gain knowledge and experience in resource management while providing assistance to the Exotic Plant Management Team in all aspects of invasive plant management including surveying, monitoring, and control of such plants. The crew will provide assistance with the removal of invasive species and learn about public land stewardship and natural and cultural heritage of Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve. They will learn how to identify native and non-native plants and may collect and cultivate native seeds to assist with small restoration projects.

A. SCA agrees to:

1. Provide Team Leader training. To ensure quality and success of projects, Leaders
participate in SCA trainings. These include SCA’s Lightly on the Land
publication; Leave No Trace, team administration, backcountry skills, leadership,
Risk Management, tool use and team building.

2. Provide a trained work crew with a team leader experienced in supervision for a pre-determined number of work days on site.

3. The crew will be equipped with all the hand tools and safety equipment needed
for removal of invasive plant infestations through pulling, digging and cutting. The crew will be physically able to work for an 8 hour day.

4. Provide for transportation to and from Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve and subsistence during the tour of duty. Provide transportation for crews and crew leaders to and from the work site. Provide tools and equipment (including tents and other camping equipment.

5. Provide living allowance, insurance, and Americorps awards (when applicable).

6. Provide for in-service commercial travel during the project period of performance.

7. Provide 24/7 staffed hotline assistance, site visit, and performance evaluations.

B. NPS agrees to:

1. To provide financial assistance in the amount of $26,646.92; including covering the cost of team leader training prior to the crew starting.

2. To provide general orientation to park operations, NPS mission and safety training.

3. Assign NPS Technical representative Chris Overbaugh and work as lead that is fully qualified and experienced, to provide direction for crews and crew leaders under this Agreement. These NPS employees shall give specific direction as to what and how project work is to be done, provide technical advice, make necessary corrections or changes in the project, and give final approval of project.

4. Provide all necessary equipment and supplies applicable for performing required tasks. Provide available specialized tools and equipment as required, and hands on training and provide a place to set up living quarters.

5. A written completion evaluation from Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve per project evaluating the outcome and SCA’s performance of that project.

NATIONAL PARK SERVICE INVOLVEMENT

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.

NPS did not solicit full and open competition for this award based the following criteria:

This is a task agreement that is being issued under an existing, previously competed cooperative agreement (CA #) to (Recipient)”