National Park Service Grant: Ecological Management 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 P15AS00015
Project Title ANSWERING ECOLOGICAL MANAGEMENT QUESTIONS FOR AQUATIC RESOURCES IN NATIONAL PARKS USING GIS AND REMOTE SENSING TOOLS
Recipient Colorado State University
Principle Investigator / Program Manager Dr. Brian Bledsoe
Total Anticipated Award Amount $511,183.00
Cost Share None
New Award or Continuation? Continuation of Cooperative Agreement P14AC00728 RM-CESU
Anticipated Length of Agreement From date of award until 12/21/2019
Anticipated Period of Performance From date of award until 12/21/2019
Award Instrument Cooperative Agreement
Statutory Authority 16 USC 1(g) 16 USC 1a-2(j) 16 USC 5933
CFDA # and Title
Single Source Justification Criteria Cited (2) Continuation
NPS Point of Contact June Zastrow 303-987-6718 june_zastrow@nps.gov

OVERVIEW

The Water Resources Division (WRD) is one of eight divisions that make up the Natural Resource Stewardship and Science (NRSS) Directorate of the NPS. WRD was established to provide service wide program management and specialized advice and assistance to parks in the protection and management of water resources. The Division is comprised of four branches: Aquatic Systems, Ocean and Coastal Resources, Planning & Information, and Water Rights.

The Ocean and Coastal Resources Branch of the National Park Service Water Resources Division is tasked to, ¿Discover, map and protect ocean parks¿ by the 2007 Ocean Park Stewardship Action Plan. The Branch provides technical assistance to coastal parks without access to the specialized skills that this position will provide. Technical assistance requests from ocean and Great Lakes parks typically focus on landscape level analyses of critical resources.

The interdisciplinary nature of this effort requires the programmatic integration of the knowledge of biological and physical resources, digital cartography, and geography for the development, analysis and use of geographic and relational databases that are pertinent to aquatic park resources and themes. GIS and remote sensing will be used to document, analyze and integrate the management of natural and cultural resources in their environmental context or to manage the environment in the context of the resources. Work products will be provided to the public and park staff on NPS Websites and other publications.

RECIPIENT INVOLVEMENT

Colorado State University agrees to:

Work collaboratively with NPS staff, other federal, state and local agencies, affiliates, academia, and public (as appropriate) to complete data acquisition and analysis, reports and recommendations, project plans, multiple mapping products and user and technical documentation to assist NPS with answering park management questions related to water quality, quantity and related habitats for NPS aquatic resources.

The work will be accomplished primarily by one or more Colorado State University Research Associates.

Provide student help on potential upcoming projects as needed.

CSU cooperators may ride in NPS vehicles when required to participate or complete project work.

Travel may be required

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:

Define and coordinate aquatic project needs for parks, regions and the Washington Support Office.

Collaborate on this project with the CSU research associates and students under the supervision of Primary Investigators.
The NPS will provide office space and other material support for the cooperators and will provide the needed data and equipment to allow the researchers to perform their work and publish the products for university affiliates, partners, and the public.

NPS staff and CSU researchers will participate in cooperative teams that may be led by either party.

Close working relationships with outside partners and affiliates and substantial involvement of multiple programs will be required for success.

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 (P15AC00066) under Cooperative Agreement (P14AC00728) in the amount of $93,837.00 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

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.

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

16 U.S.C. §5933, Cooperative Study Units, authorizes and directs the Secretary 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 P15AS00015
Project Title ANSWERING ECOLOGICAL MANAGEMENT QUESTIONS FOR AQUATIC RESOURCES IN NATIONAL PARKS USING GIS AND REMOTE SENSING TOOLS
Recipient Colorado State University
Principle Investigator / Program Manager Dr. Brian Bledsoe
Total Anticipated Award Amount $511,183.00
Cost Share None
New Award or Continuation? Continuation of Cooperative Agreement P14AC00728 RM-CESU
Anticipated Length of Agreement From date of award until 12/21/2019
Anticipated Period of Performance From date of award until 12/21/2019
Award Instrument Cooperative Agreement
Statutory Authority 16 USC 1(g) 16 USC 1a-2(j) 16 USC 5933
CFDA # and Title
Single Source Justification Criteria Cited (2) Continuation
NPS Point of Contact June Zastrow 303-987-6718 june_zastrow@nps.gov

OVERVIEW

The Water Resources Division (WRD) is one of eight divisions that make up the Natural Resource Stewardship and Science (NRSS) Directorate of the NPS. WRD was established to provide service wide program management and specialized advice and assistance to parks in the protection and management of water resources. The Division is comprised of four branches: Aquatic Systems, Ocean and Coastal Resources, Planning & Information, and Water Rights.

The Ocean and Coastal Resources Branch of the National Park Service Water Resources Division is tasked to, ¿Discover, map and protect ocean parks¿ by the 2007 Ocean Park Stewardship Action Plan. The Branch provides technical assistance to coastal parks without access to the specialized skills that this position will provide. Technical assistance requests from ocean and Great Lakes parks typically focus on landscape level analyses of critical resources.

The interdisciplinary nature of this effort requires the programmatic integration of the knowledge of biological and physical resources, digital cartography, and geography for the development, analysis and use of geographic and relational databases that are pertinent to aquatic park resources and themes. GIS and remote sensing will be used to document, analyze and integrate the management of natural and cultural resources in their environmental context or to manage the environment in the context of the resources. Work products will be provided to the public and park staff on NPS Websites and other publications.

RECIPIENT INVOLVEMENT

Colorado State University agrees to:

Work collaboratively with NPS staff, other federal, state and local agencies, affiliates, academia, and public (as appropriate) to complete data acquisition and analysis, reports and recommendations, project plans, multiple mapping products and user and technical documentation to assist NPS with answering park management questions related to water quality, quantity and related habitats for NPS aquatic resources.

The work will be accomplished primarily by one or more Colorado State University Research Associates.

Provide student help on potential upcoming projects as needed.

CSU cooperators may ride in NPS vehicles when required to participate or complete project work.

Travel may be required

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:

Define and coordinate aquatic project needs for parks, regions and the Washington Support Office.

Collaborate on this project with the CSU research associates and students under the supervision of Primary Investigators.
The NPS will provide office space and other material support for the cooperators and will provide the needed data and equipment to allow the researchers to perform their work and publish the products for university affiliates, partners, and the public.

NPS staff and CSU researchers will participate in cooperative teams that may be led by either party.

Close working relationships with outside partners and affiliates and substantial involvement of multiple programs will be required for success.

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 (P15AC00066) under Cooperative Agreement (P14AC00728) in the amount of $93,837.00 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

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.

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

16 U.S.C. §5933, Cooperative Study Units, authorizes and directs the Secretary 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.