National Park Service Grant for CSU’s 2016 Protected Area Management Course and World Ranger Congress

ABSTRACT
Funding Announcement P15AS00339
Project Title Support CSU���s 2016 Protected Area Management Course and the World Ranger Congress
Recipient Colorado State University
Total Anticipated Award Amount $90,053.72
Cost Share None
Anticipated Length of Agreement From date of final signature to 8/31/2016
Anticipated Period of Performance From date of final signature to 8/31/2016
Award Instrument Cooperative Agreement
Statutory Authority 54 USC 101702(a) &(b) 54 USC 100703
CFDA # and Title 15.945 Cooperative Research & Training Programs-Resources of NPS CESUs
Single Source Justification Criteria Cited (2) Continuation
Point of Contact June Zastrow 303-987-6718 june_zastrow@nps.gov

OVERVIEW

RM-CESU Cooperative Agreement Number P14AC00728 was entered into by and between the Department of the Interior, National Park Service (NPS), and Colorado State University (CSU) for the purpose of providing research, technical assistance and education in protected area management, environmental and research to partners (foreign or domestic) of the NPS. 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

This project, to Support CSU���s 2016 Protected Area Management Course and the World Ranger Congress (WRC), addresses the public purpose of providing learning opportunities about protected area management for rangers working in protected areas that have sister park relationships with the US NPS, and other areas. The rangers will take what they have learned from the formal training and from the sessions at the WRC back with them to their own countries, to improve the protection of the world���s environment and to educate citizens on the resources and values of the protected areas. American rangers that will participate in the WRC will learn from colleagues from about 40 countries doing similar conservation work under a wide diversity of challenging conditions, improving their own ability to protect America���s national park system.

RECIPIENT INVOLVEMENT

Colorado State University agrees to:

1. Conduct two Center for Protected Area Management (CPAM) organized nine-day protected area rangers courses associated with the WRC in 2016, one before the WRC in English, one afterwards conducted in Spanish. If advance registrations do not warrant two courses, only one course may be conducted assuring translation for both English and Spanish speakers.

2. Provide scholarships to participants attending both the WRC and one of the CPAM-organized ranger courses.

3. Support the purchase of tickets and logistics details for the participants attending both the WRC and the CPAM organized ranger course and arrange for transportation between the CPAM course and the WRC venue in Estes Park, CO, and in selected cases coordinated with the NPS, shadow assignment venues.

4. Provide scholarships that cover some or all of the costs of participating in or volunteering for the WRC, such as registration, room and board, and transportation. Some logistical support may be provided for these scholarship recipients.

5. Provide logistical support and equipment to the World Ranger Congress Organizing Committee (WRCOC) to support these protected area rangers and other participants at the WRC during field trips and the Congress sessions. This will include:
a. Audiovisual, translation, and other supplies and equipment for WRC sessions
b. Translation assistance on field trips and in concurrent sessions
c. Transportation (12 passenger vans and drivers) for field trips

6. Coordinate closely with the NPS ATR and the WRC Liaison on course content, participation, scholarships, supplies and equipment, and other WRC services CSU provides, consulting on any significant proposed deviations from the budget beforehand. Quarterly accounting of line-item expenditures on this agreement will be provided electronically via spreadsheet or other mutually-agreed means.

NATIONAL PARK SERVICE INVOLVEMENT

NPS agrees to:

1. Publicize and recruit for the two CSU Courses on Protected Area Management associated with the WRC.

2. Identify Mexican and other Latin American protected area rangers to attend one of the courses funded in full, or in part, under this task agreement.

3. Communicate with partner agencies in these countries to receive feedback from participants after course in order to develop follow-on cooperative activities.

4. Identify a liaison between CSU CPAM, NPS, and the WRCOC.

5. Recruit for an active or retired NPS protected area ranger or manager to be part of the faculty on one or both of the CPAM courses associated with the WRC, with salary paid by NPS (if currently employed). This could be two different people, one for each course.

6. Encourage NPS protected area managers with sister park agreements to recruit for attendance at the CPAM courses and the WRC, and to facilitate shadow assignments and non-NPS funding to enable participation by protected area rangers from other countries.

Both parties agree to:

Funding for other costs (i.e. travel and per diem) of the NPS ranger or manager to be part of the faculty of the CPAM course(s) will be determined in advance by mutual agreement but both parties agree to seek additional funds for this purpose.
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:
(2) Continuation

This is a Task Agreement (P15AC01589) under Cooperative Agreement (P14AC00728) in the amount of $90,053.72 with a period of performance from date of award until 08/31/2016.

“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”.

ABSTRACT
Funding Announcement P15AS00339
Project Title Support CSU���s 2016 Protected Area Management Course and the World Ranger Congress
Recipient Colorado State University
Total Anticipated Award Amount $90,053.72
Cost Share None
Anticipated Length of Agreement From date of final signature to 8/31/2016
Anticipated Period of Performance From date of final signature to 8/31/2016
Award Instrument Cooperative Agreement
Statutory Authority 54 USC 101702(a) &(b) 54 USC 100703
CFDA # and Title 15.945 Cooperative Research & Training Programs-Resources of NPS CESUs
Single Source Justification Criteria Cited (2) Continuation
Point of Contact June Zastrow 303-987-6718 june_zastrow@nps.gov

OVERVIEW

RM-CESU Cooperative Agreement Number P14AC00728 was entered into by and between the Department of the Interior, National Park Service (NPS), and Colorado State University (CSU) for the purpose of providing research, technical assistance and education in protected area management, environmental and research to partners (foreign or domestic) of the NPS. 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

This project, to Support CSU���s 2016 Protected Area Management Course and the World Ranger Congress (WRC), addresses the public purpose of providing learning opportunities about protected area management for rangers working in protected areas that have sister park relationships with the US NPS, and other areas. The rangers will take what they have learned from the formal training and from the sessions at the WRC back with them to their own countries, to improve the protection of the world���s environment and to educate citizens on the resources and values of the protected areas. American rangers that will participate in the WRC will learn from colleagues from about 40 countries doing similar conservation work under a wide diversity of challenging conditions, improving their own ability to protect America���s national park system.

RECIPIENT INVOLVEMENT

Colorado State University agrees to:

1. Conduct two Center for Protected Area Management (CPAM) organized nine-day protected area rangers courses associated with the WRC in 2016, one before the WRC in English, one afterwards conducted in Spanish. If advance registrations do not warrant two courses, only one course may be conducted assuring translation for both English and Spanish speakers.

2. Provide scholarships to participants attending both the WRC and one of the CPAM-organized ranger courses.

3. Support the purchase of tickets and logistics details for the participants attending both the WRC and the CPAM organized ranger course and arrange for transportation between the CPAM course and the WRC venue in Estes Park, CO, and in selected cases coordinated with the NPS, shadow assignment venues.

4. Provide scholarships that cover some or all of the costs of participating in or volunteering for the WRC, such as registration, room and board, and transportation. Some logistical support may be provided for these scholarship recipients.

5. Provide logistical support and equipment to the World Ranger Congress Organizing Committee (WRCOC) to support these protected area rangers and other participants at the WRC during field trips and the Congress sessions. This will include:
a. Audiovisual, translation, and other supplies and equipment for WRC sessions
b. Translation assistance on field trips and in concurrent sessions
c. Transportation (12 passenger vans and drivers) for field trips

6. Coordinate closely with the NPS ATR and the WRC Liaison on course content, participation, scholarships, supplies and equipment, and other WRC services CSU provides, consulting on any significant proposed deviations from the budget beforehand. Quarterly accounting of line-item expenditures on this agreement will be provided electronically via spreadsheet or other mutually-agreed means.

NATIONAL PARK SERVICE INVOLVEMENT

NPS agrees to:

1. Publicize and recruit for the two CSU Courses on Protected Area Management associated with the WRC.

2. Identify Mexican and other Latin American protected area rangers to attend one of the courses funded in full, or in part, under this task agreement.

3. Communicate with partner agencies in these countries to receive feedback from participants after course in order to develop follow-on cooperative activities.

4. Identify a liaison between CSU CPAM, NPS, and the WRCOC.

5. Recruit for an active or retired NPS protected area ranger or manager to be part of the faculty on one or both of the CPAM courses associated with the WRC, with salary paid by NPS (if currently employed). This could be two different people, one for each course.

6. Encourage NPS protected area managers with sister park agreements to recruit for attendance at the CPAM courses and the WRC, and to facilitate shadow assignments and non-NPS funding to enable participation by protected area rangers from other countries.

Both parties agree to:

Funding for other costs (i.e. travel and per diem) of the NPS ranger or manager to be part of the faculty of the CPAM course(s) will be determined in advance by mutual agreement but both parties agree to seek additional funds for this purpose.
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:
(2) Continuation

This is a Task Agreement (P15AC01589) under Cooperative Agreement (P14AC00728) in the amount of $90,053.72 with a period of performance from date of award until 08/31/2016.

“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”.