National Park Service Grant for Glacier Volume Change Assessment in Alaska’s National Parks

This Funding Announcement is not a request for applications. This announcement is to provide public notice of the National Park Service (NPS), intention to fund the following project activities.

ABSTRACT

Funding Announcement: J9840100196

Project Title: Volume Change of Glaciers in Alaska’s National Parks

Recipient: University of Alaska Fairbanks

Principle
Investigator: Andrew Seitz
Total Anticipated
Award Amount: $221,107

Cost Share: N/A

New Award
Or Continuation: New CESU

Anticipated
Length of
Agreement: 2 ½ Years

Anticipated
Period of
Performance: September 1, 2010 – May 31, 2013

Award
Instrument: Cooperative Agreement/CESU

Statutory
Authority: 16 U.S.C. §1(g): The National Park Service may in fiscal year 1997 and thereafter enter into cooperative agreements that involve the transfer of National Park Service 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 pursuant to section 6305 of title 31 to carry out public purposes of National Park Service programs.

CFDA# and 0.00 Not Elsewhere Classified
Single Source
Justification
Criteria Sited:

BACKGROUND:

This new project consists of analyzing LIDAR altimetry data to matriculate a best available digital elevation model for individual glaciers in NPS parks. From this model, the parameters of each glacier will be extracted. This glacier mapping effort will be completed for two timeframes 1950s and early 2000s. This glacier extent mapping effort across all Alaska NPS units is a new undertaking.

1) 505 DM 2 Single Source – Only one responsible source will satisfy agency requirements.

• Identify the source and explain why specifically competition is not practical.

Dr. Chris Larsen, Research Professor
University of Alaska Fairbanks Chris.Larsen@gi.alaska.edu
401 E, Geophysical Institute
903 Koyukuk Drive Phone: 907- 474-5333
PO Box 757320 Fax: 907-474-7290
Fairbanks AK 99775-7320

This project provides for the mapping of the glacier extent boundaries across all National Park Units in Alaska for two time periods – 1950s and 2000s. Upon completion of this glacier extent mapping effort, the best available digital elevation models will be utilized in combination with the glacier extent mapping shapefiles to extract individual glacier boundaries and a suite of terrain and topographic characteristics that define unique features of each individual glacier.

Competition for this project is not practical because Dr. Larsen and his research associates will utilize recently invented modeling algorithms to determine glacial volume based on laser altimetry. In addition Dr. Larsen and his research associates have vast experience with glacier research world-wide and in particular, with Alaska glacier systems/environments that will enable this group to effectively address unique glacier challenges that will be encountered during this project. Dr. Larsen also has access to student work associates that will perform the extensive manual editing of the glacier extent shapefiles in areas of debris cover – this is a cost effective means of addressing this significant work component of this project.

Additionally, being at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, Geophysical Institute, Dr. Larsen has immediate access to numerous types of remote sensing data that will enhance his and his research associates ability’s to complete this glacier mapping project on schedule and within the budget.

2) Nature and description of the deliverable required to meet the agency’s needs:

• Description of the deliverables and the required delivery schedule.
Project work elements Expected date
An analysis/assessment of the total glacier ice volume and change in volume will be generated on a regional and park-by-park basis using established area/volume scaling theories Spring 2011
Construct a detailed timeline of changes in areal extent for a total of 10-15 glaciers. These glaciers will be selected in consultation with NPS subject matter specialists, typically associated with Inventory & Monitoring Networks, distributed across the State to ensure representation in all major climatic and geologic regions. Spring 2011
All geospatial products will be provided to the NPS and made available online at both the GLIMS and GINA websites. Summer 2011
Prepare input to two draft reports, technical and interpretive.
Provide:
Draft technical input and information regarding datasets used, data analysis methods and techniques employed, status and trends observed region-by-region, park-by-park, and glacier type-by-glacier type, etc. Provide draft discussion regarding observed glacier status and trends in relation to global glacier change and regional climate change.

Prepare tables, charts, maps, etc for draft reports.

Review and provide comments/suggestions for draft technical and interpretive reports. Summer 2011

• The minimum essential characteristics or unique features of the item(s). If requesting a service, fully describe all services to be performed.

An analysis/assessment of the total glacier ice volume and change in volume will be generated on a regional and park-by-park basis using established area/volume scaling theories

Construct a detailed timeline of changes in areal extent for a total of 10-15 glaciers.

Prepare input to two draft reports, technical and interpretive.

• State the price of the requirement – base year and every additional anticipated agreement period thereafter.

The cost of the project:
FY2010
The University of Alaska Fairbanks – Geophysical Institute: $86,356
North and West Alaska CESU Overhead (17.5%): X 17.5% = $15,112

FY2011
The University of Alaska Fairbanks – Geophysical Institute: $101,820
North and West Alaska CESU Overhead (17.5%): X 17.5% = $17,819

Total Project Budget: $221,107

It is not anticipated that further funding will be necessary for the completion of this project.

3) Criteria for justifying award without competition. In order for an assistance award to be made without competition, the award must satisfy one or more of the following criteria. Please explain which criterion specifically addresses the proposed agreement.

Dr. Chris Larsen at The University of Alaska-Fairbanks, Geophysical Institute, has the unique ability to complete this task agreement. Dr. Larsen, a research scientist at UAF, recently invented and developed an automated process whereby individual glacier boundaries can be mapped across huge tracts of land using a combination of satellite imagery and digital elevation models. This task agreement directs that glacier boundaries be mapped across a huge area (All Alaska NPS units – park-wide), thus Dr Larsen’s technique is the only technique that can accomplish the goal of the task agreement in the time frame required. This is a proprietary glacier mapping technique and thus, Dr LArsen is the only person that can perform the work of this task agreement. Even having developed and perfected the automated glacier mapping technique, there will be challenges associated with this glacier mapping project. Dr. Larsens has vast field experience with glacier systems/environments in Alaska. This combination of skills (automated glacier boundary mapping and field experience with Alaska glacier systems/environments) is unique and is required for the successful completion of this task agreement. No person or entity posses this combination of skills and abilities necessary of the successful completion of this task agreement other than Dr. Larsen.

Because Dr LArsen works at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, Geophysical Institute, Dr. Larsen has ready access to numerous types of remote sensing data (imagery). This UAF-GI in-house dataset (remote sensing data) is not as accessible to any individuals outside UAF-GI. Because of the UAF-GI in-house dataset, acquisition costs for data will be nothing, significantly reducing data acquisition costs for this project. Ready access to these data types will allow Dr. Larsen and his research associates to complete this glacier mapping project to a high degree of accuracy, on schedule and within budget. This enhances the cost benefits of this task agreement.

4) A description of the market research that was conducted and the results, or a statement of the reason a market research was not conducted:

None. Dr. Arendt (and his research science associates at UAF-Geophysical Institute) is the only person qualified to conduct this glacier mapping effort. Lack of expertise would equate to a lesser quality product delivered at a higher cost do to the significant additional time commitment required to complete the mapping project.

5) Any other facts supporting the use of other than full and open competition:

6) A statement of the actions, if any, the agency may take to remove or overcome any barriers for competition before any potential future agreement award:

National
Park Service
Point of Contact: Erica_Cordeiro@nps.gov