National Park Service Grant for Mapping Submerged Beringia

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: J9911100023

Project Title: Map of Submerged Beringia

Recipient: Alaska-Siberia Research Center

Principle
Investigator: Alexander Dolitsky

Total Anticipated
Award Amount: $35,050.

Cost Share: N/A

New Award
Or Continuation: New

Anticipated
Length of
Agreement: 2 Years

Anticipated
Period of
Performance: July 1, 2010 – September 30, 2012

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
Title:

Single Source
Justification
Criteria Sited:

BACKGROUND:
• A brief history of this project. Is this part of an on-going program, agreement, etc? This project has previously been competed through the Shared Beringian Heritage Program of the NPS. A nationwide announcement is conducted yearly requesting proposals. Projects are subsequently selected through a 3-step competitive process. The selection process includes: internal NPS review; ranking by a FACA compliant panel of external stakeholders; and final selection by the NPS. Projects must be of mutual interest and benefit to the cooperator and the NPS, and must involve substantial involvement by both parties.

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. The cooperator proposed the project for consideration.

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

• Description of the deliverables and the required delivery schedule: Develop a meta-database of bathymetric data and create a modern map of submerged Beringia by March 2011.
• The minimum essential characteristics or unique features of the item(s). This will be a unique database and map, well timed with the US and Russian Presidential interest in establishing an international heritage area.
• State the price of the requirement – base year and every additional anticipated agreement period thereafter. Funding only in FY10 of $35,050.

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.

This project has previously been competed (described above). The cooperator proposed the project for consideration and has the qualifications to complete the work.

Substantial Involvement Documentation

Cooperative Agreement Number or PR Number: R9911100023
Alaska-Siberia Research Center, Creating a Modern Map of Submerged Beringia

Type of funds to be used for this project: ONPS

1. What type of competition is appropriate? Nationwide announcement for Beringia proposals.

2. Why was this cooperator selected? Cooperator proposed the project through a 3-step competitive process, and had the necessary expertise to perform the selected project.

3. Who are the parties to the agreement? Alaska-Siberia Research Center and the Alaska Region, NPS.

4. What is the purpose of the agreement? Develop a meta-database of bathymetric data and create a modern map of submerged Beringia.

5. What are the deliverables expected? A meta-database, map and public presentation

6. Explain the nature of the anticipated substantial involvement. What will NPS specifically do to carry out the project?

– Provide expertise and connections in the Beringian anthropological, geological and archeological realm in both Russian and Alaska. Natural and cultural resources and GIS staff will contribute contacts and to the conceptual design of the master database, as well as the map and other product out-puts from the database.
– Provide basic production review and distribution support for project media pieces, outreach materials. Help facilitate review by interested Beringian partners, building community ownership in the project and increasing the value and use of the end product.
– Because NPS staff is involved in ongoing research in the Beringian region, they will help connect to the scientific community that may wish to use the database and map in planning research in the area.
– Assist with distribution and outreach. NPS newsletters and other standard media networking channels will be used to further awareness and use of the Submerged Beringia Map.

7. Why is the substantial involvement considered to be necessary? For successful outcome.

Further: Substantial involvement on the part of the Alaska-Siberia Research Center is necessary to complete the project because they provide the technical expertise to develop the database and generate the map. Substantial involvement from the NPS is necessary to ensure the GIS layers are compatible with NPS formatting, that existing data and information is fed into the model, to engage other Beringia partners, and ensure that the deliverables are accessible and useful.

8. Explain why the project or activity entails a relationship of assistance rather than a contract. How will the NPS benefit from this collaboration? The NPS and ASRC have mutual interest and benefit in the completion of this project.

Further: The Shared Beringian Heritage Program of the NPS seeks to build partnerships with parties working on either side of the Bering Strait, increasing international cooperation and the conservation of the shared heritage of the region. Therefore, project supported through the program need to be of mutual benefit with substantial involvement from both parties. These partnerships further the NPS program goals of fostering collaboration across research and cultural studies in the region; leading to increased understanding and appreciation of the region; and furthering the goals of international cooperation.

9. What is the public purpose of support or stimulation? Resource stewardship and conservation.

10. Which law or laws authorize granting of assistance for performance of this project or activity? 104-208 Omnibus Consolidated Appropriations Act of 1997.

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