National Park Service Offers Grant for Alaska Park Science Journal Production

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: P11AT36708

Project Title: AK Park Science Journal

Recipient: Alaska Geographic

Principle
Investigator: Lisa Oakley
Total Anticipated
Award Amount: $200,000

Cost Share: N/A

New Award
Or Continuation: New

Anticipated
Length of
Agreement: 5 Year

Anticipated
Period of
Performance: September 17, 2011 � September 16, 2016

Award
Instrument: CESU

Statutory
Authority: Agreements Concerning Cooperative Research and Training on NPS Resources (16 U.S.C. � 1a-2(j)): The Secretary may enter into 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, and pursuant to such agreements, to accept from and make available to the cooperator such 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.

CFDA Number: 15.945
JUSTIFICATION FOR OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN
COMPETITION (or SINGLE SOURCE) FOR DISCRETIONARY COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS

CESU task agreement J9911110045
Produce Alaska Park Science Journal

BACKGROUND:

� The Alaska Park Science journal was conceived and developed as a joint project of the National Park Service and the Alaska Geographic Association (AK GEO, then called Alaska Natural History Association) in 2002. Nineteen issues of the journal have been produced cooperatively on a twice annual schedule.

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

� The National Park Service, authors, illustrators, editors, designer and publisher work closely to produce each new issue. The members of the AKGEO editing and design team understands NPS needs and has proven themselves able to produce international-award-winning products repeatedly, without requiring NPS to attend to all the production details. Alaska Park Science is a periodical, with four issues in different production stages by the same team at any time. Although funding for different issues has come from a variety of different sources, the continuity of the series is critical to its continued success. Additionally, as the official bookstore operator for the National Park Service in Alaska, AK GEO cooperates with NPS to provide Alaska Park Science to the public at no additional expense to the NPS. AKGEO also produces additional copies for distribution through their park bookstore system at their own expense.

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

� Provide editing, design, layout, project management, development, and delivery of the Alaska Park Science journal and related publications. Arrange for delivery of the fall/winter issues of the Alaska Park Science journal to the Alaska Regional Office by December 31, and for delivery of the spring/summer issues by May 31, each year. Scheduling for special issues and other publications may be adjusted by mutual agreement.
� Partner with the National Park Service Alaska Regional Director’s Office in the conception and development of each issue of the Alaska Park Science journal and related publications. This usually occurs about two years before distribution of the final product. Serve as the primary point of contact between contributing authors and the journal production team for authors� review of edited manuscripts and design mock-ups. Provide an editor, copy editor and designer to complete the editing, layout and design, with the expectation that the general design for the Alaska Park Science journal will continue to be used for future issues of the publication. Submit final drafts and mock-ups for review and approval by contributing authors and by NPS, make any necessary changes, and provide final proofs of changes for NPS review before printing. Arrange for printing each issue, to specification, in the numbers required by NPS and through approved printers. Provide printed copies for distribution through park bookstores and other outlets as appropriate, with minimal markup over printing costs and at no additional expense to NPS. Arrange for delivery to NPS on the agreed-upon schedule. Deliver the complete publication in PDF form, as needed for timely posting on the web in whole and as individual articles and elements (i.e., covers, frontpiece, etc.).

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.

� 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. The NPS and AKGEO jointly developed and have jointly produced the Alaska Park Science journal twice a year since its inception in 2002. Since four issues are in different stages of production at any time, a substantial change in the production team for any one issue during its two-year production time would increase oversight costs for NPS and adversely affect production of other issues.
� Legislative intent � The Alaska Geographic Association (AK GEO) is the official nonprofit partner of Alaska’s parks, forests, refuges and other public lands. Their core purpose is to support Alaska�s parks, forests, and refuges�and to help people connect to these remarkable landscapes. The Alaska Public Lands Information Centers, established by AK GEO (formerly referred to as ANHA), are interagency visitor centers authorized by the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act. The National Parks Omnibus Management Act of 1998 (P.L. 105-391, Title II. Sec 201) also provides for the NPS to develop cooperative agreements in support of scientific studies.
� Unique Qualifications – AK GEO, which produces and distributes a wide range of park-related books and educational materials to the public and operates the bookstores in Alaska national parks and Alaska Public Land Information Centers, is uniquely qualified and willing to work collaboratively with NPS to develop and produce this program, as evidenced by the eight awards received for this publications through independent judged competitions.

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:

� A comprehensive review of the journal was produced by a 7-member panel of science educators and journal editors in 2010, who supported the approach of the current production team.

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

� AKGEO and NPS have jointly produced the Alaska Park Science journal since 2002, under agreements: J9911100049, H9911060022, and 1443CA991000034.

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:

� The cooperative nature of this project does not lend itself to open competition.

Substantial Cooperation and Involvement by NPS

National Park Service, Alaska Regional Director’s Office (NPS), involvement pursuant to this agreement will include, but is not limited to, the following:

� Partner with AK GEO in the conception and development of each issue of the Alaska Park Science journal and related publications. Journal topics are initially developed with an advisory board, including AKGEO, 1-2 years prior to final production.

� Serve as the initial point of contact between contributing authors and the journal production team, until such time as the manuscripts and images are transmitted to AK GEO for editing and design work.

� Provide and review copy, photographs and other graphic information.

� Work cooperatively with AK GEO and provide a timely response on matters about the aforementioned publications, including review and approval of design mock-ups and suggestions related to editing, design and production.

� Provide timely notification to AK GEO about the numbers of each printed issue needed for NPS distribution. (NPS requirements are expected to vary by issue).

� Work cooperatively with AK GEO to identify and evaluate other sponsorship and marketing opportunities, to expand distribution and ensure long-term continuity of funding.