NPS Alaska Department: Grants for the Centennial Science and Stewardship Symposium

OVERVIEW
This agreement supports activities related to the National Park Service Alaska Regionâ¿¿s Centennial Science and Stewardship Symposium. The symposium will highlight how science and scholarship have shaped the past 100 years of national park management, and provide a forward look at the next century of collaborative science and scholarship in Alaskaâ¿¿s national parks. Sessions will feature research and stewardship in national parks and celebrate the partnerships essential to park management. The Arctic Research Consortium of the United States (ARCUS) is uniquely qualified to assist with the NPS Alaska Centennial Science and Stewardship Symposium due to their extensive local knowledge, capacity for efficient communication with local NPS staff, and experience with planning existing research programs and formal ties to Alaska-based research institutions.

STATEMENT OF JOINT OBJECTIVES/PROJECT MANAGEMENT PLAN
NPS staff and ARCUS employees will collaborate to plan and carry out a symposium that highlights research and stewardship activities occurring in national parks in Alaska. The symposium will expand overall knowledge regarding the key role of science, scholarship, and stewardship in national park management. Additionally, the symposium will facilitate communication between individuals at the National Park Service, other federal agencies, state agencies, non-profit organizations, and research institutions.

RECIPIENT INVOLVEMENT
ARCUS will:
* Support NPS in the symposium planning process by providing feedback and guidance regarding: symposium goals and purpose, symposium proceedings, agenda and supporting materials, and venue arrangements
* Develop an online registration and registration payment process and forms
* Manage the online registration process, answer questions from participants; export data as needed for meeting organizers
* Administer and transfer symposium registration fees, per NPS instructions
* Design, develop, maintain, and update basic website structure, design, and content; site to
include registration portal, conference information, and abstract submission process and form.
* Print a limited set of materials for participants, such as agenda and participant list
* Work with NPS staff to develop symposium branding and outreach materials
* Assist with on-site logistics during the symposium (as necessary)

NATIONAL PARK SERVICE INVOLVEMENT
NPS will:
* Lead symposium planning process
* Communicate with Fairbanks vendors regarding symposium logistics (participant lodging, symposium venue/day-of logistics, and participant travel)
* Work with ARCUS to develop symposium branding and outreach materials
* Develop symposium goals and purpose, agenda and supporting materials
* Manage abstract submissions
* Conduct outreach to ensure symposium attendance includes participants from a variety of organizations and disciplines
* Select symposium presenters
* Oversee symposium sessions
* Manage and edit symposium proceedings
* Publish symposium proceedings in Alaska Park Science

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 â¿¿ 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 â¿¿ 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 â¿¿ The language in the applicable authorizing legislation or legislative history clearly indicates Congressâ¿¿ intent to restrict the award to a particular recipient of purpose;

(4) Unique Qualifications â¿¿ 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 â¿¿ 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:
Unique Qualifications â¿¿ 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

ARCUS is a non-profit corporation consisting of 50 institutions that are organized and operated for educational, professional, and scientific purposes. The purpose of ARCUS is to provide leadership in advancing knowledge and understanding of the Arctic by:
*Serving as a forum for planning, facilitating, coordinating, and implementing disciplinary and interdisciplinary studies of the Arctic;
*Acting as a synthesizer and disseminator of scientific information relevant to state, national, and international programs of arctic research; and
*Encouraging and facilitating the education of scientists and the public in the needs and opportunities of research in the Arctic.

With the sponsorship of relevant agencies, ARCUS draws on and works with the academic community and funding agencies, providing community leadership by:
*convening science planning committees and working groups to develop and focus program recommendations and to suggest appropriate implementation strategies,
*organizing efforts to address various science, policy, and advocacy concerns, and
*fostering the transfer of knowledge nationally and internationally.

In that role, ARCUS has organized over 75 meetings and workshops devoted to arctic science planning since its inception in 1988, including workshops for the National Park Service Arctic Network.

ARCUS is uniquely qualified to satisfy agency requirements because:

1. Efficient communication and cooperation with the NPS-Alaska symposium planning committee is best accomplished by a local (Fairbanks) supplier.

2. ARCUS provides a capability beyond the scope of other symposia planners because of their involvement with planning existing research programs and formal ties to Alaska-based research institutions. ARCUS can offer unique insights during the planning process because of their vast experience assisting with similarly themed science symposia hosted by NPS and other federal agencies in Alaska.

No other known entity combines capabilities in meeting logistics and facilitation, publication of technical documents related to Alaska science planning and policy, and coordination of interdisciplinary science in Alaska.