The National Park Service is offering this grant to fund invasive plant control by SAGA Crews in Alaska’s National Parks

NOTICE OF INTENT TO AWARD

This Funding Announcement is not a request for applications. This announcement is to provide public notice of the National Park Service’s intention to fund the following project activities without full and open competition.

ABSTRACT
Funding Announcement Number J9923110001
Project Title Invasive Plant Control by SAGA Crews in Alaska’s National Parks
Recipient Southeast Alaska Guidance Association (SAGA)
Principle Investigator / Program Manager Scott Young – SAGA PI
Bonnie Million – NPS Program Manager
Total Anticipated Award Amount $100,000.
Cost Share 25%
New Award or Continuation? New
Anticipated Length of Agreement Less than 1 year
Anticipated Period of Performance January 2011 – September 30, 2011
Award Instrument Task Agreement
Statutory Authority Youth Conservation Corps Act of 1970: P.L. 91-378; 92-597 and 93-408;16 U.S.C 1701
CFDA # and Title 00.000
Single Source Justification Criteria Cited See below
NPS Point of Contact Erica Cordeiro @ 907-644-3303

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OVERVIEW, RECIPIENT AND NPS SUBSTANTIAL INVOLVEMENT

Type of funds to be used for this project (bold the type of funds) ONPS, NRC, Fee Demo, Fire, Donation, other (PLC).

l. Why was this cooperator selected? SAGA has been a partner with the National Park Service – Alaska Region for several years and has a proven positive track record. SAGA crews provide a compliment to the Alaska Exotic Plant Management Team weed management efforts. These crews have participated in extensive manual weed pulls in isolated areas of the region’s park. They have shown great flexibility in working with different parks to organize the numerous specialized logistics, such as transportation, and equipment, associated with these remote areas. Being a local, Alaska-based organization – they bring specific knowledge of the varied landscapes, potential hazards, and project logistics to the table. In addition, the ability to provide a single crew for the entirety of the work season would save the National Park Service time and money.

2. Explain the nature of the anticipated substantial involvement? What will NPS specifically do to carry out the project? Collaboration between the NPS and SAGA is required to identify project areas and treatment timing. NPS will participate in treating project areas with SAGA crews to help orient crews to the area, assist in plant identification, and conduct project monitoring ensure that any necessary redirection of work occurs.

3. Why is the substantial involvement considered to be necessary? The NPS involvement is necessary to ensure that the best possible product is attained.

4. What are the deliverables expected?
1. Work projects will be accomplished by multiple trained 8-member crews, with two experienced leaders, covering 13 total work weeks, with the work season commencing on May 1 and ending on September 30, 2011.

2. Lead NPS Project Coordinator must approve progress reports.

3. Completed projects will meet NPS natural resource management standards as specified at project start by the appropriate NPS liaison for each park.

5. What is the purpose of the agreement? The purpose of this agreement is to specify a partnership project between the National Park Service (NPS) and the Southeast Alaska Guidance Association (SAGA) which involves invasive plant control work in six (6) of Alaska’s National Park System units: Glacier Bay, Katmai, Kenai Fjords, Klondike Gold Rush, Sitka, and Wrangell-St. Elias.

6. Explain why the project or activity entails a relationship of assistance rather than a contract. How will the PI and/or graduate students benefit from this collaboration? SAGA is a non-profit organization whose mission is to improve lives, lands, and communities in Alaska. Through this project, SAGA crews will travel to Alaska parks and learn about NPS resource management, while providing assistance with invasive plant management in the area. The NPS will benefit through greater on-the-ground invasive weed management activities than would be possible given current staffing levels.

7. How was the determination made that the costs proposed are accurate and proper? Provide a breakdown of costs and rationale for determining they are acceptable. Information was collected from each park on potential projects. SAGA then provided cost estimates on this information based on previous year’s costs plus a 5% cost increase.

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.

The National Park Service did not solicit full and open competition for this award based the following criteria:

BACKGROUND:

THIS PROJECT IS AN ON-GOING PROJECT FOR THE INVOLVEMENT OF YOUTH IN THE CARE AND ENHANCEMENT OF PUBLIC RESOURCES. SPECIFICALLY THE PROJECT IS TO PERFORM INVASIVE PLANT CONTROL WORK WITH THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE (NPS) ALASKA EXOTIC PLANT MANAGEMENT TEAM (EPMT). THE 2011 PORTION OF THIS PROJECT PROVIDES FUNDING YOUTH WORK CREWS TO MANUALLY PULL INVASIVE PLANTS AT SIX (6) NPS ALASKA PARK UNITS OVER THE COURSE OF THE 2011 FIELD SEASON. THE PRIMARY WORK TO BE ACCOMPLISHED BY THE YOUTH CREWS IS THE REMOVAL OF INVASIVE PLANT INFESTATIONS THROUGH PULLING, DIGGING, AND CUTTING. IN EACH OF THE PARKS TO BE SERVED, INFESTATIONS OF CONCERN HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED OVER THE PAST FIVE YEARS BY ALASKA EPMT EMPLOYEES WORKING TO PREVENT THEIR SPREAD. UNDER THIS AGREEMENT, THE YOUTH CREWS WILL TRAVEL TO THE PARKS, LEARN ABOUT NPS RESOURCE MANAGEMENT, AND PROVIDE ASSISTANCE WITH INVASIVE PLANT MANAGEMENT. IN ADDITION TO CONTROL WORK, YOUTH CREWS MAY ASSIST IN SURVEYING FOR INVASIVE PLANTS, MONITORING INFESTATIONS, COLLECTING AND CULTIVATING NATIVE PLANT SEEDS, AND PARTICIPATING IN EDUCATIONAL OR RESEARCH EFFORTS PERTAINING TO INVASIVE PLANTS

1) 505 DM 2 SINGLE SOURCE – ONLY ONE RESPONSIBLE SOURCE WILL SATISFY AGENCY REQUIREMENTS.

THE SOURCE IDENTIFIED FOR THIS AGREEMENT IS THE SOUTHEAST ALASKA GUIDANCE ASSOCIATION (SAGA). SAGA HAS BEEN A PARTNER WITH THE NPS – ALASKA REGION FOR SEVERAL YEARS AND HAS A PROVEN, POSITIVE TRACK RECORD. SAGA CREWS PROVIDE A COMPLIMENT TO THE ALASKA EPMT WEED MANAGEMENT EFFORTS. THESE CREWS HAVE PARTICIPATED IN EXTENSIVE MANUAL WEED PULLS IN ISOLATED AREAS OF THE REGION’S PARK. THEY HAVE SHOWN GREAT FLEXIBILITY IN WORKING WITH DIFFERENT PARKS TO ORGANIZE THE NUMEROUS SPECIALIZED LOGISTICS, SUCH AS TRANSPORTATION, AND EQUIPMENT, ASSOCIATED WITH THESE REMOTE AREAS. BEING A LOCAL, ALASKA-BASED ORGANIZATION – THEY BRING SPECIFIC KNOWLEDGE OF THE VARIED LANDSCAPES, POTENTIAL HAZARDS, SAFETY CONCERNS, AND PROJECT LOGISTICS TO THE TABLE. IN ADDITION, SAGA’S ABILITY TO PROVIDE A SINGLE CREW FOR THE ENTIRETY OF THE WORK SEASON WOULD SAVE THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE TIME AND MONEY.

2) NATURE AND DESCRIPTION OF THE SUPPLIES OR SERVICES REQUIRED TO MEET THE AGENCY’S NEEDS:

THE PURPOSE OF THIS PARTNERSHIP IS TO SPECIFY A PARTNERSHIP PROJECT BETWEEN THE NPS AND SAGA WHICH INVOLVES INVASIVE PLANT CONTROL WORK IN SIX (6) OF ALASKA’S NATIONAL PARK SYSTEM UNITS: GLACIER BAY, KATMAI, KENAI FJORDS, KLONDIKE GOLD RUSH, SITKA, AND WRANGELL-ST. ELIAS. THE WORK SCHEDULE FOR EACH PARK IS SHOWN IN THE TABLE BELOW.

PARK CODE PARK NAME WORK WEEK DATES
GLBA GLACIER BAY NATIONAL PARK AND PRESERVE JULY 11-22, 2011
KATM KATMAI NATIONAL PARK AND PRESERVE JUNE 6-17, 2011
KEFJ KENAI FJORDS NATIONAL PARK JUNE 13-17, 2011
AUGUST 1-5, 2011
KLGO KLONDIKE GOLD RUSH NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK JUNE 27-JULY 1, 2011
JULY 18-22, 2011
SITK SITKA NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK JULY 11-22, 2011
WRST WRANGELL-ST. ELIAS NATIONAL PARK AND PRESERVE JULY 11-22, 2011

THE PRIMARY WORK TO BE ACCOMPLISHED BY SAGA CREWS IS THE REMOVAL OF INVASIVE PLANT INFESTATIONS THROUGH PULLING, DIGGING, AND CUTTING. IN EACH OF THE PARKS TO BE SERVED, INFESTATIONS OF CONCERN HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED OVER THE PAST FIVE YEARS BY SEASONAL EMPLOYEES WORKING TO PREVENT THEIR SPREAD. UNDER THIS AGREEMENT, SAGA CREWS WILL TRAVEL TO THE PARKS, LEARN ABOUT NPS RESOURCE MANAGEMENT, AND PROVIDE ASSISTANCE WITH INVASIVE PLANT MANAGEMENT. IN ADDITION TO CONTROL WORK, SAGA CREWS MAY ASSIST IN SURVEYING FOR INVASIVE PLANTS, MONITORING INFESTATIONS, COLLECTING AND CULTIVATING NATIVE PLANT SEEDS, AND PARTICIPATING IN EDUCATIONAL OR RESEARCH EFFORTS PERTAINING TO INVASIVE PLANTS.

THE SOUTHEAST ALASKA GUIDANCE ASSOCIATION AGREES TO:
• PROVIDE A TRAINED 7-9-MEMBER CREW, WITH TWO LEADERS EXPERIENCED IN SUPERVISION AND ENSURING BASIC WORK SAFETY.
• ASSURE THAT CREW WILL BE PHYSICALLY ABLE TO DO MANUAL LABOR FOR AN 8-HOUR DAY NORM.
• PROVIDE TRANSPORTATION TO THE WORK SITE, CAMP GEAR AND FOOD FOR ALL CREW MEMBERS AND DAILY MAINTENANCE AND CLEANING TO CAMP FACILITIES.
• COMPLETE INVASIVE PLANT CONTROL WORK AT SIX (6) OF ALASKA’S NATIONAL PARK SYSTEM UNITS: GLACIER BAY, KATMAI, KENAI FJORDS, KLONDIKE GOLD RUSH, SITKA, AND WRANGELL-ST. ELIAS.
• COORDINATE WORK SCHEDULE WITH NPS PROJECT INSPECTOR TO ENSURE PROJECT COMPLETION WITHIN TARGET SCHEDULE, BASED ON THE TENTATIVE WORK SCHEDULE LISTED IN THE TABLE ABOVE.

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.

SAGA HAS BEEN A PARTNER WITH THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE – ALASKA REGION FOR SEVERAL YEARS AND HAS A PROVEN POSITIVE TRACK RECORD. UNDER AN EXISTING COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT, TASK AGREEMENTS OF THIS NATURE HAVE BEEN ENTERED INTO WITH SAGA PREVIOUSLY – TASK AGREEMENT NUMBER J9923090010, J9923090006, R9923-08-0009, AND R9923-06-0007. SAGA CREWS PROVIDE A COMPLIMENT TO THE ALASKA EXOTIC PLANT MANAGEMENT TEAM WEED MANAGEMENT EFFORTS. THEIR CREWS HAVE PARTICIPATED IN EXTENSIVE MANUAL WEED PULLS IN ISOLATED AREAS OF THE REGION’S PARK. THEY HAVE SHOWN GREAT FLEXIBILITY IN WORKING WITH DIFFERENT PARKS TO ORGANIZE THE NUMEROUS SPECIALIZED LOGISTICS, SUCH AS TRANSPORTATION, AND EQUIPMENT, ASSOCIATED WITH THESE REMOTE AREAS. BEING A LOCAL, ALASKA-BASED ORGANIZATION – THEY BRING SPECIFIC KNOWLEDGE OF THE VARIED LANDSCAPES, POTENTIAL HAZARDS, AND PROJECT LOGISTICS TO THE TABLE. SAGA ALSO PROVIDES THE UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY FOR YOUTH WORK CREWS SPECIFICALLY FOR LOCAL ALASKA YOUTH – FROM COMMUNITIES SUCH AS BARROW, BREVIG MISSION, HUSLIA, KOTLIK, AKIAK, BETHEL, NOME, JUNEAU, AND ANCHORAGE. IN ADDITION, THE ABILITY OF SAGA TO PROVIDE A SINGLE CREW FOR THE ENTIRETY OF THE WORK SEASON WOULD SAVE THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE TIME AND MONEY.
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 YOUTH ACTIVITIES PROJECT ASSIGNMENT WORKSHEET WAS COMPLETED FOR THIS PROJECT AND A COMPARISON OF THREE DIFFERENT AMERICORP YOUTH CREW PROGRAMS WERE ASSESSED: SAGA, THE STUDENT CONSERVATION ASSOCIATION (SCA), AND GROUNDWORK USA. THROUGH THIS ASSESSMENT IT WAS CONCLUDED THAT SAGA WOULD BE THE EFFECTIVE AND BEST OPTION FOR THE AGREEMENT AS GROUNDWORK USA WORKS PRIMARILY IN URBAN SETTINGS AND THE SCA CREWS WERE ONLY AVAILABLE IN 30 DAY INCREMENTS.

5) ANY OTHER FACTS SUPPORTING THE USE OF OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION:

AGREEMENTS OF THIS NATURE HAVE BEEN ENTERED INTO WITH SAGA PREVIOUSLY – TASK AGREEMENT NUMBER J9923090010, J9923090006, R9923-08-0009, AND R9923-06-0007. ALSO, SAGA IS SPECIFICALLY LISTED AS THE PARTNER IN THE PMIS PROJECTS FUNDING THIS PROJECT.