US Fish and Wildlife Service Grant: Alaska Fish & Game Resource Management and Interagency Coordination

PURPOSE:

The purpose of this agreement is to enable the Alaska Department of Fish and Game to better meet its responsibilities to maintain healthy fish and wildlife resources and provide continued harvest opportunities to Alaska residents, as mandated by the Alaska statutes.

OBJECTIVES:

The objectives of this agreement are to facilitate the interagency gathering and exchange of technical information related to subsistence management activities in Alaska, and in support of the development and consideration of regulatory proposals for management of fish and wildlife populations.

REASON FOR SINGLE SOURCE:

(1) Continuation – The activity to be funded is necessary to the 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 Alaska Department of Fish and Game is the only entity that has the technical and scientific capability to provide liaison and staff support for effective dual management coordination services between the Department and of Office of Subsistence Management with the goal of improved management and resource conservation. As partners in the existing dual management system we have in Alaska, they are therefore exclusively qualified and experienced to carry out these activities.

(2) Legislative intent – The language in the applicable authorizing legislation or legislative history clearly indicates Congress’ intent to restrict award to a particular recipient or purpose. This agreement is entered into under the authority of the Fish & Wildlife Coordination Act, 16 USC 661 to 666C; and the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act, 16 USC 410hh, 43 USC 1602-1784.

(3) 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. The Alaska Department of Fish and Game is the only entity that has the technical and scientific capability to conduct a workgroup that will develop a product that is of use to both the Federal Subsistence Board and the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. The department collects biological data in the region, collects harvest ticket and household survey data. The proposed contractor’s qualifications are unique, in that they also have management responsibilities for the subject wildlife populations (when they occupy non-Federal lands). As partners in the existing dual management system we have in Alaska, they are therefore exclusively qualified and experienced to carry out these activities.