2520007 NOFO REV1 17JUL25.pdf

NOTICE OF FUNDING OPPORTUNITY

Funding Agency: Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command Southwest (NAVFAC

SW)

Funding Instrument: Cooperative Agreement

Funding Opportunity Number: N62473-25-2-0007

Assistance Listing Number: 12.005

Program Authority: 16 U.S.C. 670c-1 Sikes Act

Issue Date: 10 July 2025 Application Due Date: 11 August 2025

Contents of Full Text Announcement I. Funding Opportunity Description II. Award Information III. Eligibility Information IV. Application and Submission Information V. Application Review Information

I. Funding Opportunity Description The Marine Air Ground Task Force Training Command (MAGTFTC), Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center (MCAGCC), Twentynine Palms, is the Marine Corps’ largest combined-arms, live-fire training facility, encompassing 1,102 square miles of mostly public lands in the Mojave Desert, California. The Combat Center is divided into 27 range training area management units, each of which may contain training areas, landing fields, targetry, main supply routes, fixed ranges, support areas, expeditionary areas, and safety buffer zones. Armed forces use the Combat Center to train troops and test equipment. MCAGCC annually provides training to one-third of the Fleet Marine Force and Reserves Units. The Conservation Branch of the Environmental Affairs Division is responsible for the long-term management of cultural and natural resources within

MCAGCC.

MCAGCC has significant cultural resources that are managed according to MAGTFTC’s Integrated Cultural Resources Management Plan (ICRMP). The Conservation Branch liaises with other Federal landholders and consults with state and Federal regulatory agencies regarding cultural resources. This branch is the primary agent responsible for the planning and implementation of the ICRMP, ensures that MCAGCC land use is monitored, and guides implementation of the best practices for cultural resource management while sustaining or enhancing the Marine Corps training mission.

The Conservation Branch maintains a cultural resources collection that represents the archaeological history of MCAGCC and other Marine Corps installations in the region.

The collection also includes reports describing archaeological finds, and artifact analyses and dispositions. The collection is housed at MCAGCC, but many collection components have not been properly accessioned, and the collection inventory is out of date. To comply with federal regulations and the installation’s ICRMP, the collection must be properly inventoried, with new items accessioned in a formal, documented manner. Once updated, the collection will be a research resource to better understand the archaeological context of the native peoples who traditionally used the area that is now MCAGCC. Field visits and surveys are essential tools for enhancing cultural resource management.

MCAGCC’s significant natural resources are fundamental aspects of MCAGCC’s military training environment. These soils, communities and ecosystem processes are sometimes vulnerable to forces related to military training, facilities maintenance, hazardous material, and electromagnetic forces, and are managed per MCAGCC’s Integrated Natural Resources Management Plan (INRMP) and foundational regulations (e.g., the Sikes Act Improvement Act [SAIA], Migratory Bird Treaty Act [MBTA], and Endangered Species Act [ESA]). The training mission, support activities, and human habitation can stimulate human-wildlife conflicts (e.g., coyote and common raven impacts on humans, equipment and infrastructure), and human-vegetation conflicts (e.g., non-native invasive plants destabilizing soils and increasing risks of wildland fires).

The Conservation Branch works to avoid, minimize and mitigate such conflicts, while sustaining the natural and training environments, and long-term mission of the MAGTFTC. This often requires rapid responses to protect organisms protected by federal laws, other species warranting proactive conservation (e.g., sensitive, at-risk, or state-listed species), and other organisms that are also safety hazards (e.g., rattlesnakes). The rapid responses are critical to alleviate safety issues. They support ecosystem management, and they are installation requirements that help military training continue with little or no delay. Rapid response efforts typically require field visits for animal disposition, and surveys refine management of subsidized species.

Objectives:

The purpose of this Cooperative Agreement is to assist MCAGCC in managing the archaeological collection and in performing the Wildlife Rapid-Response program of the Environmental Affairs Division, as described herein. Additional tasks may be awarded as Options.

Brief Description of the Anticipated Work:

1. PROJECT OVERSIGHT

The Recipient will provide a Principal Investigator (PI)/Project Manager (PM) to provide remote supervisory oversight of the Recipient’s employees. The PI/PM shall meet minimum qualifications by providing a CV or resume that demonstrates the level of each qualification and time spent on the demonstration.

The PI/PM shall have, at minimum:

a. At least five (5) years of professional research experience conducting and publishing genetic analyses, including having developed genetic markers for and analyzing genetic patterns.

b. A minimum of five (5) years of experience in a PI capacity.

2. CULTURAL RESOURCES

This Agreement requires the Recipient to curate MCAGCC’s archaeological collections through the MAGTFTC to:

a. Manage the facility per 36 CFR 79, including facility inspections, garden maintenance, pest management, climate management, collections inspections and inventories, processing new accessions, collections, and archives, collections housing and monitoring, archival management, physical and digital media management, and housekeeping and exhibit maintenance.

b. Improve management of APCC collections and archives to modern professional and technical standards and procedures, including annual review and updates to SOP, quality control and assurance in the collections management database, the pest management plan, the emergency management plan, the collections policy and other facility documents, and improvements to storage strategy.

c. Use existing Environmental Affairs Conservation data and information to enhance and improve the exhibits and interpretive materials at the APCC, and design new exhibits for the exhibit room and the curation center garden (Base Year Period and Option Years).

d. Provide interesting and engaging educational materials, including intriguing events for outreach to school-age groups and exceptional opportunities for all ages, to convey the history of the Combat Center and the importance of sustainable resource management.

e. Perform fieldwork activities and compliance requirements on an as needed basis.

The Recipient shall provide a Full-time Equivalent (FTE) Archaeologist or Qualified Museum Professional compliant with the guidelines set forth in Archaeology and Historic Preservation: Secretary of the Interior’s Standards and Guidelines (Federal Register, Vol. 48, No. 190, 44716-44742). Candidate personnel shall have a CV or position-specific resume demonstrating a skillset commensurate with a minimum of:

A Bachelor’s degree in archaeology, anthropology, history, cultural heritage management, museum studies, or similar field of study

Demonstrated ability to obtain certifications in the guidelines listed above.

Registered professional archaeologist or American Alliance of Museums cert

3. NATURAL RESOURCES

This Cooperative Agreement requires the Recipient to implement MCAGCC’s wildlife rapid-response program to:

a. Implement the Wildlife Rapid Response Program by ensuring timely response to on-base calls of injured, trapped, or dangerous wildlife (e.g., snakes, desert tortoises, and birds). Remove wildlife and transport to on- of off- base veterinarian, or per other installation standard operating procedures. Develop educational and interpretive materials, and perform outreach, to on-base and contractor personnel to ensure on-base military personnel and contractors are aware of and follow such standard operating procedures.

b. Implement the desert tortoise clearance surveys for rapid-response tortoise clearances for facilities and training operation footprints. These rapid-response surveys require on-call personnel for routine or emergent small (e.g., 1 to 3 day clearance efforts to detect desert tortoise sign, burrows, and individuals, and flag any active tortoise burrows and remove any individuals likely to be impacted by base activities.

c. Perform additional rapid reconnaissance as it relates to wildlife management on base (e.g., rare animal/plant sightings and verification and post rain event wildlife monitoring)

d. Maintain GIS layers and conduct data management for the rapid response program, and ensure GIS layers are integrated into MCAGCC’s GIS Natural Resources database.

The Recipient shall also provide a Wildlife Biologist capable and qualified to meet the requirements of the Statement of Objectives. Candidate personnel shall have a CV or position-specific resume demonstrating a skillset commensurate with a minimum of:

A Bachelor’s degree in wildlife biology, natural resources management, ecology, or similar field of study

Demonstrated ability to obtain Authorized Biologist status from the US Fish and Wildlife Service for clearance surveys and handling Agassiz’s desert tortoise

Recipient personnel must be proficient in Microsoft Office word processing, Excel spreadsheets, and presentation software, and able to communicate proficiently in English, both orally and in writing.

Any change to the Archaeologist or Wildlife Biologist after award of Cooperative Agreement shall require approval by the CAA.

4. OPTION YEARS

Options 1 to 4: Options will mirror the base cooperative agreement terms and conditions, for a 12-month extension each.

5. DELIVERABLES

Recipient agrees to submit the following deliverables:

Accident Prevention Plan An Accident Prevention Plan shall be submitted and approved prior to the commencement of any on-site work (see Section M).

Progress Reports Recipient agrees to submit electronic reports within one week of submitting any invoice, not less than quarterly. The reports shall provide a description of the work accomplished during the reporting period, including any challenges encountered and recommendations.

Final Reports (Draft and Final) At the end of the 12-month base-period of the agreement, and at the end of each Option Period, if exercised, the Recipient shall compile an Annual/Final Report using all of the progress reports, analyses, data, and recommendations compiled under this agreement.

Please see enclosure 1 for full statement of objectives.

Estimated Total Funding: $1,346,681.56 Estimated Number of Awards: (1)

Item Anticipated Period of Performance Anticipated Award Date Anticipated Amount

Base Period 12 Months from Date of Award Spring 2025 $300,000.00 Option Year 1 12 Months from end of previous period Spring 2026 $253,570.51 Option Year 2 12 Months from end of previous period Spring 2027 $258,895.49 Option Year 3 12 Months from end of previous period Spring 2028 $264,332.29 Option Year 4 12 Months from end of previous period Spring 2029 $269,883.27

Total Anticipated Funding $1,346,681.56

Contact Information: Questions relating to Grants.gov including the registration process and system requirements should be directed to the Grants.gov Contact Center at 1-800- 518-4726. For assistance with the requirements of this Funding Opportunity Announcement, please contact Anna Ruth DeLoach, annaruth.c.deloach.civ@us.navy.mil.

Instructions to Applicants:

The complete Funding Opportunity Announcement, application forms, and instructions are available for download at Grants.gov.

Applications in response to this Funding Opportunity Announcement shall be submitted by the application due date. Applications may be submitted electronically via email or through Grants.gov.

Applicants shall have a Unique Entity Identification (UEI) number, registration with the System of Award Management (SAM), and registration with Grants.gov, if submitting application through Grants.gov.

See Section IV of the Funding Opportunity Announcement for complete application submission information.

II. Award Information This Funding Opportunity Announcement is for a competed cooperative agreement. The period of performance covered by this agreement is twelve (12) months upon award with up to four (4) 12-month option periods that, if all are exercised, will extend the period of performance by a total of 48 months. The end date is the anticipated date that the Final Report is accepted by the Government. The parties may extend the term of this Agreement by written modification. The Option Periods are subject to the availability of funds.

Item Period of Performance Base Period 12 months from date of award Option 1 (FY2026) 12 Months from end of previous period

Option 2 (FY2027) 12 Months from end of previous period

Option 3 (FY2028) 12 Months from end of previous period

Option 4 (FY2029) 12 Months from end of previous period

Significant Dates and Times

Event Date Time * Full Applications Due August 11, 2025 2:00 PM

Notification of Selection for Award

August 29, 2025** 4:00 PM

Start Date of Cooperative Agreement

September 3, 2025** 8:00 AM

**Dates subject to change

III. Eligibility Information

1. Eligible Applicants Any Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit partner who qualifies under the DoDGARS Part 34 or 2 CFR 200 is eligible to apply. Please see applicable terms and conditions, provided as a separate attachment.

2. Cost Sharing or Matching Cost sharing [ ] is or [ x ] is not required.

IV. Application and Submission Information

1. Address to Request Application Package Application packages can be obtained electronically at Grants.gov as detailed below or by contacting the individual listed in Section VII Agency Contact(s).

Application forms and instructions are available at Grants.gov. To access these materials, go to http://www.grants.gov, select "Apply for Grants", and then select "Download Grant Application Package”. Enter the funding opportunity number ().

NOTE: You will not be able to download the Application Package unless you have installed Adobe Acrobat Reader. Adobe Reader is available for free to download from the Download Software page http://grants.gov/help/download_software.jsp.

2. Content and Form of Application Submission Applicants shall submit applications electronically. The applicant shall complete the mandatory and applicable forms by accessing the forms as noted in noted in IV, 1 “Address to Request Application Package”.

Content and Form of Application

FORM: SF 424 (R&R)

Completion of SF-424 Fields First. The Adobe Reader forms are designed to fill in common required fields such as the applicant name and address, UEI number, etc., on all Adobe Reader forms. To trigger this feature, an applicant must complete the SF-424 information first. Once it is completed the information will transfer to the other forms.

You must complete the mandatory forms and any applicable optional forms (e.g., SF- LLL Disclosure of Lobbying Activities) in accordance with the instructions on the forms and the additional instructions below. Files that are attached to the forms must be in Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) unless otherwise specified in this announcement.

FORM: RESEARCH & RELATED SENIOR/KEY PERSONNEL (EXPANDED)

Complete all the required fields in accordance with the pop-up instructions on the form.

Biographical Sketch: Attach resume(s) of key personnel. The Applicant shall provide type written resumes, not to exceed 3 pages, single spaced with 12pt font for the project manager(s) and field assistants proposed for this project. Resumes must state qualifications, experience with this type of project, professional registration and certificates. See Section V. Application Review Information for detailed information required per resume and minimum qualifications required.

FORM: RESEARCH AND RELATED BUDGET

Complete the Research and Related Budget form in accordance with the instructions on the form. You must provide a detailed cost breakdown of all costs, by cost category, by the funding periods described below, and by task/sub-task corresponding to the task number in the proposed Statement of Objectives. Options (if applicable) must be separately priced. The form will generate a cumulative budget for the total project period. You must complete all the mandatory information on the form before the NEXT PERIOD button is activated. You may request funds under any of the categories listed as long as the item and amount are necessary to perform the proposed work and meet all the criteria for allowability under the applicable Federal cost principles. The budget should adhere to the following guidelines:

The budget should be driven by program requirements. Elements of the budget should include:

Direct Labor - Individual labor category or person, with associated labor hours and unburdened direct labor rates.

Indirect Costs - Fringe benefits, overhead, G&A, COM, etc. (must show base amount and rate).

Travel - Number of trips, destination, duration, etc., all travel must be substantiated and explained.

Subcontract/subaward - A cost proposal as detailed as the applicant's cost proposal will be required to be submitted by the subcontractor. If applicable, include in Research & Related Subaward Budget Attachment Form.

Consultant - Provide consultant agreement or other document that verifies the proposed loaded daily/hourly rate. Include a description of the nature of and the need for any consultant's participation. Strong justification must be provided, and consultants are to be used only under exceptional circumstances where no equivalent expertise can be found at a participating university. Provide budget justification.

Materials - Specifically itemized with costs or estimated costs. An explanation of any estimating factors, including their derivation and application, shall be provided. Include a brief description of the applicant's procurement method to be used (competition, engineering estimate, market survey, etc.).

Other Direct Costs - Particularly any proposed items of equipment or facilities.

Equipment and facilities generally must be furnished by the contractor/Applicant (justifications must be provided when Government funding for such items is sought). Include a brief description of the applicant's procurement method to be used (competition, engineering estimate, market survey, etc.).

Budget Justification: Provide the required supporting information for the cost elements as shown above (see Research & Related Budget instructions) and listed as follows: indirect cost, travel, consultant, materials, and other direct costs. Provide any other information you wish to submit to justify your budget request.

FORM: SF-LLL DISCLOSURE OF LOBBYING ACTIVITIES

If applicable, complete SF- LLL. Applicability: If any funds other than Federal appropriated funds have been paid or will be paid to any person for influencing or attempting to influence an officer or employee of any agency, a Member of Congress, an officer or employee of Congress, or an employee of a Member of Congress in connection with the grant/cooperative agreement, you must complete and submit Standard Form - LLL, "Disclosure Form to Report Lobbying.”

3. Submission Dates and Times

Timeline for Review:

We request that submissions be submitted by August 11, 2025 2:00 PM PDT. This opportunity will remain until an investigator team is selected. Submissions received after August 11, 2:00 PM PDT will be deemed “late” and may or may not be considered.

Please submit requests for information/questions no later than July 31, 2025 2:00 PM

PDT.

For applications submitted through Grants.gov and handling of late applications:

After an application is submitted through Grants.gov, the Authorized Organization Representative (AOR) will receive a series of three e-mails. It is extremely important that the AOR watch for and save each of the e-mails. You will know that your application has reached NAVFAC SW when the AOR receives e-mail Number 3. You will need the Submission Receipt Number (e-mail Number 1) to track a submission. The three e-mails are:

Number 1 – The applicant will receive a confirmation page upon completing the submission to Grants.gov. This confirmation page is a record of the time and date stamp for the submission.

Number 2 – The applicant will receive an e-mail indicating that the application has been validated by Grants.gov within a few hours of submission. (This means that all of the required fields have been completed.)

Number 3 – The third notice is an acknowledgment of receipt in e-mail form from the designated agency within ten days from the application due date. For applications, the e-mail is sent to the authorized representative for the institution. The e-mail for applications notes that the application has been received and provides the assigned tracking number.

Hard copy submissions will receive only e-mail number 3.

Late Applications may be accepted.

4. Funding Restrictions Reimbursement of pre-award cost will [ ] or will not [ x ] be allowed.

5. Other Submission Requirements Applications may be submitted electronically through Grants.gov (see note 1 below) or direct email to: Anna Ruth DeLoach at annaruth.c.deloach.civ@us.navy.mil.

NOTE 1 - Registration Requirements for Grants.gov: There are several one-time actions an organization must complete in order to submit an application through Grants.gov (e.g., obtain a Unique Entity ID (UEI) number, register with the credential provider, and register with Grants.gov). See http://grants.gov/applicants/get_registered.jsp to begin this process. Applicants, who are not registered with Grants.gov, should allow at least 21 days to complete these requirements. It is suggested that the process be started as soon as possible.

Customer Support: Questions relating to the registration process, system requirements, how an application form works, or the submittal process must be directed to Grants.gov at 1-800-518-4726 or support@grants.gov. The Contact Center is open from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Eastern time, Monday through Friday, except federal holidays, to address Grants.gov technology issues. If you are experiencing difficulties with your submission it is best to call the customer support desk and get a case number. The case number will assist the NAVFAC SW with tracking your issue and provide background information on the issue.

VERY IMPORTANT – Download Adobe Acrobat Reader: Adobe Reader is available for free to download from the Download Software page http://grants.gov/help/download_software.jsp .

V. Application Review Information All requirements listed are minimum requirements. Information provided must be recent (within last seven (7) years) and relevant. Applicants will be assessed on their ability to adhere to the listed requirements, follow directions, comply with restrictions and provide quality control on their submittals. All page limits refer to 12 point font and single spaced one-sided pages.

Factor 1 - Credentials of Key Personnel

For each person listed, the Recipient will provide a CV or resume up to five (5) pages in length. Material provided must clearly demonstrate the minimum experience levels described for each key personnel. Failure to clearly identify which projects or positions listed demonstrate each of the sub-bullets below and directly state time spent are likely to be found unacceptable.

The Recipient will provide a Principal Investigator (PI)/Project Manager (PM) to provide remote supervisory oversight of the Recipient’s employees. The PI/PM shall meet minimum qualifications by providing a CV or resume that demonstrates the level of each qualification and time spent on the demonstration.

The PI/PM shall have, at minimum:

At least five (5) years of professional research experience conducting and publishing genetic analyses, including having developed genetic markers for and analyzing genetic patterns.

A minimum of five (5) years of experience in a PI capacity.

The Recipient shall provide the Archaeologist and Wildlife Biologist after award and project launch. These are not considered key personnel, but the number and hours should be described in the budget and the approach.

Factor 2 – Approach

Not to exceed 6 pages, the Offeror shall develop an outline for their approach to addressing the anticipated work stated above. The Offeror shall be evaluated as to the soundness of the overall approach and use of any innovative techniques to accomplish project objectives.

Factor 3 - Reasonableness of Cost

After technical evaluation of the proposal, the offers will be analyzed for fair and reasonable pricing. The proposal will be analyzed to determine whether its pricing is materially/mathematically balanced, and is fair and reasonable. The Offeror shall use OMB Circular A-21 “Cost Principles for Institutions of Higher Education,”, 48 CFR part 31 “Contract Cost Principles and Procedures,” or 2 CFR 200 Subpart F “Audit Requirements” as applicable. Evaluations will include an analysis to determine the Offeror’s comprehension of the requirements of the solicitation as well as to assess the validity of the Offeror’s approach. A clear cost breakdown of work elements to be accomplished detailing quantities for the various work items, unit, unit prices and extended prices will be required and will be evaluated. Evaluation will include an analysis to determine the Offeror’s comprehension of the requirements of the proposed agreement as well as to assess the validity of the Offeror’s approach. Please be sure to provide a proposal for the optional years as listed within the statement of work. Please submit proposed budget form for each of the option years on separate research and related budget forms.

Please provide your proposed budget on the provided pdf titled, “Research and Related Budget” form*(Enclosure 5).

RELATIVE IMPORTANCE OF EVALUATION FACTORS – All factors are of equal importance.

2. Review and Selection Process Every deviation from the statement of objectives requirement must be identified.

Proposer must identify the paragraph in the statement of objectives that is applicable and provide sufficient information to justify why the deviation is in the best interest of the government.

All requirements listed are minimum requirements. Applicants will be assessed on their ability to adhere to the listed requirements, completeness of responses, follow directions, comply with restrictions and provide quality control on their submittals. All page limits refer to 12 point font and single spaced one-sided pages.

VI. Award Administration Information

1. Award Notices The notice of award addressed to the successful applicant and signed by the Grants Officer (or equivalent) will be forwarded via electronic transmission. Original copies of the Agreement will be enclosed for the successful applicant’s signature and return for the Grants Officer’s counter signature.

2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements The Terms and Conditions are posted as a separate document.

3. Reporting Reports/submittal information including frequency and means of submission are contained in the Statement of Objectives, posted as a separate document

VII. Agency Contact(s) All questions relating to this announcement shall be referred to:

Anna Ruth DeLoach, Contract Specialist Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command Southwest Environmental Panning and Conservation 750 Pacific Highway San Diego, CA 92132 Email: annaruth.c.deloach.civ@us.navy.mil Phone Office: 619-705-5548

VIII. Other Information The cost of preparing applications and/or proposals in response to this announcement is not considered an allowable direct charge to any award made under this funding opportunity. The Government is not obligated to make any award as a result of this announcement. Only the Grants Officer can bind the Government to the expenditure of funds.