P20AC00430 NGPN UWY Acoustic Monitoring of Bats Notice of Intent To Award_20200227.pdf

NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE: NOTICE OF INTENT TO AWARD

This announcement is not a request for applications.

This announcement is to provide public notice of the National Park Service’s intention to award financial assistance for the following project activities. Refer to Section 2. Grants.gov Posting Determination.

ABSTRACT

Grants.gov Opportunity Number Project Title Recipient Anticipated Federal Funding Non-Federal Cost Share Total Anticipated Award Amount

Award Instrument

Anticipated Period of Performance

Legal Authority

CFDA # and Title

Single Source Justification Criteria

National Park Service Point of Contact

PROJECT GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

STATEMENT OF PUBLIC PURPOSE

Section 1. Project Summary

Task Agreement Cooperative Agreement

Grant Agreement

STATEMENT OF WORK SUMMARY

RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE PARTIES

A. The recipient shall be responsible for the following items under this agreement:

B. The NPS Responsibilities:

A task agreement is proposed;

A cooperative agreement is proposed;

therefore substantial involvement by NPS is anticipated during the period of performance of this agreement. In support of this agreement NPS will:

A grant agreement is proposed, therefore no substantial involvement on the part of the NPS is anticipated for the successful completion of the statement of work. It is anticipated that involvement will be limited to actions related to monitoring project performance and technical assistance at the request of the recipient.

Section 3. Single Source Justification

NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

SINGLE SOURCE POLICY REQUIREMENTS

National Park Service Policy FAP&P 1443-2015-06 requires a written justification which explains why competition is not practicable. The justification must address one of the following criteria.

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. The unsolicited proposal must demonstrate an innovative capability or concept not currently available to the government, and prepared without Government involvement. ;

(2) Continuation – The activity to be funded is necessary to the satisfactory completion of, or is a continuation of, an activity presently being funded, 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, technical expertise, or other such unique qualifications. Successful past performance, familiarity with existing requirements, capabilities that can be obtained or matched by a competitor, or a positive reputation, are not considered to be 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.

NPS did not solicit full and open competition for this award based the following criteria:

Task Agreement issued under previously competed or single source master cooperative agreement per Section 2 above. Single Source Justification not applicable.

Continuation

Unique Qualifications

Unsolicited Proposal

Legislative Intent

Explanation of the proposed recipient’s qualifications or the criteria of the proposed project which requires use of the single source criteria cited.

Section 2. Grants.gov Posting Determination

Emergency

The National Park Service intends to award a task agreement under a previously competed or single source justified award.

The National Park Service intends to award a single source justified cooperative agreement. Refer to Section 3 Single Source Justification.

The National Park Service intends to award a single source justified grant agreement. Refer to Section 3 Single Source Justification.

Section 4. Department of the Interior Secretary’s Priorities

This award will support the following DOI Secretary priority(ies):

Other Key Initiatives:

Employment of veterans.

Supporting DOI Infrastructure needs.

Creating jobs in the American economy.

Access to outdoor recreation opportunities.

Priority 1: Creating a conservation stewardship legacy second only to Teddy Roosevelt Utilize science to identify best practices to manage land and water resources and adapt to changes in the environment.

Examine land use planning process and land use designations that govern public use and access.

Revise and streamline the environmental and regulatory review process while maintaining environmental standards.

Review DOI water storage, transportation, and distribution systems to identify opportunities to resolve conflicts and expand capacity.

Foster relationships with conservation organizations advocating for balanced stewardship and use of public lands.

Identify and implement initiatives to expand access to DOI lands for hunting and fishing.

Shift the balance towards providing greater public access to public lands over restrictions to access.

Priority 2: Utilizing our natural resources Ensure American energy is available to meet our security and economic needs.

Ensure access to mineral resources, especially the critical and rare earth minerals.

Refocus timber programs to embrace the entire 'healthy forests' lifecycle.

Manage competition for grazing resources.

Priority 3: Restoring trust with local communities Be a better neighbor with those closest to our resources by improving dialogue and relationships with persons and entities bordering our lands.

Expand the lines of communication with Governors, state natural resource offices, Fish and Wildlife offices, water authorities, county commissioners, Tribes, and local communities.

Priority 4: Ensuring sovereignty means something Support tribal self-determination, self-governance, and sovereignty.

Solidify mutual interests between the U.S. and the freely associated states and territories.

Priority 5: Generating additional revenues to support DOI & National interests Ensure that the public receives the full market value for the natural resources produced on Federal lands.

Ensure that fees or costs levied for DOI services are reasonable and targeted to achieve cost recovery.

Consider the impact of DOI decisions on economic development and job creation.

Priority 6: Protecting our people and the border Actively support efforts to secure our southern border.

Ensure DOI law enforcement staffing addresses public safety risks anticipated on DOI land.

Promote a "public service" demeanor within our law enforcement community.

Priority 7: Striking a regulatory balance

Reduce the administrative and regulatory burden imposed on U.S.

industry and the public.

Ensure that Endangered Species Act decisions are based on strong science and thorough analysis.

Priority 8: Modernizing our infrastructure Support the White House Public/Private Partnership Initiative to modernize U.S. infrastructure.

Remove impediments to infrastructure development and facilitate private sector efforts to construct infrastructure projects serving American needs.

Prioritize DOI infrastructure needs to highlight:

1. Construction of infrastructure;

2. Cyclical maintenance;

3. Deferred maintenance.

Senior executives are expected to provide leadership in achieving goals of the President and the Secretary.

The Management Team is expected to:

1. Ensure cost-effective operations and quality service to the public;

2. Facilitate organizational cooperation and conflict resolution;

3. Ensure the workplace environment is conducive to employee productivity and safety;

4. Hold individuals accountable for actions that violate DOI policies and requirements.

Priority 10: Achieving our goals and leading our team forward

The proposed project does not support any of the DOI Secretary priorities, but the project is being funded for the following reasons:

Priority 9: Reorganizing for the next 100 years

Improve alignment and integration of the DOI organizational structure. Redistribute organizational resources (people and funding) to enhance mission achievement and improved public service.

Improve organizational alignment with Executive Branch counterparts with major land management assets or influence.

NGPN will provide the analysis of the bat data in the form of an NPS Natural Resource Report and possibly a poster for ecological meetings. In addition, the Parks will share these findings and results through appropriate avenues, potentially including integration into interpretive messages, park’s Facebook page, etc.

Overview: WYNDD will use acoustic methods to monitor bats at 6 parks in the Northern Great Plains - Badlands NP, Jewel Cafe NM, Missouri NRR, Niobrara NSR, Theodore Roosevelt NP and Wind Cave NP under the continent-wide multi-agency North American Bat Monitoring Program (NABat) sampling frame and protocol. The primary objective is to monitor for temporal changes in abundance (as measured by an index of bat flyover activity).

A total of 14 NABat cells will be monitored. Four passive acoustic recorders will be deployed at points within each NABat cell for four to seven nights. The recorders will be configured to monitor bat activity throughout the night. In addition, at each NABat cell a 25-48 km long vehicle road survey will be conducted at least two nights. The road surveys start 30-45 minutes after sunset with the surveyor driving about 32 kph. A microphone is attached to the roof of the vehicle. The surveys will be conducted in the months of June-August. WYNDD will strive for as much year-to-year consistency as possible in terms of hardware, settings, and timing of surveys.

2. Issue the necessary NPS research permits for this study.

3. Participate and collaborate jointly with the WYNDD in carrying out the scope of work.

4. Provide a NPS technical representative to assist with specifics of the project as needed. The NPS technical representative and ATR will assist with project from start to completion of the report. NPS staff will contribute at least 80 hours of assistance.

5. Provide local knowledge and expertise to WYNDD on bats, previous studies, and habitat conditions at the park, and park staff.

6. Jointly participate in the development and review of the reports. NPS technical representative will complete species identification of the audio files for data analysis, and final reports.

7. NGPN will be responsible for final storage of the data.

8. Incorporating findings into I&M monitoring efforts and national level work; and

9. Provide will provide acoustic recorders and associated equipment (e.g., microphones, tripods, GPS).

Justification: NGPN is already working the the University of Wyoming - Wyoming Natural Diversity Database (WYNDD) doing acoustic monitoring of bats in 2016-2020 in six parks in the northern Great Plains. This project is a continuation of monitoring of bat populations conducted by the Wyoming Natural Diversity Database (WYNDD). The NGPN and WYNDD have been working together to monitor bats in network parks since 2015.

Ian Abernathy, the Principle Investigator, is the Lead Vertebrate Zoologist for WYNDD. He has lead the previous work with NGPN and other bat work at other NGPN parks and in the region with the USFS and BLM.

He is responsible for managing and conducting field research projects for sensitive animal species in Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming. His CV can be provided if needed.

a.

2. Provide a project supervisor competent in bat ecology. The supervisor is responsible for the supervision of the participants, controlling the analysis of the data, and for ensuring that the project is undertaken in a safe manner. Provide necessary training for field personnel.

3. Maintain frequent contact with the NPS Technical Representative and ATR.

4. Conduct point and road surveys in 6 parks for 2021-2024. The field work may be conducted by a student or technician level person, with guidance and oversight by a senior biologist knowledgeable of bat acoustic surveys.

5. Systematically collect and store data, including metadata such as deployment dates and times, hardware used, hardware configurations, and other relevant information (contact NGPN for specific data fields and forms). Data should be provided to NGPN as soon as is possible after completion of surveys.

6. By December 31, 2021 - 2024 an annual report that summarizes the field survey effort, the quantity and quality of data collected, and recommendations for future work based on field experiences will be completed. By June 1, 2025, a final report that summarizes field work will be completed.