AK_0085 NOI.pdf

NOTICE OF INTENT TO AWARD

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

ABSTRACT

Funding

Announcement

USGS-19-FA-0085

Project Title From Public Hazards to Key Drivers of Landscape Change:

Understanding the Role of Avalanches in Southeast Alaska

Recipient University of Alaska

Anticipated Federal

Amount $150,202

Cost Share 0

Total Anticipated

Award Amount $150,202

New Award or

Continuation?

New

Anticipated Period of Performance 6/3/19 through 6/2/2022

Award Instrument Cooperative Agreement

CFDA # and Title 15.820 National and Regional Climate Adaptation Science

Center/Climate Adaptation Science Centers

USGS Point of

Contact Steve Gray, sgray@usgs.gov

OVERVIEW

Avalanche hazard zones occur over a large area near Juneau, AK, extending from downtown

Juneau to the Snettisham power plant 50 km to the south, the Kensington Mine 60 km to the north, and the Eaglecrest Ski area 6 km to the west. However, in the Juneau area there are no consistent historical records of avalanche incidence, despite the clear impacts to public safety and commerce. Past research clearly demonstrates that the chronology of large magnitude avalanches can be inferred from tree-ring data. This technique not only allows for annual resolution dating of large magnitude avalanches but also a spatial reconstruction if sampled appropriately and strategically. Understanding the spatiotemporal behavior of avalanches and the contributory climate and weather factors in Juneau will ultimately improve avalanche forecasting efforts, including operations involving avalanche terrain that impact transportation, utility, and mining corridors.

RECIPIENT INVOLVEMENT

The University of Alaska (UA) will build on its capacity to gather, summarize, and distribute information on snowpack change and avalanche hazards for use in numerous applications across

Alaska. UA will gather the underlying data, provide technical expertise related to product development, and oversee distribution of resulting products.

USGS INVOLVEMENT

Substantial involvement on the part USGS is anticipated for the successful completion of the objectives to be funded by this award. In particular, USGS will be responsible for the following:

- Acting in cooperation with scientists from UA, the Department of the Interior Alaska

Climate Adaptation Science Center (DOI AK CASC) will assist with development of requirements for resulting datasets and products and strategies for the distribution of these products;

- DOI AK CASC staff will directly participate in the field sampling and analysis portions of this work; and

- DOI AK CASC will coordinate with other related Alaska region climate research projects.

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.

(6) Cooperative Agreements - USGS Unique Authority cited at 43 U.S.C. 36d (Federal, State, and academic partners) or DOI Authority cited at 43 U.S.C. 1457b (not-for-profit organizations).

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

(2) CONTINUATION

(4) UNIQUE QUALIFICATIONS

(6) COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS

Single Source Justification Description:

(2) CONTINUATION – The research conducted under this project is a direct extension of work originally supported under a previous agreement with UA. As such, UA is uniquely positioned in terms of further development and analysis of these datasets. Under its competitive agreement to host the DOI AK CASC, UA has also proven that it is highly capable of performing such work, and so is the sole, logical choice for a partnership to address these needs.

(4) UNIQUE QUALIFICATIONS - UA is uniquely qualified to perform the activities described above based upon a variety of demonstrable factors such as location, voluntary support capacity, cost-sharing ability, and technical expertise. In particular, UA has extensive experience in developing the datasets that will form the basis of this new project, and so they are uniquely qualified to further develop products and applications from this information. Additionally UA has proven over prior awards that it is highly capable of performing this work.

STATUTORY AUTHORITY

USGS Unique Authority cited at 43 U.S.C. 36d (Federal, State and academic partners) and

Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2008, Div. F, Title I, P.L. 110-161.

§ 36d. Cooperative agreements: Notwithstanding the provisions of the Federal Grant and

Cooperative Agreement Act of 1977 (31 U.S.C. 6301–6308), the United States Geological

Survey is authorized to continue existing, and on and after November 10, 2003, to enter into new cooperative agreements directed towards a particular cooperator, in support of joint research and data collection activities with Federal, State, and academic partners funded by appropriations herein, including those that provide for space in cooperator facilities.