bakersfield native habitat restoration.doc

UNITED STATES

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT

CALIFORNIA

BLM CA Youth Opportunities to Work on Conservation Projects throughout California Public Lands – Native Habitat Restoration – Youth Crew Public Lands Corps Act, 1993 (Amended 2005); PL 109-154; Title 16 U.S.C. Chapter 37, Subchapter II Sec 1721-1729, excluding Sec 1725 – Resource Assistant

This is a specific project for BLM CA Bakersfield Field Office under

MASTER

Funding Opportunity Announcement No. L15AS00154

15.231 - Fish, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Resource Management

Applicants are required to apply under the above Funding Opportunity Announcement through Grants.gov. All terms and conditions will remain the same. The only thing different will be the proposal format and evaluation criteria, see below:

Applications due by: August 10, 2015 at 8:00am California Time Contact Information: Leona B. Parker, California Grants Management Officer (GMO)

Phone: 530-252-5338, Email: Lparker@blm.gov Program Officer/Technical Contact: Jihadda Govan, Bakersfield Field Office/Atwell - Lead Natural Resource Specialist, Phone: 661-391-6187, Email: jgovan@blm.gov

SECTION I.

Project Titls: Native Habitat Restoration - Bakersfield Field Office Project Background Information: The BLM Bakersfield Office has a number of ongoing restoration projects, but there has always been an issue with getting enough genetically appropriate native seed, especially for the less common species or for the smaller restoration projects. Major restoration sites include the Carrizo Plain National Monument, the Atwell Island Project, and the Keysville Special Recreation Management Area (SRMA). We have a number of small projects in the intersection between Endangered species habitat and the San Joaquin Valley oilfields. In the past, we have been able to secure seed for the most common species by contracting with native seed companies, but have had no success in getting enough of the minor species we need to create site-specific seed mixes. These minor species are critical in reestablishing diversity in our restored landscapes, but occur in small amounts, mature over a longer period of time, and need to be collected by hand or with small equipment. There is also a problem in getting small amounts of the species we need for oilfield restoration needs and plant grow-out for campsite landscaping on the Keysville SRMA.

Project Objective: The Bakersfield Field Office has an opportunity to introduce youth to careers in the BLM under the Biological Reosurce Management area, specifically native habitat restoration. A small, dedicated youth crew, working closely with the Field Office Botanist, would collect seed for a variety of species to support our current and future restoration needs. This would give them expereience in seed collection and processing techniques, plant identification, and expose them to restoration concepts and methods. From this they will gain an increased appreciation and understanding of how to restore our public lands and of the value of public service, and are likely to become life-long advocates for those values. An expected outcome for BLM is an increase the diversity of native seed available for upcoming restoration projects.

Duties: Crews will locate populations of native plants suitable for harvesting seed and BLM will approve the collection. Once the fruits are ripe, seed will be collected by a variety of hand methods, using a lawn mower, or using a small hand-powered device called a “Seed Reaper”. Collected seed may be processed in a number of ways, including the use of electric powered seed cleaning machines. Seed will be bagged and labeled. Some seed mixes may be created for use in oilfield restoration. Vouchers specimens will be made for selected collections. These specimens will be pressed, dried, labeled and sent to selected herbaria as vouchers for the collections. Crews may spend a small amount of time on other resource projects as a way of furthering the education goals of this program.

Crew will work in a number of areas within the Field Office juridiction including the Carrizo Plain National Monument, the San Joaquin Valley, and the Southern Sierras.

Estimated Total Funding: FY 15 $32,000.00, additional funding will be added on modifications (only when funds are available and funds are not guaranteed every year).

Program/Project Performance Goals PE: JZ - Native Plant Materials Collection: 30 collections a.

Expose young men and women to public service, while furthering their experience, understanding, and appreciation of the Nation’s natural resources.

b.

Stimulate interest among the youth and young adults in conservation careers by exposing them to conservation professionals in land managing agencies, by providing a conservation project that qualifies for the noncompetitive hiring status for period of not more than 120 days.

c. Assist qualified Youth Conservation Corps in collecting native seed for restoration projects in environmentally important lands BLM’s Involvement: There will be substantive BLM programmatic involvement throughout the project. The Field Office Botanist will work closely with the crew to help identify potential collection locations, to arrange access to collection locations, and to secure the necessary collecting materials and equipment to collect native seed. The Botanist will also mentor the team by helping with plant identification and in providing instruction on seed collection and processing techniques. The Botanist will help arrange suitable camping areas when the crew is collecting on or near the Carrizo Plain National Monument. Recipients and the BLM will share responsibility for project management, control, and direction although the BLM will have the right to intervene by modifying the project management plan if the project is not staying on schedule or technical issues arise. BLM and recepient will meet on a weekly basis to discuss progress and plan collecting schedules.

Period of Performance: Work will generally occur during spring to early summer. Some work may occur during the summer and fall to collect seed for summer annuals or other plant species that fruit outside of the late spring season. BLM will work with the recipient to sent schedules after award.

a. Estimated Start Date: September 23, 2015 or upon award.

b. Estimated Period of Performance: From: September 23, 2015 or upon award To: September 30, 2019, if funds become available a modification can be processed to extend projects.

Qualification Requirements: Crew members should be in good physical health and able to work outside for a good part of the day. Applicants should be able to lift 40 lbs. and carry a 40 lb. bag across an uneven landscape. Applicants should be able to identify plants.

Housing: Agency cannot provide housing but may be able to assist in locating appropriate housing. BLM may upon their discretion provide a housing stipend. A personal vehicle is NOT required for the position but is strongly encouraged as it makes the applicant's days off much more enjoyable.

Section II – Reporting Requirements: (Refer to Full Announcement for details) A. SF425 – Federal Financial Report’s- semi-annual

B. Performance Report due semi-annual or at the end of the project

C. Youth Reporting due semi-annual to Program Officer

SECTION III. The Application Package – Also refer to Funding Opportunity Announcement Section D. Application and Submission Information for further detailed information.

Applications must include all required Standard Forms (SF) shown below, a Proposal (Attachment A), a Budget Detail with narrative (mandatory) (Attachment B), and a copy the applicant's approved federal agency Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (NICRA), if applicable. Non-governmental organizations that have not previously received award funds or have not had an active award within 3 (three) years must complete a Financial Assistance Evaluation Questionnaire. A copy of the questionnaire may be requested by contacting the individual(s) listed on the application coversheet.

WHAT TO SUBMIT:

SECTION III. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

Along with the above requirements listed: What to Submit- above through Grants.gov.

BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT

California State Office

Grants & Cooperative Agreements

PROJECT PROPOSAL

Instructions: A Project Proposal must be submitted with the Standard Form (SF) 424 Application for Financial Assistance for all Financial Assistance Agreements. A new proposal must be included with any request for modification which involves a revision to funding, project scope, period of performance, or key personnel.

Organization Name:

Name & Title of Person Submitting Proposal:

*If a specific start work date is needed with pre-award costs for specific BLM Project, contact BLM Program Officer (PO) to dicuss details, so PO can discuss with Grants Management Officer. Do not start work without prior approval from the Grants Management Officer, unless project is a specific project to your organization is already working on and you are requesting for further financial assistance.

1.

Purpose, Objectives, and Relevance:

(Describe why the project is needed, the applicant's objectives, how the applicant's objectives support their mission, and how this project benefits the general public.)

2.

Technical Approach:

(Describe how the project will be conducted. The project design must contain enough detail to show the development of the project, including the relationship between the partners, and objectives. Clearly describe the techniques, procedures, and methodologies to be used; the data collection, analysis, and means of interpretation; the expected program/project goals and/or outcomes; and the procedures for evaluating project effectiveness, including appropriate performance goals and the probabilities of obtaining them.)

The proposal must include the detailed project plan/schedule. The project plan must be supported by a narrative description of each of the activities to be undertaken. The schedule should include proposed work, reporting, major tasks, and project milestones including the identification of the anticipated start and ending dates of all major stages/tasks of the project proposal. The following table may be used to summarize the project schedule.

Start Date Planned Completion Date

3.

Qualifications, Experience, and Past Performance:

(Describe who will carry out the project activities. List all project personnel, including consultants, contractors, sub-recipients, etc., and their contact information. Describe your recruiting techniques in recruiting a diverse pool of candidates. Describe their responsibilities and the amount of time each will dedicate to the project. Briefly describe how their experience and qualifications are appropriate to successfully achieve the stated objectives and performance goals. Describe past completed natural and cultural youth conservation projects on public lands with accomplishments. Describe successful of your program placing qualified youth interns in conservation careers.)

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