NOI_USGS-20-FA-0124.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-20-FA-0124

Project Title Visualization and Summary of Climate Impacts Research to Inform Resource Management Decision-Making (CASC Project Explorer)

Recipient University of Alaska – Fairbanks Anticipated Federal Amount $45,545

Cost Share $0 Total Anticipated Award Amount $45,545

New Award or Continuation? New Award

Anticipated Period of Performance 05/01/2020-04/30/2025

Award Instrument Cooperative Agreement CFDA # and Title 15.820 National Climate Adaptation Science Center USGS Point of Contact

Project Officer: Emily Fort, National Coordinator for Information Technology and Data Management, National Climate Adaptation Science Center, efort@usgs.gov

Grant Specialist: Maylily Son Le, Office of Acquisition and Grants, mle@usgs.gov

OVERVIEW

The Climate Adaptation Science Centers (CASCs) conduct science that directly addresses the informational needs of natural and cultural resource managers across the country. Projects cover topics that address the impacts of changing climate conditions on fish, wildlife, ecosystems, & the communities they support. The CASC network has funded approximately 500 science projects at many institutions across a wide variety of climate impacts and adaption related topics.

To help communicate the results of our science and enable our partners and stakeholders to understand and use our scientific findings, it’s important to share that scientific information and data in an easy to use manner. This project will support the visualization and summarization of CASC science to allow resource managers a way to easily search for and find needed science to mailto:mlangston@usgs.gov mailto:mle@usgs.gov inform on-the-ground decision making. This project will provide managers with a better understanding of our science and access to results and products. This project supports Secretarial Priority 1 (creating a conservation stewardship legacy) by providing an easy visualization and summary of our science to enable our stakeholders to find the scientific information needed to inform important land and water conservation decisions and to help natural resources adapt to changes. This project will benefit Department of the Interior resource management agencies (National Park Service (NPS), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), and Bureau of Land Management (BLM)) by ensuring that they have access to cutting-edge scientific information.

RECIPIENT INVOLVEMENT

The University of Alaska – Fairbanks (UAF) will be an important partner in this work. They will provide hosting and support for the CASC project explorer website. They will also provide software development and user design expertise and capacity. Finally, they will provide mechanisms for us to test and provide quality assurance of the CASC Project Explorer website.

USGS INVOLVEMENT

Substantial involvement on the part of USGS is anticipated for the successful completion of the objectives of this award. There will be regular meetings with UAF staff to provide guidance.

USGS personnel will work closely with UAF staff to identify software development needs and potential solutions. After the software has been developed, USGS will test the product, provide feedback, and ensure it works as intended. USGS personnel act as an expert user base to provide feedback and make sure the needs of our users are met. USGS has the power to immediately halt an activity if performance expectations are not met.

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:

(4) UNIQUE QUALIFICATIONS

(6) COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS - USGS Unique Authority cited at 43 U.S.C. 36d.

Single Source Justification Description:

(4) UNIQUE QUALIFICATIONS - University of Alaska-Fairbanks is uniquely qualified to perform the activities described above based on a variety of demonstrable factors such as technical expertise, technical capacity, cost-sharing ability, and voluntary support capacity. In particular, the UAF team has extensive experience developing scientific software. They have the infrastructure, staffing capacity, and extensive experience working with the CASC program, scientists, and natural resource managers so that the product meets the needs of the program and the users.

(6) COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS- USGS Unique Authority cited at 43 U.S.C. 36d.

STATUTORY AUTHORITY

Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2008, Div. F, Title I, P.L. 110-161 USGS Unique Authority cited at 43 U.S.C. 36d (Federal, State and academic partners).

§ 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