ccs blm az cpcesu pakoon springs.pdf

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

FUNDING OPPORTUNITY ANNOUNCEMENT

for

Federal Financial Assistance

CONTACT INFORMATION:

Eddie W Bell Jr Grants Management Officer

Telephone: 602-417-9268, Email: ebell@blm.gov

FUNDING OPPORTUNITY TITLE:

BLM-(Arizona), CCS BLM AZ CPCESU Pakoon

Springs Rehabilitation Project-Riparian Monitoring

(AZ Strip)

FUNDING OPPORTUNITY NUMBER:

L15AS00125

ANNOUNCEMENT TYPE:

Request for Applications

Issued (Date): 21 May 2015

Modification No. 00

Issued (Date)

CFDA NUMBER & TITLE:

15.238 - Challenge Cost Share

LEGISLATIVE AUTHORITY:

Challenge Cost Share, 31 U.S.C. 6305, P.L.

101-512, Title I, FEDERAL LAND POLICY

AND MANAGEMENT ACT OF 1976, 43

USC 1737, Public Law 94-579, as amended.

Section 1737

DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION OF APPLICATIONS:

20 July 2015, 17:00 p.m. Local Time

BLM Funding Opportunity No. L15AS00125

Project Title CCS BLM AZ CPCESU Pakoon Springs Rehabilitation Project-

Riparian Monitoring

Version 1 1/2015

A. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

1. Authority

This Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Federal Financial Assistance Funding

Opportunity is being announced under the following legislative authority:

Challenge Cost Share, 31 U.S.C. 6305, P.L. 101-512, Title I, The Bureau is authorized hereafter to negotiate and enter into cooperative agreements with public and private agencies, organizations, institutions, and individuals, to implement challenge cost share programs.

The Challenge Cost Share Program works through cooperative partners to help accomplish high priority work to support habitat improvement, comprehensive travel management, recreation and cultural projects. The types of projects that can be funded include monitoring and inventory of resources; implementing habitat improvement or projection projects; developing threatened and endangered species recovery plans; protecting, stabilizing or documenting cultural resources; travel management, including managing off-highway vehicle use; and providing enhanced recreational experiences, including visitor services, information, and facilities for public health and safety.

Statutory formulas are not applicable to this program.

Matching Requirements: This program has statutory requirement for non-federal cost share funds or in-kind service requirements. Funds are required to be cost-shared one non-federal dollar for each federal dollar per State office. The matching funds must be non-federal in origin.

MOE requirements are not applicable to this program.

FEDERAL LAND POLICY AND MANAGEMENT ACT OF 1976, 43 USC

1737, Public Law 94-579, as amended. Section 1737. Implementation provisions.

(b) Contracts and cooperative agreements. Subject to the provisions of applicable law, the Secretary may enter into contracts and cooperative agreements involving the management, protection, development, and sale of public lands

2. Description of Program and/or Project

a. Background:

Pakoon Springs Ranch was a working ranch for nearly a century, with cattle ranching, alfalfa production, and ostrich farming. The landscape was severely altered by development. The approximately 10 springs were dug and developed into ponds to store water for domestic use and to irrigate agricultural fields. The springs, riparian areas, and agricultural fields were overrun by non-native, invasive plant and animal species. In 2004, the ranch was acquired by BLM. The current BLM direction for management of riparian areas is to "Maintain, restore, or improve riparian areas to achieve a healthy and productive ecological condition for maximum long-term benefits." To that end, over the last 11 years restoration work has been performed by the BLM and public and private partners. The structures, vehicles, refuse, and scrap metal was removed from the property by the BLM in March 2005. SHPO clearance was obtained by the BLM for the site in 2006. Arizona Water Protection Fund grants

#06-137WP (2006-2009) involved a 10 acre pilot project restoration are centered on the spring’s complex. Arizona Water Protection Fund grant # 0400 expanded the project to a 50-60 acre area.

b. Objectives:

1) The purpose of this project is to monitor the effectiveness of the project to date in restoring healthy ecosystem functions .Active landscape and vegetation manipulation over the last 11 years has been driven by the attempt to restore ecosystem functions associated with a natural Mojave Desert spring complex. To determine how well the project has done this, monitoring of key aspects

(vegetation, aquatic and terrestrial invertebrates, avifauna, herpetofauna, small mammals, water quality and flow) and comparison with previous conditions and desired future conditions for the spring will help guide the final stages of the larger project. This monitoring will also be used by other agencies to assess whether Pakoon Springs is ready for reintroducing candidate special status species such as Grand Wash Spring Snail and Relict Leopard Frog. Since this monitoring will begin within a year of the last major earthmoving event, it is a baseline to use to test all future species composition and water quality questions.

2) Provide field/laboratory learning experiences for youth interested in disciplines associated with ecosystem rehabilitation and riparian areas (hydrology, botany, entomology, etc.) Aquatic systems in the desert southwest are primarily controlled by permittees and state and federal agencies. Access for youth/student research and learning opportunities can be extremely limited due to a variety of factors including concerns over potential damage to fragile systems or species. Pakoon

Springs represents a system in flux, with no known fragile species (at this time).

As such, the combination of federal control of the water right and a system already damaged, but healing, provides an opportunity for youth to learn necessary techniques in the field that they might otherwise not have a chance to encounter until their professional lives. There is a minimal risk as far as fears for a youth learner that they might “break something” and an excellent opportunity to experience spring ecosystems that might otherwise be off-limits. In addition, Pakoon Springs has a variety of habitats, from spring mounds, to seeps, to channels to what could be called a perennial stream. This variety provides in one location the opportunity for learning different techniques for data collection and study design in all the disciplines the monitoring will cover. Complementary lab techniques that will be part of the monitoring can be taught to youth. Again, because of the status of Pakoon Springs, larger samples than would normally be considered can be taken so many youth/students can practice techniques in the lab.

c. Public Benefit:

Public benefits from this project include the lessons-learned during the rehabilitation process of an arid land spring system (still an evolving field) that will be provided for public use, a site for youth interested in rehabilitation/restoration work to learn the field and laboratory techniques integral to their disciplines, and increase involvement in and understanding of public lands stewardship.

3. Program/Project Performance Goals

M1G1S1.06 Number of DOI (upland + wetland) acres restored to the condition specified in management plans

B. FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION

1. Award Instrument

a. Successful applicants shall be awarded a Cooperative Agreement.

b. If a cooperative agreement is used, substantive Bureau of Land Management

(BLM) involvement will consist of the following: The BLM Program Officer

(PO) will collaborate with the recipient's Project Manager/Principal Investigator

(RPM/PI) to manage all stages of project development, implementation, and evaluation. Responsibility for project management, control, and direction will be shared by the recipient and the BLM, however the BLM will have the right to intervene by modifying the project management plan if the project is not staying on schedule and/or technical issues arise.

2. Expected Number of Awards

One (1) Cooperative Agreement

3. Total Funding Expected to be Awarded through this Announcement

$50,000.00

4. Expected Individual Award Amounts $50,000.00

5. Anticipated Start Date August 2015

6. Anticipated Period of Performance (Two (2) years maximum)

From: Aug 2015

To: July 2017

7. No Obligation to Award

The BLM is under no obligation to award funds for this project. Only BLM Grants

Management Officers (GMO) may obligate funds for financial assistance.

C. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

1. Eligible Applicants

The following types of entities are eligible to apply for award under this announcement. Failure to meet eligibility requirements will result in precluding the

BLM from making an award. Eligible applicant types are:

• Unrestricted, anyone may apply

(Challenge Cost Share Program, 1:1 Matching)

2. Cost Sharing or Matching

Non-federal partners are expected to match BLM Challenge Cost Share Program

(CCSP) funds at or near one-to-one (1:1) for their respective projects. If there is more than one non-federal partner for a project their total contributions may be combined to meet the 1:1 cost share goal.

3. Other Eligibility Restrictions

CESU agreement

This financial assistance opportunity is being issued under a Cooperative Ecosystem

Studies Unit (CESU) program. CESUs are partnerships that provide research, technical assistance, and education. Under a CESU agreement recipient indirect costs are limited to a rate of no more than 17.5% of direct costs under the terms and conditions of the <CP CESU Region> Master CESU agreement.

D. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

1. Application Package This announcement includes all information, documents, and electronic addresses needed to submit an application through www.Grants.gov. Paper copies may be requested by contacting the individual(s) listed on the application coversheet.

2. DUNS Number and SAM Registration

Each applicant (unless the applicant is an individual or Federal awarding agency that is excepted from those requirements under 2 CFR § 25.110(b) or (c), or has an exception approved by the Federal awarding agency under 2 CFR § 25.110(d)) is required to:

a. Provide a valid DUNS number (Dun & Bradstreet Universal Numbering

System) on its application. DUNS numbers are nine-digit numbers established and assigned by Dun and Bradstreet, Inc. (D&B) to uniquely identify business entities. DUNS numbers may be obtained free of charge from Dun & http://www.grants.gov/

Bradstreet, Inc., at: http://fedgov.dnb.com/webform or by calling them at (877)

930-5228.

b. Be registered in SAM (System for Award Management, www.SAM.gov) before submitting its application. SAM is the Official U.S. Government system that consolidated the capabilities of CCR/FedReg, ORCA, and EPLS. There is no fee to register at this site. Register in the System for Award Management

(SAM) at: http://www.sam.gov.

c. Continue to maintain an active SAM registration with current information at all times during which the applicant has an active Federal award or an application or plan under consideration by a Federal awarding agency.

3. The Application Package

Applications must include all required Standard Forms (SF) shown below, a Proposal

(Attachment A), a Budget Detail (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:

Form Name and Number

SF-424 Application for Federal Assistance

SF-424A Budget Information - Non-Construction Programs

SF-424B Assurances - Non-Construction Programs

Grants.gov Lobbying Form

Project Proposal (Attachment A)

Budget Detail (Attachment B)

Federal Agency-approved Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate

Agreement (NICRA, if applicable)

Financial Assistance Evaluation Questionnaire (if applicable)

a. Project Proposal (Attachment A)

1) Attachment B is a suggested project proposal template and may be used when submitting your proposal. The proposal must be no longer than 15 pages, with a type-face no smaller than 11-point, and have at least one (1) http://fedgov.dnb.com/webform http://www.sam.gov/ http://www.sam.gov/ inch margins on all sides. The 15 page limit includes all text, figures, references, and vitae, but does not include the Budget Detail (Attachment

B).

2) All proposals are confidential.

b. Budget Detail (Attachment B)

1) Use the Budget Detail form (Attachment B) to present the breakdown of your estimated costs by category needed to accomplish project activities.

Estimated costs should be described in sufficient detail so that they may be checked for reasonableness. Include a description of any cost share (cash, in-kind, etc.) listed. Lump sum costs are not acceptable in any category, without a detail breakdown of how the cost were arrived out. No profit or fees are allowable.

2) Budget details should be broken down into the following categories:

(a) Personnel Costs. Salaries or wages of employees working directly on this agreement project, indicate program manager and other key personnel by name and title. Other personnel may be indicated by title alone. For all positions, indicate salaries or wages and estimated hours or percent of time to be spent on the agreement.

(b) Fringe Benefit Costs. The costs of fringe benefits of employees working directly on this agreement project. Indicate rates/amounts, what costs are included in this category, and the basis of the rate computations. Federally approved rate agreements are acceptable for compliance with this item.

(c) Travel Costs. The estimated costs for travel related to agreement activities. Include the purpose of trip, destination, number of persons traveling, length of stay, and all travel costs including airfare, per diem, lodging, and miscellaneous travel-related expenses.

For local travel, include mileage and rate of compensation. If applicable, indicate that the costs are per your organization's written travel policy. Current Federal per diem rates (the maximum allowances that federal employees are reimbursed for expenses incurred while on official travel) may be found at http://www.gsa.gov/portal/content/104877.

(d) Equipment Costs. Equipment is defined as expendable tangible personal property having a useful life of more than one (1) year and an acquisition cost of more than $5,000.00, or a value which reaches the capitalization threshold level established by the organization for financial statement purposes.

http://www.gsa.gov/portal/content/104877

(e) Supply Costs. The costs of consumable supplies and materials to be used for agreement activities. List each item and quantity individually.

(f) Contractual Costs. Include estimated costs of proposed professional and technical consultants and contractors participating on the project.

Identify all work that will be accomplished, including a breakdown of all tasks to be completed, and a detailed budget estimate of time, rates, supplies, and materials that will be required for each task. Any changes or additions will require a request for approval.

Procurement procedures must comply with 2 CFR Parts 200.317 through 200.326.

(g) Construction Costs. The cost of any construction directly related to the project activities.

(h) Other Costs. The cost of items not listed above and which do not fit in any other category, such as the cost of duplicating and printing, equipment rental, postage, etc. No profit or fee will be allowed.

(i) Total Direct Costs. The sum of categories (a) through (h).

(j) Indirect Costs.

(1) If indirect costs will be charged to the project, complete this section and show the proposed rate, cost base, and proposed amount for allowable indirect costs. It is not acceptable to simply incorporate indirect rates within other direct cost line items.

(2) Include a copy of any federally approved negotiated indirect cost rate agreement (NICRA).

(3) If your organization has never had a NICRA, the BLM Grants

Management Officer (GMO) may allow an indirect cost rate of up to 10% of your base modified total direct costs (MTDC).

MTDC includes all salaries and wages, fringe benefits, materials and supplies, services, travel, and subgrants and subcontracts up to the first $25,000 of each. Include the computational basis for the indirect expense pool and corresponding allocation base for your rate.

(4) Information on obtaining a NICRA, "Preparing and Submitting

Indirect Cost Proposals," is available from the Department of the Interior, National Business Center, Indirect Cost Section, at http://www.aqd.nbc.gov/services/ICS.aspx.

(k) Total Costs. The total of both direct and indirect costs estimated to be expended on this agreement's activities.

4. Submission Dates and Times

See announcement cover sheet for the deadline (20 July 2015 @ 17:00) for submission of applications. Applications must be received by the BLM prior to the posted deadline. Any application received after the deadline for submission may not be considered for award unless it can be determined the delay was caused by Federal government mishandling.

5. Application Submission via www.grants.gov

The Bureau of Land Management participates in the Grants.gov initiative which provides the Grant Community with a single website, www.grants.gov, to search for and apply for all federal grant opportunities.

a. All applicants should register at www.Grants.Gov and all applications should be submitted electronically through www.Grants.gov unless other arrangements are made and approved of in advance of the submission deadline. If you have any questions or problems with the registration or application submission process, contact the Grants.gov Help Desk at 1-800-518-4726, or go to http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/support/technical-support/troubleshooting.html for online help.

b. Applications submitted through www.Grants.gov are considered to be electronically signed applications.

E. APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION

1. Application Screening

Applications and proposals submitted in response to this funding opportunity announcement will be screened to determine they meet basic eligibility, completeness, and timeliness requirements (see D. APPLICATION AND

SUBMISSION INFORMATION) before being reviewed for risk and merit.

2. Basic Eligibility Screening

a. Applications will be screened by the Grants Management Officer to ensure that applications meet basic eligibility requirements. Depending on the specifics of the opportunity, screening may include, but is not limited to, the following:

1) Program and/or legislative authority requirements are met;

2) Submission is timely;

http://www.aqd.nbc.gov/services/ICS.aspx http://www.grants.gov/ http://www.grants.gov/ http://www.grants.gov/ http://www.grants.gov/ http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/support/technical-support/troubleshooting.html http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/support/technical-support/troubleshooting.html http://www.grants.gov/

3) Complete and properly executed SF-424 application package documents

(see D. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION) are included;

b. Applications must satisfy basic eligibility screening requirements to be considered for further review.

3. Risk Management and Merit Review Evaluation

a. Risk Management.

1) The BLM uses a risk-based approach to evaluate the risk posed by supporting applicants' projects before it awards Federal funds.

2) Prior to making a Federal award, the BLM is required to review information available through OMB-designated eligibility and/or financial integrity databases, such as the Federal Awardee Performance and

Integrity Information System (FAPIIS). The BLM considers factors such as:

(a) Financial stability;

(b) Quality of management systems;

(c) History of performance managing Federal awards, timeliness of compliance with reporting requirements, conformance to the terms and conditions of previous Federal awards, etc.;

(d) Reports and findings from audits performed; and

(e) The applicant’s ability to effectively implement statutory, regulatory, or other requirements imposed on non-Federal entities.

3) If the BLM determines that a Federal award will be made, special conditions that correspond to the degree of risk assessed may be applied to the Federal award.

b. Merit Review Evaluation. Eligible applications will be evaluated in an objective and unbiased manner using the following merit review criteria using numerical scoring based on a 100 point maximum score.

1) Purpose and Objectives (Maximum score _30__/100 Points):

(a) Describe the applicant's mission and objectives

(b) How this project will provide a benefit to the public (with emphasis on youth benefits)

2) Technical Approach (Maximum score __40_/100 Points):

(a) Describe how the proposed objectives will be achieved in accordance with the

Project Management Plan

(b) Detail development of the project plans

(c) Describe the tasks and relationships of the partners

(d) Detail any significant milestones and how they'll be measured

(e) Describe the techniques, processes, methodologies to be used

(f) Detail the data collection, analysis, and means of interpretation

(g) Describe how the work will be accomplished within the proposed period of performance

3. Qualifications, Experience, Past Performance (Maximum score _30__/100 Points):

(a) List key project personnel and their contact information

(b) Describe their responsibilities, time to be dedicated to the project, and how their experience and qualifications are appropriate to success of the project

(c) List contractors and consultants, if known, and their qualifications

(d) List past projects with federal involvement and outcomes

4. Budget (Not scored):

(a) Budget details and narrative must provide adequate explanation of, and justification for, each estimated cost

(b) Budget line items must be allowable, allocable, reasonable in price, and appropriate for the level of effort needed to accomplish the project

(c) Requested equipment must be justified and necessary for completion of the project

(d) Cost Sharing/Matching funds must not come from Federal funds

4. Application Selection Process

a. Applications eligible for merit review will be evaluated by an ad hoc evaluation team assembled to review, rate, rank, and recommend applications for award using the above evaluation criteria. Evaluation teams are made up of two or more qualified personnel familiar with the program and who have been certified to have no conflict of interest with any persons or organizations applying for award.

b. Reviews are treated as confidential documents. Once award decisions are made, applicants may request in writing a written summary of the evaluation of their application/proposal.

F. FEDERAL AWARD ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION

1. Uniform Guidance (Effective December 26, 2014)

On December 26, 2013, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) published its

Final Rule for the Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit

Requirements for Federal Awards with guidance for agency implementation (see 2

CFR Part 200 and Federal Register Volume 78, No. 248). The Uniform Guidance streamlines the Federal Government's administrative requirements, cost principles, and audit requirements for Federal awards including grants and cooperative agreements. The Uniform Guidance supersedes OMB Circulars A-21, A-87, A-110, and A-122; Circulars A-89, A-102, and A-133; and the guidance in Circular A-50, Audit Follow-up.) The Uniform Guidance provides a government-wide framework for Federal awards management, and is a key component of a larger Federal effort to more effectively focus Federal resources on improving Federal awards performance and outcomes while ensuring the financial integrity of taxpayer dollars in partnership with non-Federal stakeholders. This OMB guidance reform will reduce the administrative burden for non-Federal financial assistance recipients while reducing the risk of waste, fraud and mismanagement.

2. Federal Award Notices

a. Any award made from this announcement will be based on the application submitted to, and as approved by, the Department of the Interior, Bureau of

Land Management, and will be regulated by OMB's Uniform Guidance, 2 CFR

Part 200 Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit

Requirements for Federal Awards.

b. Acceptance. Acceptance is defined as the start of work, drawing down of funds, or accepting the award via electronic means. Costs may not be incurred before the effective date listed on the award. Acceptance of a Federal Financial

Assistance award from the Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land

Management, carries with it the responsibility to be aware of, and comply with, the administrative and national policy requirements and terms and conditions of

3. Reporting

Periodic submission of Federal Financial reports (SF-425), Performance/Progress reports, and Youth Employment reports (if applicable) will be required under this financial assistance agreement. Submission of financial and performance/progress reports may be required either quarterly, semi-annually, or annually. Submission of youth employment reports (if applicable) is required quarterly.

4. Administrative and National Policy Requirements

a. Office of Management and Budget Guidance for Grants and Agreements. By accepting additional Federal funding under the current Federal assistance, your http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=f575cf74b2713032873150bdb0dc01d4&node=2:1.1.2.2.1&rgn=div5#se2.1.200_1113 http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=f575cf74b2713032873150bdb0dc01d4&node=2:1.1.2.2.1&rgn=div5#se2.1.200_1113 http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=f575cf74b2713032873150bdb0dc01d4&node=2:1.1.2.2.1&rgn=div5#se2.1.200_1113 organization agrees to abide by the applicable OMB Guidance for Grants and

Agreement in the expenditure of Federal funds and performance under this program. OMB guidance is available at the following web site:

http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=954b81d94bf127c6de3c76a3c99d8d9f&tpl=/ecfrbrowse/Title02/2subt itleA.tpl

b. Administrative Requirements.

1) 2 CFR Part 200 Subparts A through D - Uniform Administrative

Requirements and Cost Principles.

2) 2 CFR Part 200 Subpart F - Audit Requirements. Non-Federal entities that expend $750,000.00, or more, in federal awards in a single year shall have a single or program-specific audit conducted for that year in accordance with the Single Audit Act Amendments of 1996 (31 U.S.C. 7501-7507) and revised OMB Circular A-133, available at:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/circulars_default.

3) Indirect Facilities and Administration (F&A) Costs.

(a) 2 CFR Part 200.414 - Indirect (F&A) Costs

(b) 2 CFR, Appendix III to Part 200 - Indirect (F&A) Costs Identification and Assignment, and Rate Determination for Institutions of Higher

Education (IHEs)

(c) Appendix IV to Part 200 - Indirect (F&A) Costs Identification and

Assignment, and Rate Determination for Nonprofit Organizations

(d) Appendix V to Part 200 - State/Local Government-wide Central

Service Cost Allocation Plans

(1) The provisions of 2 CFR 200.414(c) require Federal agencies to accept federally negotiated indirect cost rates. The BLM has applied the following policies, procedures and general decision-making criteria for deviations from negotiated Indirect

Cost Rates for financial assistance programs and agreements.

(2) Distribution Basis. For all deviations to the Federal negotiated indirect cost rate, including statutory, regulatory, programmatic, and voluntary, the basis of direct costs against which the indirect cost rate is applied must be:

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(i) The same base identified in the recipient’s negotiated indirect cost rate agreement, if the recipient has a federally negotiated indirect cost rate agreement; or

(ii) The Modified Total Direct Cost (MTDC) base in cases where the recipient does not have a federally negotiated indirect cost rate agreement or, with prior approval of the

Awarding Agency, when the recipient's federally negotiated indirect cost rate agreement base is only a subset of the MTDC (such as salaries and wages) and the use of the MTDC still results in an overall reduction in the total indirect cost recovered. MTDC is the base defined by 2 CFR 200.68, "Modified Total Direct Cost

(MTDC)."

(iii) In cases where the recipient does not have a federally negotiated indirect cost rate agreement, under no circumstances will the Department use a modified rate based upon Total Direct Cost or other base not identified in the federally negotiated indirect cost rate agreement or defined within 2 CFR 200.68. The purpose of this restriction is to ensure that the reduced rate is applied against a base that does not include any potentially distorting items (such as pass-through funds, subcontracts in excess of $25,000, and participant support costs) and is based on the requirements outlined in 2 CFR 200.68; 2

CFR 200.414(f); 2 CFR 200 Appendix III, Section C.2.; 2

CFR 200 Appendix IV, Section B.3.f.; and Appendix VII, Section C.2.c.

(3) Indirect Cost Rate Reductions Used as Cost-Share. Instances where the recipient elects to use a rate lower than the federally negotiated indirect cost rate, and uses the balance of the unrecovered indirect costs to meet a cost-share or matching requirement required by the program and/or statute, are not considered a deviation from 2 CFR 200.414(c) as the federally negotiated indirect cost rate is being applied under the agreement in order to meet the terms and conditions of the

c. Program Legislation and/or Regulations.

5. Standard Award Terms and Conditions

a. Code of Federal Regulations/Regulatory Requirements, as applicable (contact your program officer with any questions regarding the applicability of the following):

1) 2 CFR Part 25, Universal Identifier and Central Contractor Registration

2) 2 CFR Part 170, Reporting Subawards and Executive Compensation

3) 2 CFR Part 175, Award Term for Trafficking in Persons

4) 2 CFR Part 1400, Government-wide Debarment and Suspension (Non-procurement)

5) 2 CFR Part 1401, Requirements for Drug-Free Workplace (Financial

Assistance)

6) 43 CFR 18, New Restrictions on Lobbying: Submission of an application also represents the applicant’s certification of the statements in 43 CFR

Part 18, Appendix A, Certification Regarding Lobbying.

7) 41 USC §4712, Pilot Program for Enhancement of Recipient and Sub-recipient Employee Whistleblower Protection: This requirement applies to all awards issued after July 1, 2013 and shall be in effect until January 1, 2017.

8) 41 USC §6306, Prohibition on Members of Congress Making Contracts with Federal Government: No member of or delegate to the United States

Congress or Resident Commissioner shall be admitted to any share or part of this award, or to any benefit that may arise therefrom; this provision shall not be construed to extend to an award made to a corporation for the public’s general benefit.

9) Executive Order 13513, Federal Leadership on Reducing Text Messaging while Driving: Recipients are encouraged to adopt and enforce policies that ban text messaging while driving, including conducting initiatives of the type described in section 3(a) of the order.

b. Funding.

1) Awards shall be funded subject to availability of BLM funding. Initial funding does not guarantee additional funding in subsequent years.

2) Once the grant or cooperative agreement is signed by a BLM Grants

Management Officer (GMO), funding is obligated and the recipient may incur approved costs beginning on the effective date of the award and as specified in their submitted and approved budget.

c. Payment Mechanism. BLM requires the use of the United States Department of the Treasury, Financial Management System, Automated Standard Application for Payment system (ASAP). The ASAP system (https://www.asap.gov) is a recipient-initiated, on-line payment and information system. The timing and http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?tpl=/ecfrbrowse/Title02/2cfr25_main_02.tpl http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?tpl=/ecfrbrowse/Title02/2cfr170_main_02.tpl http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?tpl=/ecfrbrowse/Title02/2cfr175_main_02.tpl http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=74f91e8c85c28667e39572636b821d9a&tpl=/ecfrbrowse/Title02/2chapterXIV.tpl http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=b7542f5c74f31abe396769b00c9b6701&tpl=/ecfrbrowse/Title02/2chapterXIV.tpl http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?tpl=/ecfrbrowse/Title43/43cfr18_main_02.tpl http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?c=ecfr&SID=3c84a6bc95b634bb2fbe00af8b34d364&rgn=div9&view=text&node=43:1.1.1.1.18.6.124.3.9&idno=43 http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?c=ecfr&SID=3c84a6bc95b634bb2fbe00af8b34d364&rgn=div9&view=text&node=43:1.1.1.1.18.6.124.3.9&idno=43 http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?c=ecfr&SID=3c84a6bc95b634bb2fbe00af8b34d364&rgn=div9&view=text&node=43:1.1.1.1.18.6.124.3.9&idno=43 http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/USCODE-2012-title41/pdf/USCODE-2012-title41-subtitleI-divsnC-chap47-sec4712.pdf http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/USCODE-2011-title41/html/USCODE-2011-title41-subtitleII-chap63-sec6306.htm http://www.whitehouse.gov/the_press_office/Executive-Order-Federal-Leadership-on-Reducing-Text-Messaging-while-Driving/ https://www.asap.gov/ amount of cash advances shall be as close as is administratively feasible to the actual disbursements by the recipient organization for direct program or project reimbursable costs and the proportionate share of any allowable indirect costs.

d. Conflicts of Interest. The Recipient must establish safeguards to prohibit its employees and sub-recipients from using their positions for purposes that constitute or present the appearance of a personal or organizational conflict of interest. The Recipient is responsible for notifying the Grants Management

Officer (GMO) in writing of any actual or potential conflicts of interest which may include, but are not limited to, direct or indirect financial interests, close personal relationships, positions of trust in outside organizations, consideration of future employment arrangements with a different organization, or decision-making affecting the award that would cause a reasonable person with knowledge of the relevant facts to question the impartiality of the recipient and/or recipient's employees and sub-recipients in the matter.

6. Special Award Terms and Conditions:

a. Liability, Insurance, and Indemnification. Recipients of awards arising from this announcement will be required to agree to the following:

1) Liability. The BLM assumes no liability for any actions or activities conducted under this agreement except to the extent that recourse or remedies are provided by Congress under the Federal Tort Claims Act, 28

USC 2671.

2) Insurance. The recipient will be required to (1) obtain liability insurance or (2) demonstrate present financial resources in an amount determined sufficient by the Government to cover claims brought by third parties for death, bodily injury, property damage, or other loss resulting from one or more identified activities carried out in connection with this financial assistance agreement.

3) Insured. The federal government shall be named as an additional insured under the recipient's insurance policy.

4) Indemnification. The recipient hereby agrees:

(a) To indemnify the federal government, Bureau of Land Management

(BLM), from any act or omission of the recipient, its officers, employees, or (members, participants, agents, representatives, as appropriate) (1) against third party claims for damages arising from one or more activities carried out in connection with this financial assistance agreement and (2) for damage or loss to government property resulting from such an activity, to the extent the laws of the

State where the recipient is located permit. This obligation shall survive the termination of this agreement.

(b) To purchase public and employee liability insurance at its own expense from a responsible company or companies with a minimum limitation of one million dollars ($1,000,000.00) per person for any one claim, and an aggregate limitation of three million dollars

($3,000,000.00) for any number of claims arising from any one incident. The policies shall name the United States as an additional insured, shall specify that the insured shall have no right of subrogation against the United States for payments of any premiums or deductibles due thereunder, and shall specify that the insurance shall be assumed by, be for the account of, and be at the insured's sole risk. Prior to beginning the activities authorized herein, the recipient shall provide the BLM with confirmation of such insurance coverage. Each policy shall have a certificate evidencing the insurance coverage and identifying the assistance agreement number.

(c) To pay the United States the full value for all damage to the lands or other property of the United States caused by the recipient, its officers, employees, or (members, participants, agents, representatives, agents as appropriate).

(d) To provide workers' compensation protection to the recipient’s officers, employees, and representatives.

(e) To cooperate with the BLM in the investigation and defense of any claims that may be filed with the BLM arising out of the activities of the recipient, its agents, and employees.

(f) In the event of damage to or destruction of the buildings and facilities assigned for the use of the recipient in whole or in part by any cause whatsoever, nothing herein contained shall be deemed to require the BLM to replace or repair the buildings or facilities. If the

BLM determines in writing, after consultation with the recipient that damage to the buildings or portions thereof renders such buildings unsuitable for continued use by the recipient, the BLM shall assume sole control over such buildings or portions thereof. If the buildings or facilities rendered unsuitable for use are essential for conducting operations authorized under this agreement, then failure to substitute and assign other facilities acceptable to the recipient will constitute termination of this agreement by the BLM.

(e) Flow-down. For the purposes of this clause, "recipient" includes such sub-recipients, contractors, or subcontractors as, in the judgment of the recipient and subject to the Government's determination of sufficiency, have sufficient resources and/or maintain adequate and appropriate insurance to achieve the purposes of this clause.

(f) Identified Activities. All activities carried out in connection with financial assistance arising from this funding opportunity announcement.

b. Recipients must successfully complete an appropriate Defensive Driving Course before operating a Government-owned vehicle (GOV).

c. Recipients must successfully complete appropriate safety and training requirements before operating Government-owned equipment, 4-wheel all-terrain vehicles (ATV) or other Government-furnished property (GFP).

d. Recipient/Sub-recipient Personnel Security and Suitability Requirements.

1) Performance of this grant/cooperative agreement requires recipient/sub-recipient personnel to have a Federal government-issued personal identification card before being allowed unsupervised access to a DOI

[facility and/or information system]. The Program Officer will be the sponsoring official, and will make the arrangements for personal identity verification and card issuance.

2) At least two weeks before start of grant/cooperative agreement performance, the recipient will identify all recipient and sub-recipient personnel who will require [physical and/or logical] access for performance of work under this grant/cooperative agreement. The recipient and sub-recipient must make their personnel available at the place and time specified by the Program Officer in order to initiate screening and background investigations. The following forms, or their equivalent, may be used to initiate the credentialing process:

(a) OPM Standard Form 85 or 85P

(b) OF 306

(c) Fingerprint card (local procedures may require the fingerprinting to be done at a police station; in this case, any charges are to be borne by the recipient or sub-recipient, as applicable)

(d) Release to Obtain Credit Information

(e) PIV card application (web-based)

3) Recipient and sub-recipient employees are required to give, and to authorize others to give, full, frank, and truthful answers to relevant and material questions needed to reach a suitability determination. Refusal or failure to furnish or authorize provision of information may constitute grounds for denial or revocation of credentials. Government personnel may contact the recipient or sub-recipient personnel being screened or investigated in person, by telephone or in writing, and the recipient agrees to make them available for such contact.

4) Alternatively, if an individual has already been credentialed by another agency through OPM, and that credential has not yet expired, further clearance may not be necessary. Provide the sponsoring office with documentation that supports the individual’s status.

5) During performance of the grant/cooperative agreement, the recipient will keep the Program Officer apprised of changes in personnel to ensure that performance is not delayed by compliance with credentialing processes.

Cards that have been lost, damaged, or stolen must be reported to the

Program Officer, Grants Management Officer, and Issuing Office within

24 hours. Replacement will be at the recipient’s expense. If reissuance of expired credentials is needed, it will be coordinated through the Program

Officer.

6) At the end of grant/cooperative agreement’s performance, or when a recipient/sub-recipient employee is no longer working under this grant/cooperative agreement, the recipient will ensure that all identification cards are returned to the Program Officer. Before starting work under this agreement, a National Agency Check (NAC) will be conducted to verify the identity of the individual applying for clearance.

Upon successful completion of the NAC process, an identification card will be issued and access granted.

7) Simultaneously, a NAC with Inquiries (NACI) will be initiated to determine the individual’s suitability for the position. If the NACI adjudication is favorable, nothing more needs to be done. If the adjudication is unfavorable, the credentials will be revoked. In the event of a disagreement between the recipient and the Government concerning the suitability of an individual to perform work under this grant/cooperative agreement, DOI shall have the right of final determination.

8) This requirement must be incorporated into any sub-grants/cooperative agreements that require sub-recipient personnel to have unsupervised access to a Federally controlled facility for more than 180 calendar days or unsupervised access to a Federally controlled Level 3 or 4 information system.

9) Federal Information Systems Security Awareness Training. Before the recipient, or any of its employees or sub-recipients, are granted access to the BLM Federal computer system they must first successfully complete the U.S. Department of the Interior's (DOI) Federal Information Systems

Security Awareness Online Course. This course was designed specifically for users of Federal computer systems. The course is a Web-based training product that explains the importance of Information Systems

Security and takes approximately one hour to complete. This course is mandatory for all Department of the Interior employees, contractors, recipients, and all other users of DOI computer resources. Topics covered in the course include: threats and vulnerabilities, malicious code, user responsibilities, and new developments affecting Information Systems

Security.

G. FEDERAL AWARDING AGENCY CONTACTS

For questions, contact one of the individuals listed on the front cover of this announcement.

H. OTHER INFORMATION

Jennifer Fox

Address: 345 E Riverside Dr.

City, State, & Zip: Saint George, UT 84790

Telephone: 435-688-3376

Email: Jennifer_fox@nps.gov

END

FUNDING OPPORTUNITY ANNOUNCEMENT

[Attachment A]

BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT

*** 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.

Agreement or Funding Opportunity No.: Date:

Organization Name:

Project Title:

Current Funding Estimated

Period of Performance (PoP):

Date of Award* to

Name & Title of Person Submitting Proposal:

* If a specific start work date is needed, contact your BLM Program Officer. Do not start work without prior approval from the Grants Management Officer.

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, milestones, and objectives. Clearly describe the techniques, procedures, and methodologies to be used; the data collection, analysis, and means of interpretation; the expected results and/or outcomes; and the procedures for evaluating project effectiveness, including appropriate performance measures and the probabilities of obtaining them.)

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 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.)

[Attachment B]

BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT

*** State Office

Grants & Cooperative Agreements

BUDGET DETAIL

Instructions: Starting with the same budget amounts as listed on the SF-424A Budget Information form, use this worksheet to show details of the estimated costs. Provide enough information that costs may be analyzed for reasonableness as compared to costs or work of similar size and scope. Use the Narrative boxes as necessary to explain each cost.

Agreement or Funding Opportunity No.: Date:

Organization Name:

Project Title:

A) PERSONNEL (SF-424A Object Class Category 6a.)

The cost of salaries & wages, not including fringe benefits, paid to Recipient employees working directly on this agreement. Indicate Key Personnel with an asterisk (*). Provide more detail in the Narrative Box if needed.

Name & Title or Position Title Salary or Wage Months or

Hours

Matching

Funds

(if applicable)

BLM

Funds

A) TOTAL PERSONNEL COSTS:

(SF-424A Object Class Category 6a. Personnel)

Narrative:

Budget Detail Page 2

B) FRINGE BENEFITS (SF-424A Object Class Category 6b.)

The cost of fringe benefits, such as health insurance, vacation, FICA, etc., paid to Recipient employees working on this agreement. List employees or positions below, and their fringe benefit rates as percentages of their salaries. List what are included as fringe benefits in the Narrative Box.

Name & Title/Position

Salary/Wage Base (BLM Amounts budgeted in Section A above)

Fringe

Benefit

Rate (%)

Matching

Funds

(if applicable)

Example: James Smith, Executive Director $20,000.00 30% $0.00 $6,000.00

B) TOTAL FRINGE BENEFIT COSTS:

(SF-424A Object Class Category 6b. Fringe Benefits)

Budget Detail Page 3

C) TRAVEL (SF-424A Object Class Category 6c.)

LODGING & PER DIEM - The cost of lodging & meals while travelling for agreement activities. Give details and purpose of the travel in the Narrative Box. Current Federal rates may be found online at:

http://www.gsa.gov/portal/category/21287.

Proposed Travel

Lodging & Per Diem

No. of

People

No. of

Days

Cost Per

Person

Per Day

Matching

Funds

(if applicable)

BLM

Funds

To:

From:

Example: Portland, OR Eugene, OR

1 2 $150.00/ Day

$100.00 $200.00

MILEAGE REIMBURSEMENT - The cost of reimbursement for estimated mileage traveled for agreement activities. Give details and the purpose of the travel in the Narrative Box. Current Federal mileage reimbursement rates may be found online at: www.GSA.gov.

Proposed Travel

Mileage Reimbursement

No. of

Miles

No. of

Trips

Cost Per

Mile

Matching

Funds

(if applicable)

BLM

Funds

Example: Portland, OR Eugene, OR

Miles

$0.10/ Mile

$0.00 $22.00

OTHER TRAVEL…