P20AS00061 NOI.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. Determination.

ABSTRACT

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

Award Instrument

Anticipated Period of Performance

Legal Authorit

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

P20AS00061

Fish Assemblages and Genetic Stock Determination of AKSalmon Alaska Department of Fish & Game $316,820.00

$36,000

$352,820.00

May 1, 2020 - November 30, 2023

54 USC § 100703. Cooperative Study Units

15.945, Cooperative Research and Training Programs

Unique Qualifications

Erica_Cordeiro@nps.gov

Using National Park Service and Bering Land Bridge National Preserve (BELA) directives for guidance, this project will establish baseline information of fish assemblages, with an emphasis on Pacific salmon, in drainages flowing through the Preserve so managers can identify and understand changes in species distribution. The project will collect the necessary information about unique salmon populations and salmon assemblages in BELA to be able to provide proper stewardship to the resources and subsistence opportunities in the face of environmental changes.

The subsistence community and multiple State and Federal agencies external to NPS will acquire new knowledge provided by research and related results from the dissemination of natural, cultural and/or historical resource information.

RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE PARTIES

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

B. The NPS Responsibilities:

A 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 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 technical assistance at the request of the recipient.

In rivers and streams fish sampling will be conducted using a backpack electrofishing unit. Beach seines will be deployed from shore when feasible (no large obstructions, shoreline is accessible).

Tasks include:

• Fish inventory (July, August- 2020, 2021, 2022): Survey primary subsistence rivers and streams (non-random sampling) to document subsistence fish species presence, distribution and habitats in and near within BELA.

• Genetics (samples collected during fish inventory in 2020, 2021, and 2022; analysis in Fall 2022): collect baseline samples from spawning populations of salmon ranging from each of the four study rivers. One hundred samples will be targeted from each species of salmon per proposed river. In analysis characterize the population genetic structure of study populations relative to those in the existing ADF&G genetic baseline for chum salmon and evaluate the potential to identify BELA populations in mixed stocked analysis (MSA).

• Age-Sex-Length (data collected during fish inventory): Measure nonsalmon species fork lengths to the nearest mm on all collected and identified fish in wadeable and unwadeable streams. For all salmon species inventoried, researchers will determine sex and measure length mideye to tail fork to the nearest one (1) mm. For chum salmon one scale per fish will be collected; for all other species three (3) scales will be collected per fish. Each year, age and sex of salmon will be summarized by species and river location. The data will be reviewed for patterns of similarity between rivers.

1. Apply for required ADF&G permits.

2. Assume primary responsibility for fieldwork logistics, activities and analysis.

3. Prepare annual field summary reports of inventory work.

4. Provide annual summaries of age-sex-length information.

5. Provide final inventory and genetics reports.

6. Submit a nominations package to the Alaska Anadromous Waters Catalog.

7. Post data to the AFFI Fish Resource Monitor online mapping application.

8. Import age-sex-length data into OCEANAK, the ADF&G database.

9. Review draft final technical report.

10. Ensure that reports and other formal materials (e.g. publications and presentations) resulting from this project acknowledge NPS and reference this cooperative agreement number.

1. Collaborate with recipient in logistics, fieldwork, analysis and write up.

2. Present the project at state and federal advisory committees’ meetings and provide updates throughout the performance period.

3. Apply for required NPS permits (park research permit, etc.).

4. Upload reports and data into Integrated Resources Management Applications (IRMA).

5. Synthesize submitted age-sex-length, genetics, and inventory reports into a draft final technical report and provide it to ADF&G and OSM for review and comment.

8. Publish a final technical report and distribute it to state and federal advisory committees, ADF&G, NPS, and OSM, and other interested parties.

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:

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

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 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;

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

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 Justificatio .

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. Determination

The recipient is uniquely qualified, having collected baseline inventory information in Alaska as a state agency since statehood. The Alaska Department of Fish and Game maintains several databases that house statewide baseline information on salmon and nonsalmon species, including the the Anadromous Waters Catalog (AWC), the Alaska Freshwater Fish Inventory (AFFI) and OCEANAK. The agency has an established track record of undertaking research and publishing results in both gray literature and peer-reviewed journals.

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.