h7140110010 - noi to award.doc

NOTICE OF INTENT TO AWARD

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

ABSTRACT

OVERVIEW

The purpose of this cooperative agreement is to continue and expand an All Taxa Biodiversity Inventory (ATBI) at Big Thicket National Preserve.

RECIPIENT INVOLVEMENT

A. The Association agrees to:

1. Provide equipment, personnel, and other in-kind resources necessary to perform the functions specified under Sections B and C of this Article.

2. Comply with, and assist NPS in complying with, the provisions of applicable laws, regulations and Government policies.

3. Remain fully qualified to solicit and accept philanthropic contributions under state and federal law during the term of this Agreement.

4. Jointly work with the NPS and other partners through the Thicket of Diversity ATBI Science Committee to solicit new Taxonomic Working Group (TWiG) proposals, evaluate and make recommendations for funding to the Executive Council, and shepherd ATBI projects and investigators towards fulfillment of data and reporting requirements to the NPS and the Thicket of Diversity.

5. Provide logistical support to ATBI investigators and citizen scientist volunteers including communication of the research permitting and curatorial policies of the NPS, The Nature Conservancy (TNC), and other ATBI partners, communication of NPS and ATBI data standards, and coordination of arrangements for use of the Field Research Station facilities.

6. Jointly work with the NPS through the Thicket of Diversity ATBI Education and Outreach Committee, TWiG leaders, and other ATBI partners to plan and organize citizen science workshops and Science Cafés.

7. Employ the services of an ATBI Data Manager to professionally manage ATBI data through the development and adoption of data management plans, protocols, guidelines, and templates necessary for standardized ATBI data collection, proper handling and work flow, storage, security, protection of sensitive data, and data distribution to ATBI partners.

8. Through the ATBI Data Manager position, work with the NPS and the Thicket of Diversity ATBI Data Management Committee to implement NPS data standards, templates, and strategies for the professional management of ATBI data, including protection of sensitive data (e.g., locations of rare species).

9. Jointly work with the NPS, TWiG leaders, and other ATBI partners to recruit and select one 12-week college or graduate-level intern from an area school and one 22-week Chicago Botanic Gardens intern.

10. Provide direct supervision for the ATBI Data Manager and ATBI interns in accordance with work plans and priorities that are approved by the Thicket of Diversity ATBI Executive Council.

11. Engage with Discover Life in America (DLIA), the National Biological Information Infrastructure (NBII), and other ATBI organizations through joint attendance at conferences and workshops, and sharing of information, data, tools and standards.

NATIONAL PARK SERVICE INVOLVEMENT

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

1. Provide funds and in-kind services as provided in Article VI and as amended.

2. Jointly work with the Thicket of Diversity ATBI Science Committee to solicit new Taxonomic Working Group (TWiG) proposals, evaluate and make recommendations for funding to the Executive Council, and shepherd ATBI projects and investigators towards fulfillment of data and reporting requirements to the NPS and the Thicket of Diversity.

3. Provide logistical support to ATBI projects and investigators including NPS research permitting and curatorial policies, reference information and GIS data, NPS and ATBI data standards, and Field Research Station facilities.

4. Jointly work with the Thicket of Diversity ATBI Education and Outreach Committee, TWiG leaders, and other ATBI partners to plan and organize citizen science workshops and Science Cafés.

5. Provide technical assistance, training, software, information technology (IT) support, and secure ATBI data storage (e.g., server and backup strategies) for the ATBI Data Manager.

6. Jointly work with the Thicket of Diversity ATBI Data Management CoData Manager to recommend and implement NPS data standards, templates, and strategies for the professional management of ATBI data.

7. Jointly work with the Association, TWiG leaders, and other ATBI partners to recruit and select one 12-week college or graduate-level intern from an area school and one 22-week Chicago Botanic Gardens intern.

8. Provide technical consultation and cooperation to ATBI interns for work tasks established under work plans and priorities approved by the Thicket of Diversity ATBI Executive Council.

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.

The National Park Service did not solicit full and open competition for this award based the following criteria:

(2) CONTINUATION/UNIQUE QUALIFICATIONS

Single Source Justification Description:

Big Thicket National Preserve (Preserve) was established “to assure the preservation, conservation, and protection of the natural, scenic, and recreational values of a significant portion of the Big Thicket area in the State of Texas” by law enacted on October 11, 1974 (88 Stat. 1254) (P.L. 93-439). The Preserve is a “biological crossroads” that has been set aside for its biodiversity. The Big Thicket Association (BTA) is a 501 (C) (3) non-profit corporation which was founded in 1964 to save remnants of the once extensive historic Big Thicket forests with its remarkable diversity. The BTA's efforts led to the establishment of Big Thicket National Preserve in 1974. The BTA, according to its Charter, is “organized exclusively for charitable, educational, and scientific purposes, including environmental and conservation education, research and support.”

(1) In 2006 the BTA initiated, in partnership with scientific authorities and representatives of the Preserve, the “Thicket of Diversity” All Taxa Biodiversity Inventory (ATBI). The BTA has both human and financial resources to assist the Preserve in undertaking an inventory of all species in the Preserve and the Big Thicket region. The BTA and Preserve entered into a cooperative agreement in 2008 (Agreement # H7140080001) to initiate this project under cost-sharing provisions of the Centennial Challenge. The original project objectives, described in PMIS 136557 A/B, are to partner citizens with scientists in the exploration and discovery of biological diversity in Big Thicket National Preserve, and thereby engage the public and develop biological information necessary to support Preserve management for the protection of biodiversity.

The current project, described in PMIS 136557 C/D, is a continuation of the Thicket of Diversity ATBI, and seeks to:

1) Support up to 12 additional Taxonomic Working Group (TWiG) inventories, citizen science workshops, and Science Cafés.

2) Strengthen data management to better serve the needs of a growing ATBI program.

3) Offer internships to college and graduate students from area schools and the Chicago Botanic Gardens Internship Program to provide college and graduate-level biology students with expanded opportunities to work alongside ATBI biologists.

(2) The BTA is uniquely qualified to conduct an ATBI with the NPS. The BTA:

1) Has donated $60,000.00 to the NPS for the explicit purposes of this project, comprising a greater-than 50% cash match. The BTA similarly provided a cash-match of $75,000.00 in 2008 to initiate the project. No other partner could, or has, brought such resources to the table to continue this ATBI.

2) Shares facilities with the NPS at the Field Research Station, the hub of research and volunteer activity for the project. The Field Research Station (FRS) is managed cooperatively between the NPS and BTA by an Memorandum of Agreement. The FRS houses researchers and students, has workspace for workshops and educational programs, and provides office space for the BTA data manager, executive director, and support staff.

3) Possesses the technical expertise to (a) manage ATBI data through the activities of the BTA data manager position, (b) attract and support volunteers and citizen scientists to ATBI activities, and (c) support the organizational structure that engages volunteer and partner resources and provides management for the overall project through the Thicket of Diversity Executive Council.

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