IIC Mini Announcement.doc

UNITED STATES

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT

(BLM)

BLM-UT, Youth Opportunities to Work on Conservation Projects throughout Utah Public Lands

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 project is a specific project for Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument under the

MASTER

Funding Opportunity Announcement No. L16AS0005 CFDA Numbers

15.225 Recreation 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: May 31, 2016 Contact Information

Melanie Beckstead , Grants Management Officer (GMO)

Phone: 801-539-4169

Email: mbeckstead@blm.gov

Mary Dewitz, GSENM Interpretive Specialist

Phone: 435-644-1234

Email: mdewitz@blm.gov

SECTION I. Youth- Title I Native American, Underserved, and Rural Disadvantaged Youth Engagement, Education, and Employment Program Project Background Information: Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument (GSENM) is located in southern Utah’s red rock country. It was established in 1996 as the first national monument to be administered by BLM as part of the National Landscape Conservation System. It is the largest national monument in the 48 contiguous states. The physical environment includes geologic formations from the Permian to the Quaternary, including extensive Cretaceous formations rich in paleontological resources. The natural environment includes a wide variety of terrestrial ecosystems from low-lying desert (elevation ca. 1300 m) to ponderosa pine and aspen forests (elevation ca. 2800 m), and aquatic ecosystems from ephemeral desert streams to perennial streams (primarily in the Escalante River watershed), with associated ephemeral-to-perennial springs and seeps, tinajas, and riparian areas. Exceptionally diverse flora and fauna are present, including those from both warm and cold deserts, with numerous endemics. In addition, GSENM provides visitors a wide varity of recreational experiences including hunting, horse back riding, canyoneering, camping, mountain biking, backpacking, sightseeing, and exploring on ATVs. Many of the recreational destinations are located in the Monument’s remote backcountry, accessed on rough unmaintain natural surface routes requiring travel via four-wheel drive vehicles, ATVs, horse-back, or on foot. The remote and rugged character of GSENM attracts researchers from around the world to this amazing outdoor laboratory.

Project Objective: BLM, Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument has an opportunity to introduce Title 1 Native American, underserved, and rural disadvantaged youth from 16-25 to careers in the BLM. The Monument has a wide variety of public land management specialists willing to mentor the next generation of public land managers and would like to provide work experience to a greater diversity of youth for their career and educational benefit. This will be accomplished by providing them opportunities to gain experience, learn about public lands, further their understanding and appreciation of natural and cultural resources, and pique their interest in public land management careers. From this they will gain an increased appreciation and understanding of our public lands and of the value of public service, and are likely to become life-long advocates for those values.

This opportunity will be focused on inventory, monitoring, evaluating, maintaining, and/or collecting natural, cultural, and/or recreation resources, public outreach, and/or facility operations. Projects would be appropriate for students studying botany, biology, GIS, business administration, environmental education, wildlife, history, anthropology, archaeology, rangeland management, recreation management, geology, public affairs, or paleontology and will provide opportunities to enhance basic career skills such as organization, writing, detail, and communication; as well as field skills including analyzing and documenting natural and cultural resources, mitigation techniques, use of GPS equipment and maps, field note methods, and resource collection and preparation techniques.

Program/Project Performance Goals:

a.

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

b.

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

c.

Promote and stimulate public purposes such as enhance classroom learning by providing education, job training, and development of responsible citizenship, productive community involvement of youth and young adults in care and enhancement of natural and cultural

d. Assist qualified Youth Conservation Corps (YCC) an experience in conserving or developing natural and cultural resources and enhancing and maintaining environmentally important lands and waters through the use of the Nation’s young men and women.

Duties: The successful youth applicants will be part of Conservation Corps workcrews, individual interns, or research teams and assist the Monument staff with natural and cultural resource, operations management, recreation, and public outreach projects. Numerous opportunities exist for both field work office work. Field work includes surveys, collection, and monitoring of natural, cultural, or recreational resources both for management and research purposes.

Field work will be conducted largely in the interior of the Monument, although other priorities may arise as the season progresses. Methods consist of hiking pre-determined target areas within the Monument. When sites of concern are found, they will be documented using notebooks, standard format field forms, GPS, and digital photography; assessed as to significance; and if required, restoration. The participant may also assist crews from partner institutions in related field work such as noxious weed removal, seed collection, native plant cultivation, wildlife management, cultural site stabilization, and resource restoration. Other duties may include specimen preparation and curation, data processing, visitor information dispersal, development of public outreach or educational materials, report writing, and youth mentoring.

The participant will work out of the GSENM facilities in Kanab, Escalante, Cannonville, Big Water, or Boulder, Utah. Project work will be coordinated by the Monument staff. Some internships or practicums will require fieldwork in a remote backcountry settings and strenuous exertion. Weather and terrain conditions may be extreme (e.g. heat, cold, thunderstorms, steep badlands).

BLM’s Involvement: There will be substantive BLM programmatic involvement by BLM professional that will work daily side by side with recipient on all projects and also be providing project orientation and hands-on training. BLM will have the right to intervene by modifying the project management plan, if project is not staying on schedule, technical issues arise, etc. In addition, BLM and recipient will meet weekly to discuss progress and track project outcomes; review any training needs; and then make a decision what direction to take in finalizing project or move to the next phase.

Work Schedule: Work schedules may vary dependent on assigned duties, but are generally on weekdays, 40 hours a week, between the hours of 6 AM to 6PM, for up to 12 weeks, with flexible start/end dates in May-June/August-September. Weekends may be required. Extensions of internships beyond the summer season are possible as BLM staffing and budgets allow.

Qualification Requirements: This opportunity is suitable for youth working towards or interested in public land managmenet. As stated in the duties this opportunity may require time outdoors and field work that is often under somewhat rigorous physical conditions. Applicants may also be required to meet the following criteria based on assigned duties: 1). Pass a DOI security background check and have a valid driver’s license.

Housing: Agency cannot provide housing but may be able to assist in locating appropriate clean housing. A personal vehicle is NOT required for the position but is strongly encouraged as it makes the applicant's days off much more enjoyable. The closest regional airport is in St. George, Utah, but the nearest large airport is in Las Vegas, Nevada (McCarran-about 180 miles away), where you can get much lower fares. There are bus shuttles available to St. George, where you can be picked up. Kanab has a population of about 4,000, but most big city amenities are available in nearby St. George (1hr) or Page (1hr).

Funding Availability: The agency, in combination with partnering organizations, will provide $11,000 in finacial assistance for program support including providing internship opportunities for a youth conservation crew of an estimated 4 to 6 individuals (15 – 25 years old) for up to 120 days.

Expected Field Travel: Travel for most practicum, crew, or individual internship opportunities will be limited to camping and should not exceed $35 per person per night. This amount should include food, camping and hiking gear, personal items, etc. BLM will provide the transportation from primary duty station.

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

B. Performance Report due yearly or at the end of the project

C. Youth reporting due quarterly.

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:

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 and Narrative Mandatory (Attachment B)

Federal Agency-approved Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (NICRA, if applicable)

Financial Assistance Evaluation Questionnaire (if applicable)

Attachment B from full announcement

SECTION III. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

PROJECT PROPOSAL - GENERAL

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

Date:

Agreement or Funding Opportunity No.:

Project Title:

Period of Performance (POP) for this project:

to

BLM Program Officer: _______________________ BLM Field Office: _______________ A. Background of your Organization and objective

1. Describe in a short narrative the background of your organization and objective of the grant;

2. Explain how the organization will provide long-term benefit to the public;

3. How will the organization instill in the youth involved a work ethic and sense of public service.

B. RECRUITMENT AND TRAINING APPROACH

1. Describe how your program recruits for a diverse pool of applicants and how many will be devoted to the project.

2. Timeline on when applicants can start the project.

3. Describe your organization’s process on determining well qualified youths for Natural, Cultural, and Recreational Resource Management Projects.

4. Describe the procedures for evaluating applicants’ performance.

C. QUALIFICATIONS, EXPERIENCE, PAST PERFORMANCE OF YOUR ORGANIZATION

Describe the staff of your organization who will carry out and supervise intern throughout the project activities. List all project personnel, including consultants. 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.

1. Describe the qualifications and experience of the Project Director/Principal Investigator to be assigned for direct supervision of the project. How will they achieve project goals and objectives and how much time will they be devoted to the project.

2. List your organizations past and current assistance awards show they have completed project goals.

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