l15as00129 blm-ak air assistance.docx

[Attachment B] Budget Detail Page 7

FUNDING OPPORTUNITY TITLE:

BLM AK - Alaska Air Resources Program Support – Alaska State Office

FUNDING OPPORTUNITY NUMBER:

L15AS00129

ANNOUNCEMENT TYPE:

Request for Applications Issued: May 22, 2015

CFDA NUMBER & TITLE:

15.236 - Environmental Quality and Protection Resource Management (Climate Change)

LEGISLATIVE AUTHORITY:

FEDERAL LAND POLICY AND MANAGEMENT ACT OF 1976, 43 USC 1737, Public Law 94-579, as amended. Section 1737.

DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION OF APPLICATIONS:

July 22, 2015, 2:30 p.m. Alaska Daylight Savings Time

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

FUNDING OPPORTUNITY ANNOUNCEMENT

for Federal Financial Assistance

CONTACT INFORMATION:

Betty Lockard, Grants Management Specialist Telephone: 907-271-2816, Email: blockard@blm.gov Eric Geisler, Program Officer Telephone: 907-271-1985, Email: egeisler@blm.gov

Alan Peck, Technical Advisor Telephone: 907-271-4411, Email: kpeck@blm.gov

Version 2 3/2015

A. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

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.

The BLM Alaska air resource program, as part of the Soil, Water and Air program subactivity, has rapidly evolved over the past several years as air issues have the potential to significantly impact management decisions, and following implementation of the “Memorandum of Understanding among the U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Department of Interior, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, regarding Air Quality Analysis and Mitigation of Federal Oil and Gas Decisions through the National Environmental Policy Process” (June 11, 2011)(copy in file). Alaska is generally considered to have pristine air quality. In large parts of the state this remains true, but air quality impacts exist in areas where there are population centers or industrial and resource development. Statewide resource development, especially in the oil and gas arena, has added to the future air quality workload demand. New resource development statewide have the potential to impact air quality on BLM lands, as well as BLM authorized resource development, might impact air quality downwind on state, private or federal lands managed by other agencies.

Additionally, BLM Alaska will need to demonstrate compliance with the Clean Air Act, including the National Ambient Air Quality Standards, Greenhouse Gas emissions and the Regional Haze Rule.

BLM Alaska will establish a cooperative agreement with a qualified recipient for the purpose of evaluating air quality impacts that potentially could impact BLM and neighboring lands (State, Federal, corporate, tribal and private). The recipient will cooperatively work with the BLM Alaska State Office, National Operations Center air resource specialists, and where appropriate, the district and field office staff, in responding to general air quality questions and concerns from the Alaskan public. The recipient will provide input to ongoing statewide air quality issues on request of the BLM project manager. Additionally this agreement will allow work in support of uniform air quality modeling and monitoring projects.

BLM Alaska has performed modeling studies for oil and gas development on BLM land. Through this agreement the recipient will cooperate in the review of previous modeling projects and share in the development and interpretation of future modeling analyses. The goal of this cooperation is to develop a uniform modeling approach applicable to most areas of the state. Alaska is the only Arctic state in the nation and has unique challenges for modeling due to the distinctive composition and photochemical processes in the arctic and sub-arctic atmospheres.

BLM Alaska has conducted some initial meteorological and air quality monitoring projects. Through this agreement, BLM Alaska will share the gained experience/knowledge all with data from the recipient to enhance the current program. The recipient will be able apply the BLM Alaska experience to other monitoring projects within the state. By cooperating on future monitoring projects, BLM Alaska ensures that the sampling approach yields data that are easily compared with other measurements made throughout the state.

Currently the BLM air resources program has conducted or contracted several air quality or meteorological data collection and analysis projects. Through this agreement, the recipient will cooperatively work with BLM AK to assist in oversight and review of performance and products and provide analysis and review for Resource Management Plans (RMP), General Conformity Determinations, Environmental Impact Studies, air quality modeling and other air quality related questions. The recipient air quality staff will have to be experienced in most aspects of the air quality issues facing BLM. The recipient currently has staff, office space and equipment to perform this requirement with BLM.

b. Objectives: The recipient will assist with the review of BLM performance and products (e.g. Inigok meteorological data collection, and North Slope Meteorological gap analysis), assist with general air quality (AQ) planning questions which might include air monitoring and air modeling. In return, the recipient will receive use of the data in their own project reports for dissemination to the public. The recipient will assist in NEPA related topics that may include AQ impacts from oil and gas development, hard rock mining, etc., and provide assistance for RMPs and EIS analyses and reviews as requested by BLM Alaska.

Potential projects covered under this agreement are but are not limited to the assistance with or review of:

· Preparation of the project report for the NPR-A ozone monitoring pilot study

· Expansion and upkeep of the initial database and air quality report based on the REA for NPR-A

· AERMOD and CALPUFF remodeling of GMT1 and modeling for GMT2 in NPR-A

· CALPUFF modeling of Nuiqsut meteorological and ambient air monitoring data near NPR-A

· AERMOD and CALPUFF modeling to assess the current AQ impacts to establish a baseline condition near the Kenai Refuge to support NEPA by BLM

· Review air quality assessments and analysis in Bering Sea Western Interior RMP

· Review air quality assessments and analysis in Central Yukon RMP

· Review future air quality assessments and analysis in Greater Mooses Tooth APD

· Review air quality assessments and analysis in Donlin Gold Hardrock Mine EIS Other projects might arise due to new resource development or changes to the air resources due to climate change. The intent is for this agreement to be flexible so that projects can be addressed on an as-needed-basis. The project costs will be calculated based on actual staff time spent on the project (actuals + federal indirect).

c. Public Benefit: A cooperative process in which BLM shares air quality related information and projects with the recipient will generate a uniform approach and will allow the public to access the data from multiple agencies in an easy manner without requiring the public to research land ownership and the rules governing the various agencies involved. Air quality impacts can have many scales, some are very localized, and others are global. Air pollution generated in one part of the world can travel many thousands of miles to impacts pristine areas. There are many sources of air pollution inside and outside Alaska impacting the public. Over 50 % of lands in Alaska are federal lands, of which over 70 million acres are under BLMs jurisdiction. Within the scale of this agreement, air pollution generated on BLM land can impact neighboring lands and vice versa. The public benefits from a common and coordinated approach to managing air quality.

3. Program/Project Performance Goals

Performance Goals:

Performance goals will depend on the individual project agreed upon by the BLM AK PO and the recipient. In general the goals will included:

· Evaluate air quality issues that might impact BLM AK or neighboring lands.

· Provide documents for public dissemination or use by BLM Alaska State Office, recipients and field offices in management decisions and to better understand the potential impacts to air quality from resource or other development within the state of Alaska.

· Assist in review of BLM contractors to ensure standardized air quality products that meet agency goals

B. FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION

1. Award Instrument

a. Successful applicants may 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.

Recipients and the BLM will agree on project timelines, workload and priorities as projects arise. BLM may share air resource expertise and services from the NOC.

2. Expected Number of Awards: One (1) Cooperative Agreement or none

4. Expected Individual Award Amount: $60,000 (FY15 only, have the SF-424 reflect this amount).

5. Anticipated Start Date: September 1, 2015

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

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.

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 & 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.

WHAT TO SUBMIT:

Form Name and Number

a. Project Proposal (Attachment A)

1) Attachment A 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) 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 costs were arrived at. 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 are for 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.

(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 (date and time) 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.

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

Total of 100 points will be used to evaluate each proposal received. The relative importance to be placed on the merit review evaluation stated in the second level evaluation with corresponding weights assigned to each criteria. Proposals will be evaluated and weights assigned by appropriate BLM Program Officer’s in the specific field office where project resign.

The Government reserves the right to reject any and all proposals which do not meet the requirements of this funding opportunity announcement and which are determined to be outside the scope of the 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.

Award will be made to responsive, responsible applicants submitting proposals which conform to the funding opportunity announcement and are most advantageous to the Government considering the evaluation factors listed below.

The evaluation process will be comprised of the following three screening levels:

1. First Level Screening --Basic Eligibility

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

3. Second Level Evaluation -- Merit Review Evaluation

a. 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 35/100 Points):

2) Technical Approach (Maximum score 35/100 Points):

3) Qualifications, Experience, Past Performance (Maximum score 30/100 Points):

3. Third Level Review Pre-award Clearance and Approvals

Following the described review process, BLM will also complete a business evaluation and determination of responsibility. During these evaluations the Grants Management Officer will evaluate variables such as:

a. Risk Management. The BLM uses a risk-based approach to evaluate the risk posed by the supporting applicants’ projects before it awards Federal funds.

2) Budget review is based on the following:

If the results of all pre-award reviews and clearances are satisfactory, an award of funding will be made once the agreement is finalized. 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

If the results of pre-award reviews and clearances are unsatisfactory, consideration of funding for the project may be withdrawn.

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 award.

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 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/Title02/2subtitleA.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:

(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 award.

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):

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 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.

G. FEDERAL AWARDING AGENCY CONTACTS

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

END

Version 1 1/2015

BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT

Alaska 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.

Organization Name:

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.

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

The proposal must include the detailed project plan/schedule. The project plan must be supported by a narrative description of each of the activities to be undertaken. The schedule should include proposed work, reporting, major tasks, and project milestones including the identification of the anticipated start and ending dates of all major stages/tasks of the project proposal. The following table may be used to summarize the project schedule.

Start Date Planned Completion Date

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. i.e., continuation of existing project, location, property ownership, voluntary support capacity, cost-share ability, technical expertise or other unique qualifications)

[Attachment A]

BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT

Alaska 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.

Organization Name:

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.

(if applicable)

BLM

Funds

Narrative:

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.

(BLM Amounts budgeted in Section A above)

(if applicable)

BLM

Narrative:

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

(if applicable)

BLM

Funds

To:

From:

To:

To:

To:

Day

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

(if applicable)

BLM

Funds

To:

To:

To:

To:

Mile

OTHER TRAVEL COSTS - The costs of airfare, bus fare, car rental, etc., required for agreement activities. Explain the details and the purpose of the costs in the Narrative Box.

Proposed Other Travel Reimbursement

(if applicable)

BLM

Funds

To:

To:

To:

Narrative:

D) EQUIPMENT (SF-424A Object Class Category 6d. Equipment) The cost of equipment (items with a useful life of more than one (1) year and a cost of $5,000+ per unit). Explain the need and purpose of the equipment in the Narrative box below.

(if applicable)

BLM

Narrative:

E) SUPPLIES (SF-424A Object Class Category 6e. Supplies) The cost of materials and supplies used directly on this project, such as safety glasses, work gloves, office supplies, etc. Explain the details and purpose in the Narrative box below.

(if applicable)

BLM

Narrative:

F) CONTRACTUAL (SF-424A Object Class Category 6f. Contractual) The cost of contracted services and/or sub-recipient agreements. Provide names and explain the details and purpose of the costs in the Narrative box below. NOTE: Contracts must be competed per the Uniform Administrative Rules.

(if applicable)

BLM

Narrative:

G) CONSTRUCTION COSTS (SF-424A Object Class Category 6g. Construction) The cost of construction.

(if applicable)

BLM

Funds

*** NOT APPLICABLE ***

Narrative:

H) OTHER (SF-424A Object Class Category 6h. Other) Costs that don't fit any other Object Class Category, such as duplicating and printing, postage and freight, rented equipment, etc. Explain the details and purpose in the Narrative box below.

(if applicable)

BLM

Narrative:

I) TOTAL DIRECT CHARGES (SF-424A Object Class Category 6i. Sum of 6a.-6h.)

The total of all direct costs applicable to this project.

(if applicable)

BLM

Funds

J) INDIRECT COSTS (SF-424A Object Class Category 6j. Indirect Charges) Costs which can't be readily identified and charged to a particular project, such as building rent, utilities, miscellaneous office supplies, etc. Such costs are usually charged to the project as a percentage of some or all of the Direct Costs (Items I above). This percentage is called the Indirect Cost Rate.

Note: If your organization has a negotiated indirect cost rate agreement (NICRA) with a federal agency, please use that rate and submit a copy with your application. If your organization has no NICRA, the BLM Grants Management Officer may allow an indirect cost rate of up to 10% of the base modified total direct costs (MTDC). MTDC is all salaries and wages, fringe benefits, materials and supplies, services, travel, and subgrants and subcontracts up to the first $25,000 of each. Use the Narrative box below to explain how you calculated your indirect costs.

Base amount for this Grant:

(Total Direct Costs, Total Labor Costs, MTDC, etc.)

Rate to be used on this Grant (%):

(if applicable)

BLM

Funds

Narrative:

K) TOTALS (SF-424A Object Class Category 6k. TOTALS) The sum total of Direct and Indirect Costs (Sum of 6i. & 6j.) applicable to this agreement.

(if applicable)

BLM

Funds