L17AS00235 - NOI -GNA Rangeland Restoration Services.pdf

NOTICE OF INTENT TO AWARD

This Funding Announcement is not a request for applications. This announcement is to provide public notice of the Bureau of Land Management’s intent to fund the following project activities without full and open competition.

ABSTRACT

Funding Announcement Number

L17AS00235

Project Title BLM ID - Good Neighbor Authority Rangeland Restoration Services

Recipient Idaho Department of Lands Total Anticipated Award Amount

Current Available Funds - $95,000 Anticipated over the life of the agreement - $475,000

Cost Share No Cost Share Requirement New Award or Continuation? New Award

Anticipated Length of Agreement Five Years

Anticipated Period of Performance October 1, 2017 to September 30, 2022

Award Instrument Cooperative Agreement Statutory Authority Good Neighbor Authority (GNA), Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2014

PL 113-76 and the Agricultural Act of 2014 PL 113-79, 16 USC §2113a CFDA # and Title 15.237 Rangeland Resource Management Single Source Justification Criteria Cited

This law authorizes a state to act as an agent of the federal government to conduct Good Neighbor Authority projects directly or enter into subcontracts using the respective state contracting procedures. An applicable Good Neighbor authority agreement or contract can only be awarded to a state under this authority.

BLM Point of Contact

Leah Quesenberry, Branch Chief, Resource and Sciences Chris Shaver, Idaho State Office, Grants Management Specialist

OVERVIEW, RECIPIENT AND BLM SUBSTANTIAL INVOLVEMENT

Background: The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) manages approximately 11 million acres of rangelands in Idaho. As part of the BLM’s multiple-use mission, these lands are managed for a variety of critical uses for the benefit of all Americans. Idaho’s public lands have always been working lands. Recreation, wildlife habitat, livestock forage, watershed management, mineral development, and energy development are some uses of federal public lands in Idaho.

BLM managed rangelands often occur within a matrix of mixed ownership of varying size, and in some cases, the Bureau does not control access to these lands. The state has similar management patterns and access constraints. The Bureau and state cooperators can work together to develop and to effectively and efficiently implement activities to enhance rangeland health.

A Good Neighbor Agreement between BLM Idaho and a state cooperator would allow, where appropriate, to leverage our respective staffing to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of rangeland management activities and projects (services). Through this leveraging, BLM Idaho could decrease the costs and increase the effectiveness of our rangeland management activities and projects (services).

Objective: To collaborate with a state cooperator(s) to perform rangeland management services on lands managed by the BLM in the State of Idaho.

The types of services that may take place on BLM lands include activities that work towards creating healthy resilient landscapes on BLM managed lands, such as:

• Vegetative Treatments

• Inventory and Monitoring

• Hazardous Fuels Reduction

• Assistance with the NEPA process

• Data collection in support of watershed and other types of assessments

Program Goals:

• Collect data in support of watershed and other assessments

• Conduct public outreach

• Assist with the NEPA process

• Collect monitoring data

• Complete vegetation treatments

Public Benefit:

Utilizing a cooperative agreement to carry out rangeland resource management services on lands managed by the BLM in the State of Idaho, through a state operator, achieves public benefits that neither BLM nor a non-federal party could ever accomplish alone. Properly managed, this proposed undertaking will leverage federal dollars to accomplish more than could be accomplished through procurement contracts, providing a mutual benefit to achieve a common purpose, acquiring services at reasonable costs, and complying with applicable laws and regulations.

BLM has determined that this proposed undertaking reflects the broader support and stimulation purpose of the Good Neighbor Authority, rather than an intent to acquire services or goods, and therefore, is correctly denominated a cooperative agreement opportunity.

Based upon the foregoing, BLM Idaho has determined that, where the principal purpose is to support and stimulate efforts in support of a lawfully mandated public policy, that the proposed undertaking is in the public benefit whereas it is in-line with the broad national interest mandates declared by congress under the Good Neighbor Authority.

SINGLE-SOURCE JUSTIFICATION

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

SINGLE SOURCE POLICY REQUIREMENTS

Department of the Interior Policy 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.

BLM is not soliciting full and open competition for this award based the following criteria:

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.

Uses, Restrictions, Eligibility Requirements per current CFDA 15.237, Rangeland Resource Management

Projects are limited to rangeland projects on public lands administered by the Bureau of Land Management located mostly in the Western United States and Alaska. For more specific information contact the local or headquarters office.