Mini Announcement CO AIM Youth NOFO FY2022 20220615.doc

Office: Colorado State Office Notice of Funding Opportunity Number: L22AS00382 Project Submission Dates and Times: July 19, 2022 through September 19, 2022

Project Title: Colorado Assessment, Inventory and Monitoring (AIM) Youth Opportunity

Maximum Available Funding in FY22: $1,200,000 BLM has determined $630 weekly stipend equal to $15.75 per hour for crew members and $735 weekly stipend, equal to $18.37, for crew leads is a reasonable. Stipends above this amount must justify in budget narrative increase needed.

Project Background Information:

The Colorado State Office of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has developed a strategy to address the Assessment, Inventory, and Monitoring (AIM) of terrestrial, vegetation, and aquatic resources on public lands and advance best practices for engaging the public in this effort. The BLM has developed, with the input of various stakeholder groups to include government agencies and the public, two reports the provide backdrop to the process: (1) the Local Workgroup Report for the National Assessment, Inventory, and Monitoring Strategy (BLM 2007) and (2) the Findings and Recommendations for Regional Monitoring for Wildlife and Water with an Emphasis on Energy Development (Falise et al. 2008).

The AIM Strategy is intended to reach across programs, jurisdictions, stakeholders, and agencies to provide data and information valuable to the public and other stakeholders. The strategy focuses on 10 management questions important to land managers at varying levels of the Bureau, from field office to national levels. Answering each of the management questions requires a multiscale, coordinated, and integrated approach for new data collection while recognizing the value of many current monitoring activities. This approach will provide: (1) an opportunity to collect monitoring data that can be used many times for many purposes and (2) the quantitative data essential for informed, defendable land management decision making, (3) work with qualified Youth Corps organizations that provide valuable job skills and work experience within natural resource management agencies that can be leveraged in both the private and public sectors.

To effectively manage its resources and its multi-use mission, the BLM desires to engage youth, young adults, and veterans to assist with information gathering on multiple scales about resource extent, condition and trend, stressors, and the location and nature of authorized uses, disturbances, and projects. Youth and veterans will gather and access data and information through the integration of several fundamental processes (i.e., the integrated approach), including the: (1) development and application of a consistent set of ecosystem indicators and methods for measuring them (i.e., core quantitative indicators and consistent methods for monitoring); (2) development and implementation of a statistically valid sampling framework; (3) application and integration of remote sensing technologies; and (4) implementation of related data acquisition and management plans (e.g., Geospatial Services Strategic Plan, Enterprise Geographical Information System architecture, and rapid eco-regional assessments). Additional information about the AIM Strategy can be found on Assessment, Inventory, and Monitoring Strategy | Bureau of Land Management (blm.gov). Corps members will be trained, mentored and coached by BLM staff in various aspects of the project.

This agreement is for the entire state of Colorado to implement the AIM Strategy to engage youth and veterans in learning valuable job skills. Additionally, BLM CO collaborates with parts of BLM NM to implement the AIM Strategy, and the two offices will provide oversight for the AIM project under this agreement.

Project Objective: The principal purpose/objective of this project is to develop a mechanism for reporting land conditions above the local scale using the AIM Strategy, while providing the applicants the opportunity to collect monitoring data that can be used many times for many purposes.The quantitative data essential for informed, defendable land management decision making. In addition, the BLM will work with organizations that provide experience for entry level field positions within natural resource management agencies. Through this work the BLM and youth partners will accomplish the following:

1. The public will benefit from this project by receiving increased accountability and information dissemination related to resource conditions, trends, and effects of management actions.

2. Interested public will have access to more informative baseline conditions, status and trends of ecological systems on public lands during information during public scoping, and the process used to develop proposed actions will be more transparent.

3. The public will also benefit from BLM’s increased ability to protect and enhance resource conditions, resulting in long term stability for resources.

4. Youth ages 16-30 and veterans in rural areas of Colorado will gain valuable job skills and experience that is transferable to the public and private sectors.

5. Youth and veterans will be exposed to a vast array of careers that are available in the natural resources field.

Work Schedule:

Crew members and leads will work either a 4 days on, 3 days off schedule or an 8 days on, 6 days off schedule to complete hitch based work that may require frequent camping. Youth Corps members would start in April or May and continue through the end of October. Some leads may have the opportunity to extend their season for a full year, depending on AIM program and BLM Field Office project needs.

Qualification Requirements: All applicants must be able to provide Youth Corps members that meet the following criteria:

1. Able to pass a DOI security background check.

2. Have completed college coursework (2 years, at minimum) in ecology, botany, plant ecology, plant biology, plant systematics, soils science, geology, horticulture, natural resource management, environmental science, or a related field;

3. OR previous college- or professional-level experience in the above fields, plus familiarity with data collection and sound science principles

4. Aged between 21 and 30 (civilian) or 35 (veteran) years upon start date

5. U.S. Citizenship or Lawful Permanent Residence and associated identification, including an image of a signed social security card AND another acceptable primary form of documentation

6. Able to participate for the entire duration of the program dates (exceptions are rare)

7. Able to produce identification as stipulated by I-9 upon hire

8. Valid US driver's license and insurable driving record

9. Experience with Microsoft Suite Software (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) or other data-collection software

10. Self-motivated and able to work independently with limited supervision after the initial training period. The applicant must be able to operate in both the office and the field.

11. Capable of standing and walking (at a minimum 6 miles/day on rough, steep, off-trail uneven terrain using a handheld GPS for routefinding), bending, crouching and stooping for long periods of time while taking precise, repetitive measurements, and lifting/carrying items that weigh up to 40 pounds, in upwards of 100 degree (F) heat while maintaining attention to detail and overall good humor

12. Willing to spend multiple days (1-8 days at a time) making day trips and car-camping in remote areas; willing to learn, teach, and adhere to best practices for field safety, comfort, and low-impact principles

13. Willing to spend several hours per day and/or per week riding in, navigating with, and driving a four-wheel drive pick-up truck on- and off-highway, sometimes over/around tricky or unexpected obstacles

14. Posess prior off-road driving experience or be willing to learn how to operate vehicles in off-road conditions safely

15. Able to safely and effectively work in and around adverse conditions including extreme heat, monsoonal rains, and hazardous wildlife (i.e. rattlesnakes, scorpions, biting/stinging insects, cattle, and horses)

16. Current (or able to be trained in) CPR, Wilderness First Aid, and Defensive Driver Training

Additional preferred qualificiations for crew members and leads include:

1. Demonstrated educations and experience indetifying plants to species uses taxonomic keys, pressed plant specemins and photographs.

2. Familiarity Colorado or similar flora in general and Ackerfield’s Flora of Colorado, or other relevant taxonomic keys.

3. Experience or interest in large scale, spatially-balanced monitoring designs

4. Experience or education using taxonomic soil keys or equivalent mechanism to identify ecological sites

5. Familiarity with the Colorado or New Mexico soils

6. Experience hand texturing various types of soils and digging soil pits to characterize and document all horizons

7. Experience with ArcGIS Onlinem Field Maps and Survey123

8. Experience collecting data, especially electronically

9. Experience safely operating 4WD trucks on paved and unpaved roads, often in remote areas on unimproved roads, and driving for extended periods (2-3 hours at a time).

10. Experience working or recreating in rangeland or desert systems

Housing: Agency typically cannot provide housing but may be able to contribute to discussions regarding housing strategies. If an exeption occurs and the agency has housing indentifed for a crew, that with be communicated to the Youth Corps partner as early as possible during the annual recruitment process.

Vehicle Needs: A personal vehicle is NOT required for these positions but is strongly encouraged as it makes the applicant's days off much more enjoyable. Regional airports in Colorado include Montrose Regional Airport, Central Colorado Regional Airport, Eagle County Regional Airport and Grand Junction Regional Airport. The nearest large airport is in Denver, Colorado (Denver International Airport, distance varies by Field Office locations), where you can get much lower fares.

The Youth Corps will need to provide vehicles for crews. These vehicles must have capable 4 wheel drive, as rough terrain and primitive roads will need to be driven to access AIM plot locations. If Youth Corps or rental vehicles do not have suitable tires for off-road driving, siutible tires should be purchased and mounted prior to the beginning of the field season. Vehicles and tires must be maintained by the recipient organization so as to not negatively impact plot collection schedules.

Other Project Considerations:

Food: Youth Corps will provide food for their crew members and leads.

All Supplies: The BLM will provide tablets required for the collection of data, as well as training and support in their use. The BLM will provide tools needed for vegetation and soils monitoring. Youth Corps or their members will provide camping and cooking equipment required for backcountry work.

Training Requirements: For Youth Corps members who are not already certified, the Youth Corps will need to provide CPR, Wilderness First Aid, and Defensive Driver Training. The BLM will provide training needed to implement Assessment, Inventory and Monitoring protocols, including use on monitoring equipment, data collection processes, tablet and paper data collection instruction, and brief overview of local area soils and botany. The BLM Monitoring Coordinator will review the youth corps training schedule and content to ensure required components are addressed.

Travel: Backcountry travel, typically involving camping, will be required to complete with work schedule described above.

Duties:

The recepient of this award nwill advertise position announcements across a wide array of platforms, and advertisements will be refreshed and updated as needed to ensure diverse and qualified potential applicants are aware of the opportunity. The recipient will review incoming applications, compile lists of qualified candidates, reach out to qualified candidates within 10 business days of receiving their applications to determine their interest and availability, conduct interviews and reference checks and select crew leads and members. BLM staff may be involved in the advertisement, interview and selection of crew leads and crew members, at the BLM’s discretion, however the applicant should be prepared to assume all responsibility for accomplishing these tasks. The Youth Corps recipient should be prepared to offer timely crew member and crew lead support throughout the field season.

Once selected, crews will conduct vegetation monitoring using the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) Terrestrial Assessment, Inventory, & Monitoring (AIM) methodology. More information on the BLM’s AIM strategy can be found on the AIM website: Assessment, Inventory, and Monitoring Strategy | Bureau of Land Management (blm.gov) Crews will consist of two crew members and one crew lead, though this structure can be alterted upon discussion with the BLM. Together, following a training period, they will monitor land health (i.e., soil and vegetation) on BLM lands including National Monument lands, vegetation treatments, burn scars, rangeland allotments, or reference areas using AIM methodology.

Within all plots, the crew will identify vegetation to species, gather species density data using line-point intercept and gap measurements, measure soil stability, and describe the site and soil pits (50%). All data will be georeferenced using a GPS unit and stored in an ArcGIS geodatabase. Data are entered into a database on site with tablets, later synthesized into various reports for future land management planning. The crew may have the opportunity to assist with other public land management projects involving wildlife, range, recreation, rare plant monitoring, or forestry (5%), contingent on availability.

Crews will maintain and track botanical specimens of known and unknown species throughout the field season and keep records updated as needed. The crew member will continuously learn the local flora and build botanical knowledge. The crew member should be curious about the natural systems they encounter and have a passion to grow and share that curiosity and knowledge with fellow crew personnel.

Crews are based out of BLM Field Office buildings, and will be under the direct mentorship and technical guidance of BLM staff personnel. This position uniquely provides the opportunity to develop relationships within and become familiar with the workings of the agency.

Fieldwork will be in remote areas across a diversity of ecotypes. Crews will be required to drive a company or government vehicle to several different areas of the Field or District Office and hike several, and rarely, up to 8, miles per day carrying equipment. They may camp for several nights at a time, working either a 4 day on, 3 day off schedule or an 8 day on 6 day off schedule. They will return to the office for equipment and data management, unknown plant identification, hitch debrief and further field work planning (approximately 20% of time worked). Camping is expected whenever, as safety allows, it is more efficient to do so. Certain crews may camp out more than others, due to varying risk factors and the layouts of the sampling areas. An unconventional schedule, a level of flexibility, and long hours are necessary.

Project expected outcomes include collecting data on approximately 560 AIM plots across the state of Colorado utilizing the $1,200,000 in funding associated with this initial agreement. Additional funds to complete additional plots may be obligated in the future, however any future work is depedant on future funding obligations.

BLM’s Involvement: The BLM's substantial involvement in this cooperative agreement may include, but not be limited to, the following:

· Joint collaboration between the BLM and recipient in carrying out management, development, implementation, and evaluation of the proposed work;

· Training of recipient personnel;

· Review and approval by the BLM of one stage of work prior to the start of the next stage;

· Review and approval by the BLM of modifications or subawards prior to their award;

· Participation in selecting recipient project staff;

· Directing or redirecting of recipient work by the BLM because of relationships to other projects;

· The ability to immediately halt work because of failure to meet agreement objectives; and

· Close monitoring and/or operational involvement in the proposed work.

· BLM-CO staff will mentor, coach and train Youth Corps members and provide relevant learning opportunities.

BLM Program Contact:

Field PO Name: Joel Humphries

Field PO Phone Number: (303) 239-3883 (Office) or (719) 850-1414 (Cell)

Field PO Email: jhumphries@blm.gov

Field Technical Advisor: Hanem Abouelezz

Field Technical Advisor Email Phone Number: (970) 415-2533 (Cell) or (303) 239-3910 (Office)

Field Technical Advisor Email: habouelezz@blm.gov Applicants are encouraged to refer to the full program announcement number L22AS00382 posted on Grants.gov for all program requirements and applicable terms and conditions. Recipients selected for awards will be required to adhere to those requirements should an award be made.

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