moab youth projects-mcdtt-rhuntfoster.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 Moab under the

MASTER

Funding Opportunity Announcement No. L15AS00034 CFDA Number 15.224—Cultural 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: April 6, 2015 Contact Information

Maria Gochis, Grants Management Officer (GMO) Phone: 801-539-4178 Email: mgochis@blm.gov SECTION I. MOAB FIELD OFFICE MILL CANYON DINOSAUR TRACKSITE TRAIL YOUTH OPPORTUNITY Project Background Information: The Moab Field Office is located in southeastern Utah. The areas bedrock geology consists of mildly deformed Late Paleozoic (Pennsylvanian) through Late Mesozoic (Late Cretaceous) sedimentary units. Early Cretaceous units (125 million years ago, Ruby Ranch Member of the Cedar Mountain Formation), which are the focus of this project, were deposited in lacustrine setting. The 2009 discovery of the Mill Canyon Dinosaur Tracksite (MCDT) in the Cedar Mountain Formation has generated considerable interest. An international team was assembled by Dr. Martin Lockley and ReBecca Hunt-Foster to excavate the site in 2013 and 2014. The results of this excavation indicate a diverse vertebrate ichnofauna with a minimum diversity of at least 10 named ichnotaxa (tracks) representing dinosaurian and crocodilian trackmakers. Several of these tracks are either new to North America, or from animals not currently known to science from body fossils in this area, making this the most significant Early Cretaceous tracksite in the world.

People visiting Moab regularly ask where they can go to see dinosaur tracks. Establishing the Mill Canyon Dinosaur Tracks Trail as a place the Moab BLM Field Office and the Moab Information Center could direct the public to visit will be helpful to spread the pressure the other three tracksites in our area receive. An occurrence of vandalization has already occurred at this location in 2009. Increased interpretation, visitation, and organization will both growth awareness of protecting the site, while supplying visitors with an interest to protect the site, but also discourage any future theft or vandalization. Additionally, the soils in the project area are fragile and currently people are beginning to create multiple trails to the track site, along with increasing erosion on the track surface itself. The trail system will help preserve the tracks and focus hiking to the site to a single trail from the one designated trailhead. This project will be an opportunity to educate the public about how tracks are created and preserved, what known dinosaur and crocodile species are represented, climate change aspects between Cretaceous and modern environments, and increasing awareness of the need to protect our fossils resources. Interpretation at this site will be a recreational complement to the Mill Canyon Dinosaur Trail, which is located about 0.75 miles to the south. This project meets the President’s initiatives of America’s Great Outdoors (Sec. 1iC) to support existing programs and projects that educate and engage Americans in our history, culture, and natural bounty. The project will assist in a continuing effort to manage and protect paleontological resources using scientific principles and expertise (PRPA Sec. 6302) through 1) survey and monitoring of paleontological resources, and 2) increase public awareness about the significance of paleontological resources (PRPA Sec. 6303) by creating new interpretive signage.

Project Objective: BLM, Moab Filed Office, Utah has an opportunity to introduce youth to careers in the BLM under the Cultural Resource Management Area, specifically paleontology. The district has a Paleontologist on staff and would like to a provide work experience to 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 paleontological resources, and pique their interest in Paleontological Resource 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 trail construction at the Mill Canyon Dinosaur Tracksite, which is a development of public outreach programs and interpretation of this particular site. This project would be especially appropriate for students studying recreation, education, geology or paleontology, but would likely be of interest to a wide array of youth. Site specific programs will be given to the youth crew to further their education and awareness on the site they will be working at.

Program/Project Performance Goals – a.

Expose young men and women to public service while furthering their understanding and appreciation of the Nation’s paleontological 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 an experience in developing paleontological resources and enhancing and maintaining environmentally important lands through the use of the Nation’s young men and women.

e.

Constuct interpretive trail at the new Mill Canyon Dinosaur Tracksite Trail. This trail will be a quarter mile, publicly interpreted dinosaur tracksite trail opening in June 2015.

Duties: Field work will be conducted in the Moab Field Office located in southeast Utah. Work will be coordinated by the Canyon Country District Paleontologist. Fieldwork will be done in an area 20 minutes north of Moab, in an exposed, open area with no shade. Weather conditions may be extreme (e.g. heat, cold, thunderstorms)

Work projects include building a wood boardwalk at the Mill Canyon Dinosaur Tracksite, along with adding reject sand and rock to earthen walkways. All construction materials will be provided by the BLM. The youth crew will be responsible for transportation to and from project sites. The youth crew will provide their own tools (including saws and drills), PPE, and other field and camping supplies. Work will be limited or suspended during bad weather conditions.

BLM’s Involvement: There will be BLM involvement by BLM professionals that may work side by side with recipient on projects and will provide project orientation and hands-on training, as necessary. Campsites will be provided or approved by BLM staff. BLM will provide all construction materials. Recipients and BLM will share responsibility for project management, control, and direction although BLM will have the right to intervene by modifying the project management plan, if project is not staying on schedule, technical issues arise, etc.

Period of Performance: Work is anticipated to begin April 1, 2015 through May 29, 2015.

Work Schedule: Monday – Friday, generally 8:30 AM to 5PM, for 2 weeks, with flexable start/end dates in April-May Qualification Requirements: This opportunity is suitable for a youth crew interested in learning more about natural resources and land management; although no specific educational experience is required. Crew must be self-sufficient and experienced in chainsaw, electric saw, and/or electric drill work and have a crew leader to supervise work. Crew should provide all their own Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) such as hats, gloves, long pants, appropriate foot wear and eye protection (sunglasses). As stated in the duties this opportunity will require time outdoors and field work that is often under somewhat rigorous physical conditions.

Housing: BLM cannot provide housing. BLM will provide campsites in approved developed, primitive or group campsites near the project site.

Expected Field Travel: Once in Moab, travel is minimal. The site is located 20 miles north of Moab west of Highway 191. Travel to Moab is depended on current crew location. Camping is available in the area, both primitive and designated, and group sites are available with a reservation (at no cost).

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 to Program Officer 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 A

SECTION III. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT

Utah 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.

Agreement or Funding Opportunity No.:

Date:

Organization Name:

Project Title:

Name & Title of Person Submitting Proposal:

*If a specific start work date is needed with pre-award costs for specific BLM Project, contact BLM Program Officer (PO) to dicuss details, so PO can discuss with Grants Management Officer. Do not start work without prior approval from the Grants Management Officer, unless project is a specific project to your organization is already working on and you are requesting for further financial assistance.

1.

Purpose, Objectives, and Relevance:

(Describe why the project is needed, the applicant's objectives, how the applicant's objectives support their mission, and how this project benefits the general public.)

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 your recruiting techniques in recruiting a diverse pool of candidates. 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 and performance goals. Describe past completed natural and cultural youth conservation projects on public lands with accomplishments. Describe successful of your program placing qualified youth interns in conservation careers.)

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