NOFO Announcement - Bat Survey_Fort Leavenworth, KS.pdf

Funding Opportunity Announcement

BAT SURVEYING AND ASSESSMENT

FORT LEAVENWORTH, KANSAS

Funding Agency : Funding Instrument: Cooperative Agreement

U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS

KANSAS CITY DISTRICT

601 E 12TH STREET, ROOM 647

KANSAS CITY, MO 64106

Funding Opportunity

No:

W912DQ-19-2-0003

CFDA No: 12.114

Program Title: Bat Surveying and Assessment, Fort

Leavenworth, KS

Issue Date: 20190326 Application Due Date: 20190424

Overview:

SUMMARY OF WORK: The purpose is to conduct a Bat Surveying and Assessment at Fort Leavenworth, KS. The project is to evaluate military operations and sustainment/enhancement activities and develop installation specific measures for protection of the Northern Long Eared Bat (NLEB), Tri-colored Bat, and Little Brown Bat. The project is to further the objectives set forth by the IMCOM Programmatic Informal Consultation Guidelines dated, 04-May-2015, the Programmatic Biological Opinion Final 4(d) Rule for the NLEB and Activities Excepted from

Take Prohibitions, 05-January-2016 and Section 7(a)(2) of the Endangered Species Act.

BACKGROUND: Fort Leavenworth is 5,634 acres with 3,173 acres outside the cantonment. Fort Leavenworth is located in northeastern Kansas on the west bank of the Missouri River in Leavenworth County. Bat surveys were last conducted in 2016 & 2017; and yielded approximately 8 species of summer-resident bats at Fort Leavenworth.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS: All responsible, non-federal entities submitting funding requests that meet the requirements in the program description will be considered for this funding opportunity.

STATUTORY AUTHORITY: Title 16 U.S.C. Section 670c-1 provides, in part, that “[t]he Secretary of a military department may enter into cooperative agreements…with nongovernmental organizations” for the purposes of

“[t]he maintenance and improvement of natural resources on, or to benefit natural and historic research on, military installations and State-owned National Guard installations.”

Estimated Total Funding: $68,328 Estimated Number of Awards: 1

Contents of Full Text Announcement

I Funding Opportunity Description V Application Review Information

II Award Information VI Award Administration Information

III Eligibility Information VII Agency Contacts

IV Application & Submission Information VIII Other Information

Contact Information: Questions relating to Grants.gov including the registration process and system requirements should be directed to the Grants.gov Contact Center at 1-800-518-4726. For assistance with the requirements of this

Funding Opportunity Announcement, please contact Mr. David Miller by email at david.f.miller@usace.army.mil or by phone at (816) 389-2258 or Ms. Mandy Ashmore by email at mandy.ashmore@usace.army.mil or by phone at

(816) 389-3839.

Instructions to Applicants:

The complete funding opportunity announcement, application forms, and instructions are available for download at

Grants.gov.

Applications in response to this Funding Opportunity Announcement shall be submitted by the application due date.

Applications may be submitted by mail, email, or via the internet through Grants.gov.

Applicants shall have a Dun and Bradstreet Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number, register with the

System of Award Management (SAM), and if submitting application via the internet, register with Grants.gov.

See Section IV of the Funding Opportunity Announcement for complete application submission information.

mailto:david.f.miller@usace.army.mil

Section I: Funding Opportunity Description

The project purpose is to conduct presence/probable absence surveys for the Northern Long-

Eared Bat (NLEB) (Myotis septentrionalis), federally listed as threatened, along with the Tri-colored Bat (Perimyotis subflavus) and the Little Brown Bat (Myotis lucifugus), both of which are non-listed species. Surveying and assessment shall be conducted at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.

The project is to evaluate military operations and sustainment/enhancement activities and develop installation specific measures for protection of the NLEB, Tri-colored Bat, and Little

Brown Bat. The project is to further the objectives set forth by the IMCOM Programmatic

Informal Consultation Guidelines dated, 04-May-2015, the Programmatic Biological Opinion

Final 4(d) Rule for the Northern Long-Eared Bat and Activities Excepted from Take

Prohibitions, 05-January-2016 and Section 7(a)(2) of the Endangered Species Act.

The project study area includes all lands and available habitat within the respective installation boundary. Surveying techniques will include acoustical and standardized mist netting at an assumed twenty percent of survey sites if the NLEB, Tri-colored Bat, or Little Brown Bat species are encountered. Specific survey protocols will be accomplished using a phased-approach in accordance with 2018 US Fish & Wildlife Service (FWS) guidelines or most current updated guidance and based on habitat assessments and further informal consultation with the local FWS Field Office.

Pursuant to the FWS Programmatic Biological Opinion on Final 4(d) Rule for the Northern

Long-eared Bat and Activities Excepted from Take Prohibitions, surveys conducted under section 7(a)(1) of the ESA can lead to greater flexibility under 7(a)(2) for the post. The current award is to complete the year one survey requirements and reporting. Year two requirements will be fulfilled subject to the availability of funds.

Project Tasks: This Program Description is to conduct presence/probable absence surveys for the NLEB, federally listed as threatened, along with the Tri-colored Bat and the Little Brown

Bat, both of which are non-listed species. Surveying and assessment shall be conducted at Fort

Leavenworth, Kansas. Fort Leavenworth consists of 5,634 acres with 3,173 acres outside the cantonment. Fort Leavenworth is located in northeastern Kansas on the west bank of the

Missouri River in Leavenworth County. The military reservation is bounded on the south by the city limits of Leavenworth, and U.S. Department of Justice property (Federal Penitentiary); on the west by wooded acreage and previous used farm land of Leavenworth County; and on the north and east by the Missouri River. Most of this land is forestland of two distinct types: upland forest, which dominates the west part of the installation, and bottomland forest, which covers much of the Missouri River oxbow.

Task 1. Technical Requirements:

Task 1: Kick Off Meeting

Prior to beginning work at Fort Leavenworth, the Principal Investigator (PI) will coordinate with the Kansas City District and Fort Leavenworth, Environmental

Division. The purpose of this meeting will be to finalize project goals/objectives and develop a project schedule.

Task 2: Conduct Surveys

Prepare a Phase 2 summer survey plan through the Army in consultation with the

FWS and conduct Phase 2 presence/probable absence surveys. The summer survey season is from 15 May to 15 August. Acoustic surveys are the Army preferred method followed by mist netting protocol. Acoustic surveys will be based on 19 sites previously surveyed in 2016 and 2017. Site FLV-D-01 will be moved west and along the south boundary. Other sites may be moved based on the professional judgment of the Fort Natural Resources Specialist and the Survey

Crew. Surveys will use FWS protocol, and if activity of NLEB, Tri-colored Bat, or Little Brown Bat is documented, a follow-up mist net survey will be conducted on a maximum of 5 sites. Mist net surveys will be conducted at 5 previous sites unless the professional judgment of the Fort Natural Resources Specialist or the

Survey Crew dictate otherwise. If NLEB, Tri-colored Bat, or Little Brown Bat species are captured, radio-telemetry will be conducted on a maximum of 3 individuals to determine roosting/maternity habitat.

All surveys must be in accordance with the Range-wide Indiana Bat Summer

Survey Guidelines published in April 2018 or most current updated guidance.

All surveys shall be conducted by a qualified bat surveyor who holds the proper

Federal Fish and Wildlife permits.

Surveys are to be conducted over a two consecutive year period and are funded in separate years. Year two is subject to the availability of funding.

Task 3: Surveys Report of Findings

A survey report of findings shall be prepared for each survey period at Fort

Leavenworth. The survey report will be submitted in Draft (Army Review), Draft

Final (FWS review) and Final copies. Final copy will be due by 31 December of each year.

Task 4: GIS Data Layer

GIS Deliverables requirements are in specified in (Attachment A).

Task 5: Project Review Meetings

Project Review Meetings will take place as needed throughout the project, but at a minimum at major milestones during the period of performance.

The NFE shall furnish all electronic data files on CD-DVDs and paper copy for the final reports.

All text files will be in MS Word format and .pdf format unless otherwise specified. A photo log should also be included indicating location and presented in an organized format.

Task 2. Personnel Requirements. The lead personnel designated to conduct the Survey for the

NLEB, Tri-Colored Bat, and Little Brown Bat will meet, at a minimum:

Personnel should be proficient in bat populations of eastern Kansas, which includes, but is not limited to species identification, general behaviors and habitat requirements, mating and hibernacula routines, and interpretation of call frequencies using recorded acoustic data.

Personnel should hold, at a minimum, a master’s degree in biology; ideally with a specialty in bat research and at least two years’ experience conducting field research in the areas listed above.

All monitoring and interpretation of bat data shall be conducted by a qualified bat surveyor who holds the proper Federal Fish and Wildlife permits.

Experience using mist nets and ability to check netting daily when deployed.

Familiarity with local land management techniques.

Deliverables

The NFE Program Manager shall submit the following deliverables to the USACE PM and Fort

Leavenworth POC:

Monthly Reports. One (1) word-processed letter report describing progress of the technical assistance completed in accordance with the program description and deliverables completed for the monthly reporting period. The report shall be received on or before the last day of each month of reporting and occur on a 30-day cycle.

Documents. Original copies of all field notes, resource inventory lists, photographs, negatives, photographic logs, maps and drawings prepared during work conducted under this program description are the property of the US Government and shall be delivered to the appropriate Fort Leavenworth Natural Resource Manager as soon as is practical after they are produced.

Field and Safety Equipment. Field equipment and safety supplies such as steel toed boots and other safety equipment must be purchased in order to perform the program description tasks.

All requested submissions shall be completed and provided to the Fort Leavenworth Program

Manager/POC by the designated deadline, which will vary by task/project in accordance with the project schedule.

Section II: Award Information

One Cooperative Agreement which shall begin upon award and continue through 31 December

2020 with estimated funding of $69,000 for Budget period one survey and reporting and estimated funding of $66,000 for budget year two survey and reporting. Budget Year two is subject to the availability of funding.

The Fort Leavenworth DPW government employees and USACE employees will be substantially involved in the agreement by providing oversight and task distribution to the agreement personnel. The NFE will collaborate with the government employees to accomplish

Bat Survey Tasks. NFE’s may be requested to advise the government on the best path forward on certain tasks and collaborate with the government on program decisions. NFE’s may be requested to produce monitoring data reports that will be approved by government officials before consultation with USFWS. Government employees will provide guidance, review completed work, and provide approval of work within agreement.

Section III: Eligibility Information

Eligible Applicants – All qualified, non-federal entities submitting funding requests that meet the requirements in the program description will be considered for this funding opportunity.

Cost Sharing – The action will be 100% funded by USACE.

Section IV: Application and Submission Information

A. Content and Form of Application Submission

All mandatory forms and any applicable optional forms must be completed in accordance with the instructions on the forms and the additional instructions below.

a. SF 424 – Application for Federal Assistance

b. SF 424 A – Budget Information for Non-construction Programs

c. SF 424 B – Assurances – Non-Construction Programs

d. Program Narrative – The program narrative should include a program description illustrating applicant’s ability to meet the goals and objectives described in Section I of the announcement. The narrative should provide an overview of the organization.

The narrative should also describe the methods the applicant will use to monitor project progress and what accountability measures will be used to evaluate the project results.

e. Proposed Project Staff – Provide a biographical sketch of each key person who will be working on the project, including their relevant experience and particular qualifications for the proposed project.

f. Organization chart – Provide an organizational chart detailing the key personnel involved in performance and oversight of performance, including names and titles.

g. Past Performance Information – As part of the pre-award risk survey, applicants will submit examples of recent and relevant experience to demonstrate ability to successfully and satisfactorily meet the requirement. Applicants will provide information regarding why they believe any submitted past performance information is relevant to the current application. Experience is considered recent if it has been completed within five years from the due date for applications. Experience is considered relevant if present/past performance effort involved similar scope and magnitude of the effort this Funding Opportunity Announcement requires.

h. Budget narrative – Provide a budget narrative that justifies the direct costs for the proposed project. The budget narrative should discuss the necessity, reasonableness, and allocability of all proposed costs. Applicants should provide a copy of either their latest indirect cost agreement or state their indirect cost rate. The narrative should identify resources and needs required for the proposed project, including equipment, facilities, and training among others. The written budget shall be rounded to whole dollars and will need to demonstrate the NFE’s costs to complete the required staffing and tasks described herein. A budget should be prepared for each task that the budget is being proposed for. The budget application should be itemized and reflect specific cost elements (i.e. man-hours, labor costs, materials, equipment, overhead and fees) to complete each task. Any assumptions made in development of the budget should be documented. The budget to execute the work does not need to be overly complicated or detailed. We encourage straightforward budgets. The budget needs to show line items and F&A with a clear understanding that the NFE can provide the required position / technical assistance at Fort Leonard Wood.

The administrative point of contact is David Miller (816) 389-2258, david.f.miller@usace.army.mil.

Application shall be submitted NO LATER THAN April 24, 2019 at 2:00 PM CDT.

If any portion of a proposal received by our office electronically is unreadable, the grants officer will notify the applicant and permit the applicant to resubmit the unreadable portion of the application. The method and time for resubmission will be prescribed by the grants officer after consultation with the applicant. The resubmission shall be considered as if it were received at the date and time of the original unreadable submission for the purpose of determining timeliness, provided the applicant complies with the time and format requirements for resubmission prescribed by the grants officer. Applicants are responsible for submitting applications so as to reach our office by the application deadline

Any application that is received by our office after the exact time specified for receipt of applications is “late” and will not be considered unless it is received before award is made, the grants officer determines that accepting the late application would not unduly delay the acquisition; and—

-If it was transmitted by email, it was received at the initial point of entry to the Government infrastructure not later than 5:00 p.m. one working day prior to the date specified for receipt of applications; or

-There is acceptable evidence to establish that it was received by our office and was under the

Government’s control prior to the time set for receipt of applications; or

-It was the only application received.

Acceptable evidence to establish the time of receipt at our office includes the time/date stamp of the Bolling Federal Building mailroom on the proposal wrapper, other documentary evidence of receipt maintained by the mailroom, or oral testimony or statements of Government personnel.

If an emergency or unanticipated event interrupts normal Government processes so that applications cannot be received at the Government office designated for receipt of applications by the exact time specified, and urgent Government requirements preclude amendment of the closing date, the time specified for receipt of applications will be deemed to be extended to the same time of day specified in the solicitation on the first work day on which normal Government processes resume.

Applications may be withdrawn by written notice at any time before award.

The grants officer will promptly notify any applicant if its application was received late, and will inform the applicant whether its application will be considered.

B. Submission Instructions

Applications may be submitted by mail, e-mail, or via the internet. Choose ONE of the following submission methods:

mailto:david.f.miller@usace.army.mil

i. Mail one unbound copy of your complete proposal to:

US Army Corps of Engineers, Kansas City District

Attn: David Miller

601 E 12th Street, Room 647

Kansas City, MO 64106

ii. E-mail:

Format all documents to print on Letter (8 ½ x 11”) paper. E-mail proposal to david.f.miller@usace.army.mil with courtesy copy to mandy.ashmore@usace.army.mil.

iii. Internet:

Applicants are not required to submit proposals through Grants.gov. However, if applications are submitted via the internet, applicants are responsible for ensuring that their Grants.gov proposal submission is received in its entirety. The Government bears no responsibility for data errors resulting from transmission of conversion processes associated with electronic submissions. The

Government will bear no responsibility for delays in submissions due to technical difficulties at or with the Grants.gov website. All applicants choosing to use Grants.gov to submit proposals must be registered and have and account with Grants.gov. It may take up to three weeks to complete Grants.gov registration. For more information on registration, go to http://www.grants.gov/ForApplicants.

Section V: Application Review Information

Timely applications will be evaluated in accordance with the process outlined below.

A. Initial Review

The Government will perform an initial review to determine if an applicant is (1) eligible in accordance with Section III of the announcement; (2) all information required by Section IV has been submitted; and (3) all mandatory requirements are satisfied.

B. Merit Review

Each eligible application will be evaluated by a federal awarding technical team based on the following criteria utilizing the merit descriptions below and ranked in order from most-highly rated to least. These criteria are listed in decreasing order of weight.

Management (heavyweight criterion) – Applicant demonstrates how internal quality controls will take place and accounting or bookkeeping procedures as well as the organizational structure for performance and oversight of the program description (Section A).

Qualifications of Key Personnel (middleweight criterion) – Applicant demonstrates the qualification for personnel who will be working on the requirement. Resumes or qualifications statements may be submitted for key personnel. NOTE: The recipient must receive prior approval from the Grants Officer listed in Section G for any changes in key personnel during the life of the agreement.

Technical Merit (lightweight criterion) – Applicant demonstrates how performance of the program description (Section A) will be accomplished.

mailto:david.f.miller@usace.army.mil mailto:mandy.ashmore@usace.army.mil http://www.grants.gov/ForApplicants

Each merit review criteria will be rated with the following descriptions:

- Exceeds – Exceeds the program support requirements listed in Section A

- Meets – Meets the program support requirements listed in Section A

- Does Not Meet – Does not meet the program support requirements listed in Section A

C. Budget Review

Each qualified application budget will be evaluated as described below:

- Cost Reasonableness – Cost analysis will be conducted to determine if the applicant’s budget is reasonable and realistic with allocable and allowable costs and if the applicant demonstrates the ability to comply with all financial regulatory requirements and financial reporting.

D. Pre-award risk survey

A pre-award risk survey will be conducted to determine the qualification of the applicant and to determine if the level of risk of the most highly ranked applicant is too high to allow for award of a federal assistance agreement, if the risk is such that special terms and conditions are necessary to mitigate risk, or if the risk is low enough to award without any special terms and conditions.

The Government will review for each applicant the following:

-Single Audit Act audit (if applicable)

-FAPIIS Report

-Dun & Bradstreet Report

-SAM Exclusions (EPLS)

-Past Performance – Past performance information will be reviewed to determine the applicant’s probability of meeting the program description requirements.

Section VI: Award Administration Information

A. Award Notices

Written notice of award will be given in conjunction with issuance of a cooperative agreement signed by a Grants Officer. The cooperative agreement will contain the effective date of the agreement, the period of performance, funding information, and all terms and conditions. The recipient is required to sign and return the document before work under the agreement commences. A signed copy of the agreement shall be returned to the Grants Officer for execution within five (5) business days of receipt or the Government reserves the right to award to the next qualified NFE or re-post the Funding Opportunity Announcement to grants.gov.

Work described in this announcement SHALL NOT begin without prior authorization from a

Grants Officer.

B. Administrative Requirements

The cooperative agreement issued as a result of this announcement is subject to the administrative requirements in 2 CFR Subtitle A; 2 CFR Subtitle B, Ch. XI, Part 1103; and 32

CFR Subchapter C, except Parts 32 and 33.

C. Reporting

The cooperative agreement issued under this announcement will establish reporting requirements which, in general, will consist of the following:

Biannual Reporting

(1) SF-425 Federal Financial Report

(2) Progress Reports

Annual Reporting

(1) SF-428 Tangible Personal Property Report

(a) SF-428 A – Annual Report (reporting Federally-owned property)

(b) SF-428 B – Final Report

(c) SF-428 C – Disposition Request

(2) RPSR – Real Property Status Report (if applicable)

(a) RPSP Attachment A – General Reporting

(b) RPSR Attachment B – Request to Acquire, Improve or Furnish

(c) RPSR Attachment C – Disposition Request

(3) Recipient shall submit an annual inventory report to the Government listing all federally owned property in their custody.

D. Payments The Government will reimburse the NFE up to the negotiated amount for performance under this agreement. The Government is not liable for any expenditure in excess of this amount unless agreed to by modification.

Payments will be made on a reimbursable basis for actual/allowable costs incurred.

The NFE shall submit a “Request for Advance or Reimbursement” (SF-270) along with an itemized breakdown of costs and the corresponding back-up documentation to support the actual costs incurred other required documentation no more frequently than quarterly to:

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

ATTN: CENWK-EC-DT/Payment Coordinator

601 East 12th Street, Room 505

Kansas City, MO 64106-2896

E. Government Furnished Information and Materials

The government will furnish the following materials, information, and support:

Access to installation written documents and electronic files relevant to T&E

Species and Habitat at the respective installation.

The necessary permission to enter and conduct field investigations.

F. Government Project Personnel

Kansas City District Corps of Engineers Project Manager (PM): Ms. Gretchen Jameson (816-

389-3563, e-mail gretchen.l.jameson@usace.army.mil) is the PM responsible for execution of this cooperative agreement. The Corps of Engineers PM will be kept apprised on all aspects related to the execution of this cooperative agreement and is directly responsible for the delivery of complete, timely, and responsive cooperative agreement product and services.

Fort Leavenworth Program Manager: Mr. Dale Cleland (913-684-8977, email dale.d.cleland.civ@mail.mil) is the Chief, Environmental Division and is responsible for program management of the work requirements.

Section VII: Agency Contact

Mandy Ashmore, Grants Officer, Contracting Division

USACE, NWK District

601 E 12th Street, Room 647

Kansas City, MO 64106

E-mail: mandy.ashmore@usace.army.mil

Tel: 816-389-3839

Section VIII: Other Information

Nothing follows mailto:dale.d.cleland.civ@mail.mil mailto:mandy.ashmore@usace.army.mil