noi adovasio 20121.docx

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 Reclamation’s intention to fund the following project activities without full and open competition.

ABSTRACT

James M. Adovasio Mercyhurst Archaeological Institute 501 East 38th Street Erie, Pennsylvania 16546 Email: Adovasio@mercyhurst.edu 814-392-0276 Alternate Contact:

Laurie Hamblin Phone: 814-824-2545

(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;

OVERVIEW

RECIPIENT INVOLVEMENT

RECLAMATION INVOLVEMENT

Substantial involvement on the part Reclamation is not anticipated for the successful completion of the objectives to be funded by this award.

There will not be substantial involvement of the region. The region’s role will be to assist in arranging logistics to the three museums, and to review the draft report and make comments to the investigators. The region may also submit the draft for peer review and coordinate comments with the authors.

SINGLE-SOURCE JUSTIFICATION

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

SINGLE SOURCE POLICY REQUIREMENTS

Department of the Interior Policy (505 DM 2) 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.

Single Source Justification Description:

Reclamation did not solicit full and open competition for this award based the following criteria:

There is only one other basketry analyst in the United States (Lynne Teage, formerly of the University of Arizona). I did not contact this other basketry analyst directly, but asked for peer reviews of both analysts. This other person is a single individual, with no support team of students to assist in the task. Given that she is retired and that generally this type of work is more efficient with a team, it was unclear if she could perform the required travel and writing in the time needed to complete this project (ideally one year, possible extension to two due to Utah Museum moving its collections).

I talked with other archaeologists about the two sources for this work, and most felt that Mercyhurst has the best chance of meeting the government needs on time and with a low budget. Furthermore, Mercyhurst performed the same analysis for Reclamation in repatriating its Fremont collections from northern Utah, and Adovasio produced the only publishable report from that compliance project.

STATUTORY AUTHORITY

The collections were originally generated under the authority of the Historic Sites Act of 1935, as amended (49 Stat. 666; 16 U.S.C. 461-467) and this agreement is also made under the authority of the Historic Sites Act. The act, specifically Section 4 of 16 USC 464, authorizes the Secretary of the Interior “…to cooperate with and seek and accept the assistance of any Federal, State, or municipal department of any agency, or any educational or scientific institution, or any patriotic association, or any individual…” in administering the provisions of the act. Furthermore, the act at 16 USC 462(e) allows the Secretary to enter into contracts or cooperative agreements with states, municipalities, or individuals, provided that Congress has appropriated monies for such purposes.

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