noi-p15ac00422.doc

NOTICE OF INTENT TO AWARD

This Funding Announcement is not a request for applications. This announcement is to provide public notice of the National Park Service’s intention to fund the following project activities without full and open competition.

ABSTRACT

Funding Announcement

P15AS00089

Principle Investigator / Program Manager

Marion Reid

Award Instrument

Cooperative Agreement

Single Source Justification Criteria Cited

(2) Continuation

NPS Point of Contact

Steve Livingston

OVERVIEW

Cooperative Agreement Number P15AC00400 (Legacy #P11AC26468) was entered into by and between the Department of the Interior, National Park Service, (NPS), and NatureServe for the purpose of assisting the Northern Colorado Plateau Network in the classification support for the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area (GLCA) vegetation mapping project in support of the National Park Service (NPS) Vegetation Inventory Program (NPSVIP). Unless otherwise specified herein, the terms and conditions as stated in the Cooperative Agreement will apply to this Task Agreement.

The project manager will organize the most efficient, cost-effective approach to provide support for the classification support of the vegetation map for the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area (GLCA) during the FY15, and FY16 fiscal years.

RECIPIENT INVOLVEMENT

Duties will focus on:

1.

TASK 1.

Incorporate 75 New Plant Associations into the NVC

2.

TASK 2.

Review and Incorporate 15 New Hanging Garden and Seep Plant Associations into the NVC

3.

TASK 3.

Revise Global Descriptions for 115 NVC Plant Association to be up-to-date and Regional in Focus.

NATIONAL PARK SERVICE INVOLVEMENT

Substantial involvement on the part the National Park Service is anticipated for the successful completion of the objectives to be funded by this award. In particular, the National Park Service will be responsible for the following:

1.

Provide substantial guidance and consultation to the Recipient in connection with the project.

2.

Provide the Recipient with timely information on changes to park access, park boundaries or land ownership.

3.

Provide the Recipient with maps, reports, photography, and databases containing information relative to the biodiversity of GLCA.

The Recipient and NPS agree to:

1.

Cooperate to the fullest extent possible to assure that the efforts of each party are coordinated and result in the completion of a quality project. The parties will meet or communicate frequently for the purposes of discussing individual actions and to assess progress made on the project.

2.

Collaborate on project development and implementation including project plans, statements of work, methods, data standards, adaptive management, project oversight, data collection, data analysis and/or review, and development of products, reports, and presentations.

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.

The National Park Service did not solicit full and open competition for this award based the following criteria:

(2) CONTINUATION

Single Source Justification Description:

This is a Task Agreement P15AC00422 under Cooperative Agreement P15AC00400 (Legacy P11AC26468) in the amount of $41,357.00 with a period of performance from date of award until April 30, 2016.

STATUTORY AUTHORITY

A.

16 USC §1g authorizes the NPS to enter into cooperative agreements that involve the transfer of NPS appropriated funds to state, local and tribal governments, other public entities, educational institutions, and private nonprofit organizations for the public purpose of carrying out National Park Service programs.

B.

16 USC 4601-1 §(f)(1-3) authorizes the NPS to sponsor, engage in, and assist in research relating to outdoor recreation, directly or by contract or cooperative agreements, and make payments for such purposes. Subsection (f) (2) authorizes NPS to undertake studies and assemble information concerning outdoor recreation, directly or by contract or cooperative agreement, and to disseminate such information. Subsection (f) (3) authorizes cooperation with educational institutions and others to assist in establishing programs and activities to encourage public use and benefits from outdoor recreation (funds may even be advanced if in the public interest).

�THIS DOCUMENT IS USBR’s TEMPLATE FOR SINGLE SOURCE ANNOUNCMENTS – Comment Balloons provide guidance. Remove all comments prior to Posing.

�FOA Number on Grants.gov

�Recipient’s PI or Program Manager - Must be indicated in every NOI

�Grant or Cooperative Agreement

�Fill in with number in parenthesis and short title – such as (4) Unique Qualifications

�Should match Synopsis POC

�The overview should be succinct (1-2 paragraphs) and provide the reader a summary of the proposed project – including such information as location, if part of a larger project or effort – a brief background, need / problem this project is designed to address, etc.

�This section should provide a summary of the recipient’s activities to be funded by the award. It must be detailed enough for the public to understand, yet CANNOT include any proprietary information.

�This section must communicate the National Park Service’s responsibilities under the award. If the proposed award is a cooperative agreement, then this section should explain, in sufficient detail, NPS’s substantial involvement. If a grant – may just state technical assistance when requested and federal stewardship responsibilities such as monitoring project performance, etc

�Required Language. Immediately following this statement, the NOI must indicate the number and short title of the criterion or criteria (In all caps, Blue Font and Bold)

�This award-specific explanation should be comprehensive and specific. The written justification must specifically address the criterion or criteria indicated above as well as provide enough information to clearly explain why NPS chose not to allow all eligible applicants to compete for this award. Inclusion of additional detail outside that which meets the criteria is highly suggested as well.

Further, the justification must dispel any concerns related to a possible appearance of impropriety.

�This section must cite the statutory authority as well as provide the language from the particular section cited.

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