NOI-R17AC00101.pdf

Bureau of Reclamation Form, RF-102 02-2016

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

Funding Announcement BOR-DO-17-033

Project Title Research Support to Assist the Desert LCC Science Working Group and Critical Management Questions Teams

Recipient University of Arizona

Principal Investigator / Program Manager Larry A. Fisher, Ph.D

Anticipated Federal Amount

$83,000.00

Anticipated Non- Federal Amount $0

New Award or Continuation? New Award

Anticipated Period of Performance 1 year

Award Instrument Cooperative Agreement

Statutory Authority Public Law 111-11, Section 9509, Research Agreement Authority

CFDA # and Title 15.560

Single Source Justification Criteria Cited

(4) Unique Qualifications

Reclamation Point of Contact

Irene M. Hoiby ihoiby@usbr.gov 303-445-2025 mailto:ihoiby@usbr.gov

12-2012

OVERVIEW

The Desert Landscape Conservation Cooperative (LCC) is an applied science and conservation partnership that supports the strategic, science-based conservation of natural and cultural resources. The Desert LCC had developed interdisciplinary, multi-organizational teams to engage managers and experts from various sectors of the conservation community in assessing and addressing Critical Management Questions (CMQ). These focused efforts will produce information and decision support tools that resources managers need to address large scale stressors. These teams have identified the need for:

• Identifying the species and ecosystem processes that can be monitored and serve as surrogates for other species and habitat conditions to better understand the effects of climate change and other ecosystem pressures; Assessing effective and responsive adaptation actions; Synthesizing information from Desert LCC participating organizations about on-going monitoring of the surrogate species and ecosystem processes; and Recommending monitoring methodologies and best practices (based on existing protocols, whenever possible).

• Synthesizing information about on-going conservation activities and key points of contact in the Rio Grande basin in preparation for the Rio Grande Basin Conservation Forum in 2017; and Assessing demonstration projects where Desert LCC partners have been effective in managing riparian systems with prescribed fire and protecting them from catastrophic fire.

• Synthesizing and creating annotated bibliographies related to the physiological effects of climate change on species and habitats.

• Providing science translation support for Desert LCC-funded projects, including developing communication materials for resource managers; and Synthesizing and developing tools to more effectively capture and communicate science projects to inform and communicate with a broad group of managers and experts.

The Desert LCC has identified the need for Research Support positions to provide scientific and technical support for science projects defined by the working groups and teams. These positions will work closely with the Desert LCC Coordinators (specifically the Science Coordinator housed at the University of Arizona) and the Southwest Climate Science Center (also at the University of Arizona) to contribute to efficient completion of Desert LCC science projects, and delivery and communication of that work.

RECIPIENT INVOLVEMENT

The recipient will develop synthesis and assessment of information as described above by working closely with the Desert LCC Coordinators, the Desert LCC working groups/teams, and the Southwest Climate Science Center through weekly calls and regular in-person meetings. To develop a perspective of Desert LCC partners and activities, the recipient will assist with project management and facilitation of partner meetings and other administrative or logistical tasks in support of the Steering Committee, Science Working Group or Critical Management Question teams.

RECLAMATION INVOLVEMENT

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

• Collaborate with the recipient on a weekly basis to co-supervise the Research Support positions and guide development of research projects,

• Work with the recipient to develop work assignments and deliverables,

• Ensure that assigned projects are completed successfully and on time,

• Review and approve work products to ensure applicability to Desert LCC activities,

• Help select project research assistants, and

• Direct or redirect the work because of interrelationships with other projects in the Desert

LCC.

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.

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

(4) UNIQUE QUALIFICATIONS

Single Source Justification Description:

Specific cooperative research, synthesis, analysis, and other activities to be undertaken involve substantial guidance and oversight of the Desert LCC Coordinator and Science Coordinator, who is based at the University of Arizona along with the Southwest Climate Science Center. Because of the multi-stakeholder engagement underlying successful outcomes for the Desert LCC, the Desert Southwest Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU), which includes a network of ten federal, eight university, and seven nongovernmental agencies and is co-located with the Climate Science Center and Desert LCC Science Coordinator, the University of Arizona in Tucson, Arizona is uniquely qualified to perform these research activities. In addition, Larry A. Fisher, Ph.D., Research Professor in the School of Natural Resources and the Environment will serve as the Point of Contact and provide supervision for Research Support Assistant(s). Dr. Fisher has extensive experience in the areas of climate change adaptation, large landscape conservation, and environmental conflict and mediation. Since 2011, Dr. Fisher has developed a teaching, research, extension and service program on environmental conflict resolution, landscape-scale conservation, public lands policy, climate change adaptation, and international conservation and sustainable development at the University of Arizona. Previously, he was a senior program manager at the U. S. Institute for Environmental Conflict Resolution and the director for the Program on Environment and Community, Center for the Environment, at Cornell University.

He currently serves as Senior Diplomatic Interpreter for the U.S. Department of State, Washington, D.C. and as Consultant for the USDA Forest Service International Programs, the Ford Foundation and the Climate and Land Use Alliance, the Center for International Forestry Research, and the Bureau of Land Management, Tucson Field Office. Dr. Fisher has worked in the field of collaborative research and conservation for the majority of his career. His expertise in collaboration, climate change, and large landscape conservation as well as his proximity to the Desert LCC Science Coordinator and the Southwest Climate Science Center also uniquely qualify him to lead this work.

STATUTORY AUTHORITY

Public Law 111-11, Section 9509, Research Agreement Authority.

The Secretary may enter into contracts, grants, and cooperative agreements, for periods not to exceed 5 years, to carry out research within the Bureau of Reclamation.