Notice of Intent.doc

NOTICE OF INTENT TO AWARD

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

ABSTRACT

OVERVIEW

The proposed cooperative agreement is to the University of Oregon to support capturing and modeling seismic and infrasound signals from small-scale debris flows and lahars. This work will accelerate development of the next-generation Mt. Rainier Lahar Detection System, which will be a model for expanding lahar and debris flow detection systems on other volcanoes in the Cascades of Washington State and Oregon.

RECIPIENT INVOLVEMENT

Through this award, the University of Oregon will capture and analyse small-scale seismic and infrasound signals on select very high threat volcanoes in the Cascades of Washington State and Oregon. Over the course of three years, in conjunction with USGS deployment of USGS-owned campaign infrasound sensors, the University of Oregon will program, transport and deploy up to 120 university-owned campaign nodal seismometers up to 2-3 times per year in river valleys of select very high threat volcanoes in Washington State and Oregon. Instrument deployment will be conducted during the summer months when occurrence of debris flows and lahars is highest. This array will capture and analyze seismic signals from small debris flows and lahars (volcanic mudflows). University staff will download and format the resulting data, and work with USGS scientists to model the seismic data, as well as infrasound data captured by USGS infrasound sensors.

USGS INVOLVEMENT

Substantial involvement on the part USGS is anticipated for the successful completion of the objectives to be funded by this award. In particular, USGS will be responsible for providing logistical support, including helicopter transport, for all personnel. USGS will guide planning, execution and progress review of the project. Cooperator staff will work alongside USGS staff in deploying instrumentation in the field and in modeling captured data, which will enable oversight of cooperator work. USGS will simultaneously deploy USGS-owned infrasound sensors to capture in-air signals from the same flows.

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.

(6) Cooperative Agreements - USGS Unique Authority cited at 43 U.S.C. 36d (Federal, State, and academic partners) or DOI Authority cited at 43 U.S.C. 1457b (not-for-profit organizations).

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

(4) Unique Qualifications

Single Source Justification Description:

The University of Oregon is a long-standing volcano seismology research partner with the CVO and has deep expertise gathering small-scale seismic signals through the deployment of campaign nodal seismometers. The University owns 120 of these instruments which is an ideal amount for the deployments under this award. The University also has the specialized infrastructure to download data from the nodal seismometers and move them onto high performance computing systems for modeling. University staff are located close enough to the CVO for easy transport of instrumentation to field sites. The University of Oregon is uniquely qualified and ideally located to support this large field project.

STATUTORY AUTHORITY

USGS Unique Authority cited at 43 U.S.C. 36d (Federal, State, and academic partners).

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