notice of intent.docx

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

Production Earthquake Early Warning System for the West Coast

Principal Investigator / Program Manager

Specific to each Institution noted below*

OVERVIEW

To continue and further the Earthquake Hazards Program’s collaborative research project to test and develop the ability of seismic networks in high-risk areas of the U.S. to provide warnings of earthquakes when strong shaking has begun, so that property damage, injury, and loss of life can be reduced in affected areas. Phase 4 of the Earthquake Early Warning (EEW) project is designed to transition the current production system into an operational capability on the West Coast to provide actionable warnings based on seismic data collection, with seismic data processed using the seismic processing software Advanced National Seismic System (ANSS) Quake Management System (AQMS), and using the existing ANSS network components.

RECIPIENT INVOLVEMENT

The four Institutions noted below* will continue to operate the existing earthquake early warning prototype system to improve the quality and availability of warnings; expand the system on the West Coast within the framework of the USGS’s Advanced National Seismic System (ANSS); and carryout evalautions and research in order to transition the system to produce actionable warnings to users when earthquakes occur. The goal for the 24 months is to accomplish a limited roll-out of ShakeAlert for specific geographic regions and for specific applications. Principal Investigators will also coordinate to accomplish a strategy of incremental implementation of ShakeAlert in specific real-world applications that are tolerant of the ShakeAlert system’s current state of imperfect quality and reliability.

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 the following:

Earthquake Hazards Program project chiefs and staff within the program’s research and seismic monitoring projects will provide awardees with overall collaboration to convey USGS policy and the design and integration of software to eventually mesh with USGS systems that will provide warnings. They will be primarily responsible for initiating and continuing communications with the cooperators and the State of California and for leading the effort to develop an EEW implementation plan with input from the cooperators. Dr. Doug Given (Pasadena) will serve as the principal USGS point of contact; he will collaborate to establish policies and objectives for earthquake alerting within this project. He and Dr. Elizabeth Cochran (Pasadena) will assure that the plan of work established by the PIs can be accomplished with regard to USGS input and activities. USGS scientists in Menlo Park, CA, will provide technical collaboration related to seismic monitoring and will assist in assessing software needs for implementation of rapid earthquake alerting within CISN, which has both university and USGS components. USGS scientists in Golden, CO, will collaborate regarding the National Earthquake Information Center’s capabilities and related appropriate alert message content, design, and testing to facilitate eventual integration into existing network software systems.

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:

(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,

(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; and

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

Single Source Justification Description:

The four Institutions operate the ANSS networks included in the prototype system on the West Coast, have the station density needed for the prototype system, and have demonstrated their abitilites to operate the prototype system and carry out and apply related research and development during the previous three phases of early warning development.

STATUTORY AUTHORITY

The U.S. Geological Survey’s authority to fund Federal, State, and academic cooperators for research and data collection is contained in 43 U.S. Code Chapter 2 § 36d.

* EEW-ShakeAlert Institutions FY2015 Support

John Vidale

Amanda Thomas

Egill Hauksson

Margaret Hellweg

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