NOTICE_OF_INTENT_ G17AC00108.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

breece.robertson@tpl.org

OVERVIEW

The Protected Areas Database of the United States (PAD-US) State Steward Network is the foundation of PAD-US as the source of non-federal data. The PAD-US State Data Steward Network has been a success story to date, but there is more work to do. Having more states with effective data stewards is central to the long-term quality of the PAD-US inventory.

The Trust for Public Land (TPL) has been a close and consistent partner with PAD-US. TPL provides leadership through the PAD-US NGO Workgroup and is the sole source of conservation easement data in PAD-US, through the National Conservation Easement Database. TPL is a non-profit (501c3) organization with a mission to help communities identify the most important land for conservation - and create and carry out a plan to protect it. Their analysis, research, and tools help shape conservation policy and help communities make the case for parks and open space. The organization has a long history in working with protected lands data at the state and local level. This project will further development of protected lands data to enhance the PAD-US State Steward Network.

RECIPIENT INVOLVEMENT

The following objectives would be completed under this award:

Objective One. Incorporate state, local government and nonprofit/land trust updates from TPL projects into PAD-US as best available data to update and complete the inventory.

Objective Two. Coordinate with state stewards to ensure updates are incorporated into state managed databases, where available.

Objective Three. Build support for inputs - work with state contacts to highlight the importance of PAD-US and encourage state investment that ensures high quality geospatial data are available from state and local government agencies.

Objective Four. Outreach – share lands data applications to raise awareness and increase support for state aggregations of protected areas data.

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:

· USGS will ensure that support to state stewards by TPL includes use and understanding of the PAD-US data schema by these stewards as their data is included in PAD-US.

· USGS will coordinate with TPL on outreach to states in order to increase support for state aggregations of protected areas data and use of PAD-US data by these agencies.

· USGS will provide periodic review of data products to ensure compliance with the PAD-US data schema.

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 and (6) COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT AUTHORITY 43 u.s.c. 1457B.

Single Source Justification Description:

The Trust for Public Land (TPL) has been a close and consistent partner with PAD-US. TPL provides leadership through the PAD-US NGO Workgroup and is the sole source of conservation easement data in PAD-US, through the National Conservation Easement Database. TPL is a non-profit (501c3) organization with a long history in working with protected lands data at the state and local level. This proposal requires expertise in protected areas data information systems and connection to state and local protected areas data stewards. The Trust for Public Land is uniquely qualified for the work described in this funding announcement.

STATUTORY AUTHORITY

43 USC 1457b: Use of cooperative agreements For fiscal year 2010, and each fiscal year thereafter, the Secretary of the Interior may enter into cooperative agreements with a State or political subdivision (including any agency thereof), or any not-for-profit organization if the agreement will:

(1) serve a mutual interest of the parties to the agreement in carrying out the programs administered by the Department of the Interior; and

(2) all parties will contribute resources to the accomplishment of these objectives. At the discretion of the Secretary, such agreements shall not be subject to a competitive process.

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