NOTICE OF INTENT TO AWARD.pdf

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

Funding Announcement USGS-19-FA-0006

Project Title Pilot Project: Enhancing Access to Climate and Weather Information for Alaska

Recipient Scenarios Network for Alaska and Arctic Planning, International Arctic Research Center, University of Alaska, Fairbanks

Anticipated Federal Amount $68,098.00

Cost Share $0 Total Anticipated Award Amount $68,098.00

New Award or Continuation? New

Anticipated Period of Performance 12/14/2018 - 12/13/2019

Award Instrument Cooperative Agreement CFDA # and Title 15.820 National and Regional Climate Adaptation Science

Center/Climate Adaptation Science Centers USGS Point of Contact Steve Gray, sgray@usgs.gov

OVERVIEW

The U. S. Geological Survey, National Climate Adaptation Science Center (NCASC) and the Department of the Interior Alaska Climate Adaptation Science Center (DOI AK CASC) request an award to further efforts aimed at synthesizing and distributing climate-related information for use in adaptation, planning, and management across the Alaska region. The Department of the Interior Climate Adaptation Science Centers (DOI CASCs) were established by the Department of the Interior Secretarial Order 3289. As part of its mission, the DOI AK CASC is charged with such synthesis activities, as well as the development of resources that the Department and its partners can use when managing the Department’s land, water, fish and wildlife, and cultural heritage. Eight Regional DOI CASCs are co-located at cooperating organizations at non-USGS facilities in eight (8) regions; the AK CASC covers the state of Alaska.

RECIPIENT INVOLVEMENT

Recipient involvement is part of the University of Alaska Fairbank’s (UAF) continuation as the DOI AK CASC’s host institution as set forth in the original cooperative agreement G10AC00588 and now G17AC00213. With the addition of the new agreement described here, UAF will build on its capacity to gather, summarize, and distribute climate-related information for use in numerous applications across Alaska. UAF will provide the underlying data, technical expertise related to application development, and distribution of resulting products. The activity to be funded is necessary to the satisfactory completion of, and 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.

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:

Acting in cooperation with scientists from UAF, the DOI AK CASC will be substantially involved in developing requirements for resulting datasets and products, as well as working to develop strategies for the distribution of these products. The DOI AK CASC will also participate with and collaborate with UAF scientists, technicians, volunteers, and/or other personnel to carry out the scope of work and/or identify the need for additional Federal personnel to work on project efforts.

The DOI AK CASC Director will review and approve proposed modifications, review and approve requests for supplemental project funding for new objectives, and review award balances.

The DOI AK CASC will direct and/or redirect the work because of interrelationships with other related AK region climate research projects.

The DOI AK CASC has power to halt immediately an activity if detailed performance specifications are not met.

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

(4) UNIQUE QUALIFICATIONS

(6) COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS

Single Source Justification Description:

(2) CONTINUATION – UAF is uniquely qualified to perform the activities described above based upon a variety of demonstrable factors such as location, voluntary support capacity, cost-sharing ability, and technical expertise. In particular, UAF created the underlying datasets that form the basis of this new project, and so they are uniquely qualified to further develop applications for this information. Additionally UAF has been awarded a five-year cooperative agreement with the DOI AK CASC and has proven over the period of this and prior awards that the recipient is highly capable of performing this work.

(4) UNIQUE QUALIFICATIONS - The research conducted under this project is related to work originally supported under the DOI AK CASC’s hosting agreement with UAF. As such, UAF is uniquely positioned in terms of access to and expertise related to underlying datasets.

Under its cooparative agreement to host the DOI AK CASC, UAF has also proven that it is highly capable of performing such work, and so is the sole, logical choice for a partnership to address these needs.

(6) STATUTORY AUTHORITY

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

§ 36d. Cooperative agreements: Notwithstanding the provisions of the Federal Grant and Cooperative Agreement Act of 1977 (31 U.S.C. 6301–6308), the United States Geological Survey is authorized to continue existing, and on and after November 10, 2003, to enter into new cooperative agreements directed towards a particular cooperator, in support of joint research and data collection activities with Federal, State, and academic partners funded by appropriations herein, including those that provide for space in cooperator facilities.