pfo t and e plant survey youth project.doc

UNITED STATES

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT

(BLM)

BLM-UT, Youth Opportunities to Work on Conservation Projects throughout Utah Public Lands

Public Lands Corps Act, 1993 (Amended 2005); PL 109-154; Title 16 U.S.C. Chapter 37, Subchapter II Sec 1721-1729, excluding Sec 1725 – Resource Assistant

This project is a specific project for the BLM Utah State Office under the

MASTER

Funding Opportunity Announcement No. L15AS00034 CFDA Numbers

15.231 Fish, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Resource Management

Applicants are required to apply under the above Funding Opportunity Announcement through Grants.gov. All terms and conditions will remain the same. The only thing different will be the proposal format and evaluation criteria, see below:

Applications due by: May 31, 2015 Contact Information

Maria Gochis, Grants Management Officer (GMO) Phone: 801-539-4178 Email: mgochis@blm.gov Don Kranendonk, Assistant Field Manager

Phone: 435-636-3632

Email: dkranendonk@blm.gov

SECTION I. YOUTH OPPORTUNITY FOR BLM- Price Field Office (PFO) Threatened and Endangered Plant Survey Youth Projects Project Background Information: This specific project will support the Price Field Office, Richfield Field Office, and Hanksville Offices with the Henry Mountains (Hanksville) Field Station serving as the primary duty station. This project will focus on the objectives of the BLM’s Threatened and Endangered (T/E) Species Program. These objectives are to maintain, restore, and monitor habitat conditions for federally listed species to achieve species recovery so that protection under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) is no longer required and to manage and conserve non-listed special status species so that listing under the ESA does not become necessary. The T/E Program directly supports the Department’s Strategic Plan Mission Area 1 (“Provide Natural and Cultural Resource Protection and Experiences”), Goal 1 (“Protect America’s Cultural and Heritage Resources”), and Strategy #2 (“Sustain species health”). This goal includes the two supporting performance measures; (1) Number of threatened and endangered species recovery implementation activities implemented; and (2) Percent of populations of species of management concern that are managed to desired condition. The Utah BLM is required to implement designated recovery actions identified in recovery and conservation plans. Inventory and monitoring studies must continue to be implemented. Efficient section 7 consultation with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service must continue. This project will provide direct support of these T/E preservation and projection efforts.distribute maps and other information that fosters a safe, enjoyable, and responsible outdoor experience.

Project Objective: BLM, Price Field Office, Utah has an opportunity to introduce youth to careers in the BLM under the Fish, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Management Area, specifically Botany. Price Field Office has Plant and Wildlife Specialists on staff and would like to a provide work experience to youth for their career and educational benefit. This will be accomplished by providing them opportunities to gain experience, learn about public lands, further their understanding and appreciation of natural and botanical resources, and pique their interest in Natural Resource Management careers. From this they will gain an increased appreciation and understanding of our public lands and of the value of public service, and are likely to become life-long advocates for those values. This opportunity will be focused on inventory and monitoring of Threatened and Endangered Plant Species and implementation of actions to mitigate potential impacts to these species. This project would be especially appropriate for a student studying Botany, Wildlife Biology, or Rangeland Management and will provide opportunities to enhance basic career skills such as organization, writing, detail, and communication, as well as field skills including the locating and documenting of plant and plant habitat locations, use of GPS equipment and maps, field note methodology, and plant and species identification techniques. Previous experience with any or all of these skills would significantly enhance the student experience. This project will be focused primary on the following species; Sclerocactus wrightiae, Pediocactus despainii, Pediocactus winkleri, Schoenocrambe barnebyi, Cycladenia jonesii, Townsendia aprica, Erigeron maguirei, Aliciella tenuis, Aliciella caespitosa.

Program/Project Performance Goals:

a) Expose young men and women to public service early in their career decision-making process, and involve them in real, intellectually-challenging assignments that allow them to work side-by-side with BLM staff on projects that provide hands-on, meaningful work experience.

b) Stimulate interest among the youth and young adults in conservation careers by exposing them to conservation professionals in land managing agencies, and by providing conservation projects that qualify for the noncompetitive hiring status for a period of not more than 120 days.

c) Promote and stimulate public purposes such as enhance classroom learning by providing education, job training, and development of responsible citizenship, productive community involvement of youth and young adults in care and enhancement of natural and cultural resources.

d) Assist qualified Youth Conservation Corps with an experience in conserving or developing natural and cultural resources and enhancing and maintaining environmentally important lands and waters through the use of the nation’s young men and women.

Duties: The successful youth applicants will assist the Price and Richfield Field Office’s Botany and Range programs, which covers almost 4.6 million acres of public lands. Numerous opportunities exist for field work, office work, and interdisciplinary team interaction. Field work includes surveys, collection, and monitoring of botanical, riparian, and range resources for management and research purposes. Office/lab duties will largely consist of data entry, mapping, GIS work, downloading of GPS data collections points and field observation recording and summarizing. Field work experience will be conducted largely in high altitude, hot, arid, rugged, and remote environments.

Methods consist of hiking pre-determined target areas within the two field offices while closely examining soil and vegetation for the presence of endangered plant species. When target species are found, they will be documented using notebooks, standard format field forms, GPS, and digital photography and assessed as to significance.

The participant may also assist crews from partner institutions and agencies in species mitigation protections efforts. This could include fence and barrier construction, sign installation, and creation and distribution of education materials.

Office duties will consist of entering data into an Access-type database. Assistance in the development of botanical and Threatened and Endangered Species education programs will also be a part of the intern’s assignments.

The participant will work out of the Respective; Richfield, Price and Hanceville Field offices. Fieldwork will be done in a remote backcountry setting and requires strenuous exertion. Weather and terrain conditions may be extreme (e.g. heat, cold, thunderstorms, steep badlands).

BLM’s Involvement: There will be substantive involvement by BLM professionals who will work side-by-side with the recipients on all projects and will provide project orientation and training, as necessary. The BLM will have the right to intervene by modifying the project management plan, if the project is not staying on schedule, technical issues arise, etc. In addition, the BLM and recipient will meet weekly to discuss progress and track project outcomes; review any training needs; and make decisions that foster the advancement and completion of project goals.

Period of Performance: This project is anticipated to part of an ongoing five year project anticipated to begin as early as August 15, 2015 continuing through October 15, 2015 then later resuming March 1, 2015 through June 15, 2015 and depending on the need may continue as late in the year as October 15, 2016. Annual continuation of the project is dependent on successful completion of each year of the project.

Work Schedule: Monday – Friday, generally 8 AM to 5PM, for 12 weeks, with flex able start/end dates in May-June/August-September. Weekend work might be occasionally required particularly during the Spring Months.

Qualification Requirements: This opportunity is suitable for upper-level college students or recent college graduates – with education and training in cartography, computer science, geography or a related discipline – who possess strong skills using GIS software to produce maps. The selected candidates will demonstrate a keen understanding of spatial data; the ability to enter data quickly, correctly and efficiently; understand how to create data documentation; and demonstrate a basic knowledge of cartography and graphic design. Applicants must also pass a DOI security background check.

Housing: Housing will be provided by the agency at the Hanksville Field Office. Occasionally internes may be required to stay in trailers provided by the Price Field Office and remote overnight field locations where the BLM will provide tents, trailers or other field accommodations. Interns are not required to have a personal vehicle for these positions but is strongly encouraged as it makes the applicant's days off much more enjoyable. The closest regional airport is in Salt Lake City, Utah, approximately miles to the North West of the Hanksville office.

Expected Field Travel: BLM will provide the transportation for all work related travel.

The ceiling amount for field per diem in Price and Richfield Office is $32.50 and it is estimated that the partcipants would stay in the field approximately 20 nights during a six month period. No overnight hotel stays are anticipated to be required for this youth project Funding Availability: Award Ceiling Amount for FY15 is NTE: $60,000.

The maximum cap of $15.00 per hour for crew leader and $12.00 per hour for stand crew member.

Section II – Reporting Requirements: (Refer to Full Announcement for details) A. SF425 – Federal Financial Report’s

B. Performance Report due yearly or at the end of the project

C. Youth Reporting due quarterly to Program Officer SECTION III. The Application Package – Also refer to Funding Opportunity Announcement Section D. Application and Submission Information for further detailed information.

Applications must include all required Standard Forms (SF) shown below, a Proposal (Attachment A), a Budget Detail with narrative (mandatory) (Attachment B), and a copy the applicant's approved federal agency Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (NICRA), if applicable. Non-governmental organizations that have not previously received award funds or have not had an active award within 3 (three) years must complete a Financial Assistance Evaluation Questionnaire. A copy of the questionnaire may be requested by contacting the individual listed on the application coversheet.

WHAT TO SUBMIT:

SF-424 Application for Federal Assistance

SF-424A Budget Information - Non-Construction Programs

SF-424B Assurances - Non-Construction Programs

Grants.gov Lobbying Form

Project Proposal (Attachment A)

Budget Detail and Narrative Mandatory (Attachment B)

Federal Agency-approved Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (NICRA, if applicable)

Financial Assistance Evaluation Questionnaire (if applicable)

Attachment A

SECTION IV. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT

Utah State Office

Grants & Cooperative Agreements

PROJECT PROPOSAL

Instructions: A Project Proposal must be submitted with the Standard Form (SF) 424 Application for Financial Assistance for all Financial Assistance Agreements. A new proposal must be included with any request for modification which involves a revision to funding, project scope, period of performance, or key personnel.

Agreement or Funding Opportunity No.:

Date:

Organization Name:

Project Title:

Name & Title of Person Submitting Proposal:

*If a specific start work date is needed with pre-award costs for specific BLM Project, contact BLM Program Officer (PO) to discuss details, so PO can discuss with Grants Management Officer. Do not start work without prior approval from the Grants Management Officer, unless project is a specific project to your organization is already working on and you are requesting for further financial assistance.

1.

Purpose, Objectives, and Relevance:

(Describe why the project is needed, the applicant's objectives, how the applicant's objectives support their mission, and how this project benefits the general public.)

2.

Technical Approach:

(Describe how the project will be conducted. The project design must contain enough detail to show the development of the project, including the relationship between the partners, and objectives. Clearly describe the techniques, procedures, and methodologies to be used; the data collection, analysis, and means of interpretation; the expected program/project goals and/or outcomes; and the procedures for evaluating project effectiveness, including appropriate performance goals and the probabilities of obtaining them.)

The proposal must include the detailed project plan/schedule. The project plan must be supported by a narrative description of each of the activities to be undertaken. The schedule should include proposed work, reporting, major tasks, and project milestones including the identification of the anticipated start and ending dates of all major stages/tasks of the project proposal. The following table may be used to summarize the project schedule.

Start Date Planned Completion Date

3.

Qualifications, Experience, and Past Performance:

(Describe who will carry out the project activities. List all project personnel, including consultants, contractors, sub-recipients, etc., and their contact information. Describe your recruiting techniques in recruiting a diverse pool of candidates. Describe their responsibilities and the amount of time each will dedicate to the project. Briefly describe how their experience and qualifications are appropriate to successfully achieve the stated objectives and performance goals. Describe past completed natural and cultural youth conservation projects on public lands with accomplishments. Describe successful of your program placing qualified youth interns in conservation careers.)

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