PKG00260794-instructions.pdf

NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE: NOTICE OF INTENT TO AWARD

This announcement is not a request for applications.

This announcement is to provide public notice of the National Park Service’s intention to award financial assistance for the following project activities. Refer to Section 2. Determination.

ABSTRACT

Grants.gov Opportunity Number Project Title Recipient Anticipated Federal Funding Non- ederal Cost Share Total Anticipated Award Amount

Award Instrument

Anticipated Period of Performance

Legal Authorit

CFDA # and Title

Single Source Justification Criteria

National Park Service Point of Contact

PROJECT GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

STATEMENT OF PUBLIC PURPOSE

Section 1. Project Summary

P20AS00056

Student Career Development through NPS Collections University of Alaska Anchorage $83,000

0.00

$275,000

May 15, 2020 - May 14, 2025

54 USC §101702. Cooperative agreements

15.946, Cultural Resources Management

Unique Qualifications

Erica_Cordeiro@nps.gov

The objective of this Agreement between the University of Alaska Anchorage Department of Anthropology (UAA) and the Department of the Interior, National Park Service (NPS) is for the purpose of providing collections management and preservation training opportunities to university students through their participation in processing the backlog of collections held at the Alaska Regional Curatorial Center (ARCC). Student participants will provide curatorial support to the NPS Alaska Regional Curatorial Center by assisting with the processing and preservation of collections from national parks across the state, including Bering Land Bridge National Preserve, the Western Arctic Parklands, Kenai Fjords National Park, and other park units. Students will be trained in all aspects of the curatorial work they will be conducting, providing them with a foundation of knowledge that may be utilized in other aspects of their studies or career trajectories.

This cooperative agreement further provides opportunity for public engagement by developing programs and activities for University of Alaska Anchorage students to advance their knowledge and skills of archaeology collections management. The agreement will enable students participating in the project to access professional museum staff, and generally enhance their understanding of cultural resources management in the NPS. Knowledge of long-term preservation practices is an essential skill for students of many disciplines, in particular Anthropology, Archaeology, and History, and coursework for museum training is otherwise currently unavailable at the University. The project objectives included in this agreement are intended to generate a strong community of practice for archaeology collections management in Alaska, both within the NPS system and beyond.

RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE PARTIES

A. The recipient shall be responsible for the following items under this agreement:

B. The NPS Responsibilities:

A agreement is proposed therefore substantial involvement by NPS is anticipated during the period of performance of this agreement. In support of this agreement NPS will:

A grant agreement is proposed, therefore on the part of the NPS is anticipated for the successful completion of the statement of work. It is anticipated that involvement will be limited to actions related to monitoring project performance technical assistance at the request of the recipient.

This project will bring archaeological collections associated with national park units in Alaska into compliance with professional standards of accountability and preservation, and thereby making the collections accessible for public use. Working under the guidance of park staff and the NPS senior curator, students participating in this project will learn methodologies for all aspects of curating archaeological collections, including inventorying, cataloging and rehousing techniques. Participants will work in a state-of-the-art collections storage repository (the Alaska Regional Curatorial Center) and will be trained to use the Department of the Interior Museum Collection Management System (MCMS) to catalog and track collections. Specific curatorial tasks likely to be undertaken in the course of this project include,

• Cataloging, including describing objects and tallying item counts

• Completing object condition assessments

• Collection inventorying for accountability

• Researching collections using associated records such as field records, maps, photographs, publications, etc.

• Arranging collections by material type and provenience

• Rehousing objects into archival bags, trays, and boxes using archival labeling techniques

• Using MCMS and excel to input catalog records and create permanent records for the collections

• Identifying artifacts in need of conservation treatment to stabilize object condition

• Practicing good object handling techniques

1. Create an on-going, effective and efficient partnership between the recipient University of Alaska Anchorage and the NPS Alaska Regional Office;

2. Enable program participants to interact with Federal agency personnel and to experience hands-on cultural resource management;

3. Coordinate all recruitment, and to hire qualified project associates;

4. To help bring archaeology collections in the Alaska Region into compliance with current professional curation standards, federal legislation and regulations, and agency policies and guidelines.

1. Provide office space, including access to a computer, office phone, and access to photocopier/printer as appropriate;

2. Assist in the selection of project associates;

3. Provide projects that facilitate the project associates’ understanding of cultural resources;

4. To provide agency and task specific training and safety training needed to complete this project;

5. Provide timely and comprehensive feedback to project associates during their work.

Section 3. Single Source Justification

NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

SINGLE SOURCE POLICY REQUIREMENTS

National Park Service Policy FAP&P 1443-2015-06 requires a written justification which explains why competition is not practicable. The justification must address one of the following criteria.

In order for an assistance award to be made without competition, the award must satisfy one or more of the following criteria:

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

Continuation – The activity to be funded is necessary to the satisfactory completion of, or is a continuation of, an activity presently being funded, for which competition would have a significant adverse effect on the continuity or completion of the activity 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;

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, technical expertise, or other such unique qualifications

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.

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

Task Agreement issued under previously competed or single source master cooperative agreement per Section 2 above. Single Source Justificatio .

Continuation

Unique Qualifications

Unsolicited Proposal

Legislative Intent

Explanation of the proposed recipient’s qualifications or the criteria of the proposed project which requires use of the single source criteria cited.

Section 2. Determination

University of Alaska Anchorage (UAA) is uniquely qualified to serve as a partner in this financial assistance project for several reasons. UAA is a higher learning institution located within the immediate geographic area of the AK Regional Curatorial Center (ARCC), offering a convenient commute for students participating in the program. Access to the ARCC is critical because it is necessary that all collections work be conducted onsite at that facility. Further, UAA offers an anthropology graduate program with a strong emphasis on cultural resources management. These students have the necessary educational background to perform the tasks included in the scope of work. Other local educational institutions do not offer degree programs that would appropriately prepare students for participation. Finally, the collaboration between UAA and NPS on this project would encourage a strong community of practice for archaeology collections management in Alaska, to the benefit of both institutions.

Section 4. Department of the Interior Secretary’s Priorities

This award will support the following DOI Secretary priority(ies):

Other Key Initiatives:

Employment of veterans.

Supporting DOI Infrastructure needs.

Creating jobs in the American economy.

Access to outdoor recreation opportunities.

Priority 1: Creating a conservation stewardship legacy second only to Teddy Roosevelt Utilize science to identify best practices to manage land and water resources and adapt to changes in the environment.

Examine land use planning process and land use designations that govern public use and access.

Revise and streamline the environmental and regulatory review process while maintaining environmental standards.

Review DOI water storage, transportation, and distribution systems to identify opportunities to resolve conflicts and expand capacity.

Foster relationships with conservation organizations advocating for balanced stewardship and use of public lands.

Identify and implement initiatives to expand access to DOI lands for hunting and fishing.

Shift the balance towards providing greater public access to public lands over restrictions to access.

Priority 2: Utilizing our natural resources Ensure American energy is available to meet our security and economic needs.

Ensure access to mineral resources, especially the critical and rare earth minerals.

Refocus timber programs to embrace the entire 'healthy forests' lifecycle.

Manage competition for grazing resources.

Priority 3: Restoring trust with local communities Be a better neighbor with those closest to our resources by improving dialogue and relationships with persons and entities bordering our lands.

Expand the lines of communication with Governors, state natural resource offices, Fish and Wildlife offices, water authorities, county commissioners, Tribes, and local communities.

Priority 4: Ensuring sovereignty means something Support tribal self-determination, self-governance, and sovereignty.

Solidify mutual interests between the U.S. and the freely associated states and territories.

Priority 5: Generating additional revenues to support DOI & National interests Ensure that the public receives the full market value for the natural resources produced on Federal lands.

Ensure that fees or costs levied for DOI services are reasonable and targeted to achieve cost recovery.

Consider the impact of DOI decisions on economic development and job creation.

Priority 6: Protecting our people and the border Actively support efforts to secure our southern border.

Ensure DOI law enforcement staffing addresses public safety risks anticipated on DOI land.

Promote a "public service" demeanor within our law enforcement community.

Priority 7: Striking a regulatory balance

Reduce the administrative and regulatory burden imposed on U.S.

industry and the public.

Ensure that Endangered Species Act decisions are based on strong science and thorough analysis.

Priority 8: Modernizing our infrastructure Support the White House Public/Private Partnership Initiative to modernize U.S. infrastructure.

Remove impediments to infrastructure development and facilitate private sector efforts to construct infrastructure projects serving American needs.