R15AS00011-Notice of Intent to Award-Montana Conservation Corps.pdf

Bureau of Reclamation Form, RF-102 12-2011

NOTICE OF INTENT TO AWARD

This Funding Announcement is not a request for applications. This announcement is to provide public notice of the Bureau of Reclamation’s intention to fund the following project activities without full and open competition.

ABSTRACT

Funding Announcement R15AS00031

Project Title Youth Initiative Projects at Sites in Montana Recipient Montana Conservation Corps Principal Investigator / Program Manager

Mr. Jono McKinney, President and CEO 206 N Grand Avenue Bozeman, Montana 59715

(406) 587-4475

Anticipated Federal Amount

$ 25,000.00

Cost Share $119,157.00 Total Anticipated Award Amount $144,157.00

New Award or Continuation? New

Anticipated Period of Performance January 2015 through December 2015

Award Instrument Cooperative Agreement Statutory Authority Public Lands Corps Act of 1993 (16 U.S.C. 1721-1730) and Youth

Conservation Corps Act of 1970 (16 U.S.C. §§ 1701-07) CFDA # and Title 15.546 Single Source Justification Criteria Cited

4. Unique Qualifications

Reclamation Point of Contact

Kim Prill Outdoor Recreation Planner Ph. (406) 247-7702

OVERVIEW

Pursuant to Public Lands Corps Act of 1993 (16 U.S.C. 1721-1730) and Youth Conservation Corps Act of 1970 (16 U.S.C. §§ 1701-07). The Secretary of Interior is authorized to enter into contracts and cooperative agreements with any qualified youth or conservation corps to perform appropriate conservation projects.

A partnership between the United States Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) and Montana Conservation Corps provides resource benefits and public stewardship opportunities, as well as an increased awareness of environmental ethics and stewardship among young people, thereby ensuring that the next generation is aware of the necessity of restoring and enhancing a healthy public lands. Meaningful experiences such as these provide not only an opportunity for young people to develop professional and life skills, but also creates a method in which a vital resource can be utilized by land management agencies such as Reclamation to provide the community and public lands with necessary conservation practices and outreach. Project work identified encompasses several Reclamation reservoirs proximate to MCC locales, throughout Montana, northeastern Wyoming and southwestern South Dakota, including, but not limited to, Canyon Ferry Reservoir, Tiber Reservoir, Nelson Reservoir, Belle Fourche Reservoir, and Clark Canyon Reservoir.

RECIPIENT INVOLVEMENT

In partnership with the Bureau of Reclamation, Montana Conservation Corps will mobilize diverse youth crews from urban, rural and tribal communities to participate in high value conservation projects rich with learning and training opportunities. MCC will assign three interns to work various projects at sites in Montana through mid-November of 2015. Service contributions will include the following types of activities:

Improvement of public waterways by restoring stream banks, improving riparian habitat and removing invasive, aquatic, and terrestrial weeds and species.

Preparation of Stream Improvement Reports to serve as data collection sheets that inform Reclamation of the miles of waterways improved via habitat and stream bank restoration, and the removal of invasive, aquatic, and terrestrial weeds and species.

The inventory, monitoring, and surveying rivers and streams and collection of data points to be used to help protect and enhance the environmental health of local waters.

Providing education and training of approximately 2,700 students and stakeholders on local watershed conditions and issues.

Ensuring that at least four organizations implement effective volunteer management practices to guarantee long-term program success.

RECLAMATION INVOLVEMENT

Substantial involvement on the part Reclamation is anticipated for the successful completion of the objectives to be funded by this award. In particular, Reclamation will be responsible for technical assistance, and performance and project monitoring throughout the duration of the agreement.

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.

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

(4) UNIQUE QUALIFICATIONS

Single Source Justification Description:

Locality – Best Location Proximate to Proposed Field Work.

There are few operational youth programs headquartered and based in Montana communities that offer proximate distance to Reclamation reservoirs and facilities, particularly those that are located in more rural localities. The Montana Conservation Corps is well-established in the geographic area, with physical offices in Bozeman, Montana, Helena, Montana and Billings, Montana. Based on the various tasks/locations identified in the statement of work, the travel distance ranges from 0 miles to 281 miles (with the latter being the farther point) from MCC headquarter offices across the state.

STATUTORY AUTHORITY

Pursuant to Public Lands Corps Act of 1993 (16 U.S.C. 1721-1730) and Youth Conservation Corps Act of 1970 (16 U.S.C. §§ 1701-07), The Secretary of Interior is authorized to enter into contracts and cooperative agreements with any qualified youth or conservation corps to perform appropriate conservation projects.