SE Seekamp 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-0042

Project Title Enhancing cultural resource adaptation planning in dynamic environments and assessing sediment budget research and information needs at Gulf Islands National Seashore

Recipient NC State University

Principal

Investigator /

Program Manager

Dr. Erin Seekamp

Anticipated Federal

Amount 49,163.00

Cost Share

Total Anticipated

Award Amount 49,163.00

New Award or

Continuation?

new

Anticipated Period of Performance 10 months from point of award

Award Instrument Grant

CFDA # and Title 15.820 National and Regional Climate Adaptation Science

Center/Climate Adaptation Science Centers

USGS Point of

Contact Ryan Boyles, rboyles@usgs.gov, 919-513-2816

OVERVIEW

This project will support the conservation stewardship mission of the National Park Service by providing science to inform management of the natural and cultural resources at Gulf Islands

National Seashore, a National Park Service unit predominately consisting of barrier islands that are rapidly changing from natural and anthropogenic drivers. Project objectives include: (1) refining a cultural resource adaptation planning exercise framework, the OptiPres Model, to integrate data on the frequency of storm events resulting in saltwater inundation of cultural resources into the current quasi-static vulnerability assessment, and (2) advance future sediment budget modeling efforts by conducting a needs assessment workshop for Gulf Islands National mailto:rboyles@usgs.gov

Seashore with input from local and regional National Park Service personnel and other relevant stakeholders and experts (e.g., US Army Corps of Engineers; US Fish & Wildlife Service) to identify what science-based evaluation of sediment dynamics are needed to conserve natural and cultural resources. The OptiPres model will be refined in collaboration with USGS research oceanographer in an iterative fashion with the project team on a complementary project funded by the National Park Service. The workshop will be planned and implemented by the project team, with the assistance of two professional facilitators during which sediment budget research and information needs will be prioritized. Outputs include a more sophisticated planning exercise framework for cultural resource adaptation planning with model outputs included in a report, journal manuscript, and conference presentation, as well as a workshop report and inter-agency webinar.

RECIPIENT INVOLVEMENT

To meet Objective 1, the Recipient will begin the process with a series of iterative meetings (e.g., webex) to identify options for integrating stochastic storm events and nourishment strategies into the OptiPres Model’s algorithm. Outputs of model modifications will be interpreted by the research team between each iterative meeting to determine additional modifications necessary;

once model modifications are agreed upon, additional sensitivity analysis will be performed to ensure model dynamics are operating effectively. To meet Objective 2, the Recipient will host a

Needs Assessment Workshop over the course of 2.5 days at a facility proximate to Gulf Islands

National Seashore. On the first day, GUIS personnel, SERO personnel, and national-level NPS personnel, as well as select USGS and NC State researchers, will be guided through facilitated discussions to identify the specific needs of GUIS. On the second day, the workshop will be opened to regional federal and state government personnel (e.g., US Army Corps of Engineers, US Fish & Wildlife Service, Bureau of Ocean and Energy Management, Florida Department of

Environmental Quality, Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality, Florida Fish and

Wildlife Conservation Commission, and Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, & Parks) during which time presentations will be made from representatives of each organization describing current efforts, priorities and needs, and the needs will be prioritized (facilitated discussion) for GUIS and within the region more generally (Objective 2d). On Day 3, all participants will be guided through facilitated discussions to determine future funding opportunities and collaborations to begin address the highest priority needs.

USGS INVOLVEMENT

There will be no substantial involvement by the USGS in the Recipient’s performance of this

Agreement. The project will be carried out by the recipient.

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

(6) COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS

Single Source Justification Description:

(4) UNIQUE QUALIFICATIONS - The recipient is uniquely qualified as she is already working with the National Park Service as an expert on cultural resource management at Gulf

Islands National Seashore.

(6) STATUTORY AUTHORITY - 43 USC 31 and the Administrative Provisions of P.L. 116-6 and Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2008, Div., F, Title I, P.L. 110-161