SW NOI_Schwartz.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-0037

Project Title Improving and accelerating the application of research findings to key natural-resource management issues in California

Recipient University of California, Davis

Principal

Investigator /

Program Manager

Mark W. Schwartz, Professor, University of California, Davis

Anticipated

Federal Amount

Year 1: $57,931.41, Year 2: $37,902.35

Cost Share $0.00

Total Anticipated

Award Amount

$95,833.76

New Award or

Continuation?

New

Anticipated Period of Performance

April 1, 2019 through March 31, 2021

Award Instrument Cooperative agreement

CFDA # and Title 15.820 National and Regional Climate Adaptation Science

Center/Climate Adaptation Science Centers

USGS Point of

Contact

Stephen T. Jackson, stjackson@usgs.gov and

Carolyn Enquist, cenquist@usgs.gov

OVERVIEW

The project will use the natural streamflow variability of the Rio Grande as a proxy for climate variability, and in particular for extreme drought and flood events. Specifically, it proposes to estimate the daily natural water availability for the Rio Grande along the border and compare the long-term water availability with that during drought periods. The research will help to understand extreme climatic events and support the formulation of adaptation strategies relevant for agriculture, urban and rural communities, water management agencies, flood protection, and environmental restoration activities.

mailto:stjackson@usgs.gov

RECIPIENT INVOLVEMENT

The recipient involvement includes directly supporting an early career scientist that will be embedded with leading SW CASC-affiliated researchers at UC-Davis to enhance the ability for researchers to identify and inform the most urgent management questions. For example, over the past four years, the forests of California have been devastated by wildfire, disease and insect outbreaks, leaving more than 100 million dead trees within the state. The state has formed a tree mortality task force to prioritize funding on both state and federal lands in response to this crisis.

The research community has responded to this crisis by focusing unprecedented research efforts on understanding the drivers of tree mortality and the potential to deploy management to reduce physiological stress under stressful conditions in order to achieve a more resilient forest.

Although resource managers in federal, state, tribal, and local agencies face are ready to adopt new management strategies, the research has not been systematically packaged in a manner that is accessible to managers and then specifically delivered to managers to inform forest management planning at a landscape scale. To do just this, the scientist will facilitate information exchange between resource managers and researchers through the coordination of working groups and other in-person events (e.g., working groups, field trips, panel discussions, workshops). Specifically, The hired scientist will coordinate and collaborate with SW CASC partners at USDA Forest Service, NPS, BLM, CDOW, California Department of Water

Resources (CDWR), USDA California Climate Hub and tribes to co-develop and provide up-to-date research findings to the forest management community across the state.

Project outputs include: the development of a suite of impact evaluation methods that can be used to assess the efficacy of deployed management actions to improve our current understanding and the future implementation of relevant research and an annual priority action list which includes a series of information sheets, knowledge briefs, webinars, and synthetic reviews; an annual report that describes progress and community uptake of information delivery.

Project outcomes include: (a) empowerment of natural resource managers by providing the most relevant research; and (b) accelerating the application of research information to their high priority management concerns.

USGS INVOLVEMENT

There will be no substantial involvement by the USGS in the recipient’s performance of the grant. Government involvement will not be beyond routine monitoring.

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).

Single Source Justification Description:

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

Single Source Justification Description:

(1) Unsolicited Proposal – The recipient possesses unique capabilities for conducting cutting-edge research that is responsive to the urgent information needs of resource managers. The recipient also is known for supporting early career scientists, especially those interested in translational science in the context of natural resource management.

(2) Unique Qualifications – The applicant is uniquely qualified to perform the activity based upon a variety of demonstrable factors such as technical expertise and analytical capabilities.

The scientist will coordinate and collaborate with SW CASC partners at U.S. Fish and Wildlife

Service (FWS), National Park Service (NPS), Bureau of Land Management (BLM), California

Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), California Department of Water Resources (DWR), USDA Forest Service (FS), and tribes across the state to deliver up-to-date research findings to facilitate the conservation and management planning efforts of resource managers across California.

The project aims to improve and accelerate the application of key research findings to pressing natural resource management issues.

STATUTORY AUTHORITY

43 USC 31 and the Administrative Provisions of P.L., 116-6 and Consolidated Approporations

Act of 2008, Div, F, Title I, P.L. 110-161