TBD D'Amato NOTICE OF INTENT TO AWARD_oel.doc

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

Cost Share

OVERVIEW

The U. S. Geological Survey, National Climate Adaptation Science Center (NCASC), and the Department of the Interior Northeast Climate Adaptation Science Center (DOI NE CASC) requests a one year cooperative agreement for a project titled “Identifying and Evaluating Adaptation Science for Forest Habitats and Associated Bird Communities” with the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA. The Department of the Interior Climate Adaptation Science Centers (DOI CASCs) were established by the Department of the Interior Secretarial Order 3289. The DOI NE CASC will synthesize and integrate climate change impact data and develop tools that the Department’s managers and partners can use when managing the Department’s land, water, fish and wildlife, and cultural heritage resources. Eight Regional DOI CASCs are co-located at cooperating organizations at non-USGS facilities in eight (8) regions; one of these regions is the Northeast.

RECIPIENT INVOLVEMENT

This work leverages existing stakeholder partnerships and ongoing research efforts focused on predicting the future distribution and condition of forest habitats with process-based landscape simulation models. The project would build on the project team’s ongoing adaptation research in forest systems to:

· identify adaptation science needs for natural and cultural resource managers from Department of the Interior bureaus, other Federal agencies, states, Tribes, and conservation partners;

· compare the distribution and condition of forest habitats for different climate change, disturbance, and adaptive management scenarios; and

· evaluate the relative effectiveness of different adaptive management strategies at sustaining forest-dependent bird species under these scenarios.

USGS INVOLVEMENT

Substantial involvement on the part USGS is anticipated for the successful completion of the objectives to be funded by this award. In particular, USGS will be responsible for the following:

· The DOI NE CASC, through scientists from its partner UMASS, will be substantially involved with UMASS during the term of the cooperative agreement for assuring that climate research projects are conducted in the locations in the Northeast Region. The DOI NE CASC will participate with and collaborate with its host institution, UMASS, scientists, technicians, volunteers, and/or other personnel to carry out the scope of work, train personnel, and or identify the need for additional Federal personnel to work on project efforts.

· The DOI NE CASC Director will review and approve proposed modifications, review and approve requests for supplemental project funding for new objectives, review award balances, and approve sub-grants to consortium members for funding in each Fiscal Year, prior to the award.

· The DOI NE CASC will direct and/or redirect the work because of interrelationships with other related northeastern region climate research projects.

· The DOI NE CASC has power to halt immediately an activity if detailed performance specifications are not met.

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:

Single Source Justification Description:

(2) UNSOLICITED PROPOSAL – The recipient possesses a unique approach to assessing adaptation management options that are important for ecologists and natural resource managers in the NE CASC domain. The key to this work is working with stakeholders to identify priorities and developing process-based, spatially-explicit models to evaluate change and management interventions.

(2) CONTINUATION - The activity to be funded will facilitate synthesis and stakeholder outreach of the data and tools produced during the investigator’s previously funded projects; competition would have a significant adverse effect on the continuity or completion of the activity

(4) UNIQUE QUALIFICATIONS - The applicant is uniquely qualified to perform the activity based upon a variety of demonstrable factors such pre-existing relationships with key stakeholders in the ecological research and natural resource management communities, support capacity and technical expertise.

(6) STATUTORY AUTHORITY- Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2008, Div. F, Title I (H.R. 2764; P.L. 110-161) and Administrative Provisions of P.L. 115-141 (FY 2018 Consolidated Appropriations Act) and P.L. 115-245 (FY 2019 Consolidated Appropriations Act); and 43 USC 36d; § 36d. Cooperative agreements: Notwithstanding the provisions of the Federal Grant and Cooperative Agreement Act of 1977 (31 U.S.C. 6301–6308), the United States Geological Survey is authorized to continue existing, and on and after November 10, 2003, to enter into new cooperative agreements directed towards a particular cooperator, in support of joint research and data collection activities with Federal, State, and academic partners funded by appropriations herein, including those that provide for space in cooperator facilities.

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