OpportunityTitle: Conservation Interns for Biology Projects in Yukon Charley Rivers National Preserve
Description: This Funding Announcement is not a request for applications. This announcement is to provide public notice of the National Park Service (NPS), intention to fund the following project activities without competition. ABSTRACT Funding Announcement P16AC00342 Project Title Conservation Interns for Biology Projects for Yukon Charley Rivers National Preserve Recipient Student Conservation Association Total Anticipated Award Amount $30,196.97 Cost Share $15,385.60 Anticipated Length of Agreement 16 weeks Anticipated Period of Performance 5/17/2016 to 9/5/2016 Award Instrument Task Agreement Statutory Authority 16 USC 1723 (c)(1) CFDA # and Title 15.931 Single Source Justification Criteria Cited Point of Contact James Cato OVERVIEW Cooperative Agreement Number P15AC00031 was entered into by and between the Department of the Interior, National Park Service, (NPS), and Student Conservation Association (SCA) for the purpose of Conservation Projects. Unless otherwise specified herein, the terms and conditions as stated in the Cooperative Agreement will apply to this Task Agreement. STATEMENT OF JOINT OBJECTIVES/PROJECT MANAGEMENT PLAN Project Title, Project Description: Title: Wildlife Biology SCA Interns (2) based at NPS Fairbanks Administrative Center-YUCH. Project Description: This Task Agreement is to support and stimulate work and/or education and training opportunities in wildlife and natural resource management for two young adults through collaborative participation with the Student Conservation Association, Yukon-Charley Rivers National Preserve, Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve, Arctic Inventory and Monitoring Network and Central Alaska Inventory and Monitoring Network. RECIPIENT INVOLVEMENT This task agreement specifies a partnership project between the NPS and the Student Conservation Association which involves placement of two youth associated at the Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve to participate in the park&#8217;s conservation and stewardship programs. This project will provide the two Interns with a variety of skills preparing them for future employment in conservation research and education. The two Interns will receive applied and in-depth training and career development opportunities in wildlife field biology and natural resource management through a variety of field excursions into various parks. The main goal of this project is to develop the two Interns into next generation of park stewards by providing hands-on, professional career training and development opportunities, expanding the Intern&#8217;s contacts with natural resource professionals, participating in hands-on, applied park science with researchers, and learning about park stewardship and science while being directly immersed in field-based resource management work in national parks. The two Interns will gain extensive safety training and will benefit from learning about science conducted on park resources that are useful for monitoring species of concern and assessing the health and status of the public&#8217;s national parks. &#8226; The two Interns will learn the tenets wildlife biology and natural resource management through field experiences in various parks with a variety of scientists and staff including: small mammal live trapping and mark/recapture techniques in Denali National Park, small mammal voucher specimen preparation in Fairbanks in collaboration with the University of Alaska Museum of the North Department of Mammalogy, peregrine in Yukon-Charley Rivers National Preserve, water quality surveys in Denali and Wrangell St. Elias National Park and Preserve. &#8226; Learning will occur both in the classroom (trainings) and in field settings. &#8226; Learning will be focused on the science, conservation and education ideals of conservation and creating the next generation of stewards. &#8226; The two Interns will attend all NPS and safety training including: NPS mission and policies, NPS backcountry policies, Operational Leadership, first aid/CPR, bear and shotgun safety, backcountry safety, leave-no-trace backcountry camping, and B-3 aviation. A. SCA agrees: 1. To assist with recruitment and selection of selected candidates as Conservation Associates to participate in the work described in the above Scope of Work. 2. To provide for transportation to and from Denali, Yukon-Charley, Wrangell St. Elias National Park and Preserve. 3. To provide stipends of living allowance, travel allowance, commuting allowance and housing allowance during the period of performance. 4. To provide for insurance and Americorps awards (when applicable). 5. To provide for in-service commercial travel during the project period of performance. . B. NPS agrees: 1. To provide financial assistance in the amount of $30,196.97 2. To provide general orientation to park operations, NPS missions, and safety training. 3. To provide an NPS technical representative for SCA volunteers to assist with specifics of the projects as needed. 4. To provide all necessary equipment and supplies applicable for the project. 5. To complete a written final evaluation on the outcome and SCA&#8217;s performance of the project. C. Both parties agree: That no change in financial assistance amount, term of project, SCA participant (including backfilling), or any other provision of this task agreement shall take place without the execution of a written modification documenting the change(s) signed by the Agreements Officer. NATIONAL PARK SERVICE INVOLVEMENT 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 &#8211; 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 &#8211; 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 &#8211; The language in the applicable authorizing legislation or legislative history clearly indicates Congress&#8217; intent to restrict the award to a particular recipient of purpose; (4) Unique Qualifications &#8211; 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 &#8211; 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: This is a task agreement that is being issued under an existing, previously competed cooperative agreement P15AC00031 to Student Conservation Association
GrantorContactEmailDescription: Work
GrantorContactText: James Cato &lt;br/&gt;Contract Specialist &lt;br/&gt;Phone 907-644-3302