OpportunityTitle: Vegetation Classification and Mapping Project at Niobrara National Scenic River and Missouri National Recreation River
Description: NOTICE OF INTENT TO AWARD This Funding Announcement is not a request for applications. This announcement is to provide public notice of the National Park Service&#65533;s intention to fund the following project activities without full and open competition. ABSTRACT Funding Announcement P15AS00059 Project Title Vegetation Classification and Mapping Project at Niobrara National Scenic River and Missouri National Recreation River in support of the NPS Vegetation Inventory Program, the National Park Service Inventory and Monitoring Division Recipient Colorado State University, Colorado Natural Heritage Program Principle Investigator / Program Manager Joe Stevens Total Anticipated Award Amount $964,336.00 over four years Cost Share $0.00 New Award or Continuation? Continuation of P15AC00728 Rocky Mountain CESU Cooperative Agreement Anticipated Length of Agreement From date of award until 12/31/2018 Anticipated Period of Performance From date of award until 12/31/2018 Award Instrument Cooperative Agreement Statutory Authority 54 USC 101702(a) and 54 USC 100703 CFDA # and Title 15.945 Cooperative Research &amp; Training Programs &#65533; Resources of NPS and CESU&#65533;s Single Source Justification Criteria Cited (4) Unique Qualifications NPS Point of Contact June Zastrow 303-987-6718 june_zastrow@nps.gov OVERVIEW This Agreement provides for the transfer of funds from the National Park Service to Colorado Natural Heritage Program/Colorado State University to complete vegetation classification and mapping to the NVC alliance level for Niobrara National Scenic River (NIOB) and Missouri National Recreation River (MNRR). This includes sampling and classification, support of mapping team, mapping to the alliance-level, accuracy assessment of the completed mapping products, final report and wrap-up meeting. This work will be done over 4 Federal Fiscal years in cooperation with NIOB and MNRR staff, the Northern Great Plains Inventory and Monitoring Network, and the Center for Environmental Management of Military Lands (CEMML) staff at Colorado State University, and staff at the NPS Vegetation Inventory Program (NPS VIP). Colorado Natural Heritage Program (CNHP) is located within Colorado State University. CNHP have personnel with extensive experience working with the NPS Vegetation Inventory Program (VIP), ecologists, and seasonal field crews to complete vegetation inventory projects of several national park units. The CNHP has knowledge and expertise with the National Vegetation Classification Standard (NVCS), including Version 2, which is the vegetation classification standard used for vegetation mapping projects of the NPS VIP. The CNHP is experienced in the collection and protocols for field data collection, classification development, working with mapping teams to build a mapping-model, accuracy assessment data collection and analysis, the development of final products, and conducting project close-out meetings. The CNHP began its relationship with the VIP in the mid-1990s, engaging in the vegetation inventory (then called vegetation mapping) of Rocky Mountain National Park. Subsequent to completing this project, the CNHP team completed vegetation inventories for Sand Creek Massacre, Bent&#65533;s Old Fort, Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve, and most recently Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area. This agreement details a strategy for completing vegetation inventory projects in support of the NPS VIP). The first phase of this Agreement comprises steps 1 to 4 of the 12 -step framework developed by the NPS Vegetation Inventory Program. http://science.nature.nps.gov/im/inventory/veg/docs/Veg_Inv_12step_Guidance_v1.1.pdf Subsequent work will be funded through modifications via task agreements. RECIPIENT INVOLVEMENT 1. Work collaboratively with NPS staff, other federal, state and local agencies, affiliates, academia, and public (as appropriate) to complete data acquisition and analysis, reports and recommendations, project management and oversight, development of classification and mapping products that meet NPS VIP program standards and follows the NPS Final Product Specifications. 2. The work will be accomplished primarily by Colorado State University&#65533;s Colorado Natural Heritage Program and the Centers for Environmental Management of Military Lands. NATIONAL PARK SERVICE INVOLVEMENT Substantial involvement on the part the National Park Service is anticipated for the successful completion of the objectives to be funded by this award. In particular, the National Park Service will be responsible for the following: Due to the level of sophistication, skill, and expertise required to design, develop and implement this NPS VIP the project is considered a research assistance. Appropriate methodologies will be developed in an interactive, iterative environment requiring ongoing communication and assistance between CSU, the NPS, and park managers. This Agreement with CSU supports this relationship and the need to have the flexibility to respond to the uncertainties inherent in developing and applying technologies to address both immediate and long-term research questions. By working under this task agreement CSU adheres to existing and new NPS policies and guidelines regarding data quality and protection of sensitive data in the technologies, tools and procedures that are developed, NPS involvement is necessary to appropriately communicate and review the implementation of these policies. NPS provides necessary NPS staff time to refine and review the products and report in sufficient detail to ensure its usefulness to the Parks. 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 &#65533; 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 &#65533; 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 &#65533; The language in the applicable authorizing legislation or legislative history clearly indicates Congress&#65533; intent to restrict the award to a particular recipient of purpose; (4) Unique Qualifications &#65533; 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 &#65533; 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. The National Park Service did not solicit full and open competition for this award based the following criteria: (4) UNIQUE QUALIFICATIONS SINGLE SOURCE JUSTIFICATION DESCRIPTION: THIS IS A NOTICE OF INTENT TO AWARD This is a Task Agreement (P15AC00266) under Cooperative Agreement (P14AC00728) in the amount of $233,946.00 with a period of performance from date of award until 12/31/2018. &quot;This proposed project between Colorado State University and the NPS is authorized to go through the Rocky Mountains CESU at the negotiated overhead rate of 17.5% because it passes the test of substantial involvement by the NPS, public purpose and consistency with the mission of the CESU Network&quot;. Also, on the SF 424 forms that the partner sponsored programs office fills out for each project, requires a CFDA number - 15.945, which is the number associated with the CFDA Title: COOPERATIVE RESEARCH AND TRAINING PROGRAMS - RESOURCES OF THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE (CESU). STATUTORY AUTHORITY A. 54 USC 101702(a) (previously16 U.S.C. &#65533;1g) authorizes the NPS to enter into cooperative agreements that involve the transfer of NPS appropriated funds to state, local and tribal governments, other public entities, educational institutions, and private nonprofit organizations for the public purpose of carrying out National Park Service programs. B. 54 USC 100703 (previously 16 U.S.C. &#65533;5933), Cooperative Study Units, authorizes and directs the Secretary to enter into cooperative agreements with colleges and universities, including but not limited to land grant schools, in partnership with other federal and state agencies, to establish cooperative study units to conduct multi-disciplinary research and develop integrated information products on the resources of the national park system, or the larger region of which parks are a part.
GrantorContactEmailDescription: June_Zastrow@nps.gov
GrantorContactText: June Zastrow, 303-987-6718&lt;br/&gt;June_Zastrow@nps.gov&lt;br/&gt;