What's Climate Change to You?

Post Date

February 26th 2011

Application Due Date

March 12th 2011

Funding Opportunity Number

H9911110013

CFDA Number(s)

Funding Instrument Type(s)

Cooperative Agreement

Funding Activity Categories

Environment

Number of Awards

1

Eligibility Categories

Other

This opportunity is only open to GoNorth! Adventure Learning organization. Single source justification is attached.

Funding

• Estimated Total Funding:

  $135000

• Award Range:

  $37000 - $135000

Grant 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 Serviceуs intention to fund the following project activities without full and open competition. ABSTRACT Funding Announcement Number H9911110013 Project Title Whatуs Climate Change to You? Recipient GoNorth! Adventure Learning Principle Investigator / Program Manager Mille Porsild п Executive Director, GoNorth! Adventure Learning Janis Kozlowski п Beringia Program Manager Total Anticipated Award Amount $135,000 Cost Share N/A New Award or Continuation? New Anticipated Length of Agreement Four years Anticipated Period of Performance March 18, 2011 п March 17, 2014 Award Instrument Cooperative Agreement Statutory Authority 16 U.S.C. _1g CFDA # and Title 00.000 Single Source Justification Criteria Cited See below NPS Point of Contact Erica Cordeiro @ 907-644-3303 Page 1 OVERVIEW, RECIPIENT AND NPS SUBSTANTIAL INVOLVEMENT Type of funds to be used for this project: ONPS 1. What type of competition is appropriate? Nationwide announcement for Beringia proposals. 2. Why was this cooperator selected? Cooperator proposed the project through a 3-step competitive process, and had the necessary expertise to perform the selected project. 3. Who are the parties to the agreement? GoNorth! Adventure Learning and the Alaska Region, NPS. 4. What is the purpose of the agreement? Establish a local and sustainable framework to deliver рBeringia: Whatуs Climate Change to You?с (WCCY) in Chukotka, Russia. 5. What are the deliverables expected? Establish a regional office in Provideniya, 6 community teams, provide training and set up program; conduct on-going observations year-round and share results, hold annual rendezvous, submit annual reports and a final report at the conclusion of the project, publish a journal article and present at Beringia Days conference (or other approved venue). 6. Explain the nature of the anticipated substantial involvement. What will NPS specifically do to carry out the project? - Provide technical assistance and expertise to the project. This assistance will include technical review of the documents; outreach with NPS interpretive and education specialists, and further assistance with outreach in Beringian communities in Alaska. - Because NPS staff is involved in climate change programs; research; distance learning programs; and citizen-science initiatives, they will link this project to relevant NPS staffs, and non-governmental organizations working in this field. - Connect this project with this network of initiatives and share how this effort is structured and the final results, to inform other efforts especially those working internationally. - Partner to ensure the broadest distribution of the project though the above networks, local park units in interested communities (especially schools), and through the NPS interpretive and education networks. 7. Why is the substantial involvement considered to be necessary? For successful outcome. Further: Substantial involvement on the part of GoNorth! is essential to complete the project because they provide the technical IT expertise and existing structure to implement and sustain this program; they will ensure the scientific viability of observations; and have the experience and relationships in Russian necessary to complete the work in Chukotka. Substantial involvement from the NPS is necessary to provide educational expertise, technical assistance, ensure coordination with Russian governmental institutions with whom we have relations, to review and approve each stage of the project, to engage other Beringia partners, and ensure that the data collected is accessible and useful (as citizen science). 8. Explain why the project or activity entails a relationship of assistance rather than a contract. How will the NPS benefit from this collaboration? The NPS and GoNorth! have mutual interest and benefit in the completion of this project. Further: The Shared Beringian Heritage Program of the NPS seeks to build partnerships with parties working on either side of the Bering Strait, increasing international cooperation and the conservation of the shared heritage of the region. Therefore, project supported through the program need to be of mutual benefit with substantial involvement from both parties. These partnerships further the NPS program goals of fostering collaboration across research and cultural studies in the region; leading to increased understanding and appreciation of the region; and furthering the goals of international cooperation. 9. What is the public purpose of support or stimulation? Resource stewardship and conservation. 10. Which law or laws authorize granting of assistance for performance of this project or activity? 104-208 Omnibus Consolidated Appropriations Act of 1997. 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 п 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 п 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 п The language in the applicable authorizing legislation or legislative history clearly indicates Congressу intent to restrict the award to a particular recipient of purpose; (4) Unique Qualifications п 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 п 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: BACKGROUND: ╔ A brief history of this project. Is this part of an on-going program, agreement, etc? This project has previously been competed through the Shared Beringian Heritage Program of the NPS. A nationwide announcement is conducted yearly requesting proposals. Projects are subsequently selected through a 3-step competitive process. The selection process includes: internal NPS review; ranking by a FACA compliant panel of external stakeholders; and final selection by the NPS. Projects must be of mutual interest and benefit to the cooperator and the NPS, and must involve substantial involvement by both parties. 1) 505 DM 2 Single Source - Only one responsible source will satisfy agency requirements. ╔ Identify the source and explain why specifically competition is not practical. The cooperator proposed the project for consideration. 2) Nature and description of the deliverable required to meet the agencyуs needs: ╔ Description of the deliverables and the required delivery schedule: establish a local and sustainable framework to deliver Beringia: Whatуs Climate Change to You (WCCY)? in Chukotka, Russia. ╔ The minimum essential characteristics or unique features of the item(s). WCCY is a Pan-Arctic-American network where students and teachers partner with scientists to do science and explore climate change around the circumpolar Arctic. The vehicle for WCCY is the рGoNorth!с Adventure Learning Series developed and headed by PI, Mille Porsild. ╔ State the price of the requirement п base year and every additional anticipated agreement period thereafter. Funding in FY11 of $37,000; FY12 of $48,000; and FY13 of $48,000. 3) Criteria for justifying award without competition. In order for an assistance award to be made without competition, the award must satisfy one or more of the following criteria. Please explain which criterion specifically addresses the proposed agreement. This project has previously been competed (described above). The cooperator proposed the project for consideration and has the qualifications to complete the work. ╔ 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; ╔ 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. ╔ Legislative intent - The language in the applicable authorizing legislation or legislative history clearly indicates Congress' intent to restrict award to a particular recipient or purpose. ╔ 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; ╔ 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. 4) A description of the market research that was conducted and the results, or a statement of the reason a market research was not conducted: ╔ The type and degree of market survey conducted. 5) Any other facts supporting the use of other than full and open competition: ╔ State whether the deliverable has been acquired previously, and if so, state the agreement document number. If the requirement is in support of on-going research, state the project title, project/protocol number, and the date the project was begun. ╔ Higher agency mandated requirement to utilize the known source (supported by written document). 6) A statement of the actions, if any, the agency may take to remove or overcome any barriers for competition before any potential future agreement award: ╔ If known, provide information on any new technology or new source that will be available in the future. ╔ Describe any measures being taken to foster competition for future acquisitions of the same item or service.

Contact Information

• Agency

  Department of the Interior

• Office:

  National Park Service

• Agency Contact:

  Erica Cordeiro
  Contract Specialist
  Phone 907-644-3303

• Agency Mailing Address:

  Work

• Agency Email Address:

  Erica_Cordeiro@nps.gov