ADF&G Facility Use

Post Date

June 30th 2011

Application Due Date

July 15th 2011

Funding Opportunity Number

P11AC90426

CFDA Number(s)

15.946

Funding Instrument Type(s)

Cooperative Agreement

Funding Activity Categories

Education

Number of Awards

1

Eligibility Categories

Other

This is a Notice of Intent to award to Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G). No applications will be accepted from any cooperators other than ADF&G.

Funding

• Estimated Total Funding:

  $90000

• Award Range:

  $17000 - $90000

Grant Description

The principal objective of this agreement is to coordinate and collaborate on research, monitoring and educational activities related to the coastal areas of Lake Clark National Park in Cook Inlet, AK. Additionally, ADF&G will provide four (4) furnished offices in the Kachemak Bay Research Reserve building located at 2181 Kachemak Drive, Homer, Alaska for up to seven (7) NPS employees as described below. Office space also includes use of the building╔к_s conference room, utilities and janitorial services. Cooperative Agreement Number or PR Number P11AC90426 Type of funds to be used for this project (bold the type of funds) ONPS, NRC, Fee Demo, Fire, Donation, other. l. What type of competition is appropriate? LACL has an established partnership with the Kachemak Bay Research Reserve (KBRR) to collaborate and coordinate on projects of common interest and jointly plan and carry out mutually beneficial programs and activities consistent with each organization╔к_s mission and objectives. 2. Why was this cooperator selected? LACL is a formal partner of the Kachemak Bay Research Reserve and utilizes KBRR facilities at the Alaska Islands and Ocean Visitor Center to conduct interpretive programs and make visitor contacts. KBRR is a National Estuarine Research Reserve that conducts research and monitoring activities along the west side of Cook Inlet including the coastal areas of LACL. KBRR was selected as the cooperator because its mission emphasizes long-term ecological research and education and complements ongoing inventory and monitoring work being conducted by the NPS Southwest Area Network. Additionally, KBRR has many interpretive themes in common with LACL, which provides opportunities to collaborate on education and outreach programs and share resources and staff expertise. 3. Who are the parties to the agreement? Lake Clark National Park and Preserve and the Kachemak Bay Research Reserve. 4. What is the purpose of the agreement? The purposes of this agreement are to: ╔к_ collaborate and coordinate efforts to monitor physical and biological processes on the Cook Inlet coast of LACL. ╔к_ utilize office space located in the KBRR building at 2181 Kachemak Drive, Homer, Alaska ╔к_ utilize space at the Islands and Ocean Visitor Center for park staff to deliver interpretive and outreach programs ╔к_ collaborate on the development and delivery of interpretive and educational programs featuring themes related to the ecosystems and natural and cultural resources of Lower Cook Inlet and the coastal areas of Lake Clark National Park ╔к_ build public appreciation for state and federal public lands on lower Cook Inlet to promote stewardship and conservation ╔к_ share facilities, staff and other in-kind resources as appropriate and desirable to accomplish the objectives of this agreement 5. What are the deliverables expected? This project will result in LACL utilizing office space located in the KBRR building at 2181 Kachemak Drive in Homer, Alaska to support the park╔к_s interpretation and natural resource management programs and provide greater coordination with KBRR staff. It will also provide access to facilities at the Islands and Ocean Visitor Center for the park to present interpretive and outreach programs for the public featuring themes related to the ecosystems and natural and cultural resources of Lower Cook Inlet and the coastal areas of Lake Clark National Park. 6. Explain the nature of the anticipated substantial involvement. What will NPS specifically do to carry out the project? ╔к_ assign Mary McBurney, Program Manager, National Park Service as Agreements Technical Representative (ATR) for the administration of this Cooperative Agreement ╔к_ provide technical and staff support on collaborative efforts to plan, develop and deliver education and outreach programs ╔к_ provide technical and staff support on collaborative efforts to plan and conduct physical and biological research and monitoring projects ╔к_ provide financial support up to $17,000.00 annually over the effective period of this cooperative agreement, dependent on availability of funds. ╔к_ provide logistic support for coastal research and monitoring projects utilizing park aircraft and boats 7. Why is the substantial involvement considered necessary? LACL maintains a formal partnership with the KBRR to utilize facilities at the Islands and Ocean Visitor Center for LACL programs and collaborate on projects of mutual benefit. Substantial involvement is necessary to: ╔к_ provide technical and staff support to plan and develop research and monitoring projects that address the NPS Pacific Ocean Parks strategic plan ╔к_ provide technical and staff support to plan, develop and deliver interpretive and educational programs under this agreement ╔к_ provide the services of an interpretive ranger for up to 80 hours annually to deliver interpretive programs for school groups and visitors at the Islands and Ocean Visitor Center. 8. Explain why the project or activity entails a relationship of assistance rather than a contract. How will the NPS benefit from this collaboration? KBRR is part of the National Estuarine Research Reserve network with a mission to conduct ecosystem-based research and provide outreach of current research findings to foster a life-long appreciation and understanding of the coastal environment for people of all ages. An assistance agreement is the most appropriate vehicle for this project because the primary purpose is to maintain a formal partnership between NPS and KBRR to work on projects of mutual benefit. This directly benefits the NPS by: ╔к_ addressing Strategic Goal VIb1A of the 2008-2012 Strategic Plan to develop community partnerships that enhance the ability of parks to manage recreation activities ╔к_ promoting the objectives of Strategic Goal IIb1 to promote public awareness and understanding of park resources ╔к_ meeting the challenge of the NPS Centennial Initiative Education Goal to foster exceptional learning opportunities that connect people to parks, and ╔к_ addressing the NPS Centennial Initiative Professional Excellence Goal to model what it means to work in partnership 9. What is the public purpose of support or stimulation? The public purposes of support are to: ╔к_ support facilitation of cooperative conservation efforts per Executive Order 13352 ╔к_ promote civic engagement and public involvement through collaboration per Director╔к_s Order 75 ╔к_ increase the effectiveness of park interpretation and education activities by collaborating with partners per NPS Management Policy 7.6, and ╔к_ expand education outreach and public understanding of Alaska park resources per Focus Area 4 of the 2008-2012 NPS Alaska Region Strategic Plan. 10. Which law or laws authorize granting of assistance for performance of this project or activity? Assistance for performance of this project is authorized pursuant to 16 USC 1g. This 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 NPS programs. The authority to carry out public purposes of NPS programs is pursuant to 31 U.S.C. 6305. 11. How was the determination made that the costs proposed are accurate and proper? Provide a breakdown of costs and rationale for determining they are acceptable. The proposed agreement will transfer up to $17,000 from LACL ONPS base annually to provide furnished office space, including utilities and janitorial services, for up to seven LACL researchers, resource managers and educators. It will also provide LACL access to facilities at the Islands and Ocean Visitor Center for the park to present interpretive and outreach programs. BACKGROUND: ╔к_ The Kachemak Bay Research Reserve (KBRR) has been a formal partner of Lake Clark National Park and Preserve since 2005 and supports the park and its mission by providing office space for park natural resources and education staff and access to and use of visitor facilities at the Alaska Islands and Ocean Visitor Center for park interpretive programs. 1) 505 DM 2 Single Source - Only one responsible source will satisfy agency requirements. LACL does not have a visitor center in Homer, Alaska and uses KBRR visitor facilities at the Alaska Islands and Ocean Visitor Center to make visitor contacts, provide information about the park and present formal and informal interpretive programs for visitors, youth and school groups. The Alaska Islands and Ocean Visitor Center is the only facility in Homer with a multi-purpose auditorium that can accommodate groups of up to 150 people and audio-visual equipment to support a full range of interpretive and education programs and special events. The Visitor Center also has classroom space and lab facilities to support science education and park interpretive programs. KBRR also provides access to office space for up to seven seasonal and permanent park employees in the education/interpretation, natural resources and subsistence divisions in the KBRR building at 2181 Kachemak Drive. The office space allows LACL to be co-located with other educators, resource managers and researchers with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, NOAA Kasitsna Bay Laboratory and BIA subsistence program, which encourages and facilitates inter-agency collaboration and cooperation. 2) Nature and description of the deliverable required to meet the agency╔к_s needs: ╔к_ Access and use of KBRR visitor facilities and lab space at the Alaska Islands and Ocean Visitor Center in Homer, Alaska and office space for up to seven park staff at the KBRR building at 2181 Kachemak Drive. These facilities are available to LACL beginning FY2011 through the end of FY2015. ╔к_ This agreement will provide furnished office space, including utilities and janitorial services, for up to seven LACL researchers, resource managers and educators and use of the building╔к_s conference room. It will also provide access and use of visitor, classroom and lab facilities at the Alaska Islands and Ocean Visitor Center for the park to present interpretive and outreach programs. ╔к_ The price of the requirement in FY 2011 is $17,000 and $17,000 annually for the five-year effective period of the cooperative agreement, contingent on availability of future Congressional appropriations and administrative decisions. 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. ╔к_ Continuation ╔к_ This project is a continuation of the park╔к_s formal partnership with KBRR initiated under cooperative agreement H98550500048, to coordinate and collaborate on research, monitoring and educational activities of mutual benefit. Continuation of the partnership will provide LACL use of the Alaska Islands and Ocean Visitor Center for contacting visitors and providing educational and interpretive programs for a variety of audiences. It will also continue to provide office space to support collaboration and coordination of resource research and monitoring activities. ╔к_ Unique Qualifications - KBRR is uniquely qualified to provide the services described because of their association with the Alaska Islands and Ocean Visitor Center. The visitor center has facilities that can accommodate both large and small groups, high quality audio-visual equipment to support a full range of interpretive presentations and a fully equipped lab for science education programs. The office space provided by KBRR allows LACL to be co-located with other educators, resource managers and researchers with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, NOAA Kasitsna Bay Laboratory and BIA subsistence program, which encourages and facilitates inter-agency collaboration and cooperation. 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: ╔к_ The Kachemak Bay Research Reserve has a unique visitor center with capacity and capabilities that cannot be found in any other facility in Homer. A market survey of available office space in Homer was conducted in January 2011 by searching the Alaska Multiple Listing Service and reviewing commercial office listings in the Homer and Anchor Point area posted on the websites of five local real estate offices. The market survey searched for properties comparable to the KBRR office space with fully furnished offices for up to seven employees―including utilities and janitorial service― and a conference room. The survey found no commercial office space for rent or lease that met these requirements within a fifteen mile radius of downtown Homer. 5) Any other facts supporting the use of other than full and open competition: This project serves to maintain an on-going formal partnership initiated in 2005 under cooperative agreement H98550500048 between NPS and the Kachemak Bay Research Reserve. The partnership provides benefits that help the NPS achieve performance management goals and objectives that would be difficult to realize by using a commercial service provider: ╔к_ addressing Strategic Goal VIb1A of the 2008-2012 Strategic Plan to develop community partnerships that enhance the ability of parks to manage recreation activities ╔к_ promoting the objectives of Strategic Goal IIb1 to promote public awareness and understanding of park resources ╔к_ meeting the challenge of the NPS Centennial Initiative Education Goal to foster exceptional learning opportunities that connect people to parks, and ╔к_ addressing the NPS Centennial Initiative Professional Excellence Goal to model what it means to work in partnership ╔к_ promoting civic engagement and public involvement through collaboration per Director╔к_s Order 75 ╔к_ increasing the effectiveness of park interpretation and education activities by collaborating with partners per NPS Management Policy 7.6, and ╔к_ expanding education outreach and public understanding of Alaska park resources per Focus Area 4 of the 2008-2012 NPS Alaska Region Strategic Plan. 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: ╔к_ The NPS is encouraged through various Director╔к_s Orders, policies, initiatives, and strategic and performance management plans to develop and maintain meaningful partnerships with local communities and other agencies and organizations. If other suppliers can be found to provide comparable visitor facilities, office space and other tangible and intangible benefits to LACL as the park╔к_s established partners, then those providers will be given full consideration.

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