DEM Bones

Post Date

September 19th 2011

Application Due Date

September 30th 2011

Funding Opportunity Number

P11AT30886

CFDA Number(s)

15.945

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 the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF) this CESU cooperative agreement. Applications will only be accepted from UAF.

Funding

• Estimated Total Funding:

  $25000

• Award Range:

  $25000 - $25000

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 Service (NPS), intention to fund the following project activities. ABSTRACT Funding Announcement: P11AT30886 Project Title: Project DEM Bones Recipient: UAF Principle Investigator: Shannon Atkinson, PhD Total Anticipated Award Amount: $25,000 Cost Share: N/A New Award Or Continuation: New Anticipated Length of Agreement: 4 Years Anticipated Period of Performance: September 20, 2011-September 30, 2014 Award Instrument: Cooperative Agreement Statutory Authority:Agreements Concerning Cooperative Research and Training on NPS Resources (16 U.S.C. ╔к_ 1a-2(j)): The Secretary may enter into agreements with public or private educational institutions, States and their political subdivisions, for the purpose of developing adequate, coordinated, cooperative research and training programs concerning the resources of the National Park System, and pursuant to such agreements, to accept from and make available to the cooperator such technical and support staff, financial assistance for mutually agreed upon research projects, supplies and equipment, facilities, and administrative services relating to cooperative research units as the Secretary deems appropriate. CFDA#: 15.945, Cooperative Research and Training Programs ╔к_ Resources of the National Park System JUSTIFICATION FOR OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION (or SINGLE SOURCE) FOR DISCRETIONARY COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS Project DEM BONES (Distinctive Education in Motion, Biodiversity Of Nature and Environmental Stewardship) CESU cooperative agreement task agreement J9845110045 BACKGROUND: This project is a task agreement under Cooperative Ecosystem Study Unit Cooperative Agreement; an agreement which was awarded through a competitive process. The goal of this project is to engage Juneau, Alaska youth in marine science education through experiential learning╔к_the articulation of a marine mammal skeleton during the course of a lab course on marine mammals. 1) 505 DM 2 Single Source - Only one responsible source will satisfy agency requirements. ╔к_ The source is the School of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, School of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences (Dr. Shannon Atkinson as Principal Investigator). Competition is not practical as the parent CESU Cooperative Agreement was previously competed, the service is not available from a commercial provider, the project focus is development of marine science tools requiring iterative efforts between the cooperator and the NPS, and the project is mutually beneficial to both the missions of the NPS and the University of Alaska and Juneau, Alaska primary schools. Given the requirement for interaction between the cooperator and NPS, a partner that demonstrates willingness and ability to adapt and flex to the mutual demands of completing the project is essential. 2) Nature and description of the supplies or services required to meet the agency╔к_s needs: ╔к_ Description of the item(s) or service(s) and the required delivery schedule. o Technical assistance will be provided to obtain the skeleton, dismember it to functional parts and cook the bones in preparation for student involvement. NPS involvement in this phase will be in species selection, and scheduling the various activities.  Time Line: September and December 2011. o Technical assistance will be provided to teach students to prepare and articulate the skeleton of a marine mammal.  Time Line: September 2011 and December 2012. o The consultation/travel funds are for us to bring in expertise to assist with the articulation or display of the skeleton.  Time Line: This phase will also include a close-out period through calendar year 2013 between partners to ensure full educational value of work is documented and shared. ╔к_ The minimum essential characteristics or unique features of the item(s). If requesting a service, fully describe all services to be performed. o The minimum characteristics of this service is that a scientifically rigorous marine mammal skeleton articulation during the conduct of high school student lab course. The education of area youth combined with a tangible product of an articulated marine mammal skeleton are essential and integral components of this effort. ╔к_ State the price of the requirement ╔к_ base year and every additional anticipated agreement period thereafter. o We anticipate two years of funding for the agreement (see agreement for $ amount). The project is divided into 3 phases to allow flexibility if additional funding is available late in FY11 to make use of the funds in an efficacious manner. Work will be completed over a two and one-half year period (late FY11, FY12, and FY13). 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_ 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; ╔к_ 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. ╔к_ 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. ╔к_ 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; o The applicant is uniquely qualified to perform the activity based their designation within the State and region as a research institution with a sustained commitment to education as well. The University of Alaska Principal Investigator, Dr. Shannon Atkinson, has extensive experience working with marine mammals as well as with primary school educational partners. ╔к_ 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: ╔к_ Market research was conducted by contacting science and education experts on the subject (NPS Jim Pfeiffenberger and Kristy Sholly) and Alaska SeaLife Center (Howard Ferren). No commercial providers with the geographic and user group focus were identified. The University of Alaska was recommended by all parties due to their proximity (cost and logistical savings) and demonstrated history and commitment to maintaining program expertise. The Principal Investigator at the University of Alaska was selected given her availability, experience, expertise, interest in the topic, and geographic location to serve a community affiliated with a coastal Alaskan National Park unit. 5) Any other facts supporting the use of other than full and open competition: ╔к_ State whether the request item or service has been purchased previously, and if so, state the purchase order, agreement, or document number (PR# or DI-1) under which the previous purchase was made. If the requirement is in support of on-going research, state the project title, project/protocol number, and the date the project was begun. o No such service has been previously purchased in Kenai Fjords National Park. ╔к_ 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 subsequent acquisition for the supplies or services required: ╔к_ If known, provide information on any new technology or new source that will be available in the future. ╔к_ Describe any measures being taken to foster competition for future acquisitions of the same item or service. o Future acquisitions will continue to be in accordance with DOI and NPS acquisition and cooperative agreement policies and practices. Substantial Involvement ╔к_ The NPS mandate includes partnering with others to further the preservation and protection of resources in NPS areas. This project will reach otherwise underserved gateway communities to southeast Alaska National Parks, providing a tangible example of the resources found in these parks while furthering scientific education. The OASLC education specialist will work closely with the PI to select species, obtain necessary permits, assist with classroom exercises and intrinsic education opportunities, develop outreach materials to explain the final product to visitors, and publicize the opportunity for viewing the completed specimen(s) to the general public.

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