Invasive Plant Management at Muir Woods National Monument

Post Date

April 25th 2012

Application Due Date

May 2nd 2012

Funding Opportunity Number

P12AC10370

CFDA Number(s)

15.931

Funding Instrument Type(s)

Cooperative Agreement

Funding Activity Categories

Natural Resources

Number of Awards

1

Eligibility Categories

Public Housing Authorities or Indian Housing Authorities

This is a Notice of Intent to award to the Conservation Corps North Bay, no other vendors will be accepted.

Funding

• Estimated Total Funding:

  $30000

• Award Range:

  $10600 - $30000

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 P12AC10370 Project Title Invasive Plant Management at Muir Woods National Monument Recipient Conservation Corps North Bay Principle Investigator / Program Manager Principle Investigator п Max Kortex Program Manager п NPS п Chris Friedel Total Anticipated Award Amount $30,000 Cost Share None New Award or Continuation? New Anticipated Length of Agreement 2 _ years Anticipated Period of Performance 2 _ years Award Instrument Task Agreement Statutory Authority 16 U.S.C._1g CFDA # and Title 15.931, Conservation Activities by Youth Service Organizations Single Source Justification Criteria Cited (4) Unique Qualifications NPS Point of Contact Erica Cordeiro п Erica_Cordeiro@nps.gov OVERVIEW The Golden Gate National Recreation Area (GGNRA) and Conservation Corps North Bay (CCNB) are mutually interested in and deem it necessary to cooperate on natural resource restoration and stewardship activities within GGNRA. CCNB has extensive experience collaborating with the GGNRA on natural resource stewardship. The objective of this task agreement is to collaborate on part of a 3-year project to manage populations of invasive plants at Muir Woods National Monument. The unique vegetation assemblages of Muir Woods, and the biological diversity they contain, are at risk of being compromised by the encroachment of invasive non-native plant species. The spread of these invasive plants also threatens the value of Muir Woods as a resource for interpreting the dynamics of an old-growth redwood forest to visitors. In 2009, a comprehensive management plan for invasive species was prepared for this area. This project provides collaborative support for invasive plant species removal at Muir Woods for a total of three (3) years, starting in Fiscal Year 2012. In each of the three (3) years, CCNB will provide a Natural Resources Crew, comprised of local youth, for a certain number of days. The Natural Resource Crew will participate in the removal of target non-native plant species, as directed by GGNRA staff. A. CCNB Agrees to: 1. Coordinate a work schedule with NPS and provide a ten (10) member crew with a supervisor experienced in the operation of hand tools and vegetation removal equipment in order to perform vegetation removal, as directed by GGNRA personnel. The supervisor shall be responsible for supervising the participants, for controlling the method and manner of work, and for ensuring that the projects are undertaken and completed in a safe manner. Work tasks may include: a) Initial removal of invasive plant species, including but not limited to: panic veldt grass (Ehrharta erecta), Cape ivy (Delairea odorata), French broom (Genista monspessulana), forget-me-nots (Myosotis latifolia), English ivy (Hedera helix), Himalayan blackberry (Rubus discolor), jubata grass (Cortaderia jubata), and acacia (Acacia sp.). b) Planting native plants in newly restored areas. c) Installation of maintenance of erosion control, mulch, or deer protection in revegetated areas. 2. Provide tools and equipment to successfully complete work tasks. 3. Provide vehicles to haul vegetative debris and/or nursery stock short distances when such materials are generated by and/or needed to complete work tasks. 4. Ensure that all project activities and related use of funds are in accordance with all applicable laws. B. NPS Agrees to: 1. Provide financial assistance in accordance with Article VII. 2. Assign an appropriate NPS employee to act as an on-site liaison among the parties (the CCNB supervisor must supervise all project activities). This employee will: a) Determine specific tasks and their timing in relation to other restoration actions. b) Identify methods to be used to control or remove specific plant species. c) Educate members about the rationale for preferred non-native control methods. d) Provide specialized training to corps members as needed. e) Inspect areas prior to and following work activities. f) Assist with scheduling and site access considerations. g) Provide on-site work evaluations. 3. In collaboration with CCNB, provide interpretation and education programs to enhance environmental awareness of corps members. 4. Provide disposal containers and/or locations for disposal of vegetative material as needed. 5. Provide nursery stock for outplanting. C. Both Parties acknowledge and agree to: Create a cooperative partnership to maximize the benefits from the projects accomplished by both organizations. 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: (4) Unique Qualifications п CCNB is uniquely qualified to participate in the implementation of this management plan by providing Natural Resource Crews of local youth for plant removal activities. CCNB and GGNRA have a history of cooperating on prior work in the Redwood Creek watershed and similar projects throughout the Park.

Contact Information

• Agency

  Department of the Interior

• Office:

  National Park Service

• Agency Contact:

  Erica Cordeiro
  Contract Specialist
  Phone 415-561-7048

• Agency Mailing Address:

  Work

• Agency Email Address:

  Erica_Cordeiro@nps.gov