Invasive Plant Program in Alaska National Parks

This announcement is to provide public notice of the National Park Service intention to fund the following project activities without full and open competition.Under this proposed project, The Southeast Alaska Guidance Association youth crews will travel to the participating parks, learn about NPS resource management, and provide assistance with invasive plant management. In addition to control work, SAGA crews may assist in surveying for invasive plants, monitoring infestations, collecting and cultivating native plant seeds, and participating in educational or research efforts pertaining to invasive plants. The primary purpose to be accomplished is the education of invasive species impact on Alaska Natural Resources, and how those resources can be better protected and managed. The physical removal process of invasive plant infestations involves pulling, digging, and cutting. Plant infestation concerns have been identified over the past several years in Katmai National Park and Preserve, Kenai Fjords National Park, Denali National Park and Preserve, and Wrangell St Elias National Park and Preserve. Proposed cooperative agreements to be awarded under this funding opportunity announcement will take place at those park locations. Any intended cooperative agreements issued under this funding opportunity announcement are subject to the availability of funds. SAGA crews provide a compliment to the Alaska Exotic Plant Management Team weed management efforts. These crews have participated in extensive manual weed pulls in isolated areas of the region¿s park. They have shown great flexibility in working with different parks to organize the numerous specialized logistics, such as transportation, and equipment, associated with these remote areas. Being a local, Alaska-based organization ¿ they bring specific knowledge of the varied landscapes, potential hazards, and project logistics to the table. Collaboration between the NPS and SAGA is required to identify project areas and treatment timing through proper training and guidance from NPS plant management specialist.Project Statutory Authority is 16 USC 1722, Public Land Corps Act,authorizes the NPS to enter into contracts and cooperative agreements with qualified youth or conservation corps to perform appropriate conservation projects. The proposed recipient involvement is to Provide a trained five to six member youth crew, with two leaders experienced in supervision and ensuring basic work safety; Assure that crew will be physically able to do manual labor for an eight hour day; Provide transportation to the work site, camp gear and food for all crew members and daily maintenance and cleaning to camp facilities; Complete invasive plant control program at four Alaska National Park System units: KATM, KEFJ, DENA and WRST; Coordinate work schedule with NPS to ensure project completion within target schedule.The National Park Service did not solicit full and open competition for this propsed award based the following the recipients Unique Qualifications.The Southeast Alaska Guidance Association is an established Alaska Non-profit organization with the mission to improve lives, lands and communities in Alaska through service learning since 1985. This organization provides local young people with exposure to national parks through work programs and plays a vital role in the NPS youth involvement initiative. SAGA has shown great flexibility in working with different parks to organize the numerous specialized logistics, such as transportation, and equipment, associated with Alaska¿s remote areas, and is a cost-saving organization due to the 25 percent match requirement of the Public Land Corps Act.