Antelope Jackrabbit in relation to habitat composition and structure

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¿s intention to fund the following project activities without full and open competition.

ABSTRACT
Funding Announcement P13AS00123
Project Title Investigate the status and life history of the antelope jackrabbit (Lepus alleni) in relation to habitat composition and structure
Recipient University of Arizona, Tuscon, AZ
Principle Investigator / Program Manager John L. Koprowski
Total Anticipated Award Amount $35,000.00
Cost Share None
New Award or Continuation? Task Agreement Under Cooperative Agreement H2370114000
Anticipated Length of Agreement From date of Award until 6/30/2016
Anticipated Period of Performance From date of Award until 6/30/2016
Award Instrument Cooperative Agreement
Statutory Authority 16 USC 1g and 16 USC §5933
CFDA # and Title 15.945 Cooperative Research and Training Programs ¿ Resources of the National Park System
Single Source Justification Criteria Cited (2) Continuation
(4) Unique Qualifications
NPS Point of Contact June Zastrow, 303-987-6718 june_zastrow@nps.gov

OVERVIEW

Cooperative Agreement Number H237011400 was entered into by and between the Department of the Interior, National Park Service, (NPS), and University of Arizona for the purposes of environmental research, technical assistance, education, and management of public lands that involves the biological, physical, social and cultural sciences needed to address resource issues and interdisciplinary problem solving at multiple scales and in an ecosystem context at the local, regional and national levels.

This Task Agreement shall: (1) Investigate the status and life history of the antelope jackrabbit (Lepus alleni) with special emphasis on movements in relation to habitat structure (cactus density & diversity, woody cover, invasive grass cover) and changing environmental conditions including common management actions (e.g., fire), (2) Identify habitat correlates and limiting factors for Lepus alleni to inform management actions in an effort to maintain or increase the population size, and numbers of both Pima Pineapple Cactus (Coryphantha scheeri) and Lepus alleni, (3) Assess the suitability of Lepus alleni as a surrogate species in subtropical grasslands, (4) Highlight the uniqueness of Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge (BANWR) as a research unit.

RECIPIENT INVOLVEMENT

NATIONAL PARK SERVICE INVOLVEMENT

Substantial involvement on the part the National Park Service is anticipated for the successful completion of the objectives to be funded by this award. In particular, the National Park Service will be responsible for the following:

1. NPS staff will work directly with the University of Arizona graduate student, professor, and other partners to provide guidance and support for all aspects of the project including providing our expertise in study design, data collection and analysis. During this study, the University of Arizona will provide expertise in mammology, and SODN will provide knowledge on implementation of its uplands vegetation protocol and vegetation identification.

2. SODN has outstanding in-house expertise on Sonoran Desert flora that is directly pertinent to the project ¿ skills that are difficult to obtain through a cooperator or contractor. SODN, through its collaboration with the FWS I&M program, is also uniquely positioned to efficiently and safely conduct field work on National Wildlife Refuges.

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 ¿ 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 ¿ 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 ¿ The language in the applicable authorizing legislation or legislative history clearly indicates Congress¿ intent to restrict the award to a particular recipient of purpose;

(4) 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;

(5) 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.

The National Park Service did not solicit full and open competition for this award based the following criteria:

(2) CONTINUATION
(4) UNIQUE QUALIFICATIONS

Single Source Justification Description:

THIS IS A NOTICE OF INTENT TO AWARD

This is a Task Agreement (P13AC00814) under Cooperative Agreement H2370094000 in the amount of $35,000.00 for a period of performance from the date of award to June 30, 2016.

STATUTORY AUTHORITY

16 U.S.C. §1g 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 National Park Service programs.
This section provides broad authority for NPS to enter into cooperative agreements with most recipients for a public purpose. Although broad, this authority must be read in conjunction with the Federal Grant and Cooperative Agreement Act of 1977 and other authorities that prescribe whether a particular relationship should be a procurement contract or a cooperative agreement. Thus, in making this determination, one must always consider whether the principal purpose of the work is to acquire goods and/or services for NPS¿s direct benefit in furtherance of its mission or for a public purpose.
16 USC §5933. Cooperative agreements
(a) Cooperative study units
The Secretary is authorized and directed to enter into cooperative agreements with colleges and universities, including but not limited to land grant schools, in partnership with other Federal and State agencies, to establish cooperative study units to conduct multi-disciplinary research and develop integrated information products on the resources of the National Park System, or the larger region of which parks are a part.
(b) Report
Within one year of November 13, 1998, the Secretary shall report to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the United States Senate and the Committee on Resources of the House of Representatives on progress in the establishment of a comprehensive network of such college and university based cooperative study units as will provide full geographic and topical coverage for research on the resources contained in units of the National Park System and their larger regions.