Amphibian and Reptile Conservancy

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
Project Title Amphibian and Reptile Conservancy
Recipient The Amphibian and Reptile Conservancy, Inc
Principle Investigator / Program Manager Jeff Holmes
Total Anticipated Award Amount $25,000.00
Cost Share None
New Award or Continuation? New Award
Anticipated Length of Agreement From date of award for five years
Anticipated Period of Performance From date of award for five years
Award Instrument Cooperative Agreement
Statutory Authority 16 USC 1(g) 16 USC 1a-2(j)
CFDA # and Title 15.944 Natural Resource Stewardship
Single Source Justification Criteria Cited (4) Unique Qualifications
NPS Point of Contact June Zastrow 303-987-6718 june_zastrow@nps.gov

OVERVIEW

The NPS along with ten other federal agencies, entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation (PARC) in October of 2011. PARC is a coalition of Federal and State agencies, tribes, organizations, and industry groups who have agreed to contribute to PARC¿s mission ¿to conserve amphibians, reptiles, and their habitats as integral parts of our ecosystem and culture through proactive and coordinated public/private partnerships.¿

One objective of PARC is the ¿development of procedures, practices, and programs that promote conservation of amphibians and reptiles and that reduces risks or averts threats.¿ The NPS currently funds a portion of the Federal Agencies Coordinator for PARC position salary under its fixed costs and travel cap; it is a shared position among other federal agencies who also contribute to salary and travel.

ARC is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) charitable organization that supports conservation of amphibians and reptiles. ARC¿s mission is ¿to assist in and develop amphibian and reptile conservation projects and partner efforts that support the mission and goals of Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation (PARC).¿ As a corporation, ARC is legally bound to support PARC and is the not-for-profit fiscal agent of PARC.

PARC products implemented by ARC include, but are not limited to, capacity-building trainings both in habitat management and improvement (including wetland restoration), and in inventory and monitoring, for the benefit of amphibians and reptiles, education and outreach efforts, as well as development and production of PARC publications.

The NPS is responsible for increasing the public knowledge, awareness, and appreciation of natural and cultural resources. NPS policies promote the scientific management of natural and cultural resources, including the conservation of native ecosystems, cultural landscapes, and the integrity of resources found therein.

B. Objectives

The objectives of this agreement are to:
¿ Document the cooperation between the parties to provide the capacity-building trainings and e-reader versions of existing publications through PARC.
¿ Improve partnership efforts with adjacent and related protected areas (federal, state, tribal, private, and international) to conserve natural resources and landscapes.
¿ Collaborate with state, federal and tribal agencies to develop trainings and publications that contribute to advancing knowledge and/or increasing practical skills with regard to natural resource management, as well as fostering partnerships and information exchange among government agencies, and nongovernmental organizations.

C. Public Purpose

The public purpose for the ARC and the NPS are furthered by the following:
¿ Projects completed through this cooperative agreement assist in the promotion, facilitation, and improvement of the public¿s understanding of inventory and monitoring for amphibians and reptiles, habitat management for the benefit of amphibians and reptiles, and wetland restoration with respect to amphibian and reptile conservation.
¿ The information, products and/or services identified or developed under separate task agreements will be shared through a variety of strategies to increase public awareness, knowledge, and support stewardship of the nation¿s natural heritage. These materials will be shared with the public, scientific community and educational institutions through posting on the PARC website and presentations at scientific meetings.
¿ The public will see on-the-ground results from resource management projects, such as increased use of wetlands by various wildlife, particularly amphibians and reptiles.
¿ The task to develop e-reader publications will allow the NPS to adhere to Executive Order 13514.
¿ The mutually beneficial arrangement enables the NPS to not only advance its own mission but to share nonproprietary information with members of the public through helping to advance PARC¿s mission.

RECIPIENT INVOLVEMENT

1. Administer NPS funds to implement capacity-building trainings in inventory and monitoring for amphibians and reptiles, habitat management and improvement (including wetland restoration) to benefit amphibians and reptiles, as well as to develop e-reader versions of some of PARC¿s existing publications.
2. Ensure proper planning, management and completion of the projects detailed in this agreement via ARC¿s institutional, managerial, and financial capabilities.
3. Find and hire trainers appropriate for PARC training in habitat management to benefit amphibians and reptiles, inventory and monitoring of amphibians and reptiles, or wetland restoration.
4. Select locations for these trainings.
5. Ensure a set number of seats for US Fish and Wildlife Service and other federal employees.
6. Ensure travel monies are available for some federal employees.
7. Ensure that e-reader or other electronic versions of PARC publications will be made free to federal employees (e.g., via a special code) indefinitely.

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. Work cooperatively (via the Federal Agencies Coordinator for PARC, who is part of the Wildlife Conservation Branch of the Biological Resources Management Division) with ARC at the national, regional, and local levels to accomplish the objectives of this agreement.
2. Make available to ARC any suggestions from PARC¿s Federal Agency Steering Committee or Joint National Steering Committee.

Both parties agree that:

1. The terms of this Cooperative Agreement will apply to all tasks/projects executed under it, and may only be amended through the issuance of a written modification to this Agreement.
2. Activities provided under this Cooperative Agreement shall not count toward career status in Government service nor toward the accumulation of, or eligibility for, benefits available to Federal employees.
3. The projects or activities under this Agreement will be individually authorized by separate task agreements, with each fiscal year program or activity having a separate budget developed cooperatively between the National Park Service and ARC.
See Additional information in the Notice of Intent to Award