Centennial Bioblitz Data Management Support - Phase One

National Park Service

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 without competition. ABSTRACT Funding Announcement P15AC00307 Project Title Centennial Bioblitz Data Management Support - Phase One Recipient California Academy of Sciences Total Anticipated Award Amount $70,000.00 Cost Share $68,000.00 Anticipated Length of Agreement From date of final signature to 12/31/2016 Anticipated Period of Performance From date of final signature to 12/31/2016 Award Instrument Cooperative Agreement Statutory Authority 54 USC 101702(a) CFDA # and Title 15.944 Natural Resource Stewardship Single Source Justification Criteria Cited (2) Continuation Point of Contact June Zastrow 303-987-6718 june_zastrow@nps.gov OVERVIEW Cooperative Agreement Number P15AC01168 was entered into by and between the Department of the Interior, National Park Service (NPS), and California Academy of Sciences (Academy) for the purpose of implementing a program to engage in cooperating activities focused on promoting scientific research, fostering a greater understanding of species distribution and the communities they form, and improving ecological inventory and education related to NPS lands. Unless otherwise specified herein, the terms and conditions as stated in the Cooperative Agreement will apply to this Task Agreement. The NPS is at a crossroads as it prepares for the Bureau���s second century and seizing on the opportunity to focus on a strategic integration of our national parks and community-based programs. These efforts will better leverage our resources and engage the full-range of the American public and citizen scientists to learn more about and contribute to our stewardship mission. Through the ���Go Digital��� initiatives of the NPS, the NPS digital experience will bring our online presence more fully into the 21st century not only for accurate information, but for compelling knowledge and extended reach for community-based and youth programs. Unfortunately, the NPS lacks specific technical expertise and information technology systems to address many of the pressing data management issues to achieve the goals of the Centennial Bioblitz. Specific examples of needs for research include analysis of non-native species distribution, threatened and endangered species occurrences, phenological development of organisms, and changes in species distribution in the face of climate change. The Academy develops and maintains iNaturalist, an interactive internet data platform already used by universities, agencies, and members of the public across the globe to address many of these challenges. Integration of NPS and existing Academy data will enrich the value of a widely used research, education, and data storage web portal. STATEMENT OF JOINT OBJECTIVES/PROJECT MANAGEMENT PLAN This partnership will allow NPS and Academy to collaboratively enrich research and education opportunities to the public. Efforts will result in a rich set of mobile and web-based tools for citizen scientists of all ages and researchers to contribute to the NPS��� knowledge of park biodiversity. The task agreement identifies a series of tasks that will be accomplished cooperatively by the NPS and Academy to fulfill data management needs of the upcoming Centennial Bioblitz effort. With the implementation of these mutually developed tools and procedures, a much wider segment of the general population will be empowered to contribute information to the Centennial Bioblitz and future efforts. Students and the general public will be able to submit observations they make opportunistically or as part of structured inventories during park events. Scientists with specific knowledge of lesser-known species recruited for the Bioblitz will also be able to contribute their expertise and use iNaturalist as part of focused inventory efforts. Overall, the ease-of-use coupled with the scientific rigor of iNaturalist tools will expand the volume and quality of publicly-contributed information and result in a suite of functionality that can be used into the future not only by the NPS but also in other similar biodiversity discovery efforts. RECIPIENT INVOLVEMENT Academy agrees to: 1. Collaboratively undertake a project entitled ���Centennial Bioblitz Data Management Support ��� Phase One���. The project involves providing expertise and assistance with designing data management functionality for the NPS Centennial Bioblitz. 2. Provide support for loading of NPS data into their iNaturalist natural history observation system, including boundaries of NPS administrative units and checklists of species that occur therein. 3. Safeguard any sensitive information that may be provided. 4. Develop web-based visualizations based on NPS Centennial Bioblitz observations recorded in their iNaturalist natural history observation system that display: a. Summary statistics across affiliated NPS Bioblitz projects. b. Highlighted species observations that are deemed to be of particular interest by NPS Natural Resources (NR) staff. c. Slides that display the final tallies by taxonomic category for select NPS Bioblitz projects and highlight observations of particular interest (as defined by NPS NR staff). d. Customized visual interface that allows users to optionally view projects by place and observations by taxonomic group. 5. Configuration tools for future use of visualization functionality to include: a. Ability to easily add/remove projects and taxonomic groups from displays b. Dynamic layout tools to adjust output for presentations c. Documentation on use 6. Deliver reports as specified in Article VII of the Agreement. NATIONAL PARK SERVICE INVOLVEMENT NPS agrees to: 1. Collaboratively undertake the Project as described throughout this Article III Statement of Work. 2. Provide financial assistance to the Academy as provided for in Article VI of this Agreement. 3. Provide digital geospatial data for all NPS administrative unit boundaries from best-available source. 4. Deliver digital species checklists for identified subset of NPS units, including flags for species of concern that warrant safeguarding of location information. 5. Provide digital checklist of species of interest to support reporting requirements. 6. Provide clear specifications for desired web-based visualizations. 7. Deliver existing iNaturalist usage documentation and training materials. 8. Document development requirements for desired application functionality. 9. Coordinate IT requirements with NPS web team for incorporation of visualization in nps.gov web pages. 10. Deliver initial set of priorities and deadlines to meet objectives of task agreement. NPS and the Academy mutually agree to: 1. Perform research, monitoring, and educational programs consistent with the work as described in this Task Agreement. 2. Be substantially involved in all phases of planning, research, coordination, and publication and/or dissemination of final results. 3. Ensure all iNaturalist Bioblitz projects are created in advance of Centennial event so tallies can be generated for NPS units affiliated with the effort. 4. Engage diverse user communities to participate as digital docents so tools are adopted by students and scientists involved in structured inventory efforts. 5. Maintain frequent communications on status of project, to discuss progress and priorities. 6. Identify a viable collaborative project management tool for transparently communicating progress to Bioblitz core management team and stakeholders. 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. NPS did not solicit full and open competition for this award based the following criteria: (2) Continuation This is a Task Agreement (P15AC01509) under Cooperative Agreement (P15AC01168) in the amount of $70,000.00 with a period of performance from date of award until 12/31/2016.

Who can apply

• Nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status (other than higher education)

Contact

June Zastrow, 303-987-6718<br/>June_Zastrow@nps.gov<br/>
June_Zastrow@nps.gov