Furthering Mission and Operation of the National Cave & Karst Research Institute
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 P14AS00009 Project Title ¿Furthering Mission and Operation of the National Cave and Karst Research Institute, Inc.¿ Recipient New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology Principle Investigator / Program Manager Richard Cervantes Total Anticipated Award Amount Approximately $1,000,000.00 over five years subject to funds availability Cost Share none New Award or Continuation? New Award Anticipated Length of Agreement Five years from date of award Anticipated Period of Performance Five years from date of award Award Instrument Cooperative Agreement Statutory Authority 16 USC § 4310 4 CFDA # and Title 15.944 Natural Resource Stewardship Single Source Justification Criteria Cited Through the enactment of the National Cave and Karst Research Institute Act of 1998 (P.L. 105-325; 16 U.S.C. § 4310 note), the United States Congress directed the NPS to establish NCKRI to further the study, understanding and management of cave and karst resources, both nationally and internationally, through collaborative efforts. The statute also directed that the Institute be ¿jointly administered by the National Park Service and a public or private agency, organization, or institution as determined by the Secretary.¿ In 2004, the New Mexico Legislature enacted and the governor signed into law House Bill 436 designating the Institute as a division of NMT. In 2005, through discussions with the State of New Mexico and the Department of the Interior, the NPS selected NMT to be its permanent academic partner in administering the Institute. As a result, competition to serve in this role is no longer applicable. NPS Point of Contact June Zastrow 303-987-6718, june_zastrow@nps.gov OVERVIEW In 1998, Congress created the National Cave and Karst Research Institute (NCKRI) via Public Law 105-325. This Act, known as the National Cave and Karst Research Institute Act of 1998, states that the purposes of the Institute are ¿(1) to further the science of speleology; (2) to centralize and standardize speleological information; (3) to foster interdisciplinary cooperation in cave and karst research programs; (4) to promote public education; (5) to promote national and international cooperation in protecting the environment for the benefit of cave and karst management practices; (6) to promote and develop environmentally sound and sustainable resource management practices.¿ In 2002, NMT became the primary academic partner collaborating with the NPS to administer the Institute. NMT is a public institution of higher learning within the State of New Mexico. In 2006, NCKRI became a § 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. NCKRI then hired a permanent Executive Director and established a Board of Directors. The NPS, NMT, and the City of Carlsbad hold permanent seats on the Board. In 2011, the Institute established its headquarters building in Carlsbad, New Mexico. To maintain fiscal control over the Institute, the appointed NPS Board member serves as the Chairman of the Budget Committee. The NPS and NMT also, at their sole discretion, can make additional changes to their respective portion of the budget in any given year. Both the NPS and NMT hold final approval authority over the budget. It is mutually agreed that the NPS and NMT will cooperate in helping NCKRI carry out the intent of Congress as directed in 16 USC § 4310 note, including, but not limited to, furthering the science of speleology, fostering interdisciplinary cooperation in cave and karst research program, promoting public education, promoting national and international cooperation in protecting the environment for the benefit of cave and karst landforms, and promoting and developing environmentally sound and sustainable resource management practices. The objective of this Agreement is to further the mission and operation of the National Cave and Karst Research Institute, Inc. (Institute or NCKRI), and to provide a means for transferring federal funds from the NPS to NMT on behalf of NCKRI. RECIPIENT INVOLVEMENT New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology agrees to: 1. Develop cooperative agreements and/or partnership arrangements with other universities and academic organizations involved in cave and karst research and education across the United States. These arrangements will be designed to further the purpose of the Institute and this Agreement. 2. Provide expertise and support for the Institute¿s research agenda program as it develops. 3. Assist with the implementation of K-12 and higher education programs and public outreach programs for the Institute as they develop. 4. Provide the NPS and the Institute employees access to campus facilities, including library, laboratories and computer facilities, on the same basis or cost as NMT faculty members to the maximum extent allowable under state laws and regulations. 5. Provide basic administrative and clerical support to NCKRI as appropriate. 6. Offer educational and training opportunities to NPS and Institute employees, as appropriate. 7. Serve as liaison between the Institute and the State of New Mexico on matters relating to the administration of the Institute. 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. Provide financial assistance as provided in Article VI. 2. Work cooperatively and collaboratively with NMT to help advance the Institute¿s objectives as provided for and directed by the Act. 3. Allow NMT staff and students to participate in symposia, conferences, workshops and the like which are co-sponsored by the NPS and the Institute at NPS sites. 4. Make available NPS staff to serve on the Institute¿s Committees. 5. Provide the basic administrative and clerical support as appropriate. 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 AND (3) LEGISLATIVE INTENT Single Source Justification Description: Through the enactment of the National Cave and Karst Research Institute Act of 1998 (P.L. 105-325; 16 U.S.C. § 4310 note), the United States Congress directed the NPS to establish NCKRI to further the study, understanding and management of cave and karst resources, both nationally and internationally, through collaborative efforts. The statute also directed that the Institute be ¿jointly administered by the National Park Service and a public or private agency, organization, or institution as determined by the Secretary.¿ In 2004, the New Mexico Legislature enacted and the governor signed into law House Bill 436 designating the Institute as a division of NMT. In 2005, through discussions with the State of New Mexico and the Department of the Interior, the NPS selected NMT to be its permanent academic partner in administering the Institute. As a result, competition to serve in this role is no longer applicable. STATUTORY AUTHORITY A. 16 U.S.C. § 4310 note, § 2. The purposes of this Act are ¿ (1) to further the science of speleology; (2) to centralize and standardize speleological information; (3) to foster interdisciplinary cooperation in cave and karst research programs; (4) to promote public education [Insert Applicable Authority]16 U.S.C. 1g. NPS authority to enter into cooperative agreements and transfer appropriated funds to nonprofit organization for the public purpose of NPS programs. B. 16 U.S.C. § 4310 note, § 3(c). ¿The Institute shall be located in the vicinity of Carlsbad Caverns National Park, in the State of New Mexico. The Institute shall not be located inside the boundaries of Carlsbad Caverns National Park. C. 16 U.S.C. § 4310 note, § 4(a). ¿The Institute shall be jointly administered by the NPS and a public or private agency, organization or institution, as determined by the Secretary.¿ D. 16 U.S.C. § 4310 note, § 4(c). ¿Contracts and cooperative agreements. The Secretary may enter into a contract or cooperative agreement with a public or private agency, organization, or institution to carry out this Act [National Cave and Karst Research Institute Act of 1998].¿ E. 16 U.S.C. § 1g. NPS authority to enter into cooperative agreements and transfer appropriated funds to nonprofit organization for the public purpose of NPS programs. F. 16 U.S.C. § 1a-2(j). Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior, in order to facilitate the administration of the National Park System, to carry out the following activity under such terms and conditions as he may deem advisable: `Enter into cooperative agreements with public or private educational institutions, states and their political subdivisions, for the purpose of developing adequate, coordinated, cooperative research and training programs concerning the resources of the National Park System, and, pursuant to any such agreements, to accept from and make available to the cooperator such technical and support staff, financial assistance for mutually agreed upon research projects, supplies and equipment, facilities, and administrative services relating to cooperative research units as the Secretary deems appropriate; except that this paragraph shall not waive any requirements for research projects that are subject to the Federal Procurement Regulations.¿
Office: National Park Service
June_Zastrow@nps.gov
