Fish and Wildlife Service, CESU Sole-Source Task Agreements under 505 DM 2.14 (4) - Unique Qualifications

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Under the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act (16 U.S.C. 661-666C) and numerous program-specific authorizations (see http://www.fws.gov/laws/lawsdigest.htm), the Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) is providing financial assistance under existing cooperative agreements with a network of cooperators that has been established by the Department of the Interior in accordance with specific authorization from Congress to provide research, technical assistance, and education to resource and environmental managers. These cooperators are named Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Units (CESUs), to signify their broad role as providers of research, technical assistance, and education to federal land management, environmental, and research agencies and their potential partners. These units are cooperative in that multiple federal agencies and universities and other institutions are among the partners in this program. Ecosystem studies involve the biological, physical, social, and cultural sciences needed to address resource issues and interdisciplinary problem solving at multiple scales and in an ecosystem context. Each CESU is structured as a working collaboration among federal agencies and universities and other participating institutions. CESUs are usually based at universities and focused on a biogeographic region of the country. Universities or other institutions provide space, basic administrative support (secretarial, accounting, equipment), and access to university faculty, students, staff, and resources. Federal agencies contribute research scientists, subject matter specialists, and/or other professionals and other support. CESUs create additional opportunities for interdisciplinary and multi-agency research, technical assistance, and education. CESUs have a biogeographic area of concentration (such as the Colorado Plateau or the Southern Appalachian Mountains), a focus on particular ecosystem types (such as high deserts or urban areas), an emphasis on particular management regimes (such as wilderness and/or multiple use), or a combination of these themes. CESUs may have special expertise useful to the broader CESU Network. They reflect the mission and needs of the participating agencies and the host university and partner institutions. The CESU network is described more fully at http://www.cesu.psu.edu/. Substantial involvement on the part of the Service is anticipated for the successful completion of the objectives to be funded. Other Information: • Each Task Agreement will contain a statement of substantial federal involvement and justification for use of a sole-source without competition under the guidelines and criteria in DOI’s 505 DM 2.14(4). • A copy of this Grants.gov notice should be attached to the Task Agreement submitted to an authorized Service financial officer for processing. • The Executive Order 12372 “Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs” does not apply. • One possible CFDA number for this work is 15.649. Others may more directly apply. • The Federal government is not bound to financially support any CESU Task Agreement until an authorized Service financial officer has approved the award. Agency Contacts: The Science Support Partnership contacts serve as points of contact for CESU Cooperative Agreements for their Regions. FWS Regional Contacts Region 1 - Northwest Paul Heimowitz (503) 872-2763 Region 5 - Northeast Richard Bennett (413) 253-8273 Region 2 - Southwest Charles Ault (505) 248-6281 Region 6 - Mountain-Prairie Greg Watson (303) 236-4514 Region 3 - Midwest Sean Kelly (612) 713-5470 Region 7 - Alaska Janet Hohn (907) 786-3850 Region 4 - Southeast Bill Starkel (404) 679-7127 Region 8 - California/Nevada Operations Diane Elam (916) 414-6453 Region 9 - Headquarters Bill Knapp (703) 358-2188

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