Science Applications-Texas Tech University Cooperative

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Cooperative agreement is a Single Source Award to Texas Tech University (TTU), an institution of higher learning. This award would be made through a cooperative agreement between the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) with TTU as the recipient. This Single Source Award is being made in accordance with Department of the Interior Policy - Interior Manual (Departmental guidance to implement provisions of the Federal Grant and Cooperative Agreement Act and the Federal Financial Assistance Management Improvement Act - Departmental Manual Release) 505 (DM 2) 2.14 (B) numbers (1) and (4). Specifically these elements are described as follows: 2.14 Single Source Determinations. A. In excess of $25,000; (2) Prepare a written justification and document the file to explain why competition is not practicable, including a statement of which criteria described below justify the action and why. The justification will include a discussion of the program legislative history, unique capabilities of the proposed recipient, and cost-sharing contribution offered by the proposed recipient, as applicable. B. Criteria for Justifying Award without Competition. 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 - was 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; (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; Criteria #1 - Unsolicited Proposal: When the Great Plains Landscape Conservation Cooperative (GPLCC) hired its new Coordinator in January 2012, this Service staff person was already located on the campus of TTU. In addition, the Service¿ Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program (PFW) biologist was also already located on campus. TTU offered "unsolicited" cooperative opportunities for collaboration, increased efficiencies, and shared services to the Service and the GPLCC to successfully support the landscape scale capability of developing, managing and completing a process of priority conservation actions. Shared services and efficiencies will also continue with the PFW biologist. A portion of these opportunities include the provision of office space for the GPLCC Coordinator and the PFW biologist. Criteria #4 - Unique Qualifications: TTU has a history of cooperating and successfully working with states and federal agencies. Currently, the USGS Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, the USGS Water Science Center, and the South Central Climate Science Center are located on TTU campus. In addition, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department has staff located on campus. There is added value of state and federal professionals being co-located. The funding obligation in FY 2012 from the Service is expected to total $10,000.00; total obligation over the life of the cost-share agreement (5 years) from the Service is expected to be $50,000. TTU is contributing phone, internet, utilities, parking, and general administrative support in the amount of $10,000 per year for the next five years, for a total obligation over the life of the cost-share agreement of $50,000.

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