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UNITED STATES  {#united-states .list-paragraph}
-------------

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR {#department-of-the-interior .list-paragraph}
--------------------------

**BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT**

**NOTICE OF INTENT TO AWARD**

This Funding Announcement is not a request for applications. This
announcement is to provide public notice of the Bureau of Land
Management's intention to fund the following project activities without
full and open competition.

  **ABSTRACT**                                     
  ------------------------------------------------ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  **Funding Announcement**                         CA-NOI-08-0011
  **Project Title**                                California Bureau of Land Management and Pacific Crest Trail Assistance Agreement
  **Recipient**                                    Pacific Crest Trail
  **Principle Investigator / Program Manager**     Liz Bergeron, Director Pacific Crest Trail Association
  **Total Anticipated Award Amount**               \$200,000
  **Cost Share**                                   No
  **New Award or Continuation?**                   New award
  **Anticipated Length of Agreement**              Five years
  **Anticipated Period of Performance**            September 2008 through August 2013
  **Award Instrument**                             Assistance Agreement
  **Statutory Authority**                          The Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (FLPMA), as amended, 43 U.S.C, Section 307 (b) states that the Secretary may enter into contracts and cooperative agreements for the management, protection, development and sale of public lands.
  **CFDA \# and Title**                            15.225 - Recreational Resource Management
  **Single Source Justification Criteria Cited**   Unique Qualifications
  **BLM Point of Contact**                         Paul Brink, CA NLCS Coordinator, Bureau of Land Management, 2800 Cottage Way, Sacramento, California

**OVERVIEW**

This agreement is designed to help the BLM complete a number of
necessary projects on the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail (PCNST).
There is currently not enough staffing to complete all the projects on
the trail necessary to keep the trail open. On the other hand, the
Pacific Crest Trail Association (PCTA), a non-profit organization whose
sole focus is to educate and keep the trail open to hikers and
equestrian users has over 5,000 volunteers and crews that could assist
the BLM in completing the projects. This agreement would help provide
funding to the PCTA to complete BLM projects tied to the PCNST.

**Projects vary but they could include trail construction, maintenance,
trash clean-up, invasive weed removal, inventory, habitat restoration,
planning, seeding, sediment and erosion control, user education, water
developments, fence and barrier installations, and volunteer
coordination.**

**The PCTA members, assigned crews and/or volunteers will also be
required to travel to numerous work sites during the term of this
agreement. Tasks could include the use primitive skills within portions
of the trails that are in wilderness areas such as non-motorized
equipment and non-mechanized travel to accomplish assigned tasks. In
addition, backcountry skills such as remote camping are necessary.**

**BLM will work cooperatively with the recipient to provide direction at
the local project sites to obtain the necessary permits to complete each
project. A major benefit of the program is to introduce the PCTA to BLM
and its resources.**

**RECIPIENT INVOLVEMENT**

1\. Meet with the BLM's PCNST coordinator on an annual basis before the
start of the field season (generally in the fall of the year). The goal
is to design and complete mutually agreed work according to a defined
schedule (called "Annual Work Schedule") that will coordinate work and
resource needs for the following year.

2\. Provide the Bureau of Land Management Accomplishment Reports and
photo documentation. The format for these reports will be developed in
cooperation with the BLM during the annual meeting.

3\. Manage project expenses as outlined in the copy of the attached
budget estimate

4\. Provide financial oversight in order to allow the BLM to allocate
costs to appropriate cost centers based on the work that was completed.

5\. be available for resolution of issues related associated with
assigned work on the PCNST.

**BLM INVOLVEMENT**

Substantial involvement on the part BLM is anticipated for the
successful completion of the objectives to be funded by this award. In
particular, BLM will be responsible for the following:

> 1\. Provide an "agency contact" for assigned project identified in the
> Annual Work Schedule" to assist the PCTA during the work.
>
> 2\. Provide standards and protocols for work at the project sites
>
> 3\. Provide necessary materials (plants, signage, brochures etc.) for
> completion of projects
>
> 4\. Provide worker's compensation insurance for all intern volunteers
> through the BLM volunteer authorities.
>
> 5\. Develop data collection, mapping and monitoring protocols for
> activities.
>
> 6\. Will modify the location and type of work initially provided when
> mutually agreeable with the Recipient
>
> 7\. Provide payments to the Recipient as defined in this agreement

**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.                         |
+----------------------------------------------------------------------+

BLM did not solicit full and open competition for this award based the
following criteria:

**(4) Unique Qualifications**

**Single Source Justification Description:**

**The PCNST was designated by Congress on October 2, 1968 with the
Forest Service being assigned by Congress overall responsibility for
administration of the trail. However over 140 miles of the trail
traverse BLM administrative lands. By agreement between the Secretary of
Agriculture and the Secretary of Interior the BLM was assigned trail
management responsibilities on certain portions of the trail.**

The PCTA is a major non-profit partner with the FS and BLM for assisting
the agency in managing the PCNST. Its mission is to protect, preserve
and promote the PCNST so as to reflect its world-class significance for
the enjoyment, education and adventure of hikers and equestrians. It has
donated more than hundreds of thousands of dollars and devoted nearly
50,000 hours/per year of volunteer time to support the management and
protection of the PCNST. Through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)
with the BLM, FS, the National Park Service, and California State Parks,
the PCTA is to facilitate the management of the trail, coordinate the
development and distribution of educational materials, and encourage
volunteer involvement and to recognize the PCTA as the government's
major partner in the operation and management of the PCNST.

Through the MOU, the PCTA specifically agreed to work cooperatively and
coordinate with the management and operation of the PCNST, including
trail maintenance, signing, trail use surveys, water development,
adopt-a-trail programs and construction and maintenance activities.
**This agreement will include fund so the PCTA can complete these tasks
on the portion of the PCTA that the BLM has been assigned management
responsibilities. The funding will generally be available from 9/01/08
through 8/31/2013.**

**STATUTORY AUTHORITY**

The Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (FLPMA), as amended,
43 U.S.C, Section 307 (b) states that the Secretary may enter into
contracts and cooperative agreements for the management, protection,
development and sale of public lands