1. Cover sheet, page 1;
2. Agreement Table of Contents, page 2;
3. Schedule of Articles, page 3 through 14;
4. U.S. Geological Survey General Provisions and Grants and Cooperative Agreements, page 15 through 27.
5. The Polistes Foundation Project Narrative Entitled "Cooperative Research on Biodiversity Informatics: Creation of Web-based Tools for Invasive Species Identification, Reporting, Mapping, and Other Biodiversity Information," pages 28 through 31.

• B. CASH MANAGEMENT AND FINANCIAL REPORTING REQUIREMENTS
1. STANDARD FORM 272, FEDERAL CASH TRANSACTIONS REPORT (or its successor SF 425, Federal Financial Report) is required quarterly for each PMS/ASAP subaccount. Quarterly reports are due 45 days after the end of each fiscal quarter until the final Federal Financial Report is submitted. Instructions for submitting SF 272/SF 425 can be found at the PMS website:
   http://www.dpm.psc.gov/grant_recipient/psc_272_reports/psc_272_reports.aspx?explorer .event=true

   On and after APRIL 1, 2010 (or as notified by the Contracting Officer), the SF 425 Federal Financial Report must be submitted by mail to insert contact name and address.

   If after 45 days, recipient has not submitted a report, the account will be placed in a manual review status. Funds may be withheld for accounts with delinquent reports.

2. FINAL FEDERAL FINANCIAL REPORT.


• a. The recipient will liquidate all obligations incurred under the award and submit a final STANDARD FORM 425, FEDERAL FINANCIAL REPORT (which replaces the current SF 269, Financial Status Report) no later than 90 calendar days after the grant/cooperative agreement completion date. Recipient will promptly return any unexpended federal cash advances or will complete a final draw from PMS/ASAP to obtain any remaining amounts due. Once 120 days has passed since the grant/agreement completion date, the PMS/ASAP subaccount for this award may be closed by USGS at any time.



• b. Subsequent revision to the final SF 425 will be considered only as follows -
1. When the revision results in a balance due to the Government, the recipient must submit a revised final Federal Financial Report (SF 425) and refund the excess payment whenever the overcharge is discovered, no matter how long the lapse of time since the original due date of the report.


2. When the revision represents additional reimbursable costs claimed by the recipient, a revised final SF 425 may be submitted to the Contracting Officer with an explanation. If approved, the USGS will either request and pay a final invoice or reestablish the PMS/ASAP subaccount to permit the recipient to make a revised final draw. Any revised final report representing additional reimbursable amounts must be submitted no later than 1 year from the due date of the original report, i.e., 15 months following the agreement completion date. USGS will not accept any revised SF 425 covering additional expenditures after that date and will return any late request for additional payment to the recipient.

ARTICLE VI - TERM OF THE AGREEMENT

The term of this cooperative agreement shall be from June 15, 2009 through June 14, 2010. 8

Continuation of this cooperative agreement for an additional four years is contingent upon: (l) continued program authorization; (2) availability of funds; (3) satisfactory progress toward program goals and research objectives; (4) compliance with the award's terms and conditions; (5) the U.S. Geological Survey's determination that continued funding is in the best interest of the Government.

ARTICLE VII - PROJECT INFORMATION SYSTEM

Data, results of methods, and procedure development will be made available to the U.S. Geological Survey with no restrictions.

• A. The USGS will have rights to use and distribute any educational or training material developed under this agreement.


• B. Two (2) copies of the final technical report shall be sent to the address found in DIAR 1404.7004. Copies of publications should be sent with a transmittal that identifies the sender and the publication and states that the publication is intended for deposit in the library. Journal articles are exempt from this requirement. The address is currently:
  U.S. Department of the Interior
  Natural Resources Library
  Office of Library and Information Services
  Gifts and Exchanges Section
  18th and C Streets, N.W.
  Washington, D. C. 20240

• C. One (1) copy of the final technical report shall be sent to the USGS Program Officer and one (1) copy to the Contracting Officer.

ARTICLE VIII - PROPERTY MANAGEMENT AND DISPOSITION

There will not be non-expandable property acquired under this agreement.

ARTICLE IX - SPECIAL PROVISIONS

A. MINORITY BUSINESS ENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT

It is a national policy to award a fair share of contracts to small and minority business firms. The Department of the Interior is strongly committed to the objective of this policy and encourages all recipients of its grants and cooperative agreements to take affirmative steps to ensure such fairness.




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1. The grantee and subgrantee shall take all necessary affirmative steps to assure that minority firms, women's business enterprises, and labor surplus area firms are used when possible.


2. Affirmative steps shall include:
1. Placing qualified small and minority businesses and women's business enterprises on solicitation lists;


2. Assuring that small and minority businesses, and women's business enterprises are solicited whenever they are potential sources;


3. Dividing total requirements, when economically feasible, into small tasks or quantities to permit maximum participation by small and minority businesses, and women's business enterprises;


4. Establishing delivery schedules, where the requirement permits, which encourage participation by small and minority business, and women's business enterprises;


5. Using the services and assistance of the Small Business Administration, and the Minority Business Development Agency of the Department of Commerce as appropriate, and


6. Requiring the prime contractor, if subcontracts are to be let, to take the affirmative steps listed in (2)(i) through (v) above.

B. BUY AMERICAN ACT NOTICE (43 CFR Sec. 12.710(c))

Pursuant to Sec. 307(b) of the Department of the Interior (DOI) and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, FY2000, Public Law 106-113, please be advised of the following:

In the case of any equipment or product that may be authorized to be purchased with financial assistance provided using funds made available in FY 2000 and thereafter, it is the sense of the Congress that entities receiving the assistance should, in expending the assistance, purchase only American-made equipment and products.

C. ANTI-LOBBYING

Recipient shall not use any part of the Department of the Interior funds provided hereunder for any activity or the publication or distribution of literature that in any way tends to promote public support or opposition to any legislative proposal on which Congressional action is not complete.

D. NO ENDORSEMENT PROVISION (43 CFR 12.2(d))

Recipient shall not publicize or otherwise circulate, promotional material (such as advertisements, sales brochures, press releases, speeches, still and motion pictures, articles, manuscripts or other publications), which states or implies governmental, Departmental,




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bureau, or government employee endorsement of a product, service, or position, which the recipient represents. No release of information relating to this award may state or imply that the Government approves of the recipient's work products, or considers the recipient's work product to be superior to other products or services.

E. ASSISTANCE IMPLEMENTATION - METRIC CONVERSION

All progress and final reports, other reports, or publications produced under this award shall employ the metric system of measurements to the maximum extent practicable. Both metric and inch-pound units (dual units) may be used if necessary during any transition period(s). However, the recipient may provide documentation that the use of metric measurements is impracticable or is likely to cause significant inefficiencies or loss of markets to the recipient, such as when foreign competitors are producing competing products in non-metric units.

F. EXECUTIVE ORDER 13043 - SEAT BELT PROVISION

Recipients of grants/cooperative agreements and/or sub-awards are encouraged to adopt and enforce on-the-job seat belt use policies and programs for their employees when operating company-owned, rented, or personally owned vehicles. These measures include, but are not limited to, conducting education, awareness, and other appropriate programs for their employees about the importance of wearing seat belts and the consequences of not wearing them.

G. STATEMENT DESCRIBING PROJECTS OR PROGRAMS

The recipient agrees to include the following information in any announcement of award of a contract for goods or services (including construction services) having aggregate value of $500,000 or more, financed in whole or in part by this award: (a) the amount of Federal funds that will be used to finance the acquisition, and (b) this amount expressed as a percentage of the total acquisition cost.

H. Publication of any reports or parts thereof by Recipient personnel will be subject to Survey Review (See Section GCA1(k)). Authorship will not incur any privileges of copyright or restriction on distribution. Appropriate credits to United States Department of the Interior, Geological Survey, shall be in any formally published article, providing the Survey does not otherwise feel it appropriate to issue a disclaimer.

I. All users of USGS computer systems will abide by the policies and procedures established by the USGS for those systems. All registration procedures, i.e., requests for new User ID's requests for password changes, and requests for deletion of User ID's, will be channeled through designated USGS personnel for approval.




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J. SURVEY ACTIVITIES ON PRIVATE AND OTHER NON-FEDERAL LANDS (PUBLIC Law 103-138)

Compliance with state laws -- The USGS/Biological Resources Discipline (BRD) shall comply with applicable State and Tribal government laws, including laws relating to private property rights and privacy.

Consent and Notice Requirements--

In General -- The BRD shall not enter non-Federal real property for the purpose of collecting information regarding the property, unless the owner of the property has--

1. consented in writing to that entry;


2. been provided notice of that entry; and


3. been notified that any raw data collected from the property must be made available at no cost, if requested by the law owner.

Limitation -- Above paragraph does not prohibit entry of property for the purpose of obtaining consent or providing notice as required by that paragraph.

BRD Defined -- In this provision, the term "BRD" includes any person that is an officer, employee, or agent of the BRD, including any such person acting pursuant to a contract or cooperative agreement with or any grant from the Biological Resources Discipline/USGS.

Liability - The Survey's liability will be governed by the Federal Tort Claims Act (28 U.S.C. 2761 et seq.).

K. USE OF U.S. FLAG AIR CARRIERS

Any air transportation to, from, between or within a country other than the U.S. of persons or property, the expense of which will be paid in whole or in part by U.S Government funding, must be performed by, or under a code-sharing arrangement with, a U.S. flag air carrier if service provided by such a carrier is "available" (49 U.S.C. 40118, commonly referred to as the Fly America Act). Tickets (or documentation for electronic tickets) must identify the U.S. flag air carrier's designator code and flight number. See the Federal Travel Regulation §301-10.131 §301-10.143 for definitions, exceptions, and documentation requirements. (See also Comp. Gen. Decision B-240956, dated September 25, 1991.)

L. ACCESS TO RESEARCH DATA

1. By regulation (43 CFR 12.936), recipients that are institutions of higher education, hospitals, or non-profit organizations are required to release research data first produced in a project supported in whole or in part with Federal funds that are cited publicly and officially by a Federal agency in support of an action that has the force and effect of law (e.g., regulations and administrative orders).

   
   

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   "Research data" is defined as the recorded factual material commonly accepted in the scientific community as necessary to validate research findings. It does not include preliminary analyses; drafts of scientific papers; plans for future research; peer reviews; communications with colleagues; physical objects (e.g., laboratory samples, audio or video tapes); trade secrets; commercial information; materials necessary to be held confidential by a researcher until publication in a peer-reviewed journal; information that is protected under the law (e.g., intellectual property); personnel and medical files and similar files, the disclosure of which would constitute an unwarranted invasion of personal privacy; or information that could be used to identify a particular person in a research study.

2. These requirements do not apply to commercial organizations or to research data produced by State or local governments. However, if a State or local governmental grantee contracts with an educational institution, hospital, or non-profit organization, and the contract results in covered research data, those data are subject to these disclosure requirements.
3. Requests for the release of research data subject to this policy are required to be made to USGS, which will handle them as FOIA requests under 43 CFR 2.25. If the data are publicly available, the requestor will be directed to the public source. Otherwise, the USGS Contracting Officer/Grants Officer, in consultation with the affected recipient and the PI, will handle the request. This policy also provides for assessment of a reasonable fee to cover recipient costs as well as (separately) the USGS costs of responding.

M. RESEARCH INTEGRITY

1. USGS requires that all grant or cooperative agreement recipient organizations adhere to the Federal Policy on Research Misconduct, Office of Science and Technology Policy, December 6, 2001, 65 Federal Register (FR) 76260, http://www.ostp.gov/html/001207_3.html. The Federal Policy on Research Misconduct outlines requirements for addressing allegations of research misconduct, including the investigation, adjudication, and appeal of allegations of research misconduct and the implementation of appropriate administrative actions.
2. The recipient must promptly notify the USGS Project Office when research misconduct that warrants an investigation pursuant to the Federal Policy on Research Misconduct is alleged.

N. FISCAL INTEGRITY

The recipient will notify the USGS Contracting Officer/Grants officer of any significant problems relating to the administrative or financial aspects of the award, such as misappropriation of Federal funds.

O. PROGRAM INCOME

1. The recipient will have no obligation to the Federal Government for program income earned from license fees and royalties for copyrighted material, in accordance with 43 CFR 12.924(h) (for A-110 recipients) or 43 CFR 12.65(e) (for A-102 recipients).




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2. 2. If the recipient is an educational institution or nonprofit research organization, any other program income will be added to funds committed to the project by the Federal awarding agency and recipient and be used to further eligible project or program objectives, as described in 43 CFR 12.924(b)(1).
3. For all other types of recipients, any other program income will be deducted from total allowable costs to determine the net allowable costs before calculating the Government's share of reimbursable costs, as provided in 3 CFR 12.65(g)(1) (for A-102 recipients) or 43 CFR 12.924(b)(3) (for A-110 recipients).

P. DOI ASSISTANCE REGULATIONS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

• 43 CFR Part 12, Subpart A: Administrative and Audit Requirements and Cost Principles for Assistance Programs
• 43 CFR Part 12, Subpart D: Government Debarment and Suspension (Nonprocurement) and Governmentwide Requirements for Drug Free Workplace
• 43 CFR Part 12, Subpart E: Buy American Requirements for Assistance Programs
• 43 CFR Part 17, Subpart A: Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Race, Color, or National Origin
• 43 CFR Part 17, Subpart B: Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Handicap
• 43 CFR Part 17, Subpart C: Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Age
• 43 CFR Part 18: New Restrictions on Lobbying
• 43 CFR Part 41, Nondiscrimination on the basis of sex in education programs or activities receiving Federal financial assistance [Applies only if this award provides assistance to an education program or student(s).]
• 43 CFR Part 42, Government Debarment and Suspension (Nonprocurement)
• 43 CFR Part 43, Governmentwide Requirements for Drug Free Workplace

Q. DOI ASSISTANCE REGULATIONS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE, IF APPLICABLE

43 CFR Part 12, Subpart C: Uniform administrative Requirements for Grants and Cooperative Agreements to State and Local Governments
2 CFR 215 and 43 CFR Part 12, Subpart F: Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants and Cooperative Agreements with Institutions of Higher Education, Hospitals, and Other NonProfit Organizations




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GCA1 GENERAL PROVISIONS FOR U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY GRANTS AND COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS

(a) Definitions. The following terms shall have the meanings set forth below:

1. Agreements. An award of funds or other assistance included in a grant or cooperative agreement executed by a Contracting Officer.


2. Recipient. A party who has accepted a grant or a cooperative agreement.


3. Agreement Period. The period of time agreed to by the parties for the furnishing of assistance.


4. Nonprofit Organization. Any corporation, foundation, trust or institution operated for scientific, educational or medical purposes, and which is not organized for profit; no part of the net earnings of such organization may benefit any private shareholder or individual.


5. Cost Sharing. Contribution by the recipient, subrecipients or third parties toward the total cost of conducting the project.


6. Contracting Officer. An official designated to enter into and administer agreements and make related determinations and findings.


7. Program/Project Officer (PO). The USGS individual responsible for technical monitoring of the grant or agreement.


8. Project Manager/Principal Investigator. The person authorized and designated by the recipient to be responsible for a project and to serve as the recipient's principal contact with the USGS.

(b) Applicability and Scope.

1. Agreements made with nonprofit organizations shall be in accordance with the following circulars in effect on the date of the agreement as appropriate:
1. OMB A-21, (Revised), Cost Principles for Educational Institutions-Codified in Federal Acquisition regulations 31.3;


2. OMB A-110, Grants and Agreements With Institutions of Higher Education, Hospitals, and Other Nonprofit Organizations;


3. OMB A-122, Cost Principles for Nonprofit Organizations--Codified in Federal Acquisition Regulations 3l.7.




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2. Agreements made with State and local governments shall be in accordance with the provisions of then following circulars, in effect on the date of the agreement:
1. (i) OMB A-87, Cost Principles for State and Local Governments (Revised)-Codified in Federal Acquisition Regulation 31.6;
2. OMB A-102, (Revised), Uniform Requirements for Assistance to State and Local Governments;
3. OMB A-128, Audits of State and Local Governments;
3. All agreements with organizations other than those indicated in (1) and (2) above shall be subject to Part 31 of the Federal Acquisition Regulations entitled "Contract Cost Principles and Procedures," subpart 31.2 entitled "Contracts with Commercial Organizations."

(c) General. It is the primary responsibility of the recipient and the principal investigator to conduct the research in the most effective manner. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) believes that the principal investigator is in the best position to determine the means by which the research can be conducted most effectively. Therefore, the USGS will avoid any action, which might diminish the joint responsibility of the recipient and the principal investigator from making sound scientific and administrative judgments. The abiding concern of the USGS is that awarded funds are always used to achieve a maximum contribution to the new knowledge essential to the continued development of the USGS, and it is expected that recipients and principal investigators will always direct their efforts to this end.

(d) Payments and Refunds.

1. Payments under this agreement shall be made in accordance with the requirements of OMB Circulars A-102 or A-110 as applicable. The payment method selected is as indicated in the Schedule Articles of this agreement. The established payment schedule may be amended by mutual agreement.


2. Any funds uncommitted at the end of the agreement period and any amounts to which the United States is entitled because of program income, earned interest by agreement, funds on deposit, or proceeds from the sale of property shall be returned to the USGS by check payable to the U.S. Geological Survey.

(e) Cost Sharing.

1. If cost sharing is required by this agreement, page 1 indicates the shared percentage of the total estimated research project cost represented by the agreement amount. The recipient may request adjustment of this percentage during the agreement period in the event of a material departure from the original research objective authorized by the Contracting Officer.




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2. If, at the end of the agreement period, the actual cost is less than the estimated cost, the recipient shall apply the agreed percentage of the actual cost and return funds received in excess of the amount so computed. Only costs allowable under the applicable cost principles cited in paragraph (b) above will be recognized in determining the actual cost.


3. The criteria and procedures for the allowability of cash and in-kind contributions made by recipients, subrecipients and third parties in satisfying cost sharing requirements are contained in OMB Circulars A-102 and A-110, as applicable.

(f) Adherence to Original Research Objectives and Budget Estimates.

1. Any commitments or expenditures incurred by the recipient in excess of the funds provided by the agreement shall be the responsibility of the recipient. Expenditures incurred for work performed, services provided, materials delivered to the project or depreciation accrued prior to the effective date of the agreement may not be charged against agreement funds unless provided therefore in the agreement instrument.


2. Agreement funds shall not, under any circumstances, be used to increase the rate of salary for any individual performing work during the period of performance of this agreement unless such salary increase is the result of a regular salary adjustment, a permanent promotion which would have occurred had the individual been employed on a project which was not federally funded, or a change of duties with an increase in responsibilities commensurate with the salary increase.


3. Except to the extent specifically prohibited in the involvement statement, the principal investigator should feel free to discontinue or modify unpromising lines of investigation, or to explore interesting leads which may appear during the development of the research.


• (i) For nonconstruction projects the recipient shall request prior approval from the USGS promptly when there is reason to believe that revision of the agreement budget is necessary due to one of the following reasons:
  • (A) Changes in the scope or the objective of the project or program.
  
  
  • (B) The need for additional Federal funding.
  
  
  • (C) The transfer of amounts budgeted for indirect costs to absorb increases in direct costs or transfer of amounts budgeted for direct costs to absorb increases in indirect costs. The latter does not

    
    

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    apply to budget revisions necessary to absorb authorized increases in indirect costs of State or local governments.

  
  
  • (D) The expenditures requiring approval in accordance with applicable cost principles.
  
  
  • (E) Recipients plan to transfer funds allotted for training allowances (direct payments to trainees) to other categories of expense.

• (ii) For construction projects the recipient shall request prior approval promptly for budget revisions whenever:
  • (A) The revision results from changes in the scope or the objective of the project or program.
  
  
  • (B) The revision increases the amount of Federal funds needed to complete the project.

• (iii) For combined construction-non-construction projects, the recipient shall request prior approval before making any fund or budget transfers between the two types of work supported.
• (iv) For both construction and non-construction projects, the recipient shall promptly notify the USGS whenever the amount of Federal funds authorized is expected to exceed the needs of the recipient by more than $5,000.00 or 5 percent of the Federal award, whichever is greater.
• (v) When requesting approval for budget revision the recipient shall use the budget forms, which were used in the agreement application. However, the recipient may request by letter the approvals required by applicable cost principles.
4. Within 30 calendar days from the date of receipt of the request for budget revisions, the USGS shall review the request and notify the recipient whether the budget revisions have been approved. If the revision is still under consideration at the end of 30 calendar days, the USGS shall inform the recipient in writing of the date when the recipient may expect the decision.
5. If the recipient is an educational institution, any research covered by summer salary support must be carried out during the summer, not during the academic year, and at the locations approved in advance in writing by the USGS.

(g) Agreement Period Extension.




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1. When unforeseen circumstances make an extension necessary, a written request therefor shall be made to the Contracting Officer immediately. Mutually agreeable time extensions will be evidenced by written modifications to the agreement.


2. Requests for extensions must be accompanied by a revised budget indicating the planned use of unexpended funds during the extension period.

(h) Security. It is not anticipated that classified information will be required or generated; but should the research be deemed by USGS to be classified at any time during the agreement period, the recipient shall have the right to terminate, without penalty, under paragraph (r)(3)(ii) below.

(i) Patents--Small Businesses and Nonprofit Organizations. Subject to the provisions set forth in 37 CFR 401 and 35 U.S.C. 203, a Recipient may retain the entire right, title, and interest throughout the world to each subject invention. With respect to any subject invention in which the Recipient retains title, the Federal Government will have a nonexclusive, nontransferable, irrevocable, paid-up license to practice or have practiced for or on behalf of the United States the subject invention throughout the world.

(j) Rights in Technical Data. The Government may publish, reproduce, and use all technical data developed as a result of this agreement in any manner and for any purpose, without limitation, and may authorize others to do the same.

(k) Publication.

1. Publication of the results of this project may be made by the recipient in professional journals and publications and trade magazines and by the USGS in its own publications. Manuscripts submitted for publication will be accompanied by the following notation:
   "This manuscript is submitted for publication with the understanding that the United States Government is authorized to reproduce and distribute reprints for governmental purposes."
2. One copy of each article planned for publication shall be submitted to the PO simultaneously with its submission for publication. Ten reprints of each published article shall be submitted to the PO immediately following publication. The PO shall be notified in advance of proposed talks and the technical content thereof.
3. Except for formal publication or public talks, disclosure of information gained as a result of work performed under this award shall be accomplished according to USGS procedures or through USGS channels.
4. Disclaims--All manuscripts submitted for publication shall carry the following notation:

   
   

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   "The views and conclusions contained in this document are those of the authors and should not be interpreted as necessarily representing the official policies, either express or implied, of the U.S. Government."

(l) Acknowledgement. All manuscripts submitted for publication will carry the following notation:


"Research supported by U.S. Geological Survey, Department of the Interior, under USGS Agreement No. G09AC00474."

(m) Monitoring and Reporting Program Performance.

1. The recipient shall constantly monitor the performance under this agreement to assure that time schedules are being accomplished, and other performance goals are being achieved. This review shall be made for each program function or activity as set forth in the application and/or project description.
2. A final scientific report is required within 30 days after completion of the research. It shall be submitted to the designated USGS technical office in six copies with one copy furnished to the Administrative Office shown on the first page. It will contain a comprehensive review of accomplishments and a chronological bibliography of all publications, USGS Scientific Reports, and significant scientific papers resulting from the work performed. Additional copies of the final report shall be distributed as designated in the agreement document.
3. Interim performance reports shall be submitted to the Scientific Office designated on page 1, 15 working days following the end of each calendar quarter except the final quarter. The reports shall include the following information for each program, function or activity:
   • (i) A comparison of actual accomplishments to the goals established for the period. Where the output of agreement programs can be readily quantified, such quantitative data should be related to cost data for computation for unit costs. Reasons for slippage in those cases where established goals were not met. Other pertinent information, including, when appropriate, analysis and explanation of cost overruns or high unit costs.
   • (ii) Reasons for slippage in those cases where established goals were not met.
   • (iii) Other pertinent information, including, when appropriate, analysis and explanation of cost overruns or high unit costs.

4. Between the required performance reporting dates, events may occur which have significant impact upon the project or program. In such cases, the recipient shall inform the USGS as soon as the following types of conditions become known.

   
   

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   • (i) Problems, delay, or adverse conditions which will materially affect the ability to attain program objectives, prevent the meeting of time schedules and goals, or preclude the attainment of project work units by established time periods. This disclosure shall be accompanied by a statement of the action taken, or contemplated, and any Federal assistance needed to resolve the situation.
   • (ii)Favorable developments or events which enable meeting time schedules and goals sooner than anticipated or producing more work units than originally projected.

5. The USGS will make site visits as frequently as practicable to:
   • (i) Review program accomplishments and management control systems.
   • (ii)Provide such technical assistance as may be required.

(n) Availability of Principal Investigator. The recipient will immediately inform the Contracting Officer when it appears the principal investigator will not be able to devote substantially the percent of time proposed for commitment to the project.

(o) Financial Management System. The recipient's financial management system shall provide for:

1. Accurate, current and complete disclosure of the financial results of this assistance program in accordance with the financial reporting requirements set forth under the provision entitled Financial Reporting. The recipient shall not be required to establish an accrual accounting system but shall develop accrual data on its reports on the basis of an analysis of the documentation on hand.
2. Records that identify adequately the source and application of funds for the activities supported by this agreement. These records shall contain information pertaining to Federal awards and authorizations, obligations, unobligated balance, assets, liabilities, outlays, and income.
3. Effective control over and accountability for all funds, property, and other assets. The recipient shall safeguard all assets and assure that they are used solely for authorized purposes.
4. Comparison of actual outlays with budgeted amounts for this agreement and relation of financial information with performance or productivity data, including the production of unit cost information whenever appropriate.




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5. Procedures to minimize the time lapse between the transfer of funds from U.S. Treasury and the disbursement by the recipient and between disbursement to and disbursement by secondary recipients.
6. Procedures for determining the reasonableness, allowability and allocability of costs in accordance with applicable cost principles.
7. Accounting records that are supported by source documents.
8. Examinations in the form of audits made by qualified individuals who are sufficiently independent of those who authorize the expenditure of funds to produce unbiased opinions. These examinations are intended to ascertain the effectiveness of the financial management systems and internal procedures that have been established to meet the terms and conditions of the agreement. They should be made in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards, including the standards published by the General Accounting Office, Standards for Audit of Government Organizations, Programs, Activities, and Functions. It is not intended that each grant or cooperative agreement be examined. Generally, examinations should be conducted on an organization-wide basis to test the fiscal integrity of financial transactions, as well as compliance with terms and conditions of Federal grants and cooperative agreements. Such tests would include an appropriate sampling of Federal grants and cooperative agreements. Examination will be conducted with reasonable frequency, on a continuing basis or at scheduled intervals, usually annually, but not less frequently than every 2 years. The frequency of those examinations shall depend on the nature, size and the complexity of the activity.
9. A systematic method to assure timely and appropriate resolution of audit findings and recommendations.
10. Comparable subrecipient financial management systems, except that subrecipients need not be required to report, using the forms and procedures required by the provision entitled Financial Reporting.

(p) Acquisition of Property. All purchases or acquisitions of equipment or property required in the performance of this agreement will be submitted in advance of purchase or acquisition to the Contracting Officer for approval. This approval requirement is considered to have been met upon award of the agreement for all items fully identified and justified by the recipient in his proposal and budget estimate.

(q) Property Management. All property furnished by the Federal Government or acquired in whole or in part with Federal funds provided under this agreement shall be safeguarded, maintained, utilized and disposed of in accordance with the property management standards contained in OMB Circular A-102 or A-110, as applicable.

(r) Closeout, Suspension, and Termination.




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1. Upon completion of the work under this agreement, the parties shall take prompt action to close out the agreement including:
   • (i) Upon request, USGS shall make prompt payment to the recipient for allowable reimbursable costs.
   • (ii) The recipient shall immediately refund any balance of unobligated (unencumbered) cash advances that have not been authorized to be retained for use on other agreements.
   • (iii) The recipient shall submit a final Financial Status Report (SF269/SF-425) within 90 days of the completion of the work under the agreement, or shall request such extensions as are necessary, giving justification thereof.
   • (iv) The recipient shall account for any property acquired with the agreement funds or received from the Federal government in accordance with the Property Management provisions of this agreement.
   • (v) Upon completion of the above procedures and receipt of all progress reports and scientific report, the USGS shall make final settlement under this agreement, subject to final audit.

2. Failure to comply with the terms and conditions of the agreement may result in suspension and/or termination. In such event, the USGS may suspend the agreement and withhold further payments, or prohibit the recipient from incurring additional obligations of funds pending corrective action by the recipient or a decision to terminate in accordance with paragraph (3) below. The USGS shall allow all necessary and proper costs that the recipient could not reasonably avoid during the period of suspension provided that they meet the provisions of the applicable Federal cost principles.
3. The USGS shall administer terminations in the following manner:
   • (i) Termination for Cause. The USGS reserves the right to terminate this agreement in whole or in part at any time before the date of completion, whenever it is determined that the recipient has failed to comply with the conditions of the agreement. The USGS shall promptly notify the recipient in writing of the determination and the reasons for the termination, together with the effective date. Payments made to recipients, or recoveries by the USGS under agreements terminated for cause, shall be in accordance with the legal rights and liabilities of the parties. Upon such termination the recipient shall refund, by check made payable to the Department of the Interior - USGS, any unexpended agreement funds, except such portion thereof as may be required by the recipient to

     
     

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     meet commitments which had become firm prior to the effective date of termination and are otherwise allowable.

   • (ii) Termination for Convenience. The USGS or recipients may terminate this agreement in whole or in part when both parties agree that the continuation of the project would not produce beneficial results commensurate with the further expenditure of funds. The two parties shall agree upon the termination conditions, including the effective date and, in the case of partial terminations, the portion to be terminated. The recipient shall not incur new obligations for the terminated portion after the termination effective date, and shall cancel as many outstanding obligations as possible. The USGS shall allow full credit to the recipient for the Federal share of the non-cancelable obligations properly incurred by the recipient prior to termination.

(s) Subagreements.

1. Except where the primary recipient is a State or local agency as defined in OMB Circular A-102, none of the substantive programmatic work may be subcontracted or transferred without prior approval of the USGS. This provision does not apply to purchase of supplies, material, equipment, or general support services.
2. The type of instrument to be used in transferring or subcontracting any work under this agreement should be sufficient to enable the recipient to impose the requirements of this agreement on subrecipients. When such work is to be performed by contract or subgrant, the procurement standards of OMB Circular A-102 or A-110 must be followed, as applicable.
3. State and local agencies must receive prior approval of any proposed procurement that is expected to exceed $10,000 where the contract is to be awarded without competition, only one bid or offer is received in response to a solicitation, or the contract specifies a "brand name" product. Nonprofit organizations must receive prior approval of all proposed sole source contracts and all proposed contracts where only one bid is received, in which the expenditure is expected to exceed $5000. Such approval may be obtained by submission of the request for proposals, the invitation for bids or the proposed contract along with a written justification for the action to be taken.
4. The USGS reserves the right to require prior approval of other procurements of State and local agencies in the event that the recipient fails to comply with one or more significant aspects of the procurement standards.




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(t) Cash Depositories. Except for the situations described in subparagraphs (1), (2), and (3) of this paragraph, the USGS does not require the recipient or subrecipients to physically separate cash depositories for funds which are provided under this agreement; and the USGS does not establish any eligibility requirement for cash depositories for funds provided under this agreement.

1. A separate bank account is required when applicable letter of credit agreements provide that drawdowns are to be made when the recipients' checks are presented to the bank for payment.
2. Any moneys advanced to the recipient which are subject to the control or regulation of the United States or any of its officers, agents, or employees (public moneys as defined in treasury Circular No. 176, as amended) must be deposited in a bank with Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) insurance coverage, and the balance exceeding the FDIC coverage must be collaterally secured.
3. Consistent with the national goal of expanding the opportunities for minority business enterprises, the recipient and subrecipients are encouraged to use minority banks. A list of minority banks can be obtained from the Office of Minority Business Enterprise, Department of Commerce, Washington, D.C. 20230.

(u) Bonding and Insurance. To the extent applicable to this agreement, the bonding and insurance requirements of OMB Circular A-102 or A-110 are imposed.

(v) Retention and Custodial Requirements for Records. The following requirements apply to records of the recipient and subrecipients under this agreement:

1. Financial records, supporting documents, statistical records, and all other records pertinent to this agreement shall be retained for a period of 3 years with the following qualifications:
   • (i) If any litigation, claim or audit is started before the expiration of the 3-year period, the records shall be retained until all litigation, claims, or audit findings involving the records have been resolved.
   • (ii) Records for non-expendable property acquired with Federal funds shall be retained for 3 years after final disposition.
   • (iii) When records are transferred to or maintained by the USGS the 3year retention requirement is not applicable to the recipient or subrecipient.

2. The retention period starts from the date of the submission of the final expenditure report or, for agreements that are reviewed, as of the annual financial status report.

   
   

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3. Unless otherwise specifically prohibited in this agreement, recipients and subrecipients may substitute microfilm copies in lieu of original records wherever the essential quality of those records would not be impaired.
4. Should the USGS determine that certain records not otherwise required to be furnished to the USGS under this agreement possess long-term retention value, the USGS shall request transfer of such records to the USGS or shall make arrangements with the recipient or subrecipients to retain any records that are continuously needed for joint use.
5. The USGS, the Comptroller General of the United States, and any of their duly authorized representatives shall have access to any pertinent books, documents, papers, and records of the recipients to make audits, examinations, excerpts, and transcripts.
6. This agreement imposes no restrictions that would limit public access to the records of recipient organizations or subrecipients that are pertinent to this agreement except in the event that the USGS determines that such records must be kept confidential and would have been excepted from disclosure pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552) if the records had belonged to the USGS. In such event the USGS shall give written notice to the recipient and appropriate subrecipients, identifying the records involved and prescribing the procedures required to safeguard the confidentiality of the records.

(w) Financial Reporting. The recipient shall report the status of expenditures made and Federal funds expended under this agreement, shall report the status of Federal cash advances, and shall request advances and reimbursements in accordance with the financial reporting requirements contained in OMB Circular A-102 or A-110, as applicable. Within the limits of these requirements the USGS has elected to require the following procedures:

1. Financial reporting shall be on an accrual basis.
2. The standardized Financial Status Report (Standard Form 269/SF-425) shall be used only to report the status of funds at the completion of this agreement.
3. If Federal funds are advanced under this agreement by letter of credit or by treasury checks on a predetermined basis, the recipient shall submit a Federal Cash Transactions Report (SF 272-A) not later than 15 working days following the end of each quarter. A forecast on a monthly basis of the Federal cash requirements for the remainder of the agreement period shall be included in the remarks section of each report.
4. If Federal funds are disbursed under this agreement pursuant to a Request for Advance and Reimbursement (SF 270), the request shall be submitted at least 15 days prior to each scheduled payment date specified in this agreement.




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5. The Outlay Report and Request for Reimbursements for Construction Programs (SF 271) shall be used in requesting reimbursement for construction programs unless use of the SF 270 is approved by the Contracting Officer.

(x) Program Income and Income Earned on Advances.

1. Unless otherwise specifically provided under the terms of this agreement, all income earned during the grant period by the recipient or subrecipients from activities supported by this agreement shall be retained and deducted from the total project cost for the purpose of determining the net cost on which the Federal share of costs shall be based. Such income shall include, but not be limited to, income from service fees, sale of commodities, and usage or rental fees. Such income shall not include interest earned on advances of Federal funds or taxes, special assessments, levies or fines which are imposed without regard to benefits provided under the agreement.
2. Interest earned on advances of Federal funds shall be remitted to the USGS except for interest earned on advances to States or instrumentalities of the State as provided by the Intergovernmental Cooperation Act of 1968 (P.L 90-577) and advances made to tribal organizations pursuant to section 102, 103, or 104 of the Indian Self-Determination Act (P.L. 93-638).
3. Proceeds from the sale of real and personal property, either provided by the Federal Government or purchased in whole or in part with Federal funds, shall be handled in accordance with the provision entitled Property Management.
4. Unless otherwise specifically provided under the terms of this agreement, recipients and subrecipients shall have no obligation to the Federal Government with respect to royalties received as a result of copyrights or patents produced under this agreement.
5. The recipient and subrecipients shall record the receipt and expenditures of revenues (such as taxes, special assessments, levies, fines, etc.) as a part of the project transactions for this agreement when such revenues are specifically earmarked for the project.





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Statement of Work

Cooperative research on biodiversity informatics:

Creation of web-based tools for invasive species identification, reporting,

mapping, and other biodiversity information



Agreement's Principal Investigator:
Dr. John Pickering, Discover Life,
706-543-1115
pick@discoverlife.org
Agreement's Administrative Contact:
Kevin Weick
The Polistes Foundation
133 Washington St.
Belmont, MA 02478
617-484-6428
wickkd@aol.com
Agreement's USGS Technical Representative:
Annie Simpson, National Biological Information Infrastructure
703-648-4281
asimpson@usgs.gov


OVERVIEW


This is a first year of a new cooperative agreement built on previous collaboration to develop technology to overcome the major hurdles that greatly impeded citizens from contributing to the study and management of biological diversity, with an emphasis on invasive species.

The USGS' National Biological Information Infrastructure is a Web-based system to provide better accessibility to our nation's biological resources for land managers, decision-makers, and the general public; it has a broad partner base from government, academia, and the private sector. The partner of this cooperative agreement is The Polistes Foundation, the 501-c-3 non-profit umbrella organization of Discover Life, an online information system whose mission is to assemble and share knowledge about nature in order to improve education, health, agriculture, economic development, and conservation throughout the world.

In part, this collaboration is related to a DOI-mandated project to support a national framework for invasive species early detection, rapid assessment, and rapid response. Successful early detection of invasive species can only be accomplished through the implementation of a series of components:

• Identification and Validation
• Reporting
• Expert Verification
• Occurrence Databases
• Rapid Assessment
• Planning
• Rapid Response




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PROJECTS FOR FY09

1. Uploading databases

   Creation of an interface that will allow data providers to upload, manage, and share tables from spreadsheets and other databases via the web. This tool will automatically process text files into online databases, provided the text files have tab-delimited fields that are specified in a header line. It will enable users to import all types of text records, such as lists of taxa, information for species profiles, data about images, occurrence records, decision support rules, references, glossaries, and links.

2. Database integration and mappings

   Continue to support database integration, error detection, correction, and mapping. A high priority will include setting up the interface between the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) and Discover Life so that these sites can automatically update and share occurrence records, terms of use, and associated metadata. Provide logistical support and travel grants to members of the Global Invasive Species Information Network (GISIN) for standards and outreach meetings related to invasive species information sharing (http://www.gisin.org).

3. Decision support and training

   Provide training and technical support to the partners of NBII's Mid-Atlantic Regional Node so that they can develop a decision support system that will enable users to detect, report, and manage aquatic invasive species in Virginia. This is a GISIN project related to a cooperative agreement between the NBII and the Conservation Management Institute at Virginia Tech. The decision support tool will also incorporate data layers made available by the USGS Nonindigenous Aquatic Species Database, the USGS Gap Analysis Program on land stewardship, and others.

4. Identification guides

   Build new on-line identification guides that use each specimen's most distinctive, striking characters to determine its species. These guides will be tested for ease of use by non-experts, tested for accuracy by experts, and checked by the 'resolve' feature to make sure that they contain enough information to distinguish species from each other. Our priority will be to build national guides for birds and butterflies. These will replace existing ones that are cluttered with obscure characters and are difficult to use. To support our outreach program in Georgia, as a testbed for developing and testing methods that can be applied elsewhere, we will also build local guides to common trees, vines, ferns, wildflowers, caterpillars, and species associated with goldenrod in the Atlanta-Athens metropolitan area.

5. Mobile device support

   Discover Life has established http://m.discoverlife.org to support mobile devices. For the above guides, we will modify our user interface so that it does not use HTML frames and is more appropriate for use with both small screens and limited band-width.

6. Outreach to schools, community groups, and volunteers

   We will recruit, train, and support participants willing to study biodiversity and report their findings via the web. In establishing a national network of schools and other study sites that will help us detect and manage invasive species, our outreach and educational efforts in Georgia over the coming year will enable us to refine our research protocols and develop associated school curricula. We will focus on developing and integrating three web-based projects: Bee Hunt! (http://www.discoverlife.org/bee) the Goldenrod Challenge (http://www.discoverlife.org/goldenrod), and the People's Online Plant Atlas (POPA) (http:www.discoverlife.org/popa)

7. Proceedings of Life

   Discover Life is starting a scientific publication called the Proceedings of Life. This publication will be online, interactive, peer reviewed, and free to all users. It will provide authors with a means to get academic credit and a permanent scientific citation for building and maintaining high-quality biodiversity databases on the web. The publication will use natural language processing and other software tools to allow authors to process documents and databases rapidly into interactive publications. This cooperative agreement will support the development, peer review, and publication of online databases through the Proceedings of Life (http://www.discoverlife.org/proceeedings).




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8. Invasive Plant Atlas of New England (IPANE)
   • A. IPANE WEBSITE

     Much of the text for the IPANE website was written between 2002 and 2005. The entire website is in need of review, possible revision, and updating.
     Deliverables:

     1. Five new species added to the IPANE website. This would include text, photos, and herbarium records.
     2. Blog capabilities for the IPANE website. This would include working with the Center for International Earth Science Information Network (CIESIN), a major partner of the NBII Northeast Information Node, to create an IPANE blog and to improve existing web services.

   • B. DATA ENHANCEMENT

     New data and data not yet accessioned need to be added to the IPANE data base. The initial herbarium survey was done between 2001 and 2004 and there is the potential for new records in some herbaria.
     Deliverables:

     1. Major herbaria will be revisited in order to update IPANE records.
     2. New data, and data on additional species, will be added to the IPANE database.

   • C. SUPPLEMENTAL FIELD WORK IN UNDER-REPORTED AREAS

     The IPANE volunteer coverage is uneven across the New England Landscape. Field trips by the IPANE director and in concert with volunteers will be undertaken to fill in potential data gaps, undertaken as field days or block-busting events.
     Deliverables:

     1. Broader geographic coverage of data, from trips to under-collected areas in New England.

   • D. IPANE TRAINING

     Introductory and advanced training is offered to initiate our new volunteers and to keep our existing volunteers informed and help sharpen their identification skills. Early Detection Species training is offered to our volunteers to alert them to species for which they should be on the lookout in their area. Training sessions will be offered contingent on logistical support and venues.
     Deliverables:

     1. One Basic Training workshop
     2. One Advanced Training workshop
     3. One Early Detection workshop

   • E. ADMINISTATIVE ISSUES

     A solid funding base is still needed to sustain IPANE. New partners are needed to support and advance IPANE's goals and mission. The existing administrative structure of IPANE will be reviewed and actions planned for its improvement.
     Deliverables:

     1. A meeting will be convened that will include existing and potential partners to create a roadmap for IPANE's future.

     
     

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   • F. OUTREACH

     One of the big strengths of IPANE is the technical assistance we have to offer to government agencies, academia, conservationists, NGOs, other states, and the general public.
     Deliverables:

     1. Answer questions for the public
     2. Assist state agencies to facilitate the use of IPANE tools and data
     3. Work with Randy Westbrooks, John Madsen, and others to establish and enhance a National Early Detection Network.
     4. Attend one regional meeting to explain and characterize IPANE and its early detection efforts.
     5. Support existing and new Localized Early Detection Sites
     6. Work with the Consortium of Northeastern Herbaria to provide specimens of early detection species that may not already be in their collections.




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