--Notice of Sole Source Award for the International Polar Symposium

This publication serves as notice of intent to procure services for the Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management, on a sole source basis, with Inland Northwest Research Alliance, Inc., in accordance with FAR Subparts 13.106(b), 12.203, 6.302-1, in the amount of $25,000 under NAICS: 611310. The tasks required for this contract consist of the following: 1. Identify and prioritize information needs for inventory, monitoring , and research activities to address the individual and cumulative effects of past, ongoing, and anticipated development activities and environmental change on the North Slope. 2. Develop an understanding of information needs for regulatory and land management agencies, local governments, and the public. 3. Focus on prioritization of pressing natural resource management and ecosystem information needs, coordination, and cooperation among agencies and organizations. 4. Coordinate ongoing and future inventory, monitoring, and research activities to minimize duplication of effort, share financial resources and expertise, and assure the collection of quality information. 5. Identify priority needs not address by agency science programs in effect on the date of enactment of this Act and develop a funding strategy to meet those needs. 6. Provide a consistent approach to high caliber science, including inventory, monitoring, and research. 7. Maintain and improve public and agency access to accumulated and ongoing research and, contemporary and traditional local knowledge. 8. Ensure through appropriate peer review that the science conducted by participating agencies and organizations is of the highest technical quality. The Government intends to award a firm fixed price contract with a period of performance anticipated to commence on March 4, 2009 and end on March 7, 2009. This is not a request for competitive quotes.