R--NOTICE of Intent to single source award to The Great Basin Institute a non-profit organization and part of the University of Nevada, Reno.

The Great Basin Institute is a non-profit organization and part of the University of Nevada, Reno. The Institute oversees the Nevada Conservation Corps (NCC), a federally funded environmental science and career program which harnesses the idealism and energy of young people to meet the needs of communities and state and federal agencies administering the vast public lands in Nevada. The goal of NCC is to promote a model for environmental studies and service, while providing direct conservation initiatives for regional public lands in Nevada. NCC provides employees, including laborers and research assistants for projects on state, federal and local lands. Desert National Wildlife Refuge and Moapa Valley National Wildlife Refuge needs to hire both crews, and a federal agency liaison to complete major habitat restoration projects on each refuge. These efforts are funded through a Conservation Initiative under the Southern Nevada Public Lands Management Act of 1998. The cost of NCC employees and work crews is far less than the cost of a temporary employee, or that of a private contractor. NCC is also able to recruit and schedule crews in a short time frame, which is essential to collect mature seeds for grow-out, stabilize restoration projects following heavy equipment use, and plant native vegetation. Estimated Award Date 9/6/2005.