P20AC00096_NOCA_WCC_Notice of Intent To Award (final).docx

NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE: NOTICE OF INTENT TO AWARD

This announcement is not a request for applications.

This announcement is to provide public notice of the National Park Service’s intention to award financial assistance for the following project activities. Refer to Section 2. Grants.gov Posting Determination.

ABSTRACT

Award Instrument

Cooperative Agreement

Interior Regions 8, 9, 10, 12 Olympic National Park 600 E. Park Avenue Port Angeles, WA 98362 Telephone: 360-460-1506 Email: susan_velie@nps.gov

Section 1. Project Summary

PROJECT GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

Local youth corps crews from WCC, comprised of up to 5 crew members and one work leader, will execute deferred, cyclic and corrective maintenance on trails, roads, cultural and natural landscape restoration, and conservation and environmental management that will extend the life cycle of these sites throughout the parks. The WCC crew will also assist in the cleanup of park campgrounds, cleanup after hazard tree removal operations, and assist NPS personnel to repair trail surfaces, create water bars, improve ditches and other drainage structures, clear overgrowth as well as remove encroaching vegetation, control invasive plants and assist with forest fuel reduction.

In addition, the NPS and WCC will provide educational programs about the work projects and resource management at the individual NPS site to increase WCC program participant’s knowledge of park challenges, cultural and natural resources, the NPS’s environmental restoration and conservation methods and NPS stewardship of public lands and resources.

STATEMENT OF PUBLIC PURPOSE

The public purpose is to provide youth with work and educational opportunities in conservation and to provide better maintained trails, roads and visitor attractions for public enjoyment. This project motivates youth members of the WCC opportunities to learn about the environment by working within a National Park unit. When finished with this program, these youth will have an understanding of stewardship and responsibility towards the environment and be able to take these skills to the current and future homes and communities. Experience gained through this project may guide youth from recreational to volunteer experiences, and expose diverse youth to the possibility of a career in public land management and conservation.

STATEMENT OF WORK SUMMARY

Through education, hard work, and living in a wilderness setting the young adults in this program will experience a life changing event, making them stewards of the planet for life. Crews will be involved in several different projects throughout the season. For the Trails projects, crews will complete over two miles of trail routine maintenance to include brushing, tread repair, and drainage improvements. In addition one Hiker and Stock camp will be renovated and a short trail relocation will be completed. On another project, a crew will assist in historic landscape maintenance by piling and burning plant material cut during winter pruning and will assist in fertilizing over 250 historic apple trees. Crews will also assist with invasive plant control by surveying for and manually removing scotch broom plants within a 5 acre area. They will also assist with chemical control by surveying a 40 acre site and spot spraying individual rush skeletonweed plants and surveying a 50 acre area and treating cheatgrass. For disturbed lands restoration, crews will collect native seed for use later in the fall. In fall, crews will loosen soil, apply mulch, broadcast native seed and plant rooted plants at six restoration sites. They will also install bio-engineering (coconut fiber and native willow cuttings) along a section of eroding river bank for approximately 100 ft. A crew will also remove or brush vegetation encroaching within 10 ft of the road pavement for 15 miles of roadway.

RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE PARTIES

Washington Conservation Corps shall be responsible for the following items under this agreement:

1. Develop a youth conservation program of public benefit in cooperation with the NPS that provides young adults with experience in working in public service while furthering their understanding and appreciation of the Nation’s natural and cultural resources.

2. Recruit and hire young adults (WCC members) to accomplish environmental restoration / conservation and maintenance projects and services. These WCC members will be employees of the WCC. The WCC will be responsible for their payroll, payroll taxes and work compensation liability.

3. Coordinate with the NPS to ensure that WCC members have opportunities for training in resource conservation and vocational skills including occupational safety.

4. Provide supervision, transportation to North Cascades National Park Service Complex, tools and other support for WCC crews.

5. Coordinate project activities, including personnel hiring, processing payroll, travel arrangements and reimbursements.

The NPS Responsibilities:

A task agreement is proposed;

X A cooperative agreement is proposed;

therefore substantial involvement by NPS is anticipated during the period of performance of this agreement. In support of this agreement NPS will:

1. Provide financial assistance as shown in Article VI.

2. Work with WCC in developing a program involving cooperative efforts in accomplishing environmental restoration projects along with trail, road and cultural site maintenance.

3. Perform all required cultural and natural resource compliance work prior to permitting the WCC interns to begin work on projects.

4. Provide logistical and facility support to WCC personnel. Participate with WCC in overall project management and monitoring; provide materials, transportation (once they are in North Cascades National Park Service Complex) and equipment if needed.

5. Assign an appropriate NPS employee to monitor the on-going work, to respond to questions about the nature and goals of the project and act as an on-going liaison among the parties.

6. In collaboration with WCC, provide interpretation and education programs for the WCC interns to enhance their environmental awareness.

7. In conjunction with WCC, review and approve each phase of each project prior to commencement of subsequent phases.

8. Complete WCC project-related forms in conjunction with each project.

A grant agreement is proposed, therefore no substantial involvement on the part of the NPS is anticipated for the successful completion of the statement of work. It is anticipated that involvement will be limited to actions related to monitoring project performance and technical assistance at the request of the recipient.

Section 2. Grants.gov Posting Determination

The National Park Service intends to award a task agreement under a previously competed or single source justified award.

The National Park Service intends to award a single source justified cooperative agreement. Refer to Section 3 Single Source Justification.X

The National Park Service intends to award a single source justified grant agreement. Refer to Section 3 Single Source Justification.

Section 3. Single Source Justification

NATIONAL PARK SERVICE SINGLE SOURCE POLICY REQUIREMENTS

National Park Service Policy FAP&P 1443-2015-06 requires a written justification which explains why competition is not practicable. The justification must address one of the following criteria.

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. The unsolicited proposal must demonstrate an innovative capability or concept not currently available to the government, and prepared without Government involvement. ;

(2) Continuation – The activity to be funded is necessary to the satisfactory completion of, or is a continuation of, an activity presently being funded, 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, technical expertise, or other such unique qualifications. Successful past performance, familiarity with existing requirements, capabilities that can be obtained or matched by a competitor, or a positive reputation, are not considered to be 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.

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

Task Agreement issued under previously competed or single source master cooperative agreement per Section 2 above. Single Source Justification not applicable.

Unsolicited Proposal Legislative Intent

Continuation X

Unique Qualifications

Emergency

Explanation of the proposed recipient’s qualifications or the criteria of the proposed project which requires use of the single source criteria cited.

. WCC’s multiple field offices make them uniquely qualified to assist in all areas of the park without added expense or lost productivity due to excessive travel time. They offer 8 day “spike” tours that are completely self-supporting with transportation, food, camping gear, cookware, PPE, tools and 24/7 supervision.

Section 4. Department of the Interior Secretary’s Priorities

This award will support the following DOI Secretary priority(ies):

Other Key Initiatives:

Employment of veterans.

X Supporting DOI Infrastructure needs. Creating jobs in the American economy. XAccess to outdoor recreation opportunities.

Priority 1: Creating a conservation stewardship legacy second only to Teddy Roosevelt XUtilize science to identify best practices to manage land and water resources and adapt to changes in the environment.

Examine land use planning process and land use designations that govern public use and access.

Revise and streamline the environmental and regulatory review process while maintaining environmental standards.

Review DOI water storage, transportation, and distribution systems to identify opportunities to resolve conflicts and expand capacity.

Foster relationships with conservation organizations advocating for balanced stewardship and use of public lands.

Identify and implement initiatives to expand access to DOI lands for hunting and fishing.

XShift the balance towards providing greater public access to public lands over restrictions to access.

Priority 2: Utilizing our natural resources Ensure American energy is available to meet our security and economic needs.

Ensure access to mineral resources, especially the critical and rare earth minerals.

Refocus timber programs to embrace the entire 'healthy forests' lifecycle.

Manage competition for grazing resources.

Priority 3: Restoring trust with local communities XBe a better neighbor with those closest to our resources by improving dialogue and relationships with persons and entities bordering our lands. Expand the lines of communication with Governors, state natural resource offices, Fish and Wildlife offices, water authorities, county commissioners, XTribes, and local communities.

Priority 4: Ensuring sovereignty means something Support tribal self-determination, self-governance, and sovereignty. Solidify mutual interests between the U.S. and the freely associated states and territories.

Priority 5: Generating additional revenues to support DOI & National interests Ensure that the public receives the full market value for the natural resources produced on Federal lands.

Ensure that fees or costs levied for DOI services are reasonable and targeted to achieve cost recovery.

Consider the impact of DOI decisions on economic development and job creation.

Priority 6: Protecting our people and the border Actively support efforts to secure our southern border.

Ensure DOI law enforcement staffing addresses public safety risks anticipated on DOI land.

Promote a "public service" demeanor within our law enforcement community.

Priority 7: Striking a regulatory balance Reduce the administrative and regulatory burden imposed on U.S. industry and the public.

Ensure that Endangered Species Act decisions are based on strong science and thorough analysis.

Priority 8: Modernizing our infrastructure Support the White House Public/Private Partnership Initiative to modernize U.S. infrastructure.

Remove impediments to infrastructure development and facilitate private sector efforts to construct infrastructure projects serving American needs.

XPrioritize DOI infrastructure needs to highlight:

1. Construction of infrastructure;

2. Cyclical maintenance;

3. Deferred maintenance.

Priority 9: Reorganizing for the next 100 years Improve alignment and integration of the DOI organizational structure. Redistribute organizational resources (people and funding) to enhance mission achievement and improved public service.

Improve organizational alignment with Executive Branch counterparts with major land management assets or influence.

Priority 10: Achieving our goals and leading our team forward Senior executives are expected to provide leadership in achieving goals of the President and the Secretary.

The Management Team is expected to:

1. Ensure cost-effective operations and quality service to the public;

2. Facilitate organizational cooperation and conflict resolution;

3. Ensure the workplace environment is conducive to employee productivity and safety;

4. Hold individuals accountable for actions that violate DOI policies and requirements.

The proposed project does not support any of the DOI Secretary priorities, but the project is being funded for the following reasons: