NOI P20AC00827.pdf

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

Grants.gov Opportunity Number Project Title Recipient Anticipated Federal Funding Non-Federal Cost Share Total Anticipated Award Amount

Award Instrument

Anticipated Period of Performance

Legal Authority

CFDA # and Title

Single Source Justification Criteria

National Park Service Point of Contact

PROJECT GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

STATEMENT OF PUBLIC PURPOSE

Section 1. Project Summary

Task Agreement Cooperative Agreement

Grant Agreement

Current as of 10/29/2018

STATEMENT OF WORK SUMMARY

RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE PARTIES

A. The recipient shall be responsible for the following items under this agreement:

B. The NPS Responsibilities:

A task agreement is proposed;

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:

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 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.

Continuation

Unique Qualifications

Unsolicited Proposal

Legislative Intent

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

Section 2. Grants.gov Posting Determination

Emergency

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.

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

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.

Supporting DOI Infrastructure needs.

Creating jobs in the American economy.

Access to outdoor recreation opportunities.

Priority 1: Creating a conservation stewardship legacy second only to Teddy Roosevelt Utilize 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.

Shift 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 Be 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, Tribes, 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.

Prioritize DOI infrastructure needs to highlight:

1. Construction of infrastructure;

2. Cyclical maintenance;

3. Deferred maintenance.

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.

Priority 10: Achieving our goals and leading our team forward

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

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.

215-597-5949

1. Invite local citizens, community leaders, and representatives from relevant agencies and organizations to participate in the New River Clean Water Alliance.

2. Establish a steering committee and relevant sub-committees.

3. Coordinate meetings for the steering committee and sub-committees.

4. Coordinate opportunities to share ideas, research, resources, and data among Alliance members.

5. Develop data management solutions for regional water quality monitoring data collected by partner agencies and organizations.

6. Coordinate development of a Strategic Plan and annual work plans.

7. Develop and effectively distribute outreach materials.

8. Host and maintain the Alliance website and develop relevant web content.

9. Coordinate citizen science initiatives related to water quality monitoring, trash clean-up, and green infrastructure.

10. Coordinate preparation of Lower New River State of the Watershed reports.

2. Assist with developing the Alliance's strategic plan.

3. Assist with selecting projects and developing the Alliance's annual work plans.

4. Participate as a steering committee member.

5. Provide technical assistance, safety training, and orientation to park resources for projects within the park.

6. Provide access to water quality monitoring equipment.

7. Share park data on water quality and aquatic ecosystem health.

Justification: The New River Conservancy (NRC) is uniquely qualified to achieve these project goals and objectives because of their experience, capacity, and technical expertise running similar programs within the New River watershed, upstream of New River Gorge National River. NRC is a leader in studying, monitoring, and improving the condition of the New River watershed. For forty years, the organization has focused its programs on (1) sharing and fostering research, (2) educating and engaging communities, and (3) protecting and restoring the New River and its tributaries. NRC’s current programs are centered primarily on the New River in Virginia and North Carolina; however, these programs are scalable and transferable to the New River in West Virginia. For example:

(1) Sharing and fostering research: NRC hosts the New River Consortium, which brings together university students / faculty, agency representatives, and other partners to collect, analyze, and report on scientific data related to river ecosystem attributes, processes, and stressors. The resulting research is used to help agencies develop science-based policies and to help watershed associations and other partners take direct actions to improve watershed conditions. NRC maintains an online library of published scientific reports and hosts a biennial conference to share research results and project accomplishments. Through the Consortium, NRC is uniquely qualified to connect the New River Alliance with researchers and agency representatives, promote new research opportunities, and provide a unique platform for sharing program results.

(2) Educating and engaging communities: Through their New River Water Watchers program, NRC trains volunteer citizen scientists to collect water quality data using a protocol and quality assurance plan that meet standards of the North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources. Data are publicly available through their web-based database. NRC’s experience with citizen science programs, state agency collaboration, volunteer coordination, data management, and website management would be directly transferable to the Alliance’s priority objectives in West Virginia and provide an opportunity to create watershed-scale programs that are consistent across North Carolina, Virginia, and West Virginia.

(3) Protecting and restoring streams: NRC has experience leading projects to plant trees and shrubs in riparian buffers to reduce erosion and improve water quality. They also host volunteer events to clean up trash from streams and riparian areas. NRC has also improved water quality by educating and assisting landowners about green infrastructure, such as building rain gardens that filter stormwater runoff. NRC’s experience would help the Alliance develop similar programs for the New River and its tributaries in West Virginia.

2. Provide or hire a Coordinator who will devote no fewer than 20 hours/week to carrying out the Statement of Work.

3. Provide or hire other staff and or sub-contractors as needed to manage data, develop / host a website, and prepare State of the Watershed reports.

4. Provide suitable office space or ensure adequacy of remote / alternative work site for the Coordinator.

5. Provide all computer hardware / software, other office equipment, and supplies necessary to carry out the Statement of Work.

6. Provide or arrange suitable space for general membership meetings, steering committee meetings, and sub-committee meetings.