A-3 P19AC00817 NOI.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.

Project Objectives – The objectives of this Agreement are to:

• Encourage private and public sector participation in the acquisition, planning, development, protection, operation, and maintenance of the Pony Express NHT.

• Accelerate the effort to acquire and develop the NHT by securing private and public sector involvement.

• Increase private and public awareness and use of the NHT and their support for its complete development.

• Support and strengthen the capabilities and volunteer efforts of the National Pony Express Association (NPEA) in taking a leading role within the private and public sector in acquiring, planning, developing, protecting, and maintaining the NHT.

PP: The National Pony Express Association is a private, nonprofit corporation composed of individual members and affiliated organizations. It was founded in 1978 and incorporated in the State of California. Its purpose is to help acquire, build, maintain, promote, and protect the Pony Express National Historic Trail. The NPEA works to identify, reestablish, and mark the original Pony Express routes through the eight states it served, and to provide education through its annual re-ride.

The Pony Express National Historic Trail was added to the National Trails System in 1992, through the authority of the National Trails System Act The Act provided in section 7(h) [16 U.S.C. 1246(h)], that when determined to be in the public interest, the Secretary of the Interior may enter into written cooperative agreements with states or their political subdivisions, landowners, private organizations, or individuals to operate, develop, and maintain any portion of a national historic trail either within or outside a federally-administered area. The Secretary of the Interior, acting through the NPS, has determined it to be in the public interest to enter into this agreement.

Overview: The project will focus on the following, with specific responsibilities listed in Article V.

• Encourage private and public sector participation in the acquisition, planning, development, protection, operation, and maintenance of the Pony Express NHT.

• Accelerate the effort to acquire and develop the NHT by securing private and public sector involvement.

• Increase private and public awareness and use of the NHT and their support for its complete development.

• Support and strengthen the staff capabilities and volunteer efforts of the National Pony Express Association (NPEA) in taking a leading role within the private and public sector in acquiring, planning, developing, protecting, and maintaining the NHT.

B. Collaborate with NPEA on trail research and development projects.

C. Communicate regularly with the NPEA president and board concerning the NPS Feasibility Study for adding routes to the Pony Express and other NHTs.

D. Provide necessary NPS technical assistance, supplies, data, and equipment for furtherance of NPEA’s education and interpretation programs.

E. Participate in NPEA board (delegate) meetings and other meetings to the extent possible.

F. Provide technical assistance in all matters regarding preservation, protection, signing, and interpretation of the Pony Express NHT.

G. Review in a timely manner all reports and invoices submitted by NPEA.

H. Collaborate with NPEA to develop and complete sign plans along the length of the national historic trail using the NPS developed online GIS based sign planning tools available on the trail webpage. The NPS will coordinate with NPEA for development, review and completion of each plan, provide the sign specifications for national historic trail standard signs, and assist NPEA by obtaining price quotes and orders for signs based on completed sign plans. Provide sign plan reports and information needed to facilitate NPEA efforts in obtaining jurisdiction approvals and installation of sign plans. When applicable and at the discretion of NTIR, provide funding for purchase and shipping of signs for approved sign plans. Plans for which NPS has received a) signed jurisdiction installation approvals and b) complete shipping information by March 31, 2020 will be given priority for purchase. Provide ongoing assistance, guidance, and coordination towards promotion of public sign unveiling ceremonies. Where possible, the NPS will also attend and provide a uniform presence at such events to highlight to local news media the national significance of these partnership national historic trail development efforts.

I. NPS may, at its discretion, allow use of equipment and property to recipient, and organization members, in support of project task agreement, including but not limited to computers, software and other equipment. Although the cooperator may use NPS computers, software and other equipment in support of the project task agreement for the duration of the task agreement subject to the approval of the NPS, the cooperator will not acquire or claim any interest in this equipment. The NPS may, at its discretion, allow the cooperator or grantee (and members) to use, or ride in, a government vehicle for an official purpose in support of the task agreement, as outlined in NPS DO44. Consistent with DO44, to use any government vehicle, the cooperator must:

(1) establish and enforce suitable penalties for cooperator employees who willfully use or authorize the use of Government motor vehicles for other than official purposes; and

(2) assume any cost or expense incident to any use not related to the performance of the grant, contract, or subcontract, and such assumption of cost or expense will be without the right of reimbursement from the Government.

J. Collaborate with NPEA to highlight and promote the Pony Express NHT to the public and trail communities through communication, events, as well as through other outreach opportunities.

1. The Recipient shall carry out the Statement of Work in accordance with the terms and conditions stated herein. The Recipient shall adhere to Federal, state, and local laws, regulations, and codes, as applicable.

2. Communicate and coordinate regularly with NPS staff concerning joint organizational and project activities.

3. Provide a liaison to serve as a project manager between the NPEA and the NPS, and as a liaison between the national association and its state division.

4. Promote visitor use and interpretation of the Pony Express National Historic Trail (NHT) through the planning and hosting of a trail re-ride in Fiscal Year (FY) 2020. As public outreach, NPEA will announce re-ride-related news and public events through the NPEA website, press releases, broadcast media, newsletter, and/or high-visibility media as appropriate.

5. Develop and conduct trail-related educational/outreach programs for the general public.

6. Host, maintain, and update an organizational website.

7. Work with the NPS toward monitoring and protection of trail resources.

8. Monitor conditions of markers and NPS-sponsored interpretive media.

9. Organize and conduct meetings of NPEA board of directors (state delegates and national officers) meeting with NPS involvement to be held in Kansas in 2020.

10. Provide travel support for the NPS liaison and board members to attend Partnership for the National Trails System, board and chapter meetings. Provide travel support for the NPS liaison, board members, association members, and other stakeholders to attend other trail-related activities in coordination with NPS, including attendance at NPS workshop(s).

11. Coordinate the use of national historic trail official trail sign standards for signing the Pony Express National Historic Trail (NHT). Additional guidance on the signing process is located at https://www.nps.gov/orgs/1453/how-to-create-your-sign-plan.htm.

NPEA will collaborate with the NPS in prioritizing, developing, reviewing, and implementing sign plans. Information on how to properly develop a sign plan is available on the trail webpage, and should be read prior to beginning a plan. Other signing collaboration includes, but is not limited to, detailed review of draft sign plans for accuracy and functionality, obtaining road jurisdiction installation approvals, review of status of shipped signs within 10 days of delivery to ensure they match the sign plan and order prior to payment. If NPEA volunteers are unable to obtain ready access to the signs at their shipping destinations, they will work with the local road jurisdiction or partners who will be installing the signs, and to whom the signs have been shipped, to coordinate with the person responsible for acceptance of the shipped signs to ensure the shipped signs match the sign purchase order. NPEA will notify the NPS as soon as practicable of the recommendation to accept the signs or if any discrepancies are discovered between the order and the delivered signs.

NPEA will provide assistance to the road jurisdiction in the location and installation of signs, and ensure that the sign plan is being used and followed according to the plan location and sign type identified in the plan. Any deviations from the approved and finalized sign plan should be proposed and discussed with NPS prior to signs being ordered or installed. When installation is complete, NPEA will confirm with NPS by ensuring that the installation form included with the sign plan document has been completed, signed, and returned to NPS by the road jurisdiction.

12. Secure private sector funding and/or other resources needed for trail protection, development, maintenance; and to build volunteer support and expand the NPEA organizational capabilities.

13. Identify, prioritize and discuss with NTIR annual needs and opportunities to provide technical and financial assistance, and project development to ensure the development and protection of the NHT.

14. Consult with NPS in the development and implementation of NPEA's strategic plan.

15. Continue and expand the recruitment, training, organization, and effective use of volunteers to acquire, plan, develop, protect, manage, maintain and promote the NHT. Assume primary responsibility for communication with volunteers regarding trail management issues as they arise. Engage NPS for technical assistance and guidance relating to volunteers and other partners regarding projects, events, public relations, and training.

16. Collecting, managing, and reporting data on volunteer efforts for the NHT. Convey to association membership that they are NPS volunteers and the multiple ways their reported hours are used to support trail activities. Strengthen membership/volunteer appreciation and understanding of the role NPS has with the NHT. Identify ways in which the NPS or association can show volunteer recognition and appreciation.

17. Ensure that volunteers know of Volunteers-in-Parks program benefits and guidelines including how to record and submit their hours. Share NHT success stories with managers as a part of volunteer reporting. Hours are due to the NPS by September 30th of each year. Reporting matches the federal government fiscal year.

18. Promote NPS trail partnership certification. Identify and cultivate potential certification opportunities.

19. Collaborate with the NPS to highlight and promote the Pony Express NHT to the public and trail communities through communication, events, as well as through other outreach opportunities.