A3 - Notice of Intent.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

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;

(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. A single source on the basis of continuation must demonstrate that competition would result in a substantial duplicate cost to the government that cannot be recovered through competition;

(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;

(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.

National Heritage Areas are places where natural, cultural, historic and scenic resources combine to form a cohesive, nationally important landscape arising from human activity shaped by geography. These patterns make National Heritage Areas representative of the national experience through the physical features that remain and the traditions that have evolved in them. These regions are acknowledged by Congress for their capacity to tell nationally important stories about our nation.

This Task Agreement focuses on planning, administration, marketing, enhancement and demonstration projects that are identified in the management plan for the CALA and serve a public purpose under P.L. 111-11.

The following items are in support of the completed Management Plan for the CALA and will assist in on-going efforts for planning, administration, marketing, enhancement and demonstration projects that will further the vision and mission of the CALA and the PHA.

Goal 1: Organizational Capacity

Staff Support Retain full-time Executive Director and full-time Programs/Administrative Assistant, create and hire a full time Communications staff person and a part-time accounting/bookkeeper to support financial functions of the Poudre Heritage Alliance. This category includes supplies and services; HR services, workman’s comp and payroll consultants; insurance; memberships and licenses; travel and training; partners and policies; lease of administrative offices; and volunteer support from board members and other volunteers.

Plans and Policies This year the Heritage Area will be producing our annual report, on boarding new board members, hosting a board planning retreat and continuing to update our website to accurately address needs of our ongoing programs. We will also be addressing a nominating committee and diversity intentionality on our board. The PHA will be summarizing our marketing plan results, economic impact, and management plan status to create a sustainability plan in next couple of years. This year we have also updated our financial policy manual and moved our accounts to a new bank. We also updated our employee manual for staff.

Conferences & Training This line item include mileage, conferences attended by Heritage Area representatives both as presenters, attendees and auditors. It also includes continuing education seminars, webinars and classes as needed to keep the Heritage Area staff stay up to date with current processes and procedures.

Goal 2: Story-Telling

Communication PHA will offer grants and funding assistance to museums and other organizations for development of exhibits and promotion of the CALA. These types of projects will raise awareness of the CALA and may include exhibits and other interpretive mediums such as podcasts, videos, and interpretive signs. Grants may also be offered for preservation activities. Some projects selected for 2017 include but are not limited to:

• Heritage Trail Project - Design of interpretive features within the Poudre River Downtown Project Phase 2 improvements. PHA is partnering again with the City to provide a grant to cover construction costs associated with these interpretive features within their larger construction project. PHA is also starting a new partnership with the Downtown Development Association to design and eventually install Heritage Trail gateway signs/iconography in a second area downriver (Linden Design). The Heritage Trail project will be in it’s second phase for construction at the whitewater course (designed in 2018-2019) and in 2019 starting construction improvements with NEPA and Section 106 documentation completed under the jurisdiction of the Army Corp of Engineers and FEMA.

• The Poudre Pour and Pub Talks occur on an annual basis for the Heritage Area. This year we are featuring recreation on the river with the Play it Safe program and a panel of speakers about the many beneficial uses of the river. Held in March each year, this is a major communitywide effort to engage the community in a unique and fun event that is completely hosted by the Heritage Area. We emphasize Water in Industry (craft brewing industry), Water in Agriculture (locally grown food, chef and educational outreach programs in historic cabins on site), Water in Recreation (recreational and safety items and a demonstration from the Rocky Mountain Rowing club) and Water in Natural Resources (lego model showing the poudre watershed and water systems)

• The is additional funding in this category for future projects and programs that will come up during the federal fiscal year time period that continue to meet Goal #2 of our management plan, projects that will raise awareness of the CALA through exhibits, interpretative mediums, videos, signs, etc… see Campaign for Cache listed below.

Education

• Several Children’s Water Festivals are held each year sponsored by local water conservancy districts and community water providers and PHA participates through public outreach during each event. PHA involvement allows more children to attend these events and other educational field trips to the Discovery Museum, Environmental Learning Center, Poudre Learning Center and other approved sites in the form of bus scholarships to the participating school districts. The Central Colorado Water Conservancy District’s Children’s water festival is in April.

• PHA is the major sponsor and on the planning committee of the Poudre River Forum, a community engagement group that informs the public in a forum about water issues and current river management. This event happens in February of 2018 as well as sponsorship of the Poudre Trail Board’s Trailathlon event in Greeley and other potential event venues by others that CALA can partner with to pursue educational messaging and awareness of the Heritage Area.

• Our Learning in our Watershed program assists school children by helping to pay costs of transportation and entry fees to sites within the Heritage Area through grants available to teachers in multiple school districts.

• Water Legacy Project is a video archiving effort in association with Colorado State University Water Archives. The PHA and CSU are actively trying to capture video and or oral footage of water leaders from around the state. The documents will be stored at the CSU water archives and some of the footage will be consolidated into a short educational video for the PHA web site as well.

Volunteers

• Heritage Culturalist Program is a training and volunteer coordination program that sends educated volunteers out to be ambassadors for the CALA. These volunteers provide match in the form of hours donated to the CALA as well as providing services such as a speakers’ bureau, bike tour leaders, festival booth participants, web design and maintenance, social media outreach, historic water trail, etc… This year Heritage Culturalists will be engaged in greeting school children with Learning in our Watershed, Leading tours with Pedaling the Poudre, General volunteering for Events and Speaker opportunities around the region and office assistance as well.

Goal 3: Striking a Balance

Encouraging balance within the Heritage Area between preservation or natural, cultural and economic resources, public access and the rights of private property owners.

• Pedaling the Poudre is a new program that runs within an agencies existing wellness program or as a tourism benefit to it’s community for conference and symposium participants. Bike tours are hosted by our Heritage Culturalist Volunteers and led along the Heritage Area pointing out historic and culturally significant items within the Heritage Area. As a part of this we are actively attempting to incorporate the Belleview Hydraulic Lab site (site of Ralph Parshall’s original flume and work on water measurement) through partnering with the ditch company and land owner.

• Play it safe on the Poudre – is a new partnership initiative the PHA has developed with Larimer County, Larimer County Dive Rescue, Poudre Fire Authority, Rocky Mountain National Park and City of Fort Collins. The multi-pronged Play It Safe on the Poudre program will raise awareness about approaches to recreating on the river in safe and sustainable ways and help build capacity of the Poudre Fire Authority (PFA) and Larimer County’s rescue teams to meet increasing search and rescue demands. The program will also call attention to the history of in-river structures that represent hazards to recreation. As well as a better understanding of public and private property rights along the river. Rocky Mountain National Park and PHA have submitted a grant to expand this program into the Wild and Scenic area of the river. This year we will be addressing the expansion of this program with the new Whitewater course in Fort Collins as well as building new partnerships and expanding community outreach for safety and private property awareness in the Town of Windsor area.

Elements of Play It Safe On The Poudre include:

o Teach locals and visitors safety strategies on the river (educational events, brochures, etc.) including a map showing public and private access points community wide.

o Install signs along the Poudre River within new whitewater course area to inform river users about recommended river access areas and warn of upcoming river hazards

Goal 4: Planning for Tourism

Develop and promote the CALA as a premiere nature and heritage tourism destination and a resource for local and regional economic development.

• Annual Appreciation/Emeritus Event– This year we will be hosting our first partner and emeritus appreciation event in September. It will include announcements of 2 new emeritus members and include presentations about their past efforts for the Heritage Area success as well as provide opportunity for grant and community partners to understand and see the breadth of work accomplished by the Heritage Area through the years.

• Campaign for Cache Outreach Program – We selected 9 of our existing programs to feature and promote throughout this year. They fall into 3 categories Promote, Engage and Inspire.

o Promote – a variety of historical and cultural opportunities to introduce people to the river and their heritage area Learning in our Watershed Heritage Culturalist Volunteer Program Poudre Pour and Pub Talks o Engage people in their river corridor by programs to motivate people to get out and explore Play it Safe on the Poudre Heritage Trails Pedaling the Poudre o Inspire learning preservation and stewardship by bringing stories and events to life through powerful place based experiences Historic Preservation Documenting History Water Legacy/Heritage Video Series These programs, events and projects are listed above in some cases as part of Goals in our management plan as well as some being initiatives the PHA has built with grant recipients throughout the years. More information about each of these programs can be found on the PHA web page.

2. Provide technical assistance on projects requiring Section 106 consultation, by advising on the appropriate level of effect, reviewing projects for compliance with the Secretary of Interior Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties, and facilitating consultation efforts between PHA and the Colorado State Historic Preservation Office.

3. Review and comment on draft planning documents for projects listed within Attachment A, upon the request of PHA or the NPS.

4. The NPS will review the provided list of selected subawards/subgrants and associated budgets to determine if the projects align with the Cache la Poudre River NHA management plan and the cost principles found within 2 CFR 200.

2. Complete Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act, in consultation with the NPS, for all projects and subgrants that have undertakings on properties that are eligible or designated on the National Register of Historic Places prior to distributing federal funding to a subrecipient or contractor.

3. Provide a list of selected subgrants and associated budgets to the NPS for review and approval prior to making awards.