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.

B. Project Objectives – The objective of this Task Agreement is to support and stimulate work and/or education and training opportunities for young adults through collaborative participation in managing flammable vegetation, preventing wildfire damage, and protecting and restoring biological diversity in southern Arizona. Ancillary benefits include protecting fire-sensitive native vegetation from wildfire and protecting public safety and adjacent private property in the Wildland Urban Interface.

1. Such field operations will include:

a. Traveling to pre-determined field sites and surveying the designated area for target invasive plants.

b. Mapping invasive plant populations using mobile data collection devices.

c. Removal of invasive plants by hand pulling or using backpack sprayers to treat plants with herbicides.

d. Data collection will occur before, during, and after treatment and will include: area and species treated, treatment methods, amount of herbicide used, and size of the invasive plant population.

e. Additional duties essential to the success of the project will include: cleaning and maintaining equipment, completing daily datasheets, inventorying supplies, and ensuring all necessary safety and field equipment are present each day.

2. Interns will also be able to participate in other ongoing field projects to introduce them to the broad variety of natural resource disciplines. Other field work may include saguaro monitoring, water monitoring, and frog surveys.

Recipient: American Conservation Experience

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. Assist with recruitment and selection of multiple interns to participate with park staff in a variety of restoration activities that include: removal of hazardous fuels, treatment of invasive plant species using manual removal and herbicides, documentation of restoration treatments, mapping invasive plant populations, and collecting and entering data associated with disturbances and restoration treatments.

3. Provide subsistence during tour of duty.

4. Pay interns a monthly housing allowance which is provided by NPS and identified in the SF424 forms, and bill NPS for their share of expenses because park housing is not available.

5. Screen applicants and provide the names and information of at least 15 applicants for NPS to review three months prior to start date.

a. Interns must be able to carry up to 40 pounds, hike up to ten miles per day, wear PPE, and follow safety protocols. Interns will work in remote backcountry areas where temperatures will exceed 100 degrees, terrain can be steep and rocky, and other hazards may be present such as venomous snakes, bees and other stinging insects, plants with spines and thorns, lightning, rolling rocks, flash floods, and falling trees.

b. Interns are required to provide and wear long-pants, long-sleeved shirts, and sturdy boots (non-skid sole, non-mesh, lace-up). Sun hat and sunglasses are recommended.

c. Interns will be working with chemical herbicides that include active ingredients such as glyphosate, imazipic, triclopyr, or other similar chemicals that have been approved for use by NPS.

5. Provide uniform, Americorp awards, and worker’s compensation insurance.

Sub Involv: 2. Substantial involvement by NPS is anticipated during the period of performance of this agreement. In support of this agreement NPS will be responsible for the following:

a. Provide financial assistance in accordance with Article VIII. Additional funding may be added to this agreement, if it becomes available.

b. Provide PPE needed for herbicide use including chemical resistant gloves and safety glasses. Provide any special equipment/materials needed to perform work tasks such as herbicides and herbicide application gear.

c. Provide general orientation to park operations and the NPS mission.

d. Provide one or more NPS technical representatives to be on-site with the interns to train and mentor them in specifics of the projects.

e. Provide training required to safely perform the tasks and training in first aid/CPR; plant identification; GPS, Trimble, and Geographic Information System (GIS) use; mapping; orienteering; environmental safety; vegetation sampling; herbicide use and safety; invasive plant control techniques; cultural site identification and protection; working in the international border region; fire history and ecology of the area; and orientation to the park and the National Park Service.

f. NPS Restoration Ecologist and Biological Science Technicians of Saguaro National Park as well as other staff from the Resources and Fire Divisions, will be substantially involved with all aspects of the ACE interns’ work. They will be responsible for providing training in fire ecology of the region, plant identification, treatment methods, and data collection protocols. The Restoration Ecologist and Biological Science Technicians will provide planning guidance and mentoring, with the goal of improving the future or setting career goals for the interns.

g. Provide NPS personnel to be collaborators in the accomplishment of the activity and have daily operational involvement and participation during the project.

h. To provide camping facilities when the interns are in the backcountry.