Draft NOFO Revised Full Application Final.docx

National Park Service

LWCF-PGL - State and Local Assistance Division

P22AS00645

Table of Contents

A. Program Description This section contains the full program description of the funding opportunity. It may be as long as needed to communicate to potential applicants the areas in which funding may be provided. It describes the Federal awarding agency's funding priorities or the technical or focus areas in which the Federal awarding agency intends to provide assistance. This section also may include other information the Federal awarding agency deems necessary and must include citations for authorizing statutes and regulations for the funding opportunity, at a minimum. Enter program specific text in the sub-headers of this section.

Authority:

In the text box below, insert complete legislative authority citation(s) for the statute(s) that authorize the program to issue financial assistance awards for the purpose and activities described in this Funding Opportunity. The statutes listed here must also appear in the program’s SAM.gov Assistance Listing (CFDA) profile (currently at beta.SAM.gov). If your program has a new authorizing statute that does not appear in the SAM.gov Assistance Listing (CFDA) profile, please contact the Bureau’s CFDA Coordinator (currently michelle_maher@nps.gov).

Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) Act, as amended (P.L. 88-578, codified at 54 U.S.C. 2003 et. seq.); Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2014 (P.L. 113-76) and accompanying Explanatory Statement; The Great American Outdoors Act, P.L. 116-152; Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2022, P.L. 117-103.

Assistance Listing:

15.916

Select the program’s Assistance Listing (CFDA).

Program Background, Objectives, and Goals:

In the text box below,provide a full programmatic description of the funding opportunity. Describe program’s funding priorities or technical focus areas in which the program intends to provide assistance. As appropriate, include any relevant program history (e.g., whether this is a new program or a changed area of program emphasis). This section may communicate indicators of successful projects (e.g., if the program encourages collaborative efforts) and may include examples of projects that have been funded previously. All funding opportunities must specifically identify the Department of the Interior Secretarial Priorities addressed by the program or opportunity, and a brief description of how the program or opportunity meets each priority. The Department does not expect programs to meet all of the Department’s FA priorities; list only those clearly supported by the program or opportunity.

Background: LWCF State and Local Assistance Program and Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership Program The Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) State and Local Assistance program provides grants to states, and through states to local units of government and federally-recognized Indian tribes, for projects that will provide outdoor recreation opportunities to the public through the acquisition of lands and waters for parks and other outdoor recreation areas, as well as through the development of new, or the renovation of existing, outdoor recreation facilities. It is operated by the National Park Service (NPS) in partnership with designated lead agencies in each of the 50 states as well as American Samoa, the District of Columbia, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. Congress allocates money from the LWCF for this program, which is then apportioned to the states based on a legislative formula. To be eligible for LWCF grants, states must maintain an approved Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP) which are used to assess the supply and demand for outdoor recreation resources and set priorities for the use of LWCF funds.

In 2014, in coordination with Congress, the Secretary of the Interior, State lead agencies, and interest groups, the NPS created the Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership (ORLP) Program, a competitive grant program administered under the authority of the LWCF Act as a compliment to the formula grant program. ORLP grants do not count against State apportionment funds.

Purpose As designed, the purpose of the ORLP Program is to provide new or significantly improved recreation opportunities in economically-disadvantaged communities, consistent with the purposes and requirements of the LWCF Act and LWCF Manual, and that:

· meet recreation goals as identified in, and align with, at least one priority of, the State’s Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan

· are located within a city having a population of 30,000 or more, and

· serve the specific needs of a community(ies) that is (are) severely lacking in walkable, publicly accessible, outdoor recreation (“park deserts”), and that has a poverty rate of at least 20% or that is at least 10% higher than that of the project city, county, and state rates).

* For the purposes of this competition, for a community to be considered a “park desert,” there must be:

1. no existing parks within a .5-mile radius of the community(ies) to be served by the park (not the radius of the proposed park);

2. one or two small parks within a .5-mile radius of the community(ies) that is/are not large enough to support the size of the population of the service area, or otherwise unable to provide a variety of recreational opportunities; or

3. one or two existing parks (potentially of adequate size), including the park that is being addressed in this project, that is/are so obsolete or underdeveloped that a major redevelopment or rehabilitation is necessary to be able to significantly increase the number of people or user groups who could be served in a way that would be equivalent to a new park.

4. existing parks that are inaccessible to the target community due to physical barriers such as transportation infrastructure, rivers, etc.

Proposed projects must align with the above listed ORLP purposes to be considered for selection.

Program Information ORLP projects are selected through an NPS-led national competition of projects solicited and nominated by the LWCF State Lead Agencies. Eligible project sponsors (subgrantees), as described in Section C1, interested in seeking a grant under this program must contact their Land and Water Conservation Fund State Lead Agency to get details about the state’s process for identifying and selecting projects for the state’s submission under this competition. A list of agency contacts can be found at: https://www.nps.gov/subjects/lwcf/contact-list.htm. Grants are awarded by NPS to the State Lead Agency, which is responsible for ensuring that allocated funds are used for the purposes of, and in a manner consistent with, the LWCF Act and Manual. The State Lead Agency, in turn, makes a sub-award to the project sponsor, which must be the public entity that submitted the proposal. The decision to award a grant and the amount of funding is not guaranteed until the NPS completes its review of the full application and determines that the project meets all requirements.

States make an initial determination to decide which applications to submit to the NPS for consideration in the national competition. As a result, state application deadlines to review and select projects will be earlier than the deadline for states to submit applications under this competition. The States will conduct the initial review of proposals for completeness and eligibility requirements; evaluating and prioritizing proposals according to the criteria used for this competition as well as criteria from the State’s Open Project Selection Process (OPSP), if applicable; ensuring that proposals are consistent with outdoor recreation priorities outlined in the state’s SCORP. The state must also work with the project sponsor to prepare the required LWCF application documents for full review by the NPS. Preparation of the full application includes required reviews of the project under the National Environmental Policy Act and the National Historic Preservation Act.

If a project is selected by NPS, the project cost estimate included in the proposal generally defines the maximum federal share that can be requested, unless the additional amount is nominal, up to the overall ceiling of $10,000,000. Significant changes to the project proposal after the initial submission, whether in terms of the scope of work or the budget, are generally unallowable as they may materially alter the circumstances under which the project was evaluated and selected. Such changes can lead to the federal share of the grant offer being reduced or the grant offer being withdrawn entirely.

Acquisition and Development Requirements To be eligible for either an acquisition or a development grant, the project must involve publicly- owned land or the transfer of ownership, by fee simple acquisition or acquisition of lesser rights, to a public entity. The project sponsor must possess sufficient legal title and control of the property to ensure that it can be managed and maintained for outdoor recreation in perpetuity and otherwise remain compliant with the conversion provisions of the LWCF Act (see 54 U.S.C. 200305(f)(3)).

Outdoor recreation areas and facilities assisted by the LWCF must be open to the general public and not limited to special groups. Chapter 3 of the LWCF Manual describes project eligibility requirements in detail.

Acquisition of land may be in fee simple or a lesser interest (e.g., a perpetual easement) if sufficient rights, including the right for the public to access and recreate on the site and excluding rights for any non-recreation uses, would be provided.

On the development side, LWCF assistance is available for a wide range of outdoor recreation uses and the facilities needed to support the use and enjoyment of these areas. These include community parks, sports fields and courts, picnic areas, water-based recreation facilities such as swimming pools trails, campgrounds, etc. Indoor recreation and other buildings are not eligible but recreation-supporting facilities, such as restrooms or changing areas, can be eligible.

In Perpetuity Requirement The LWCF Act requires that any park or other outdoor recreation area benefitting from assistance from the LWCF, whether for acquisition or development purposes, and regardless of the amount or extent of assistance, not be converted to any use other than public outdoor recreation uses (see 54 U.S.C. 200305(f)(3)).

Therefore, as a condition of the grant, the NPS requires that language be recorded against the deed of the assisted park/recreation property advising that the property was acquired and/or developed with Federal funds from the LWCF and that the property must be preserved for outdoor recreation uses in perpetuity and cannot be converted to any use other than public outdoor recreation use without the written approval of the Secretary of the Interior. This approval is contingent upon the project sponsor replacing the area to be converted with a new recreation area involving land of at least equal fair market value and reasonably equivalent recreational utility, and the conversion and its replacement being found consistent with the state’s SCORP. Before seeking an LWCF grant, project sponsors should carefully consider their ability and willingness to comply with this provision of the law.

The perpetuity requirement is applied to the assisted park or other recreation area as a whole. Exceptions for boundaries that would apply to a lesser unit of a park will be considered only if the unit is a stand-alone (i.e., its borders do not include other areas of the park) and self- sustaining (i.e., it does not rely on adjoining park area for access, utilities, support facilities, etc.) recreation area. The state and the NPS must agree to any boundary that does not comprise the whole park, and the NPS may eliminate from consideration proposals that are not consistent with this policy. Applicants who wish to propose a project with a boundary that would not include the whole park are urged to contact the national program office prior to completing an application for a determination on whether the boundary would be accepted.

ORLP Program Competition Priorities The competition will prioritize the selection of projects that:

· provide new recreational opportunities, particularly those that will increase access to nature’s benefits, such as green spaces, shady areas (via tree cover), and natural landscapes that help cool the air and reduce urban heat island effects, reduce pollution, and have positive effects on mental and physical health;

· empowered and engaged members of the target community in the project development and design of the plans for the park;

· create or expand public-private partnerships that leverage matching share resources (e.g., money or donations of land, supplies, or services, etc.);

· benefit from a high degree of coordination among the public, multiple levels of government, and the private sector; and

· advance goals of, or meet, priority recreation needs identified in numerous local, regional, state plans and/or initiatives.

Secretary of the Interior Priorities:

This program supports priorities of the Secretary of the Interior, including “Working to conserve at least 30% each of our lands and waters by the year 2030” and “Centering equity and environmental justice” as outlined in Executive Order (EO) 14008: Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad, and EO 14005: Ensuring the Future is Made in All of America by All of America’s Workers.

B. Federal Award Information This section provides sufficient information to help an applicant make an informed decision about whether to submit a proposal. Relevant information could include the total amount of funding that the Federal awarding agency expects to award through the announcement; the anticipated number of Federal awards; the expected amounts of individual Federal awards (which may be a range); the amount of funding per Federal award, on average, experienced in previous years; and the anticipated start dates and periods of performance for new Federal awards. This section also should address whether applications for renewal or supplementation of existing projects are eligible to compete with applications for new Federal awards.

This section also must indicate the type(s) of assistance instrument (e.g., grant, cooperative agreement) that may be awarded if applications are successful. If cooperative agreements may be awarded, this section either should describe the “substantial involvement” that the Federal awarding agency expects to have or should reference where the potential applicant can find that information (e.g., in the funding opportunity description in A. Program Description—Required or Federal award administration information in Section D. Application and Submission Information). If procurement contracts also may be awarded, this must be stated.

Enter program specific text in the sub-headers of this section.

B1. Total Funding In the numeric field below, enter the total amount of funding that the program expects to award through this funding opportunity.

Estimated Total Funding $192,000,000

B2. Expected Award Amount If the program has established maximum and/or minimum values for individual award amounts, enter those in the fields below. If either of these values does not apply, enter $0 in the corresponding field(s). In the text field, enter a description of the expected amounts of individual awards (which may be a range); the amount of funding per award, on average, experienced in previous years; and indicate whether applications for renewal or supplementation of existing projects are eligible to compete with applications for new Federal awards.

Maximum Award $10,000,000

Minimum Award $300,000

This sixth round of the ORLP will make available up to $103 million appropriated by Congress in fiscal year 2022, plus unused funds from prior years (up to $89 million). Funds will be awarded in two rounds, Rounds 6A and 6B.

B3. Anticipated Award Funding and Dates In the text field below enter information on the expected amounts of individual Federal awards (which may be a range); the amount of funding per Federal award, on average, experienced in previous years; and the anticipated start dates and periods of performance for new Federal awards.

Anticipated Award Date September 01, 2023, and January 1, 2024

Projects selected under Round 6A have an expected award date of September 1, 2023. Projects selected under Round 6B have an expect award date of January 1, 2024.

B4. Number of Awards In the text field below enter information on the anticipated number of Federal awards. If the program has established minimum and maximum values for the anticipated total number of awards, enter those values in the maximum and minimum fields below. If either of these values does not apply, enter “0” in the corresponding field(s) and then enter an alternate description of the anticipated number of awards in the following text field.

Expected Number of Awards

B5. Type of Award Select the Type of Award below by choosing the appropriate assistance instrument(s) from the drop-down list.

If you are awarding cooperative agreements, you must also enter text in the following text field to describe the substantial involvement the National Park Service (NPS) expects to have in the performance of the agreement, or reference where the potential applicant can find that information elsewhere in this document (e.g., in section I. Program Description above). Here is suggested text to use to begin the substantial involvement statement: “The National Park Service (NPS) will be substantially involved in projects under this funding opportunity. In particular, the NPS will be responsible for the following: [insert list of the specific project-related activities to be performed by NPS staff.]”

If the program may also award procurement contracts related to this announcement, you must state that and provide any available details on contract procedures and/or announcement(s) in the following text field.

Funding Instrument Type G-Grant LWCF Awards are given as grants. A Grant is a legal instrument of financial assistance between The National Park Service and a non-Federal entity that, consistent with 31 U.S.C. 6302, 6304:

(1) Is used to enter into a relationship the principal purpose of which is to transfer anything of value from the Federal awarding agency to the non-Federal entity to carry out a public purpose authorized by a law of the United States (see 31 U.S.C. 6101(3)); and not to acquire property or services for the Federal awarding agency’s direct benefit or use;

(2) Is distinguished from a cooperative agreement in that it does not provide for substantial involvement between the Federal awarding agency or pass-through entity and the non-Federal entity in carrying out the activity contemplated by the Federal award.

No substantial involvement on the part of the NPS is anticipated for LWCF ORLP grants.

C. Eligibility Information This section addresses the considerations or factors that determine applicant or application eligibility. This includes the eligibility of particular types of applicant organizations, any factors affecting the eligibility of the principal investigator or project director, and any criteria that make particular projects ineligible. Federal agencies should make clear whether an applicant's failure to meet an eligibility criterion by the time of an application deadline will result in the Federal awarding agency returning the application without review or, even though an application may be reviewed, will preclude the Federal awarding agency from making a Federal award. Enter program specific text in the sub-headers of this section.

C1. Eligible Applicants Identify the types of entities that are eligible to apply by selecting the checkbox for the type of entity. Multiple checkboxes may be selected. If there are no restrictions on eligibility, you may simply indicate that all potential applicants are eligible. In the text box below the checkbox selection indicate if there are restrictions on eligibility. It is important to be clear about the specific types of entities that are eligible, not just the types that are ineligible. For example, if the program is limited to nonprofit organizations subject to 26 U.S.C. 501(c)(3) of the tax code (26 U.S.C. 501(c)(3)), the announcement should say so. Similarly, it is better to state explicitly that Native American tribal organizations are eligible than to assume that they can unambiguously infer that from a statement that nonprofit organizations may apply. Programs may also express eligibility by exception (e.g., open to all types of domestic applicants other than individuals). In the textbox specifically reference any documentation applicants must submit to support an eligibility determination (e.g., if the program limits eligibility to only non-profits with a specific IRS status, state in the field below that proof of 501(c)(3) status as determined by the Internal Revenue Service or an authorizing tribal resolution is required). To the extent that any program funding restriction could affect the eligibility of an applicant or project, the announcement must either restate that restriction in the textbox in this section or provide a cross-reference to its description as it appears elsewhere in this template.

If checkbox 25-Others is selected you must complete the text box, Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification.

Eligible Applicants 00 – State governments

Additional Information on Eligibility Explanation required if “Others” is selected.Explanation required if “Others” is selected.

In accordance with 54 U.S.C. 200305(a), each state has a lead agency designated by the State’s Governor or by state legislation for the purposes of implementing LWCF in that state, and only the lead agency can be an applicant for an LWCF grant. Therefore, only the state lead agencies are eligible to submit applications for ORLP grants. The lead agency may submit on behalf of themselves or another eligible subrecipient.

Applications submitted directly by entities other than the State Lead Agency for LWCF, will be eliminated without consideration. Individuals, nonprofit organizations, and other private entities are not eligible as applicants or sub-recipients.

Eligible sub-recipients (aka project sponsors) include state agencies, local units of government (state political subdivisions such as cities, counties, and special purpose districts such as park districts), and federally-recognized Indian Tribes.

For a project to be eligible the sub-recipient must represent a project within, or abutting, a city with a population of at least 30,000 people.

C2. Cost Sharing or Matching Select the appropriate value from the list to indicate if recipient cost sharing or matching is required. If the program has a cost sharing, cost matching, or cost participation requirement, you must also enter a complete description of the cost sharing or matching requirement in the following text field. Required cost sharing may be a certain percentage or amount or may be in the form of contributions of specified items or activities (e.g., provision of equipment). It is important to be clear about any restrictions on the types of cost (e.g., in-kind contributions) that are acceptable as cost sharing or match. Cost sharing as an eligibility criterion includes requirements based in statute or regulation as described, in 2 CFR §200.306 or those imposed by administrative decision of the funding bureau or office. Include specific reference to the appropriate section(s) of this announcement stating any pre-award requirements for submission of letters or other documentation to verify commitments to meet cost-sharing requirements if a Federal award is made. Programs without a required cost sharing or matching requirement may enter clarifications regarding voluntary committed cost sharing or other related information in the following text field, as applicable.

Cost Sharing / Matching Requirement Yes

In accordance with the LWCF Act (54 U.S.C. 200305(c)), ORLP grant projects must be cost- shared with non-federal funds at a minimum ratio of 1:1. Matching funds may be derived from state, local, non-governmental, or private sources in the form of cash or in-kind contributions of land, services, materials, etc.

Matching share meeting the 1:1 minimum required must be secure or firmly committed at the time of application and be supported by a signed letter from the donor confirming the type (cash, in-kind, etc.) and amount/value of the contribution. If the project match exceeds the 1:1 requirement, the budget must indicate how the additional funds/in-kind contributions will be used. Further information about eligible costs, sources of match, and other cost-sharing requirements can be found in Chapter 5 of the LWCF Manual and in 2 C.F.R. 200.306.

The following costs may not be counted toward the non-Federal matching share (not inclusive):

· Any project costs incurred before the grant start date, unless they are an eligible pre- award cost as defined in the LWCF Manual or unless the sponsor gets prior written approval from the State Lead Agency and the NPS (i.e., waiver of retroactivity).

· Any funds or in-kind contributions such as land or services that have been used previously or will be used in the future to satisfy the matching requirements of another LWCF grant or other Federal grant.

· Any funds or in-kind contributions such as lands or services that were or will be acquired with other Federal funds. However, there is an exception for funds authorized by their enabling legislation to be treated as non-Federal match. The most common options are HUD’s Community Development Block Grants, DOT-FHWA’s Recreation Trails Program, and Section 306 of the Coastal Zone Management Act, but there may be others (project sponsors should be prepared to show supporting documentation if seeking to use Federal funds from other sources as match).

C3. Other In the text box below, insert a description of any other criteria that have the effect of making an application or project ineligible for Federal awards, as applicable. If there are other eligibility criteria (i.e., criteria that have the effect of making an application or project ineligible for Federal awards, whether referred to as “responsiveness” criteria, “go-no go” criteria, “threshold” criteria, or in other ways), clearly state those in the following text field. Include reference(s) to the regulation of requirement that describes the restriction, as applicable. State any limit on the number of applications an applicant may submit under the announcement and make clear whether the limitation is on the submitting organization, individual investigator/program director, or both. Specify any eligibility criteria for beneficiaries or for program participants other than Federal award recipients.

Recipients with an active ORLP grant may apply for one additional grant to supplement the existing active project or another project at the same park. A recipient who has been awarded an ORLP grant for a project at one park may also submit additional applications for ORLP projects at different parks. However, either scenario is contingent on each state’s Open Project Selection Process (see Section D2- Content and Form of Application Submission for explanation of full application process). For example, some states do not permit a project sponsor to apply for additional funding when they have a currently active grant. Contact your state’s lead agency for information (https://www.nps.gov/subjects/lwcf/contact-list.htm).

In the interest of ensuring a wide distribution of LWCF-ORLP funds and addressing the needs of communities that are under-served due in part to financial constraints, parks that are currently receiving or received an LWCF formula grant that closed within the last seven years may not apply for an ORLP grant at the same park, even if the scope of the project is different. Additionally, ORLP project that were awarded and terminated during the grant period may not reapply for funds.

Excluded Parties:

NPS conducts a review of the SAM.gov Exclusions database for all applicant entities and their key project personnel prior to award. The NPS cannot award funds to entities or their key project personnel identified in the SAM.gov Exclusions database as ineligible, prohibited/restricted or otherwise excluded from receiving Federal contracts, certain subcontracts, and certain Federal assistance and benefits, as their ineligibility condition applies to this Federal program.

Foreign Entities or Projects Select the applicable option from the list of values to indicate if the program provides funding for entities or projects in foreign countries.

This program does not provide funding to foreign entities or for projects conducted outside the United States.

D. Application and Submission Information This section informs potential applicants how to get application forms, kits, or other materials needed to apply. Enter program specific text in the sub-headers of this section.

D1. Address to Request Application Package In the following text field, specify if applicants must go elsewhere to complete all documentation requirements, such as an Internet address where additional materials are available. Applicants should also be able to request paper copies of application materials by contacting the Awarding Agency using the information provided in Section G of this announcement.

The full NOFO and application materials are available on Grants.gov. LWCF-specific forms are noted in the list of required elements and can be obtained from the State lead agency. Project sponsors should check with their state’s lead agency to determine if the state has any other requirements for submitting proposals at the state level. You may also contact the NPS LWCF-ORLP program leads for assistance (see Section G).

D2. Content and Form of Application Submission Project Narrative In this section provide the description of the program-specific requirements for project narrative statements, and should specifically address content and form or format requirements for:

- Pre-applications, letters of intent, or white papers required or encouraged (see Section D.4), including any limitations on the number of pages or other formatting requirements similar to those for full applications.

- The application as a whole. For all submissions, this would include any limitations on the number of pages, font size and typeface, margins, paper size, number of copies, and sequence or assembly requirements. If electronic submission is permitted or required, this could include special requirements for formatting or signatures.

- Component pieces of the application (e.g., if all copies of the application must bear original signatures on the face page or the program narrative may not exceed 10 pages). This includes any pieces that may be submitted separately by third parties (e.g., references or letters confirming commitments from third parties that will be contributing a portion of any required cost sharing).

- Information that successful applicants must submit after notification of intent to make a Federal award, but prior to a Federal award. This could include evidence of compliance with requirements relating to human subjects or information needed to comply with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) (42 U.S.C. 4321-4370h)

Required Proposal Elements - (Page limits for specific elements are noted with the form. Information beyond the page limit will not be reviewed.)

A complete proposal must include the following elements listed below. The Standard Forms 424, 424C, SF424D, and Project Abstract Summary must be completed using the on-line forms within the funding opportunity on Grants.gov. All other documents, including the SF-429 if applicable, should be attached as individual documents. To assist applicants in ensuring that required information is included, suggested formats for the Project and Budget Narratives, an application checklist, and a photos form are included under the “Related Documents” tab of the Grants.gov opportunity.

1. Standard Form SF424, Application for Federal Assistance

2. Standard Form 424C, Budget Information for Construction Programs

3. Standard Form SF424D, Assurances for Construction Programs

4. Standard Form 429B, Real Property Status Report, Request to Acquire, Improve, or Furnish (for acquisition or acquisition & development projects only)

5. Standard Form - Project Abstract Summary

6. Letter of Recommendation from the State Liaison Officer (SLO) highlighting why and how the project was selected and concurring with or supplementing the project sponsor’s explanation for how the project helps to advance the priorities of the SCORP.

7. Pre-award Onsite Inspection Report – (State’s form)

8. Project Narrative (max 10 pages) – must include information detailed under “Project Narrative” in this section.

9. Budget Narrative (max 5 pages, including tables) – must include information detailed under “Budget Narrative” in this section.

10. Project Timeline (max 1 page) to complete the tasks/activities under the proposal.

11. Photos provide context such as current site conditions, the surrounding environment, etc.

12. Recreation Area Map showing the location of the project and identifying all existing recreation resources (if any) within a .5-mile vicinity of the economically disadvantaged community(ies) that will be served by the project.

13. Map (or Aerial Photo) Delineating Project Area and Proposed Boundary - must clearly indicate area to be acquired and/or developed, as well as the proposed boundary of the larger park/recreation area that would be subject to the perpetual protection provisions of the LWCF Act (54 U.S.C. 200305(f)(3)), all known outstanding rights and interests in the area held by others, total acres withing the boundary(ies), and a north arrow.

14. Plan or Sketch of the Site Features identifying location of planned recreational improvements and other features such as where the public will access the site, parking, etc.

15. Letters of Support Documenting Secured Contributions of Matching Share clearly stating the amount and type of contribution, or Co-Sponsor/Ownership Agreements if project sponsor is not title holder.

16. General Letters of Support (must be submitted with the Grants.gov application to be considered. Letters of support from Congress must be addressed to the Project Sponsor and included with the application to Grants.gov).

17. Letter of Intent to Sell, Purchase, or Donate Property (acquisition projects only).

18. Application and Revision Form (A&R - LWCF form available from the state)

19. Description and Notification Form (DNF - LWCF form available from the state)

20. Copy of an Approved Waiver of Retroactivity (submitted by state, if applicable)

21. Conflict of Interest Disclosure (described within NOFO)

22. Overlap or Duplication of Effort Statement (described within NOFO)

23. Copy of the Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (if applicable)

Required Proposal Elements Instructions

SF-424, Application for Federal Assistance Applicants must submit the appropriate Standard Form (SF)-424, Application for Federal Assistance. Individuals applying as a private citizen (i.e., unrelated to any business or nonprofit organization you may own or operate in your name), must complete the SF-424, Application for Federal Assistance-Individual form. All other applicants must complete the standard SF-424, Application for Federal Assistance. The required application forms are available with this announcement on Grants.gov. The SF-424, Application for Federal Assistance must be complete, signed, and dated. Do not include any proprietary or personally identifiable information. Please note: Enter only the amount requested from this Federal program in the “Federal” funding box on the SF-424 Application form. Include any other Federal sources of funding in the “Other” box and provide details on those Federal source(s) and funding amount(s) in the required Budget Narrative (see the “Budget Narrative” section below).

1. Authors may need to provide additional applicant instructions if multiple SF 424 forms are included in the application kit for different applicant types. Instructions should be entered in the program specific language in this section to require the appropriate SF 424 type required to be submitted by applicant type.

2. The following header will display if this checkbox is selected: SF 424A, Budget Information for Non-Construction Programs

3. The following header will display if this checkbox is selected: SF-424C, Budget Information for Construction Programs Applicants must submit the appropriate SF-424 Budget Information form and Budget Narrative. For construction programs or projects, applicants must complete and submit the SF-424C, “Budget Information for Construction Programs”. All of the required application forms are available with this announcement on Grants.gov. Federal award recipients and subrecipients are subject to Federal award cost principles in 2 CFR 200.

The SF424C is used for acquisition, development or combination projects; however, if the state is requesting indirect expenses, this must be reflected in the detailed budget narrative. Alternately, the state can separately attach an SF-424A, reflecting the direct and indirect expenses.

4. The following header will display if this checkbox is selected: SF 424B, Assurances for Non-Construction Programs

5. The following header will display if this checkbox is selected: SF 424D, Assurances for Construction Programs

6. The following header will display if this checkbox is selected: Request to Acquire, Improve, or Furnish Real Property Applicants seeking approval to acquire real property under an award must complete and submit the SF-429, “Real Property Status Report (Cover Page)” and the SF-429-B, “Real Property Status Report Attachment B (Request to Acquire, Improve, or Furnish)”. These forms are required if the real property is acquired with Federal funds, with recipient cost share or matching funds, or as an in-kind contribution under the award.

Project Abstract Summary Please complete and submit with your application package the Project Abstract Summary form with the following information:

· Funding Opportunity Number;

· Goals and Objectives of your proposed project;

· Summary of Project Activities;

· Performance Goals including milestones and expected outcomes;

· Who will benefit from your project.

This information will be transmitted to USASpending.gov and be viewable by the public.

Project Narrative Contents – (10-page limit 12-point font) The Project Narrative consists of the following three sections, each detailed below:

· Project Data Page,

· Project Overview, and

· Responses to the Project Criteria.

Project Data Page (1-page limit):

Provide the following information:

1. Project Sponsor Name

2. Name of Park/Property

3. Project Title

4. Name of Property Title Holder

5. Project Property Address/Location

6. 2020 Census City Population (must be over 30,000)

7. Poverty rate of target community(ies) listed by Census Tract Numbers and must be at least 20% or at least 10% greater than the city, county and state (information can be found at https://censusreporter.org/locate by typing in the address and selecting the “Census Tract” option that appears in a left-hand column. Tract number and poverty level are now displayed as you scroll down.)

8. Statement of Project Type: Acquisition, New Development, Renovation, or Combination (acquisition with development)

9. Statement that project Creates a New Park, Expands an Existing Park or Neither

10. Statement clarifying if this park/resource previously benefitted from LWCF or Urban Park and Recreation Recovery (UPARR) funding and/or if the park/resource was obtained through the Federal Lands to Parks Program. If yes, state which program and the date the grant was awarded, or lands were transferred. (Applications misrepresenting this information may be eliminated from further competition.)

11. Brief statement (aka Project Summary) explaining project specific work, and a second statement explaining overall project (if larger than proposed work). (250-word max.)

Project Narrative - Project Overview (2-page limit):

Provide the following information:

All Projects:

· Describe and quantify the types of resources and features of or on the property (e.g., 50 acres of forested area, 2,000 feet of waterfront, scenic views, unique or special features, recreation amenities, historic/cultural resources)

· Describe the current uses (if any) or disposition of the property to be acquired or developed, if uses will need to be discontinued, or the site rehabilitated. If there are any existing non-outdoor recreation or other non-public uses that are intended to continue on the property on an interim or permanent basis and/or proposed in the future, these should be explained.

· Describe constraints of the property (e.g., existing development; hazardous materials/contamination history; and restrictions such as institutional controls, easements, rights-of-way, reversionary interests, above ground/underground utilities; etc.).

Development Only:

· Describe the planned physical improvements and/or facilities, and the reason(s) such development is needed. Explain whether the work involves new development or rehabilitation or replacement of existing recreation facilities.

Acquisition Only:

· Provide a description of the property (including the current ownership) and an explanation of the need for its acquisition.

· State whether the acquisition would create a new public park/recreation area or if it will expand an existing site, and if so, by how much.

· Describe the plans for developing the property for recreation purposes after acquisition and the timeframe for the start and completion of development and when it will be open for public use.

· Describe the status of the acquisition, including negotiations with the landowner and development of due diligence materials such as title work and appraisal.

Combination Projects

· Provide information requested under all “All Projects”, “Development Only” and “Acquisition Only”.

Project Narrative - Project Criteria Information (remaining pages):

Provide information required by in Criteria 1-5 as detailed in Section E-Application Review Criteria.

Authors may need to provide additional instructions if the acquisition of real property is anticipated under the resulting federal financial assistance agreement. Provide additional instructions within the text box below if applicable.

Detailed Budget Narrative In addition to the following standard statement, provide any additional program specific budget narrative instructions in the text field after the standard statement. To assist applicants with a detailed a budget, a sample detailed budget worksheet may be attached and referenced within the below text field.

The project budget shall include detailed information on all cost categories and must clearly identify all estimated project costs. Unit costs shall be provided for all budget items including the cost of work to be provided by contractors or sub-recipients. In addition, applicants shall include a narrative description of the items included in the project budget, including the value of in-kind contributions of goods and services provided to complete the project when cost share is identified to be included (reference section C of this announcement). Cost categories can include, but are not limited to, those costs items included on the SF424A or SF424C.

Detailed Budget Narrative Budget information should reflect only costs related to work/acquisition that will completed under an ORLP grant if selected. A total budget for the entire project (including work beyond what would be funded under a grant) may be provided separately.

Provide a budget breakdown that includes the following information:

· Detailed breakdown of each cost item included under each of the SF424C, Construction Budget Categories and for indirect costs if being charged.

· Clearly indicate which costs are covered by federal funds and which are covered by matching funds.

· Clearly indicate any proposed pre-agreement costs and the timeframe during which the associated work cost was performed.

Provide information required by in Criteria 6 as detailed in Section E-Application Review Criteria.

ORLP projects are limited to using a maximum of 25% of the total budget for costs not directly attributable to physical development/rehabilitation activities, supplies, equipment, or cost of land. Additionally, the LWCF Act specifically excludes acquisition support costs (such as title research and appraisals). (See “Program Funding Restrictions” under Section D6 for detailed explanation.)

If the LWCF ORLP grant-funded project is part of a larger project, please be sure the LWCF-related components of the budget can be clearly discerned. It can be difficult for reviewers to evaluate and score a budget when it’s not clear how the grant funds will be used or what specific costs are being provided as match, and project sponsors risk having the requested federal share reduced if it appears ineligible costs are proposed to be charged to the grant or used as part of the 1:1 match share. Note that the LWCF ORLP and match-funded element(s) of the project must still result in a viable recreation opportunity that is not reliant on other funding even in the context of a larger planned project.

LWCF-ORLP Specific Funding Restrictions:

See section D6 for specific funding restrictions for the ORLP program under “Program Funding Restrictions”

Conflict of Interest Disclosure Per the Financial Assistance Interior Regulation (FAIR), 2 CFR §1402.112, applicants must state in their application if any actual or potential conflict of interest exists at the time of submission.

(a) Applicability.

(1) This section intends to ensure that non-Federal entities and their employees take appropriate steps to avoid conflicts of interest in their responsibilities under or with respect to Federal financial assistance agreements.

(2) In the procurement of supplies, equipment, construction, and services by recipients and by sub recipients, the conflict of interest provisions in 2 CFR §200.318 apply.

(b) Notification.

(1) Non-Federal entities, including applicants for financial assistance awards, must disclose in writing any conflict of interest to the DOI awarding agency or pass-through entity in accordance with 2 CFR §200.112.

(2) Recipients must establish internal controls that include, at a minimum, procedures to identify, disclose, and mitigate or eliminate identified conflicts of interest. The recipient is responsible for notifying the Financial Assistance Officer in writing of any conflicts of interest that may arise during the life of the award, including those that have been reported by sub recipients.

(c) Restrictions on lobbying. Non-Federal entities are strictly prohibited from using funds under a grant or cooperative agreement for lobbying activities and must provide the required certifications and disclosures pursuant to 43 CFR §18 and prelim@title31/subtitle2/chapter13&edition=prelim">31 USC §1352.

(d) Review procedures. The Financial Assistance Officer will examine each conflict of interest disclosure on the basis of its particular facts and the nature of the proposed grant or cooperative agreement, and will determine whether a significant potential conflict exists and, if it does, develop an appropriate means for resolving it.

(e) Enforcement. Failure to resolve conflicts of interest in a manner that satisfies the government may be cause for termination of the award. Failure to make required disclosures may result in any of the remedies described in 2 CFR §200.339, Remedies for noncompliance, including suspension or debarment (see also 2 CFR §180).

Uniform Audit Reporting Statement All U.S. states, local governments, federally recognized Indian tribes, institutions of higher education, and non- profit organizations expending $750,000 USD or more in Federal award funds in the applicant’s fiscal year must submit a Single Audit report for that year through the Federal Audit Clearinghouse’s Internet Data Entry System, in accordance with 2 CFR 200 subpart F. U.S. state, local government, federally recognized Indian tribes, institutions of higher education, and non-profit applicants must state if your organization was or was not required to submit a Single Audit report for the most recently closed fiscal year.