noi.doc

NOTICE OF INTENT TO AWARD

This Funding Announcement is not a request for applications. This announcement is to provide public notice of the National Park Service’s intention to fund the following project activities without full and open competition.

ABSTRACT

OVERVIEW

Under Public Law 96-430, the Secretary of the Interior established the Boston African American National Historic Site in order to preserve for the benefit and inspiration of the people of the United States as a national historic site certain historic structures and properties of outstanding national significance located in Boston, Massachusetts, and associated with the creation and development of a free African American community within Beacon Hill prior to the Civil War.

Boston African American National Historic Site’s legislative authority allows Boston African American NHS to enter into cooperative agreements with entities who own/lease the Abiel Smith School and African Meeting House. The Abiel Smith School is owned by the City of Boston and leased to the Museum of African American History, Inc. (MAAH). The African Meeting House is owned by MAAH.

The African Meeting House is specifically named in Section 101 of the enabling legislation for Boston African American NHS. The African Meeting House is located at 8 Smith Court and the Abiel Smith School is located at 46 Joy Street, both on Beacon Hill and part of the Black Heritage Trail.

The Museum, as owner of the African Meeting House and tenant of the Abiel Smith School under a 99-year lease with the City of Boston, has as its mission to promote the preservation, exhibition, and interpretation of both these culturally significant properties.

It is the desire of the Museum and the NPS to continue their cooperative efforts for the purpose of continuing the preservation and interpretation of the African Meeting House and the Abiel Smith School as it relates to the creation and development of the free African American community within Beacon Hill prior to the Civil War by co-sponsoring and funding programs, events, and projects.

RECIPIENT INVOLVEMENT

MAAH Agrees to:

1. Provide for access by the public to all public portions of the property at all reasonable times, either without charge or for a reasonable admission fee.

2. Assume primary responsibility for the interpretation of the African Meeting House and Abiel Smith School.

3. Grant the NPS the right of access to the sites at all reasonable times and cooperate in making historical studies and related studies dealing with the historical fabric.

4. Allow NPS the right to conduct interpretive tours of the interior and exterior of the African Meeting House and Abiel Smith School.

5. Be in compliance with the lease agreement between the Museum and the City of Boston pertaining to the Abiel Smith School.

6. Be responsible for day-to-day operation and maintenance of both sites including all mechanical systems, staffing of bookstore, and for purposes of providing interpretive and visitor services, janitorial services, and facility management.

7. Assume responsibility for all utility costs associated with both sites.

8. Provide NPS with supplemental training on the Black Heritage Trail and training on all exhibits, including any pertinent literature and materials 60 days in advance of a new exhibition, except in circumstances beyond the control of the MAAH.

9. Provide Standard Operating Procedures to the NPS pertaining to emergency evacuation procedures for both sites.

10. Route all day-to-day requests for additional NPS personnel or materials directly through the BOAF Site Manager.

11. Provide: What Freedom Means to Me Community Dialogues: Medicine Wheel Productions.

NATIONAL PARK SERVICE INVOLVEMENT

Substantial involvement on the part of the National Park Service is anticipated for the successful completion of the objectives to be funded by this award. In particular, the National Park Service will be responsible for the following:

1. Provide one Ranger to conduct interpretive tours (during regular hours) of the interior and exterior of the African Meeting House and Abiel Smith School 6 days per week (Monday through Saturday), 12 months per year, subject to the availability of funds.

2. Provide Ranger-led tours of the Black Heritage Trail in Boston that may begin or conclude at the African Meeting House and Abiel Smith School, subject to the availability of funds.

3. Provide technical assistance to MAAH related to interpretation, curatorial management, historical preservation, and general management as agreed upon.

4. Provide security, safety services, law enforcement, and other related services to the African Meeting House and Abiel Smith School including fire protection and intrusion detection commensurate with concurrent jurisdiction and in accordance with NPS Guideline 9 and Title 36 of the CFR. Provide dispatch services 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

5. Provide and update as necessary the NPS’s SOP and contact information as it relates to the emergencies and furloughs and other government actions impacting daily operations at MAAH.

6. Subject to availability of funds, and as mutually agreed upon, provide funding for co-sponsored programs, projects, and events that further educational understandings of the Black Heritage Trail, particularly the African Meeting House and Abiel Smith School that overlap with the MAAH’s and NPS’s mission and legislation.

7. Provide staffing, if possible, for events with a 14-day written notice submitted to the BOAF Site Manager.

8. Notify the MAAH 30 days in advance of any NPS programs offered at off-site venues.

9. Collaborate with the Museum to support the above program.

Both Parties Agree To:

1. Collaborate with identifying community organizations throughout the City of Boston to participate in workshops exploring the historic and contemporary meanings of liberty, justice and freedom.

2. Collaborate in developing innovative programming, events and materials based on the outcomes of the workshops.

SINGLE-SOURCE JUSTIFICATION

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

SINGLE SOURCE POLICY REQUIREMENTS

Department of the Interior Policy (505 DM 2) requires a written justification which explains why competition is not practicable for each single-source award. The justification must address one or more of the following criteria as well as discussion of the program legislative history, unique capabilities of the proposed recipient, and cost-sharing contribution offered by the proposed recipient, as applicable.

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, and 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, cost-sharing ability if applicable, 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.

The National Park Service did not solicit full and open competition for this award based on the following criteria:

(3) LEGISLATIVE

Single Source Justification Description:

Boston African American National Historic Site’s legislative authority allows Boston African American NHS to enter into cooperative agreements with entities who own/lease the Abiel Smith School and African Meeting House. The Abiel Smith School is owned by the City of Boston and leased to the Museum of African American History, Inc. (MAAH). The African Meeting House is owned by MAAH.

STATUTORY AUTHORITY

54 U.S.C. Section §101702a provides that the National Park Service may, in fiscal year 1997 and thereafter, enter into cooperative agreements that involve the transfer of National Park Service appropriated funds to State, local and tribal governments, other public entities, educational institutions, and private nonprofit organizations for the public purpose of carrying out National Park Service programs pursuant to 31 U.S.C. 6305 to carry out public purposes of National Park Service programs.

Under Public Law 96-430, the Secretary of the Interior established the Boston African American National Historic Site in order to preserve for the benefit and inspiration of the people of the United States as a national historic site certain historic structures and properties of outstanding national significance located in Boston, Massachusetts, and associated with the creation and development of a free African American community within Beacon Hill prior to the Civil War.

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