NOI-NPS-19-1094.pdf

NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE: NOTICE OF INTENT TO AWARD

This announcement is not a request for applications.

This announcement is to provide public notice of the National Park Service’s intention to award financial assistance for the following project activities. Refer to Section 2. Grants.gov Posting Determination.

ABSTRACT

Grants.gov Opportunity Number Project Title Recipient Anticipated Federal Funding Non-Federal Cost Share Total Anticipated Award Amount

Award Instrument

Anticipated Period of Performance

Legal Authority

CFDA # and Title

Single Source Justification Criteria

National Park Service Point of Contact

PROJECT GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

STATEMENT OF PUBLIC PURPOSE

Section 1. Project Summary

Task Agreement Cooperative Agreement

Grant Agreement

Current as of 10/29/2018

NPS-NOI-19-1094

CESU – Special History Study to Document History Associated Wit

University of Southern Mississippi

$123,542.00

$0

$173,542.00

9/1/2019 - 9/1/2021

54 USC §101702(b) Cooperative Agreements, Cooperative Research and Training Programs

15.946 – Cultural Resource Management

Unique Qualifications

Rose McCleland, rose_mcclelland@nps.gov

The Forks of the Road market area is the newest unit of Natchez National Historical Park. In the 1860s, the site served as a major hub for the slave trade. The project will complete a Special History Study for the Forks of the Road market area that will include historic and contemporary images and maps and interpret the history and significance of slave trading in the area. This research will lead to development of interpretive media for the Forks of the Road Slave Market Site as well as other more general interpretation of chattel slavery in the Natchez area. The Goal is to complete a Special History Study that will explore the slave culture of Natchez and the Deep South from the early 1700s through the 1860s to provide context for the slave trading activity at the Forks of the Road.

Study will benefit owners of historic homes and sites in Natchez, visiting tourists, and school children about the significance of slave trading in the area. Detailed information about the slave trade in the Natchez area will provide a tremendous benefit not only to the historic sites of Natchez National Historical Park, but to all of the historic homes and other historic sites that make tourism the #1 industry in Natchez. Hundreds of thousands of visiting tourists to the town each year will benefit from this more balanced interpretation of history (that has depended far too long on a romantic “moonlight and magnolias” narrative), but this more honest approach to the community’s past will also benefit all of the town’s citizens and especially the school children who live or visit here. The resulting published information will provide deeply researched scholarship that informs development of the Forks of the Road site and new school curricula in the town and the state, as well as new exhibits and programming at the Natchez Visitor Center.

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.

(1) Locate and examine readily available primary and secondary source material, and will include on-site archival investigations as necessary in sources of known or presumed relevance.

(2) Perform exhaustive research into the topic that conforms to National Park Service standards (Director's Order #28) regarding the historical methodology of research and writing.

(3) Complete a Special History Study for the Forks of the Road site.

(4) Prepare and deliver a public presentation summarizing the findings of the study.

1. Collaboratively undertake project work titled “CESU – Special History Study to Document Currently Unknown History Associated With the Forks of the Road Slave Market in Natchez, Mississippi”

2. Appoint Dr. Max Grivno as Principal Investigator (PI)

3. Conduct action item(s) corresponding to Project Tasks #1 and 5

4. Complete product(s) corresponding to Project Tasks #2-4

5. Ensure the final draft meets NPS formatting requirements as well as professional standards in history research and writing.

6. All research notes made during production of this study will be turned over to to the NPS – excluding copies of either photographs or documents for which another institution has either the copyright or has placed restrictions on its distribution.

Delivery of notes will be scheduled after submission of final report.

7. Acknowledge the NPS in any peer-reviewed publication and public presentations generated from this project.

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:

1. Provide financial assistance to the cooperator as indicated in the Agreement

2. Provide orientation to park resources

3. Provide resource data and protocol advice

4. Assist the cooperator in prioritizing potential research trips as part of this project

5. Assist the cooperator in obtaining access to archival collections and subject matter experts

6. Provide opportunities for cooperators and their students to interact with working cultural resource professionals

Section 3. Single Source Justification

NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

SINGLE SOURCE POLICY REQUIREMENTS

National Park Service Policy FAP&P 1443-2015-06 requires a written justification which explains why competition is not practicable. The justification must address one of the following criteria.

In order for an assistance award to be made without competition, the award must satisfy one or more of the following criteria:

(1) Unsolicited Proposal – The proposed award is the result of an unsolicited assistance application which represents a unique or innovative idea, method, or approach which is not the subject of a current or planned contract or assistance award, but which is deemed advantageous to the program objectives. The unsolicited proposal must demonstrate an innovative capability or concept not currently available to the government, and prepared without Government involvement. ;

(2) Continuation – The activity to be funded is necessary to the satisfactory completion of, or is a continuation of, an activity presently being funded, for which competition would have a significant adverse effect on the continuity or completion of the activity;

(3) Legislative intent – The language in the applicable authorizing legislation or legislative history clearly indicates Congress’ intent to restrict the award to a particular recipient of purpose;

(4) Unique Qualifications – The applicant is uniquely qualified to perform the activity based upon a variety of demonstrable factors such as location, property ownership, voluntary support capacity, technical expertise, or other such unique qualifications. Successful past performance, familiarity with existing requirements, capabilities that can be obtained or matched by a competitor, or a positive reputation, are not considered to be unique qualifications.

(5) Emergencies – Program/award where there is insufficient time available (due to a compelling and unusual urgency, or substantial danger to health or safety) for adequate competitive procedures to be followed.

NPS did not solicit full and open competition for this award based the following criteria:

Task Agreement issued under previously competed or single source master cooperative agreement per Section 2 above. Single Source Justification not applicable.

Continuation

Unique Qualifications

Unsolicited Proposal

Legislative Intent

Explanation of the proposed recipient’s qualifications or the criteria of the proposed project which requires use of the single source criteria cited.

Section 2. Grants.gov Posting Determination

Emergency

The National Park Service intends to award a task agreement under a previously competed or single source justified award.

The National Park Service intends to award a single source justified cooperative agreement. Refer to Section 3 Single Source Justification.

The National Park Service intends to award a single source justified grant agreement. Refer to Section 3 Single Source Justification.

Criteria used to select recipient included expertise in slave trade and Mississippi history, geographic proximity to study site, and experience conducting research and completing reports following NPS professional standards. Park surveyed History Department faculty at three CESU institutions: Mississippi St. Univ., Louisiana St. Univ., and the Univ. of S. Mississippi. The qualifications of Dr. Max Grivno, Univ. of S. Mississippi, far surpasses all others in suitability for this project. Significant research efficiencies will result from the close alignment of the project subject matter with his next book, "From Bondage to Freedom: Slavery in Mississippi, 1690-1865." Dr. Grivno is a nationally recognized scholar with unique and deep expertise in the Old South, slavery and Mississippi history. He also acquired experience with NPS research and writing standards working as a historian for the NPS while completing his dissertation. He has a proven track record completing projects for Federal agencies and has received numerous awards, including the 2016 Humanities Scholar of the Year bestowed by the Mississippi Humanities Council.

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.

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