NOI P17AC01405.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 without competition.

ABSTRACT

Funding Announcement Number NPS-17-NERO-0133

Project Title Collaboration to connect people to the heritage of the Chesapeake Bay through advancement of

Gateways and Trails and efforts to implement

E.O. 13508 in Maryland

Recipient Maryland Department of Natural Resources

Anticipated Federal Funding $0

Non-federal Cost Share N/A

Anticipated Period of Performance Through September 30, 2022

Award Instrument Cooperative Agreement

Statutory Authority 54 U.S.C. §101702(a); EO 13508; 16 USC

§1246(h)(1); PL 109-418; 54 USC §100301 -

§100302

CFDA # and Title 15.930 Chesapeake Bay Gateways

Single Source Justification Criteria Unique Qualifications

Point of Contact Patrick Reidy, Grants Management Specialist 215-597-5949

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

In 1983, the U.S. Congress amended the National Trails System Act, a general route for and authorizing development of the Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail (PHT) and, in 2006, authorizing the Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail (CAJO).

Public Law 109-418 amended the National Trails System Act to create the Captain John Smith

Chesapeake National Historic Trail in December of 2006. The trail is a series of water routes extending approximately 3,000 miles along the Chesapeake Bay and the tributaries of the Chesapeake

Bay in the states of Virginia, Maryland, and Delaware, and in the District of Columbia, that traces the

1607-1609 voyages of Captain John Smith to chart the land and waterways of the Chesapeake Bay.

In 2006, the Potomac River was designated a National Recreation Trail and is the only river in the

U.S. that includes portions of five national trails-the Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail, the

Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail, the Star-Spangled Banner National

Historic Trail, the Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route National Historic Trail, and the Appalachian National Scenic Trail. NPS has completed A Partnership for Enhancing the

National Trails along the Tidal Potomac River – Potomac River Segment Plan (a.k.a. “Potomac

Segment Plan”) for the CAJO, PHT, and Star-Spangled Banner NHT, including numerous actions to increase public access to waters and lands associated with the significance of the

Potomac River. Similar segment planning is currently underway to guide trail development on the lower Susquehanna River in Maryland.

The Chesapeake Bay Initiative Act of 1998 (P.L. 105-312, Sections 501-2) calls for the NPS to facilitate development of the Chesapeake Bay Gateways and Watertrails Network, a network of

Chesapeake Bay gateways, water trails, and other connecting routes in cooperation with other Federal agencies, state and local governments, non-profit organizations, and the private sector and to establish a technical and financial assistance program to aid development of the network.

Executive Order 13508, Chesapeake Bay Protection and Restoration, signed May 2009, directed

Federal agencies and partners to recommend and implement a strategy for restoring and protecting the

Chesapeake Bay. The Strategy for Protecting and Restoring the Chesapeake Bay Watershed issued under E.O. 13508 promotes land conservation and increased public access. The Strategy sets a goal to

“protect an additional two million acres of lands throughout the watershed currently identified as high conservation priorities at the federal, state or local level by 2025, including 695,000 acres of forest land of highest value for maintaining water quality.” The Strategy also sets a goal to “increase public access to the Bay and its tributaries by adding 300 new public access sites by 2025.” Further the strategy calls for a plan to assess the demand for public access; describe (inventory) the existing public access facilities; assess barriers to public access; determine gaps in the public access system;

identify opportunities for new public access sites; and help direct federal, state, and local funding toward public access opportunities.”

Toward this goal, the NPS - Chesapeake, in collaboration with the watershed states, has prepared the

Chesapeake Bay Watershed Public Access Plan to inform and guide expansion of Chesapeake watershed public access. As part of the development of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Public Access

Plan, well over 300 potential public access sites have been identified throughout the watershed.

Potential access sites were suggested through an extensive state agency and public participation process that recommended locations to provide fishing, boating, and viewing access to the bay and its major tributaries. Development of the access sites could support local, state, and national water trails;

create access opportunities in traditionally underserved communities; and provide additional recreational assets in the Chesapeake Bay watershed.

The State of Maryland, as a signatory to the 2014 Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement, signed by six Governors, Washington DC Mayor, Chesapeake Bay Commission, and the federal government, is a full partner and cooperator in pursuit of these Chesapeake Bay conservation and restoration objectives. The Maryland Department of Natural Resources will be a key near- and long-term partner in support of our efforts to conserve important resource lands, enhance public access and develop

CAJO within the State of Maryland and especially with the Maryland park system. The purpose of this agreement, in recognition of an ongoing partnership between the Maryland Department of

Natural Resources and the National Park Service - Chesapeake, is to facilitate cooperation and collaboration in connecting people to the natural and cultural heritage of the Chesapeake region through the Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail, the Potomac Heritage National

Scenic Trail, and other national trails and through efforts to implement Executive Order 13508 for

Chesapeake Bay Watershed Protection and Restoration in the State of Maryland.

STATEMENT OF WORK

RECIPIENT AGREES TO:

1. Work with NPS to identify and implement projects that advance the development of the

Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail and efforts to implement Executive

Order 13508 for Chesapeake Bay Watershed Protection and Restoration in Maryland.

2. Adhere to the best principles of environmentally sensitive design, low impact development techniques, and universal accessibility in the design and implementation of projects.

3. Work closely with NPS staff to ensure that projects are in compliance with all federal regulations, policies, and procedures and are consistent with NPS policies, standards, guidelines, and priorities.

4. Maintain regular communication with NPS staff to ensure that work is implemented effectively and that any issues are identified and readily addressed.

NATIONAL PARK SERVICE AGREES TO:

1. Consult with and advise MD DNR to identify and implement projects that advance the development of the Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail and efforts to implement

Executive Order 13508 for Chesapeake Bay Watershed Protection and Restoration in Maryland.

2. Work closely with MD DNR staff to ensure that projects adhere to the best principles of environmentally sensitive design, low impact development techniques, and universal accessibility in design and implementation.

3. Work closely with MD DNR staff to ensure that projects are in compliance with all federal regulations, policies and procedures and are consistent with NPS policies, standards, guidelines, and priorities.

4. Maintain regular communication with MD DNR staff to ensure that work is implemented effectively and that any issues are identified and readily addressed.

BOTH PARTIES AGREE:

Specified projects and initiatives pursuant to this Agreement will be individually authorized by separate NPS task agreements, with each project or activity having a separate statement of work and budget developed cooperatively between the NPS and MD DNR.

SINGLE-SOURCE JUSTIFICATION

NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

SINGLE SOURCE POLICY REQUIREMENTS

Department of the Interior Policy (505 DM 2) and National Park Service Policy FAP&P 1443-2015-06 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, 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, 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.

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

(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;

The State of Maryland, as a signatory to the 2014 Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement, signed by six Governors, Washington DC Mayor, Chesapeake Bay Commission and the federal government is a full partner and cooperator in pursuit of these Chesapeake Bay conservation and restoration objectives. The Maryland Department of Natural Resources will be a key near- and long-term partner in support of our efforts to conserve important resource lands, enhance public access and develop

CAJO within the State of Maryland and especially with the Maryland park system. The purpose of this agreement, in recognition of an ongoing partnership between the Maryland Department of

Natural Resources and the National Park Service - Chesapeake, is to facilitate cooperation and collaboration in connecting people to the natural and cultural heritage of the Chesapeake region through the Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail, the Potomac Heritage National

Scenic Trail and other national trails and through efforts to implement Executive Order 13508 for

Chesapeake Bay Watershed Protection and Restoration in the State of Maryland.

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources will be a key near- and long-term partner in support of our efforts to conserve important resource lands, enhance public access and develop CAJO within the State of Maryland and especially with the Maryland park system.

As the locations to be enhanced through this work are all owned by the State of Maryland, no other partner was possible.