NOI P19AC00897.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

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. 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.

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.

215-597-5949 Goals: A. Project Goals – The goal of this project is to enhance public awareness and understanding of Lowell’s nationally-significant resources. Researchers will make a presentation of interim findings to park staff and a second, recorded presentation to the public at the conclusion of the project for a direct transfer of knowledge. In addition, this project will produce a tangible transfer of knowledge deliverable in the form of a digital map based on the final section of the report which links resources to the park’s five principal themes via maps and illustrations. The digital map will be made available on a variety of platforms such as the park’s website and a future mobile app. Tangible transfer of knowledge deliverables will follow applicable NPS policies and standards.

B. Project Objectives –

• Site visits

• Research Plan

• Conduct Research

• Present interim research findings to park staff

• Write Historic Resource Study document

• Produce Historic Resource Study in hard and digital copy

• Present research findings to the public. Record presentation for inclusion on park’s website.

• Develop digital map based on final section of report linking resources to the park’s five principal themes via maps and illustrations

This project will allow national and local historians, educators, current and future partners, and public stakeholders, especially members of neighboring communities, to better understand park history. Providing access to historic resources through publishing the research resulting from this project, and through interpretive products this project will develop will increase public access to park-managed historic resources and enhance park manager's ability to manage public lands.

PP: The report and recorded presentation will be available on the park’s website and the content will be incorporated into future seasonal training sessions and public programs. In addition, this project will produce a tangible transfer of knowledge deliverable in the form of a digital map or similar based on the final section of the report which links resources to the park’s five principal themes via maps and illustrations. The digital map or similar will be made available on a variety of platforms such as the park’s website and a future mobile app.

This project will be carried out though a cooperative agreement with a partner conservation organization whose purpose is to promote the greater public and private understanding of American history for their mutual benefit and for the people of the United States as well as for future generations. This partnership, and involving academic scholars to provide research contributes to the public purpose of this project. Additionally, this project will contribute to the overall body of scholarship available to students, scholars, and the interested public about the history of the Industrial Revolution in Lowell, MA. This scholarship will be a valuable resource for academic researchers, students, and members of the general public, and will inform the need for future scholarly research.

2. Monitor and provide Federal oversight of activities performed under this agreement. Monitoring and oversight includes review and approval of financial status and performance reports, payment request, and tasks identified below. Additional monitoring activities may include site visits, conference calls, and other on-site and off-site monitoring activities. At the Recipient’s request, NPS may also provide additional technical assistance to the Recipient in support of the objectives of this agreement.

3. 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) Collaborate with the Recipient in selecting the scholar(s) to conduct the research.

b) Provide the scholar(s) with access to park records, reports, and databases; familiarize the scholar with the park's resources and facilities; and work with the scholar to select oral history interviewees as needed.

c) Review the progress of the research to ensure relevance and quality;

d) Distribute the report and make the research available to park managers and the general public for use in management and planning.

e) Provide scholar with access to park records, reports, and databases, and familiarize the scholar with the park's resources and facilities.

f) Work with the scholar to facilitate access to other relevant collections and individuals necessary for research.

g) Provide agency-mandated specifications for oral history collections, and access to audiovisual oral history recording equipment if requested.

h) Review the progress of the research to ensure relevance and quality. Provide written comments on all drafts.

i) Distribute the report and make the research available to park managers and the general public for use in management and planning as well as to contribute to the body of publicly available historical scholarship related to the site and NPS.

j) Organize a one-day workshop to present the findings of the report to park staff, community stakeholders, and the public.

k) Share and promote the completed Historic Resource Study with related and relevant NPS units, with the public through official NPS communications channels, and with academic partners and the larger community of professional historians.

l) Provide public access to the final report through local public and park libraries, the Library of Congress, and the NPS.gov website.

2. Engage an appropriate scholar/researcher to conduct research and produce an historic resource study in accordance with Secretary of the Interior's standards for professional historians, outlined in NPS-28: Cultural Resource Management Guidelines, Appendix E.

3. 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.

4. The researcher and key team members must be fully qualified personnel according to the Secretary of the Interior’s standards for professional historians, outlined in NPS-28: Cultural Resource Management Guidelines, Appendix E.

5. All work must be technically and legally defensible.

6. Research must meet NPS standards for a “thorough investigation” as defined in NPS-28: Cultural Resource Management Guidelines, Chapter 2 for an historical study; i.e.: research in selected published and documentary sources of known or presumed relevance that are readily accessible without extensive travel and that promise expeditious extraction of relevant data, interviewing all readily available knowledgeable persons, and presenting findings in no greater detail than required by this task directive.

7. The researcher must include historic maps contributing GIS data as available to provide sufficient geographical context and illustrate the investigated concepts.

8. The completed product must conform to NPS standards for Historic Resource Studies, as defined in NPS-28: Cultural Resource Management Guidelines, Chapter 2, i.e.: it provides a historical overview of a park or region and identifies and evaluates a park's cultural resources within historic contexts. It synthesizes all available cultural resource information from all disciplines in a narrative designed to serve managers, planners, interpreters, cultural resource specialists, and interested public as a reference for the history of the region and the resources within a park.

9. The researcher’s quality control efforts must ensure that all draft and final deliverables are complete documents, as specified, that meet the standards of scholarship as defined by the guidelines of the Organization of American Historians and have been reviewed for copy quality, technical accuracy, and consistency with style guidelines. Submittals not displaying such efforts will not be accepted.

10. The researcher must coordinate with the NPS and OAH as necessary to complete the work, including a written status update statement quarterly and participation in conference calls and product review meetings.

11. The researcher is responsible for the cost of all reproductions and for securing copyright permissions, where applicable. Wherever possible, the researcher shall choose illustrations that are in the public domain. All illustrations must be labeled with captions that fully identify the subject, where published (if published), and must provide credit/ courtesy lines identifying where the original can be found. Illustrations must be numbered and referred to by that number in the text. A full list of illustrations with captions must be included following the table of contents.

12. Guidelines for style established in the most recent edition of the Chicago Manual of Style will be used for citations and as a general guide, in addition to the NPS Style Guide. Final reports should be delivered in a professionally formatted and print-ready PDF conforming to NPS Graphic Identity standards

13. Copies of research files and other material produced as a result of this project, except for those items for which another institution or the author has copyrights or has placed restriction on distribution, shall be delivered to NPS and become property of NPS upon completion of the project, whether or not they were used in preparation of the final report.

14. The NPS retains all rights to publish and disseminate this report. The research materials and completed products will be in the public domain and may not be copyrighted. However, the researcher may publish the results of the research without written permission, but shall inform the NPS and OAH of any publications or presentations resulting directly from the products of this research. Revision of the manuscript for publication with an academic press, after completion of the project, is encouraged, provided that the role of the NPS and the OAH is acknowledged in print.

15. The researcher must obtain prior Government approval from the park point of contact for any public information releases concerning this award (including outside publication) which refer to the Department of the Interior, the National Park Service, or any employee by name or title. The specific layout, text, photographs, etc. of the proposed release must be submitted with the request for approval.