noi-ta-atc -community summit.docx

National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior

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

Cooperative Agreement Number P14AC00659 was entered into by and between the Department of the Interior, National Park Service, (NPS), and Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC) for the purpose of collaborative management and protection of the Appalachian National Scenic Trail and associated resources through the support of the NPS’ and the ATC’s Cooperative Management System, including delegated responsibilities to partnering trail managing organizations. The activities to be funded will be awarded through a task agreement under this Cooperative Agreement with ATC.

Objective: Appalachian Trail Community Summit: Leadership – Sharing Best Practices The purpose of this Task Agreement is to provide support for a gathering of at least 60 representatives from the ATC’s Appalachian Trail Community™ program, a network of 38 designated A.T. Communities bordering the A.T. These communities are members an A.T. Community network, and offer outstanding opportunities to boost awareness of the A.T. for sustainable tourism and to attract visitors from around the world. The conference will:

· Explore the value of the A.T. for compatible economic development and sustainability,

· Provide instruction on effective planning through balancing nature and commerce

· Discuss the benefits of large landscape conservation

· Explore the opportunity to connect urban and rural audiences, attracting diverse visitors

· Assess and identify training needs

· Explore the possible designation of the A.T. as a World Heritage Site.

RECIPIENT INVOLVEMENT

ATC agrees to:

Collaborate with NPS on the development of common goals and objectives for gathering of partners from trail communities, federal and state agencies, and key members of the World Trail Network.

2. Develop sessions and materials to include, but limited to tourism and attracting diverse audiences, sense of place, sustainable economic development, and World Heritage Sites.

3. Recruit and invite national experts and speakers from such organizations as the USDA Rural Development, National Geographic, as well as state tourism offices.

4. Present and facilitate sessions as appropriate.

5. Provide for conference facility and assist community leaders with travel as needed.

NATIONAL PARK SERVICE INVOLVEMENT

NPS is responsible for the following:

1. Collaborate with ATC on the development of common goals and objectives for gathering of partners from trail communities, federal and state agencies, and key members of the World Trail Network.

2. Assist ATC with developing sessions and materials to include, but limited to tourism and attracting diverse audiences, sense of place, sustainable economic development, mountain ecosystems, and World Heritage Sites.

3. Assist ATC with recruitment of speakers from the NPS and USFS.

4. Present and facilitate sessions as appropriate.

5. Promote the NPS Centennial and Find Your Park campaign.

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:

(4) UNIQUE QUALIFICATIONS

Single Source Justification Description:

The Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC), a private nonprofit organization established in 1925 to promote and protect the Appalachian Trail, possesses the expertise and unique qualifications necessary to complete the Task. Specifically, ATC has a proven track-record of completing similar tasks that require the same level of proficiencies including project planning and management, administration, and volunteer recruitment and management. ATC has the technical expertise to complete this task including experience in education, professional development, and curriculum development. Finally, ATC has the capacity, through a combination of professional staff and volunteers, to complete the task.

The Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC) is uniquely qualified to perform the Task as the only organization that is dedicated to, and specifically responsible for the management of the entire Appalachian National Scenic Trail. ATC provides the framework for the implementation of the “Cooperative Management System”, the volunteer-based management specifically outlined in the Comprehensive Plan (equivalent to a park General Management Plan) as the means to manage the protection, management, development, and use of the Appalachian National Scenic Trail. That framework provides the means to engage a network of volunteers, partners, and community members, including teachers and students on a Trail-wide basis. NPS has recognized this unique relationship through a series of Memorandums of Understanding (MOU) documents specifically delegating certain management responsibilities to ATC. ATC has in turn, has developed additional agreements with volunteer organizations, various communities, K-12 schools and universities and other partners. This network of partnerships creates the Cooperative Management System which is not only a key tenant of how NPS manages the Appalachian Trail, but is also necessary to carry-out the program.

STATUTORY AUTHORITY

54 U.S.C. Section §101702(a) 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 .

National Trails System Act: 82 Stat. 919; 16 USC 1241 et seq. established the Appalachian National Scenic Trail and directed the Secretary of the Interior to administer it primarily as a footpath, in consultation with the Secretary of Agriculture; and emphasized the use of cooperative agreements and encouraged the Secretaries to assist volunteers and volunteer organizations, including the Appalachian Trail Conservancy in planning, developing, maintaining and managing national trails.

National Trails System Act: 16 U.S.C. Section 1250 Volunteer Trails Assistance authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to encourage volunteers and volunteer organizations to plan, develop, maintain, and manage, where appropriate, trails throughout the Nation. The Secretary is authorized to utilize the Volunteers in the Parks Act of 1969.

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