NOI_Westfield.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

CFDA # and Title

OVERVIEW

The purpose of this modification is to change the recipient signatory and to add funding to Agreement P13AC01254 to accomplish the agreed upon work plan for Westfield Wild and Scenic River Assistance for FY17.

Forty-three miles of the Westfield River were designated as a state-administered National Wild and Scenic River in 1993, “to be managed in accordance with the Westfield River greenway Plan”. The Greenway Plan created the Westfield River Wild & Scenic Advisory Committee (the Committee) upon which the NPS is represented, and established the MOA for Protection of the Westfield River, signed by all partners, including NPS.

The basis of the Greenway Plan, MOA, and the Committee is to ensure the long-term protection of the identified “outstandingly remarkable values” including fish, wildlife, historic, and recreational resources that qualify the river for inclusion in the National Wild and Scenic River System. The MOA was updated in 2002 with the addition of four new community signatories and one new non-governmental partner as part of the expansion of the designated area.

In 2008, a Cooperative Agreement (H4507080036) was established to facilitate implementation of a new Westfield River Wild & Scenic Stewardship Plan to be the new guiding management document for the W&S sections of the Westfield River. The Plan established new action programs and priorities for the Committee through a partnership approach among all Committee signatories, including the NPS, Commonwealth of MA, ten riverfront communities, the Berkshire Regional Planning Commission, the Trustees of Reservations, the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission, and the Westfield River Watershed Association. This agreement is a continuation of the action programs and priorities begun under that Cooperative Agreement.

RECIPIENT INVOLVEMENT

The Westfield State Foundation, Inc. agrees to:

1. Act as fiscal agent to the Westfield River W&S Advisory Committee for management of Agreement funds and implementation of projects selected to advance the Plan through partnership with NPS and the Committee as described in the signed agreement.

2. Participate in the meetings of the Committee and its subcommittees as necessary to ensure the Foundation can effectively execute its duties and responsibilities pursuant to this Agreement.

3. Provide technical assistance to the Committee as specified in this Agreement.

4. Implement action programs and priorities outlined in the Agreement.

NATIONAL PARK SERVICE INVOLVEMENT

1. Provide financial assistance to support the projects identified in the Annual Work Plans and Budget.

2. Coordinate the projects under this Agreement, in implementation of projects envisioned in the Westfield River W&S Stewardship Plan and described in the Annual Workplans and Budget.

3. Provide technical assistance in the developments and implementations of projects selected under this Agreement to ensure that the purposes of the W&SR Act are being met and adhered to.

4. Participate in the Committee and its subcommittees which shall oversee the projects selected to advance the purposes of this Agreement and implementation of the Plan.

5. Participate in the development and implementation of projects selected under this Agreement to ensure funds are being used for Plan implementation.

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