Notice of Intent To Award (2.9.2018 - DOI Priorities).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

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;

(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, 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:

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.

B. Objective – The objective of the Cooperative Agreement is to stimulate the long-term capacity of GEHWA and the communities that GEHWA represents to plan for the conservation and management of the Great Egg Harbor Wild and Scenic River and its natural cultural and recreational resources, consistent with the purposes of Section 11(b)(1) of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, and as specified in PL102-536, which established the Great Egg Harbor Wild and Scenic River, to be implemented through cooperative agreements. GEHWA is uniquely positioned as the local planning entity that ties the Great Egg Harbor River communities together, and has a longstanding history of planning in concert with those communities for the future of the Great Egg Harbor River. This Cooperative Agreement will serve to both bring the best available planning and conservation expertise to the implementation of the Great Egg Harbor Wild and Scenic River CMP, and to strengthen the long-term capability of GEHWA, the local communities, and the other partner organizations of the Great Egg Harbor River Management Council to plan for and protect the Great Egg Harbor River.

PP: 1. The Public Purpose of the Cooperative Agreement/Project is to implement Public Law 102-536 – The Great Egg Harbor National Scenic and Recreational River designation legislation, and to protect and enhance the Great Egg Harbor River’s values for future generations through Comprehensive River Management Plan implementation. The Great Egg Harbor River is a unit of the National Park System.

2. The Overall Goals of the Cooperative Agreement/Project is to protect and enhance the values for which the Great Egg Harbor River is protected. These values include free flow, water quality, and outstandingly remarkable values such as recreation, scenery, cultural resources, and abundant flora and fauna – some of which are unique to this river system.

3. The Objectives to achieve the Public Purpose and Overall Goals are to implement the Comprehensive River Management Plan in partnership with the Great Egg Harbor Watershed Association. Monitoring water quality, assessing watershed health, monitoring avian habitat, measuring fish sampling, maintaining recreation access points and teaching the public about the river’s values through an interpretation, education and outreach program, and managing a River Council comprised of local government representatives is how these objectives will be accomplished through this cooperative agreement.

Overview: CU as an NGO incorporated in 1986, and was instrumental in assisting the NPS in studying the Maurice River's values during the study process in the early 1990s. The river became designated a National Scenic and Recreational River in 1993, and the National Park Service has worked with them jointly in implementing the CMP since.

CU seeks to advance public understanding of the region’s recreation, cultural, historical and conservation needs through its sponsorship of workshops, scientific research, publications and other media, environmental, educational, and interpretive products and special projects. CU also serves as the primary, local-river conservation organization that represents river interests and long-term river values protection efforts to the five riverside municipalities, Cumberland and Atlantic Counties, and the State of New Jersey.

2. Make staff available to participate in appropriate meetings, to assist in conservation efforts relating to this Agreement and to assist in conducting public meetings, workshops and reviews of municipal zoning, county and state land use management practices, and local river management plans, all consistent with the Act and CMP implementation.

3. Participate in, review and measure progress of conservation projects provided under this Agreement consistent with the CMP, and in accordance with approved schedules.

4. Coordinate with GEHWA and the RC in the implementation of the CMP.

Justification:

The recipient posses unique qualifications including their location which leaves them the only organization located within the watershed and its mission is solely focused on protecting the river. The location of the recipient allows them to more efficiently test for water quality, offer interpretive programs on its riverside trail, provide river education programs right on the river, organize riverside public events, hikes, and other recreational outings from its buildings along the river banks.

Technical expertise, or other such unique qualifications- GEHWA is active in providing the NPS GIS information on development requiring regulatory Section 7(a) reviews. It also provides Local River Management Plan technical support for NPS when NPS reviews section 7(a) applications. GEHWA manages its NJDEP recognized Great Egg Harbor River Osprey program, and provides the state data on Ospreys in the river. The Os Program has been going on for nearly 20 years - providing the NJDEP, the Audubon Society and Rutgers/Stockton Universities with valuable data that gets published, and shapes NJDEP wildlife management policies.

Property Ownership - Although GEHWA owns no property along the Maurice River, it assisted other organizations in acquiring riverside land for preservation/protection, such as the NJDEP Green Acres Program.

2. Participate in municipal zoning and planning meetings when issues arise affecting the Great Egg Harbor River and its resource values.

3. Plan and implement the enumerated goals in the CMP in partnership with the NPS, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP), the New Jersey Pinelands Commission, and other NGO and river conservation interests.

4. Develop and produce interpretive exhibits, educational publications, other media and programs that interpret the rivers’ values.

5. Provide technical support to the NPS for planning, education, outreach and research activities as they relate to CMP implementation.

6. Advertise, and announce (consistent with NJ Open Public Meetings Act), organize and facilitate River Council meetings.

7. Provide GIS analysis, technical assistance and recommendations to the NPS, municipalities, other NGOs and the State of New Jersey concerning the management of river values, consistent with CMP implementation.

8. Write, edit and electronically distribute Newsletter RiverCurrents to mailing list comprised of River Council Members, GEHWA membership and NPS staff.

9. Attend Pinelands Commission Meetings and stay current with river-affecting plans and other action items.