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. Project Objectives – The Anacostia Watershed Society’s project scope of work encompasses two objectives:

(1) Guided, interpretative pontoon and canoe tours over two seasons on the Anacostia River for 4,000 youth and adults.

(2) Meaningful watershed education experiences for 500 elementary students participating in a pilot freshwater mussel restoration program.

This award is specifically targeted to enhance recreation and recreational learning access to the Anacostia River in the greater Washington, DC area, and as such directly supports the Secretarial priority to enhance access to outdoor recreation opportunities.

The National Park Service (NPS) and the Anacostia Watershed Society (AWS) collaborate to engage diverse audiences in public educational, recreational and stewardship opportunities along the Anacostia River in support of both organizations mission objectives. The NPS has assigned responsibilities in support of the 2014 Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement, most specifically the goals to foster and expand citizen stewardship and increase public access to the Bay and its tributaries. Further, NPS administers the Captain John Smith Chesapeake and Star-Spangled Banner national historic trails on the Anacostia River. The AWS was our key partner in developing the trail development action agenda for the Anacostia River. Thus this project has the ancillary benefit of helping NPS fulfill operational responsibilities related to the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement and the national trails of the Anacostia.

PP: This NPS financial assistance award supports these particular public purposes:

• The project engages recipients, partners, communities, and/or visitors in shared environmental stewardship.

• The information, products and/or services identified or developed by this project will be shared through a variety of strategies to increase public awareness, knowledge and support for historic preservation and stewardship of the nation’s cultural and historical heritage.

• The project motivates its youth participants to become involved in the natural, cultural and /or historical resource protection of their communities and beyond.

• The project assists in the creation, promotion, facilitation, and/or improvement of the public’s understanding of natural, cultural, historic, recreational and other aspects of areas such as ecological conservation areas, and state and local parks.

The project goals are to engage diverse audiences in public educational, recreational and stewardship opportunities along the Anacostia River in the DC metro area. This task agreement is entered into under a master cooperative agreement between the AWS and the NPS, to facilitate cooperation and collaboration in connecting people to the natural and cultural heritage of the Anacostia River and Chesapeake region through efforts to implement the 2014 Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement and Executive Order 13508 for Chesapeake Bay Watershed Protection and Restoration. The NPS Chesapeake and the AWS collaborate to engage diverse audiences in public educational, recreational and stewardship opportunities along the Anacostia River in support of both organizations mission objectives. The NPS has assigned responsibilities in support of the 2014 Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement, most specifically the goals to foster and expand citizen stewardship and increase public access to the Bay and its tributaries. Further, NPS administers the Captain John Smith Chesapeake and Star-Spangled Banner national historic trails on the Anacostia River. The AWS was our key partner in developing the trail development action agenda for the Anacostia River. Thus this project has the ancillary benefit of helping NPS fulfill operational responsibilities related to the 2014 Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement and the national trails of the Anacostia.

Overview: The project goals are to engage diverse audiences in public educational, recreational and stewardship opportunities along the Anacostia River in the DC metro area. This project will (1) increase public awareness of and access to the Anacostia River as well as (2) improve the water quality of the river through a pilot freshwater mussel restoration program. The Anacostia Watershed Society (AWS) in collaboration with the National Park Service will teach students, teachers, and the general public about the Anacostia River, its natural and social history, the effects of land use and human impacts on the river’s health, and projects and initiatives completed or planned to protect and restore the river. The project scope of work encompasses two broad objectives:

(1) Guided, interpretative pontoon and canoe tours of the Anacostia portion of the Chesapeake National Historic Trail for 4,000 youth and adults.

By providing boat tours of the Anacostia River, AWS will increase residents’ awareness of the river trail, its recreational assets and history, threats to its health, and ways to help protect and steward it. The AWS will develop a series of scripts targeted to specific audiences and operate approximately 100 boat tours in season one from April to October 2019, and 100 boat tours in season two from April to October 2020.

(2) Meaningful watershed education experiences for 500 elementary students participating in our pilot freshwater mussel restoration program.

The project will also enhance populations of freshwater mussels in the Anacostia River and help lay the groundwork for future mussel restoration efforts by determining habitat suitability. More than 7,000 mussels will be grown in floating fish spawning baskets and fish tanks in classrooms with participating schools each year. The mussels will be obtained from the Harrison Lake National Fish Hatchery in Virginia, produced from broodstock collected locally from the Anacostia River and the Potomac River watersheds. This program will be the first attempt at restoring mussels in the Anacostia River and aligns with the aquatic resources restoration goals of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement, the Anacostia River Watershed Restoration Plan, and the DC Wildlife Action Plan. The project will use freshwater mussels as bioindicators as well as a lens through which the public can learn about the history of the Chesapeake Bay and understand the broader issues of clean water, pollution, and urban biodiversity conservation.

2. Substantial involvement by NPS is anticipated during the period of performance of this agreement. In support of this agreement NPS Chesapeake will be responsible for the following:

a) Collaborate with Anacostia Watershed Society on the development of educational and interpretive programming related to Anacostia River and Chesapeake Bay themes and the themes of the Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail (Chesapeake Trail) and other national trails of the Anacostia River in the DC metro area.

b) Collaborate with AWS on the design and implementation of educational, recreational and stewardship events along the Anacostia River with a focus on engaging diverse communities and increasing access to the trail.

c) Assist in the delivery of training to AWS’s program staff to optimize the delivery of interpretive and educational content, including themes of the Chesapeake Trail and other national trails of the Anacostia River.

d) Work closely with AWS staff to ensure that projects are consistent with NPS policies, standards, guidelines, and priorities as appropriate; and comply with the terms of applicable laws, regulations, and government policies.

e) Maintain regular communication with AWS’s staff to ensure that work is implemented effectively and that issues are identified and readily addressed.

2. Collaborate with National Park Service (NPS) on the development of educational and interpretive programming related to Anacostia River and Chesapeake Bay themes and the themes of the Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail (Chesapeake Trail) and other national trails of the Anacostia River.

3. Design and implement educational, recreational and stewardship events along the Anacostia River with a focus on engaging diverse communities and increasing outdoor recreational access to the river.

4. Provide training to Anacostia Watershed Society’s program staff to optimize the delivery of interpretive and educational content, including themes of the Anacostia River, Chesapeake Bay, Chesapeake Trail and other national trails of the Anacostia River.

5. Work closely with NPS staff to ensure that projects are consistent with NPS policies, standards, guidelines, and priorities as appropriate; and comply with the terms of applicable laws, regulations, and government policies.

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