Notice of Intent To Award_SER2018_20180320.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.

This Agreement supports two of the Department of the Interior priorities:

Priority 1 Creating a conservation stewardship legacy second only to Teddy Roosevelt – This Agreement will encourage a wide range of groups to work together toward land stewardship and conservation goals and ensure that restoration practices include input from local and regional experts. This Agreement will also engage the next generation of land stewards through the direct engagement of student chapters.

Priority 3 Restoring trust with local communities – This Agreement will foster development of conservation relationships and partnerships at the local and state levels and expand lines of communication.

• Identifying, collecting, organizing and promoting NPS restoration and conservation stewardship projects for public and private practitioners,

• Partnering on the development of NPS and cross-boundary restoration projects and collaborations with states, tribes, non-governmental organizations, universities, private sector, and local communities,

• Assessing effectiveness of NPS restoration projects via meta-analysis, including both successful and unsuccessful projects,

• Encouraging participation in Society for Ecological Restoration chapters and theme based sections to increase opportunities for sharing and learning,

• Designing web presentations on ecological restoration standards and certifications,

• Applying, testing, and providing feedback on Society for Ecological Restoration’s International Standards for the Practice of Ecological Restoration,

• Facilitating participation in Society for Ecological Restoration chapter and theme groups,

• Developing training opportunities to address priority restoration learning needs (e.g. introduction to ecological restoration; advanced ecological restoration; restoration in specific types of ecosystems)and supporting partnership opportunities for practitioners,

• Including NPS projects and resources in Society for Ecological Restoration’s Restoration Resource Center database,

• Creating long-term learning sites and opportunities for student engagement (including design/field work/monitoring/maintenance) with NPS in order to build stronger links between the science and practice of restoration,

• Creating internship opportunities for young restoration professionals for field based learning and analysis in association with on-site NPS restoration projects, and

• Producing a toolkit of guidelines and best management practices.

2. Provide Society for Ecological Restoration with information about NPS restoration projects and resources for inclusion in their Restoration Resource Center database.

3. Encourage all restoration planners, practitioners and decision-makers to meet Certified Ecological Restoration Practitioner requirements, and, as appropriate, becoming formally certified through the program.

4. Partner with Society for Ecological Restoration regional chapters to delivery high quality content at chapter conferences, field trips, and networking events, including featuring NPS staff and activities.

5. Identify potential projects within the national park system addressing the restoration of landscapes, biophysical systems, and species assemblages and populations for potential research and monitoring collaborations.

6. Work with Society for Ecological Restoration to implement restoration education oriented projects, such as webinars, continuing education within the Certified Ecological Restoration Practitioner Program, publications, student internships, etc. based on ecological restoration activities within the national park system.

7. Coordinate, at the park level, project development and planning with Society for Ecological Restoration contacts. On a park-by-park basis, the parties will develop a joint description of any collaborative projects.

8. Ensure required compliance and permitting are in place for restoration projects prior to initiation.

9. Provide input into and review of joint press releases and outreach material.

2. Facilitate dialogue with private and public partners for ecoregionally relevant projects.

3. Identify Society for Ecological Restoration member experts or resources to support park restoration efforts on an as needed basis.

4. Make Society for Ecological Restoration Chapters and Thematic Sections aware of the opportunities to collaborate as a result of this agreement.

5. Encourage Society for Ecological Restoration Regional Chapters and Thematic Sections to partner with NPS units to implement field trips and/or research and monitoring programs, including long-term site research.

6. Include NPS projects and resources in the Society for Ecological Restoration Restoration Resource Center database.

7. Encourage Society for Ecological Restoration student chapters and their associated faculty advisors to partner with local NPS units to identify research or other project opportunities for student engagement that improve student learning while simultaneously advancing NPS conservation and restoration objectives.

a. As appropriate, craft student internships related to restoration within NPS units.

b. Invite NPS restoration staff to present to student chapters/classes regarding restoration efforts within their units.