NPS-NOI-19-1236.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

Current as of 10/29/2018

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. The unsolicited proposal must demonstrate an innovative capability or concept not currently available to the government, and prepared without Government involvement. ;

(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;

(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. Successful past performance, familiarity with existing requirements, capabilities that can be obtained or matched by a competitor, or a positive reputation, are not considered to be 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.

• Tell a more complete story of the Parkway through new research and an increased knowledge base

• Reach out to a new, previously underserved audience with new interpretive media.

• Engage and mentor youth from Jackson State University while building a partnership with our neighboring HBCU

Project Objectives –

• This project will provide the creation of a broad knowledge base of the civil rights history along the Parkway that can be used in future interpretive products and services to tell a more complete story of the Park. Specific examples include:

o A minimum of six to ten audio clips that are accessible to the public via our website and social media.

o Full transcription of all interviews that will be used in interpretive media and programs along the Natchez Trace Parkway.

• New interpretive media will be created from the research conducted. Examples of interpretive media include, but are not limited to: on-site programs, temporary exhibits, social media posts, web sites, and as part of formal curriculum for teachers and students.

• We will be reaching a new audience, not just at the Parkway, but potentially with neighboring National Parks. The theme of the project is the Civil Rights Movement in Mississippi, which has a reach far beyond our park border. Other NPS units in Mississippi (Natchez National Historical Park, Vicksburg National Military Park, Gulf Islands National Seashore), as well as NPS units across the country can benefit from the research that is being conducted by participating students.

• Student Participants will be introduced to the National Park Service as a place to recreate and have new experiences. They will be introduced to the possibility of a career with the National Park Service, which they may not have considered without this experience. Students will gain valuable skills that mirror what they are learning in the classroom.

• Park staff will have the opportunity to connect with the park resources in a new way.

Three to five interns will research civil rights stories along the Parkway, choose members of the community to interview, and record their stories and experiences as an oral histories that can be shared with park visitors through various interpretive media including on-site programs, social media posts, web sites, and as part of formal curriculum for teachers and students. Student interns will be introduced to the National Park Service and gain experience working with a professional partner.

Park staff will obtain research that they are not able to conduct on their own. The park will gain 6-10 audio clips and transcriptions, which will expand our outreach to the 6 million annual recreational visitors to the park, our virtual audience, as well as educators and students, in a new way. The interpretive research and media produced over the course of the project will greatly expand on the existing interpretation of the Parkway. As we strive to tell a more complete story along the Parkway, we will reach out to a new, previously underserved audience by telling the stories that may resonate strongly with them. Visitors will be able to access the materials whether onsite or online, increasing the reach of this project beyond our park borders.

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

• The Natchez Trace Parkway will provide oversite and feedback throughout the project.

• Parkway staff will approve selected civil rights stories to ensure there is a connection to the park and/or communities that the parkway runs through before interview questions are developed.

• When students visit the park, park staff will provide an orientation to the park and park stories, as well as park operations and divisions. The park will provide a dedicated staff member or members to be available to the students and professors throughout the duration of the project. This staff member will coordinate with other divisions to provide necessary resources to participants.

• Park staff will provide guidance on best practices for oral history recordings, including technical and content advising.

• Park staff will provide feedback and guidance on interview questions and techniques prior to the interview process.

• Park staff will review drafts of selected audio clips to ensure they are appropriate for park web sites and social media platforms. They will be responsible for doing the posting of the selected clips as well.

• Park staff will use the audio clips and research materials to develop new interpretive media for the park through temporary exhibits, web sites, or social media.

• Jackson State University will select students to participate in this project, furnish work space, and provide guidance to students.

• With the funds allocated for this project, they will purchase the necessary recording equipment and provide stipends to students involved in the project.

• Professors will have immediate oversight of student projects.

• Students will visit the Natchez Trace Parkway to become familiar with the park and the stories we currently share, especially if they have never visited the park before.

• University staff and student participants, will research civil rights stories of the Natchez Trace Parkway and select appropriate community members to interview.

• Students will develop oral history interview questions with the assistance of their professors, and conduct and record oral history interviews.

• Students will select and edit a series of useable audio clips (30 seconds to 2 minutes in length) that can be used on the park web site and/or social media platforms.

• The University will provide a complete transcription of all oral history interviews to the park for use in various forms of interpretive media.