p15as00105 noi.pdf

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

Funding

Announcement

P15AS00105

Project Title Urban Waters Learning Network

Recipient Groundwork USA

Principle

Investigator /

Program Manager

Anjali T. Chen

Total Anticipated

Award Amount $195,000.00

Cost Share N/A

New Award or

Continuation?

Continuation

Anticipated Length of Agreement 1 year

Anticipated Period of Performance 05/15/15-06/30/16

Award Instrument Cooperative Agreement

Statutory Authority 54 USC 101702(a)

CFDA # and Title 15.921 Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance

Single Source

Justification

Criteria Cited

(2) Continuation

NPS Point of

Contact John Bechtold

OVERVIEW

National Park Service

U.S. Department of the Interior

Cooperative Agreement P15AC10704 was entered into by and between the Department of the

Interior, National Park Service, (NPS), and Groundwork USA (GW USA) for the purpose of supporting the reuse of Brownfields and other derelict sites for conservation, recreation, economic development, and other community benefit through development of Groundwork Trust

Organizations as part of the Groundwork USA Initiative. Brownfields are defined as derelict sites that have been contaminated or perceived to have been contaminated through previous uses of the site.

The purpose of this task agreement is to support the work of Groundwork USA to continue development of the Urban Waters Learning Network and expand it to additional communities.

GW USA will draw on the expertise it has developed through the Groundwork USA network and partnerships with other practitioners to provide technical assistance to communities impacted by brownfields and other environmental justice issues to conserve and improve impaired urban water resources, such as rivers, lakes, wetlands and shorelines. It will provide local organizations, tribal and local governments that are part of the Urban Waters Learning Network with the skills and techniques to effectively restore these resources over time. The Urban Waters Learning

Network (UWLN) includes NPS developed Groundwork Trust organizations and grant recipients from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Urban Waters Program. Groundwork USA, the national office of the Groundwork USA network, is a critical component of the Groundwork model. Its mission is to support the development of the Groundwork network, promote and coordinate the work of the network, access national resources and partnerships to support local projects and programs, establish and document best practices and share the expertise and best practices it has developed with communities doing similar work.

RECIPIENT INVOLVEMENT

1. That the funds made available through this Task Agreement will be used to support community led urban water restoration projects by drawing on the experience of the

Groundwork USA network and its partners to develop and share best practices for community led urban water restoration projects, to engage participants of the Urban

Waters Federal Partnership in the Urban Waters Learning Network, advise NPS, EPA and the Urban Waters Federal Partners on the specific needs of communities and organizations working on urban waters projects, to highlight and document successes, and to provide technical assistance to help selected organizations overcome barriers to success.

2. That the funds provided under this Task Agreement cannot be used for construction documents or construction of specific projects.

3. To finalize a work plan for managing and implementing this Task Agreement in consultation with NPS and EPA. Work plan will include specifics on how each task of the Statement of Work will be implemented, timelines for completion, estimated hours and budget details and the outcomes that will be accomplished.

4. To finalize plans for the pre-conference meeting of the Urban Water Learning Network participants at the 2015 River Rally and provide up to $15,000.00 in scholarships from the approved Task Agreement budget to enable twenty (20) organizations affiliated with the Urban Waters Learning Network to register for and attend River Rally 2015.

5. Provide overall direction and management of the Urban Waters Learning Network.

Program Management includes overseeing implementation of the entire project, developing and providing status reports, managing and updating the approved work plan, scheduling and coordinating UWLN activities with EPA, managing the work load of the sub-awardee and staff, managing completion and submission of deliverables and final reports, financial management, assessing program success and providing the recommendations and vision for the future.

6. Provide organizational and technical support to Urban Waters Federal Partnership (UWFP) program, by accomplishing the following tasks:

a) Participate in UWFP calls to identify shared UWFP needs that can be met through their participation in the Urban Waters Learning Network;

b) Conduct in-depth assessments of selected UWFP locations. Identify and understand key factors that lead to successful UWFP locations and key issues and barriers that hamper effectiveness of UWFP locations;

c) Develop a Plan of Support to help address the issues and barriers to success;

d) Provide support to and help inform EPA’s development of an “UWFP self-affiliation model” and development of a UWFP handbook based on assessments of UWFP locations;

e) Add UWFP local partners to the Urban Waters Learning Network on-line communications and information sharing system.

7. Identify and document the needs of local communities to accomplish urban waters work through:

a) Individual communications with grantees, UWFP Ambassadors, EPA Urban Waters Regional Coordinators and Project Officers;

b) In-person network/grantee meetings at River Rally and other venues;

c) Review and evaluate issues and needs identified in peer calls, webinars, and River Rally sessions ;

d) Review of progress reports from Urban Waters grantees and UWFP locations.

8. Provide tools and build a network of practitioners to share experience and improve their effectiveness, by accomplishing the following tasks:

a) Increase online interaction by participants of the UWLN by implementing best practices for online communities;

b) Produce twelve (12) impact stories and quarterly listings of products, programs and events of UWLN members;

c) Plan and facilitate learning opportunities for Network, including pre-conference trainings and conference sessions at River Rally 2016, webinars, and peer conference calls;

d) Upgrade and maintain website and on-line communications system. Make the new website a source of tools that anyone interested in Urban Waters can access.

9. Develop and coordinate training sessions at River Rally 2016 for the UWLN as part of a pre-Rally facilitated session for the Urban Waters Learning Network. Solicit proposals for sessions on urban waters and environmental justice from UWLN and manage sessions selected for the River Rally 2016.

10. Review and recommend the data that will be measured to determine the effectiveness of the Urban Waters Learning Network in providing support to and building a network of urban waters practitioners and in providing support to the Urban Waters Federal Partnership partners and locations. Continue the “Best Practices” work related to grantee success by drawing together metrics being used by practitioners to evaluate their programs and make recommendations to EPA on initial metrics for the Urban Waters Small Grants Program.

11. Document and communicate program impact to multiple audiences, by accomplishing the followings tasks:

a) Expand Urban Waters Learning Network webpage to a website, and create a resources highlights section as part of the new website;

b) Review Basecamp, the UWLN current on-line communications system to determine if it is the best platform for meeting UWLN goals;

c) Update the EPA Regional Coordinators quarterly during their monthly calls;

d) Define and implement a communication plan to reach multiple audiences.

e) Distribute UWLN success stories to multiple audiences through electronic media;

f) Provide quarterly updates to NPS and EPA Program Managers on progress, challenges and metrics achieved;

g) Provide an annual briefing to NPS and EPA Program Managers on progress, challenges and metrics achieved.

12. To prepare a final report at the completion of the project that documents the outcomes and provides recommendations to EPA and NPS for the Urban Waters

Learning Network model, the integration of the UWFP into the UWLN and associated work of this Task Agreement.

13. To submit quarterly narrative progress reports to the National Park Service documenting the work completed on the tasks outlined above and required financial reports, in accordance with NPS requirements.

NATIONAL PARK SERVICE INVOLVEMENT

Substantial involvement on the part the National Park Service is anticipated for the successful completion of the objectives to be funded by this award. In particular, the National Park Service will be responsible for the following:

1. That the funding under this Task Agreement will be used to support community led urban water restoration projects by drawing on the experience of the Groundwork USA network and its partners to develop and share best practices for community led urban water restoration projects, to engage participants of the Urban Waters Federal Partnership in the Urban Waters Learning

Network, advise NPS, EPA and the Urban Waters Federal Partners on the specific needs of communities and organizations working on urban waters projects, to highlight and document successes, and to provide technical assistance to help selected organizations overcome barriers to success.

2. To support GW USA with the funding from this Agreement to accomplish the tasks of this agreement.

3. To support the work of GW USA to link communities working on urban waters restoration projects with technical assistance from the NPS Rivers, Trails and Conservation

Assistance Program.

4. To participate in the work of GW USA and its partners to accomplish the tasks described, especially providing technical assistance to communities working to conserve their urban water resources.

5. To coordinate support activities with Groundwork USA, EPA and other partners involved in the Urban Waters Learning Network.

SINGLE-SOURCE JUSTIFICATION

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

SINGLE SOURCE POLICY REQUIREMENTS

Department of the Interior Policy (505 DM 2) requires a written justification which explains why competition is not practicable for each single-source award. The justification must address one or more of the following criteria as well as discussion of the program legislative history, unique capabilities of the proposed recipient, and cost-sharing contribution offered by the proposed recipient, as applicable.

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, and 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, cost-sharing ability if applicable, 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.

The National Park Service did not solicit full and open competition for this award based the following criteria:

(2) CONTINUATION

Single Source Justification Description:

Cooperative Agreement P15AC10704 was entered into by and between the Department of the

Interior, National Park Service, (NPS), and Groundwork USA (GW USA) for the purpose of supporting the reuse of Brownfields and other derelict sites for conservation, recreation, economic development, and other community benefit through development of Groundwork Trust

Organizations as part of the Groundwork USA Initiative. Brownfields are defined as derelict sites that have been contaminated or perceived to have been contaminated through previous uses of the site. This new task agreement is a continuation of the work already authorized and in-process under P15AC10704.

STATUTORY AUTHORITY

54 USC 101702:

(a) TRANSFER OF SERVICE APPROPRIATED FUNDS- A cooperative agreement entered into by the Secretary that involves the transfer of Service appropriated funds to a State, local, or tribal government or other public entity, an educational institution, or a private nonprofit organization to carry out public purposes of a Service program is a cooperative agreement properly entered into under section 6305 of title 31.

(b) COOPERATIVE RESEARCH AND TRAINING PROGRAMS-

(1) IN GENERAL- To facilitate the administration of the System, the Secretary, under such terms and conditions as the Secretary may consider advisable, may--

(A) enter into cooperative agreements with public or private educational institutions, States, and political subdivisions of States to develop adequate, coordinated, cooperative research and training programs concerning the resources of the System; and

(B) pursuant to an agreement, accept from and make available to the cooperator technical and support staff, financial assistance for mutually agreed upon research projects, supplies and equipment, facilities, and administrative services relating to cooperative research units that the Secretary considers appropriate.