p15as00221-noi - final.docx

National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior

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 (NPS), intention to fund the following project activities without competition.

ABSTRACT

OVERVIEW

Through this Task Agreement and Canoemobile and adventureLAB implementation, NPS and WI will carry out projects, programs, and activities of mutual interest with public benefit that involve river recreation and youth engagement. The project engages partners and youth in shared environmental stewardship, building a stewardship ethic in its participants, provides opportunities for youth to learn about the environment, and motivates youth participants to become involved in the natural resource protection of their communities and beyond.

STATEMENT OF JOINT OBJECTIVES/PROJECT MANAGEMENT PLAN

NPS and WI will build upon the excellent record established by both organizations to implement Canoemobile in multiple urban cities and form advenureLAB - an innovative, partnership-based, systematic approach to engage large numbers of New York City students and their families in outdoor adventure, learning and service opportunities and connect with them repeatedly throughout their K-12 and college careers.

adventureLAB is about “Learning in America’s Backyard.” The NPS is the primary steward to 27,000 acres of public lands, campgrounds, waterfront, and interpretive sites within the 10 park units that comprise the National Parks of New York Harbor, which serve more than 12 million visitors each year. The WI was formed in 1978 to promote the responsible enjoyment of public lands and related waters, and to provide opportunities for all people, including people with disabilities, people from low-income communities, recent immigrants, and other non-traditional recreationists to use and enjoy these resources. The initiative builds on WI’s “Pyramid of Engagement” and is based on the four pillars of the Secretarial Order 3332: Engaging the Next Generation, Play, Learn, Serve, and Work.

RECIPIENT INVOLVEMENT

1. Engage large numbers of young people in coordinated programs related to the outdoors and river recreation and education in urban watersheds through community partnerships with school districts, local agencies, businesses, and nonprofit organizations, including but not limited to the National Parks of New York Harbor & Gateway National Recreation Area, Detroit, MI, New York City, NY, Philadelphia and Chester, PA, Wilmington, DE and Camden, NJ.

2. Provide safe recreation experiences that motivate young people to learn about, appropriately use, and enjoy public lands and waterways and related resources.

3. Explore how to expand the reach and impact of student outdoor experiences by providing opportunities for service and employment for young people in river recreation and outdoor education and through access to continued experiences and outdoor recreation skill development.

NATIONAL PARK SERVICE INVOLVEMENT

Substantial involvement on the part of 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:

1. Provide planning and organizational support for coordinated programs related to the outdoors and river recreation and education, in cooperation with projects including but not limited to the National Parks of New York Harbor (NPNH) & Gateway National Recreation Area, Detroit, MI, New York City, NY, Philadelphia and Chester, PA, Wilmington, DE and Camden, NJ.

2. Encourage NPS offices, partners, programs, national parks, and related waterway efforts, including urban waters, Groundwork USA, national parks, and national water trails, where appropriate to participate as fully as possible in the related conservation and recreation activities.

3. Provide information to WI about NPNH youth engagement, employment, and education and seek to coordinate these efforts, where possible, with WI programs to engage youth with the outdoors and with outdoor careers.

4. Provide publicly available information to WI on conservation and recreation issues and program initiatives pertaining to NPS public lands and waterways.

5. Explore the addition of career and outdoor skill experiences for youth engaged in efforts undertaken via this task agreement, including but not limited to, introduction to Groundwork Green Teams, mentoring by individual NPS staff, and connection to leadership development opportunities with NPS partners.

6. Make available appropriate camping and other facilities within the parks in coordination with other users and park policies, and work with WI to develop solutions that fulfill the program ambitions without damaging park resources.

7. Provide financial support to WI to accomplish the above mentioned tasks

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.

NPS did not solicit full and open competition for this award based the following criteria:

(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 as described below.

The NPS has an existing Cooperative Agreement (P14AC00991) with Wilderness Inquiry. There is not another organization that can safely mobilize large numbers of young people in river recreation across several urban areas and train youth leaders, as anticipated under this agreement.

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