p15as00395.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

Brownfields are defined as derelict sites that have been contaminated, or perceived to have been contaminated, through previous uses of the site. 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 existing and new Groundwork Trusts, promote and coordinate the work of the network, access national resources and partnerships to support local projects and programs, and establish and maintain best practices across the network of Groundwork Trusts.

STATEMENT OF JOINT OBJECTIVES/PROJECT MANAGEMENT PLAN

The objectives of this task agreement are:

• To share experience and provide technical assistance to communities impacted by brownfields and derelict land issues.

• To build capacity for sustaining community engagement in brownfields area-wide planning and implementation activities over the long-term, especially those projects that will improve access to parks, recreation and conserved natural resources.

• To help communities transition from planning activities to implementation.

RECIPIENT INVOLVEMENT

1. That the funds made available through this Agreement will be used to promote access to parks, recreation and conserved natural resources in communities that are recipients of EPA Brownfields Area Wide Planning Grants (grantees) and Groundwork Trusts by developing and providing training and information sharing, providing direct technical assistance to selected grantees, support networking of grantees and Groundwork Trust organizations, to coordinate technical assistance with other resources that may be available from other sources, develop tools to support the work of the grantees and to highlight and document successes, challenges and lessons learned from providing this type of technical assistance program.

2. That the funds made available through this Agreement cannot be used for construction documents or construction of specific projects.

3. To include Groundwork Trust organizations that are not grantees in the Brownfield training and information sharing activities when possible.

4. To develop a work plan in consultation with NPS and EPA specifying how the following tasks will be accomplished, who is responsible, timing and expected outcomes.

5. To support planning and delivery of 2015 and 2016/2017 AWP All-Grantee Meetings, by accomplishing the following tasks:

a) Develop and prepare agenda for two (2) All-Grantee meetings with EPA HQ and designated Regional Office Staff;

b) Attend AWP All-Grantee Meetings, first of which to be co-located at Brownfields 2015 conference in Chicago on September 1, 2015; second of which is TBD, but expected for winter 2016/early spring 2017;

c) Present case study example(s) of Platte Farm Open Space, Putnam Rail to Trail Corridor, and other relevant Groundwork-driven AWP (or AWP-type) projects as part of the agenda;

d) Facilitate agreed upon meeting workshops and break-out group discussions at the All Grantee meeting.

6. To provide direct technical assistance, such as mentorship, brainstorming, problem-solving, project collaboration, or facilitation, to selected Area Wide Planning grantees, by accomplishing the followings tasks:

a) Work with the communities that were previously selected for direct technical assistance – Indianapolis, IN, National City, CA and Shreveport, LA to assess progress to date to determine if additional technical assistance is needed. If it is, identify specific needs and activities for the technical assistance to focus on and provide to achieve agreed upon discreet outcomes;

b) Undertake a competitive call for letters of interest (LOI) based on the previously developed process to select between six (6) and nine (9) EPA Area Wide Planning grantees for direct technical assistance. EPA, NPS and GW USA will jointly review and select the recipients of the direct technical assistance from the proposals submitted;

c) Identify how the technical assistance will be provided to each recipient and the outcomes anticipated for each technical assistance project. Some should be formal (develop Scopes of Work) while some more informal (offer standing office hours for grantees to call in and get some on-the-spot thought partnering—i.e., fleshing out project/program ideas with an eye toward short-term action / long-term outcomes / moving from planning to implementation, etc.);

d) Work with each technical assistance recipient to produce a brief report or presentation documenting the findings and outcomes of the technical assistance.

7. To develop and facilitate networking opportunities between grantees by developing and implementing a Brownfields Area Wide Planning Grantees Learning Network, similar to the Urban Waters Learning Network previously developed by GW USA, by accomplishing the following tasks:

a) Determine the most effective and efficient way to organize the on-line AWP Learning Network to provide an on-line forum for information sharing, communication, and networking between the AWP grantees, GW USA and agencies supporting the work of the grantees;

b) Introduce the AWP Learning Network to participants and orient them to the use of the on-line forum;

c) Initiate networking activities and help make connections amongst projects, to share experiences and discuss any challenges they are facing. This may include helping to organize smaller affinity groups as part of the Learning Network or topic specific on-line discussions amongst participants, such as improving access to parks, recreation and conserved natural resources, regional approaches to brownfield planning and reuse, project types, community size or similar challenges to overcome.

8. To assess and document the outcomes of the work of the most successful AWP grantees, by accomplishing the following tasks:

a) Work with EPA Area Wide Planning Program to identify and select up to nine (9) successful AWP grantees to document their work, how they achieved success and the factors that led to that success;

b) Develop questions and conduct interviews with practitioners representing the selected grantees;

c) Distill lessons learned, best practices and principles based on assessment of the success of the selected grantees. Compile the lessons learned and best practices into an effective model for implementing the goals and objectives of the Area Wide Planning Program and identify the most transferable aspects of successful AWP projects;

d) Develop and organize a presentation for a panel session at the New Partners for Smart Growth conference focused on sharing these best practices and principles through case studies and interactive discussions. The conference will take place in Portland, OR, February 11-13, 2016. Alternate funding will be used to attend the conference.

9. To develop planning tools and approaches based on lessons learned and direct technical assistance provided that can be used by Area Wide Planning grantees, and other organizations and agencies working on similar issues, by accomplishing the following tasks.

a) Coordinate and participate in development of the following tools:

b) Test the tools in the field, working with AWP grantees receiving direct technical assistance as part of Task # 6 above. Prepare the finalized tool in a format that transferrable for use in other communities working on similar issues;

c) Introduce and present the tools as part of the work in Task # 8 above and other appropriate forums.

10. 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 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. That the funds made available through this Agreement will be used to promote access to parks, recreation and conserved natural resources in communities that are recipients of EPA Brownfields Area Wide Planning Grants (grantees) and Groundwork Trusts by developing and providing training and information sharing, providing direct technical assistance to selected grantees, support networking of grantees and Groundwork Trust organizations, to coordinate technical assistance with other resources that may be available from other sources, develop tools to support the work of the grantees and to highlight and document successes, challenges and lessons learned from providing this type of technical assistance program.

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 Area Wide Planning projects with technical assistance from the NPS Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance Program for projects the improve access to parks, recreation, and conserved natural resources.

4. To participate in the work of GW USA to select grantees for direct technical assistance and identify training topics for the Area Wide Planning workshop with a focus on improving access to parks, recreation and conserved natural resources.

5. To coordinate support activities with Groundwork USA, EPA and other partners involved in supporting Area Wide Planning grantees.

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;

GW USA was selected based on the current IA Agreement (EPA Reference # DW-14-92403401-0) executed between the NPS and the EPA as part of a pilot program.

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