P17AS00618.pdf

National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior

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 a task agreement under a previously competed or single source justified master cooperative agreement.

ABSTRACT

Funding Announcement Number P17AS00618 Project Title Cultivating the Next Generation of Wild and

Scenic River Explorers and Managers Recipient Conservation Legacy Anticipated Federal Funding $75,000 Non-federal Cost Share None Anticipated Period of Performance 08/14/2017 – 09/30/2018 Award Instrument Cooperative Agreement Statutory Authority 54 U.S.C. §101702(a) and 16 USC § 1723(c)(1) CFDA # and Title 15.921 - Rivers, Trails, and Conservation

Assistance Single Source Justification Criteria Continuation Point of Contact Steve Livingston – steve_livingston@nps.gov

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

While many wild and scenic rivers have the capacity for engaging youth in, on and near river recreation, and for developing future river managers, the full extent of this capacity is not understood.

In preparation for the 50th anniversary of the Wild and Scenic Rivers (WSR) Act in 2018, when we would like to introduce 500 youth to our wild and scenic rivers, in 2017 WSR Youth Fellows will assess the existing capacity and opportunities and develop a proposal to engage the public, esp. youth on wild and scenic rivers in 2018. The focus of this task will be inventorying, understanding, and increasing youth engagement on NPS Wild and Scenic Rivers by the NPS and partners.

STATEMENT OF WORK

Through this Task Agreement, the partners will create, fill, administer, and support the placement of internships and fellowships with the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System program. The participants will receive high-quality exposure to the kinds of professional work performed by NPS to benefit local rivers and local communities, and will include efforts to engage young people in projects that support natural resource conservation, stewardship, and outdoor recreation. Fellowships will be 11-month positions; Rigorous Internships that conform to the specific requirements of an approved

Rigorous Internship Program as outlined by NPS and the Office of the Secretary’s Personnel Bulletin No. 12-15 will be 11-weeks long. Through this work, the participants will become familiar with NPS river conservation and recreation efforts and career opportunities and will have the opportunity to gain hands-on experience in natural resource and youth engagement projects.

RECIPIENT AGREES TO:

1. Recruit, appoint, place and support qualified individuals acceptable to the NPS staff who will serve as mentors. Participants will perform a variety of duties related to Wild and Scenic Rivers, which primarily includes an inventory of NPS Wild and Scenic River youth engagement, but may include:

resource inventory and analysis; preparation of maps, resource inventories, and other project visuals by hand or utilizing computerized information systems; information exchange with public and professional audiences; assistance with organization and logistical support of youth engagement efforts; and research, under the direction and support of NPS Wild and Scenic staff. Interns may also participate in activities including river conservation or stewardship efforts, public outreach, education, or interpretation activities, and supervision of other youth or volunteers in a range of conservation and recreation projects.

2. Assist in recruiting and welcoming candidates who have strong interest and potential to contribute to these projects, and have attained qualifications and experience that would allow full performance in the near term.

3. Provide specific financial support to participants, which may include some or all of the following: a stipend for subsistence to each participant, an allowance to defray daily commuting expenses, a travel allowance to provide funding for duty-related travel for project work and training opportunities, a housing stipend appropriate to the cost of local housing, financial benefits earmarked for educational use, and injury and liability insurance coverage.

4. Plan and deliver, in close coordination with NPS personnel, appropriate training to participants and key NPS staff.

5. Manage and carry out all administrative functions, and maintain all administrative records, as necessary for the efficient and professional conduct of the work performed pursuant to this Task Agreement, and provide necessary liaison and ensure compliance with regard to the AmeriCorps program.

6. Seek out, and be responsive to, all additional opportunities from sources other than NPS to leverage the financial resources made available for these purposes, and/or to enhance the range of experiences and opportunities that NPS is capable of making available to Fellows and/or interns.

NATIONAL PARK SERVICE AGREES TO:

1. Determine the acceptability of applicants provided by CL for Fellowship positions.

2. Provide experienced and seasoned staff to serve as mentors to the Fellows and provide all needed guidance, identify tasks to be performed, manage and prioritize work, review all documents, and give daily supervision.

3. Identify recreation and conservation projects and sponsoring organizations outside of NPS that will focus the work of these Fellows.

4. Provide connections and points of contact for experiences in a variety of NPS sites with suitable programs, resources, staff, and job opportunities to learn about, suitable for Fellows.

5. Provide all necessary equipment (desks, computers, etc.), tools, work specifications, and applicable rules and regulations for all CL participants.

6. Provide funding to stimulate and support these activities.