National History Day 2013

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 P13AS00075
Project Title National History Day 2013 Books and Medals
Recipient National History Day
Principle Investigator / Program Manager Cathy Gorn
Total Anticipated Award Amount $35,000.00
Cost Share None
New Award or Continuation? This is a Task Agreement under Cooperative Agreement P11AC00243
Anticipated Length of Agreement From Date of award until September 30, 2013
Anticipated Period of Performance From Date of award until September 30, 2013
Award Instrument Cooperative Agreement
Statutory Authority 16 USC 1g
CFDA # and Title 15.954 National Park Service Conservation, Protection, Outreach, and Education
Single Source Justification Criteria Cited (4) Unique Qualifications
NPS Point of Contact June Zastrow 303-987-6718 june_zastrow@nps.gov

OVERVIEW

Cooperative Agreement Number P11AC00243 was entered into by and between the Department of the Interior, National Park Service (NPS), and National History Day (NHD) for the purpose of financial assistance. Unless otherwise specified herein, the terms and conditions as stated in the Cooperative Agreement will apply to this Task Agreement.

Provide Civil War Resource Book for Teachers and Medal Awards to Student Winners at the Kenneth E. Behring National History Day Contest in June, 2013: The purpose of this task agreement is to provide financial assistance to NHD to provide a primary source resource book to teachers and award medals to be presented to student winners at the Kenneth E. Behring National Contest held in Washington, D.C. in June, 2013. The Kenneth E. Behring National Contest is the culmination of a year¿s worth of work performed by junior and senior high school students who have produced projects based on historical research and interpretation of primary and secondary sources and have successfully progressed through local and state contests to compete at the national level. Student winners in multiple categories and age levels will be presented with medals to commemorate their successful work. The Teachers¿ Resource Book will be distributed to over 30,000 teachers and provide important sources and documents for their students to use in researching and producing submissions future NHD contests.

RECIPIENT INVOLVEMENT

NHD agrees to:

1. Produce and publish a Teachers¿ Resource Book containing content submitted by the National Park Service to teachers at the Kenneth E. Behring National Contest in June, 2013.

2. Procure award medals and distribute them to student winners at the Kenneth E. Behring National contest in June, 2013.

3. Distribute publications and materials that interpret historical events and themes included in the public education programs of the National Park Service throughout its network of 30,000 educators across the country and internationally.

4. Collaborate with the National Park Service in development and presentation of professional development workshops for educators.

5. Provide educators with information about historical events and programs provided by the National Park Service through its electronic networks such as Facebook, Twitter, email blasts.

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. Provide speakers to make presentations at the opening and closing ceremonies during the Kenneth E. Behring National Contest in June 2013.

2. Assist NHD in providing professional development workshops for educators by providing subject matter experts, tour guides, park publications, and assist in facilitating field trips to National Park Service historic sites.

3. Provide NPS publications and materials for 55 state coordinator packets to be distributed at the Kenneth E. Behring National Contest.

4. Encourage and facilitate NPS staff in field and support offices to participate in local, state, and national contests as judges.

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:

(4) UNIQUE QUALIFICATIONS

Single Source Justification Description:

National History Day was selected because of unique qualifications in providing history teachers and students at the junior high and senior high school levels opportunities to research and interpret historical themes and present their findings at competitions in local, state, and national contests.

STATUTORY AUTHORITY

(16 U.S.C. § 1): The National Park Service Organic Act directs the Secretary to promote and regulate the National Park System lands by such means and measures as to conform to the fundamental purpose of such lands, namely, conservation of the scenery and the natural and historic objects and wildlife therein, and to provide for the enjoyment of these resources in a manner by such means as will leave them unimpaired for the enjoyment of future generations.
(16 U.S.C. § 1g): The National Park Service may in fiscal year 1997 and thereafter enter into cooperative agreements that involve the transfer of National Park Service appropriated funds to State, local, and tribal governments, other public entities, educational institutions, and private nonprofit organizations for the public purpose of carrying out National Park Service programs.