2014 Ancestral Lands Conservation Corp Project

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 P14AS00059
Project Title 2014 Ancestral Lands Conservation Corp Project
Recipient Southwest Conservation Corp
Principle Investigator / Program Manager Harry Bruell / Dustin Woodman
Total Anticipated Award Amount $70,000.00
Cost Share $37,333.00
New Award or Continuation? Continuation. This Task Agreement is part of Cooperative Agreement # P09AC00399 Legacy # H2495090038
Anticipated Length of Agreement From Date of Award until 9/30/2014
Anticipated Period of Performance From Date of Award until 9/30/2014
Award Instrument Cooperative Agreement
Statutory Authority 16 USC 1g and 16 USC 1723
CFDA # and Title 15.931 Youth Conservation Activities
Single Source Justification Criteria Cited (2) Continuation

NPS Point of Contact June Zastrow 303-987-6718 june_zastrow@nps.gov

OVERVIEW

The Southwest Conservation Corps, one of the eight members of MACC, has operated the Ancestral Lands program for several years. The Ancestral Lands program was identified and funded as a Youth Programs ¿Youth Demonstration Project¿ in 2011.

NPS participation in the Ancestral Lands program will enable the project to expand its Hiking Club at El Morro/El Malpais National Monuments and to operate a Southwest Parks Ancestral Lands crew to complete projects at National Parks in Arizona, Colorado and New Mexico

These programs fit directly with the Department¿s Youth Initiative of engaging youth in Play, Learn, Serve and Work. The Hiking Club engages youth in both Learn and Serve activities while the Lands Crew engages youth in Work activities that directly support the NPS goals of providing a safe access to national parks while protecting natural and cultural resources. Both projects will benefit youth as they learn about National Parks, local ecology and geology, conservation and environmental issues, service opportunities and cultural and historic resources as well as the planning, operations and maintenance needs in national parks.

Additionally, the projects support the self-empowerment of Native American communities through the development of programs across Indian Country that: 1) provide jobs and experience for local Native American youth; 2) connect youth to their heritage and cultural values; 3) complete important conservation projects for their communities, and neighboring public lands; and, 4) exposes Native American youth to potential careers with public land management agencies.

RECIPIENT INVOLVEMENT

A. Recipient agrees to:

1. Continue the long standing efforts of the NPS to provide opportunities for public service, youth employment, minority youth development and training, and participation of young adults in accomplishing conservation related work.

2. Promote and stimulate a public purpose such as education, job training furthering the understanding and appreciation of natural and cultural resources through the involvement of youth and young adults in the care and enhancement of public resources.
3. Recruit and hire young adults from diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds.

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:

B. NPS agrees to:

1. Support the projects with general orientation and educational sessions on the NPS and its mission and park/site operations;

2. Provide administrative and technical support in identifying projects at El Morro and El Malpais NMs and partner with the Ancestral Lands Conservation Corps to complete the projects;

3. Provide financial assistance in accordance with Article VI of this agreement.

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:

THIS IS A NOTICE OF INTENT TO AWARD

This is a Task Agreement (P14AC00280) under Cooperative Agreement (P09AC00399) in the amount of $70,000.00 with a period of performance from date of award until 09/30/2014.

STATUTORY AUTHORITY

16 U.S.C. 1g authorizes the NPS to enter into cooperative agreements that involve the transfer of NPS appropriated funds to state, local and tribal governments, other public entities, educational institutions, and private non-profit organizations for the public purpose of carrying out NPS programs.

16 U.S.C. 1723 (c) Public Land Corps, authorizes the Secretary to enter into contracts and cooperative agreements with a qualified youth or conservation corps to perform appropriate conservation projects.