Engaging Youth in River Recreation and Conservation on NPS and Related Waterways

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 P14AC00147
Project Title Engaging Youth in River Recreation and Conservation on NPS and Related Waterways
Recipient Wilderness Inquiry Inc
Principle Investigator / Program Manager Greg Lais
Total Anticipated Award Amount `$25,000.00
Cost Share none
New Award or Continuation? Continuation
Anticipated Length of Agreement From date of award for five years
Anticipated Period of Performance From date of award for five years
Award Instrument Cooperative Agreement
Statutory Authority 16 USC 1(g) and 16 U.S.C. §1271 et seq
CFDA # and Title 15.921 Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance
Single Source Justification Criteria Cited Unique Qualifications and Continuation
NPS Point of Contact June Zastrow 303-987-6718 june_zastrow@nps.gov

OVERVIEW

The objective of this Agreement is for NPS and WI to work jointly to promote and increase outdoor recreation and education opportunities for people of all abilities and cultural backgrounds, especially low-income and disadvantaged youth, with opportunities for recreation and enjoyment of public waterways and related resources, and opportunities for education, service, and exposure to careers.

The NPS has interests in encouraging use of public lands and related waterways, eliminating barriers to access, and enhancing public appreciation, knowledge, and conservation of these waterways so that they may be enjoyed by all Americans. The NPS and its partners purposefully engage youth in outdoor recreation opportunities and help them gain skills for a lifetime, supporting the Secretary of the Interior¿s priorities for youth to play, learn, serve, and work.

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 NPS and WI desire to build upon the successful partnership efforts established by both organizations to facilitate outdoor recreation programs that provide large numbers of American youth (particularly youth from urban areas, underserved communities, and those with special needs) with experiences that introduce them to public lands and waterways and related resources.

Through this Agreement, NPS and WI will carry out projects, programs, and activities of mutual interest with public benefit that involve river recreation and youth engagement, including on urban waters, national water trails, wild and scenic rivers, and community river conservation and recreation projects.

RECIPIENT INVOLVEMENT

1. Engage large numbers of young people in coordinated programs related to the outdoors and river recreation and education through community partnerships with school districts, local agencies, businesses, and nonprofit organizations.
2. Motivate these young people to learn about, appropriately use, and enjoy public lands and waterways and related resources.
3. Provide opportunities for outdoor recreation skill development.
4. Provide opportunities for service and employment for young people in river recreation and outdoor education.
5. Assist the NPS in encouraging environmentally responsible and safe use of public lands and waterways and related resources.
6. Work cooperatively with the NPS to convey education and information to the public regarding the use of public lands and waterways by people of all abilities and cultural backgrounds, especially low-income and disadvantaged youth.
7. Seek funding for the cooperative program in coordination with NPS and its partners.

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 planning and organizational support for coordinated programs related to the outdoors and river recreation and education.
2. Encourage NPS offices, programs, national parks, and related waterway efforts, including urban waters and national water trails, to participate as fully as possible in the related river conservation and recreation activities.
3. Facilitate the expansion of opportunities for outdoor recreation and education programs and activities, collaborating where appropriate to coordinate joint participation and facilitate participation by additional Federal and local partners.
4. Provide information to WI about youth engagement, employment, and education; and other efforts to develop a diverse and skilled workforce for Federal agencies, and seek to coordinate these efforts, where possible, with WI programs to engage youth with the outdoors.
5. Provide publicly available information to WI on conservation and recreation issues and program initiatives pertaining to NPS public lands and waterways.

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 AND CONTINUATION

SINGLE SOURCE JUSTIFICATION DESCRIPTION:

Wilderness Inquiry is unique in being able to place large numbers of people safely onto the water in multiple cities along with the incorporation of paddling skill development and educational opportunities. They are able to reach a wide geographic region, reach urban and paddlers with disabilities, safely engage large numbers of paddlers at one time, incorporate recreation skills and education, and provide leadership development.
NPS and Wilderness Inquiry have worked cooperatively on tasks of a similar nature under a cooperative agreement with MNRRA and Wilderness Inquiry. On similar efforts in the past, the NPS in-kind support equated to more than $100,000 and included event planning support, partnership development, public promotion, and educational activities and skills training.
Wilderness Inquiry also currently has an MOU with several federal agencies, including NPS. This agreement will provide additional continuity benefits to the government.

STATUTORY AUTHORITY

A. 16 U.S.C. §1g. NPS authority to enter into cooperative agreements and transfer appropriated funds to nonprofit organization for the public purpose of NPS programs.
B. 16 U.S.C. §460l -1, Subsection (f)(3) authorizes cooperation with educational institutions and others to assist in establishing programs and activities to encourage public use and benefits from outdoor recreation.
C. 16 U.S.C. §1271 et seq. The Wild and Scenic Rivers Act of 1968, Section 11 (b)(1) authorizes Federal assistance, cooperation through written agreements, and limited financial or other assistance to private organizations and others to protect and manage river resources.