Promote and Enhance Professional River Conservation, Use and Management

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 P14AS00148
Project Title Promote and Enhance Professional River Conservation, Use and Management
Recipient River Management Society
Principle Investigator / Program Manager Risa Shimokda
Total Anticipated Award Amount $150,000
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); 16 USC 1271 and Section 11b Wild & Scenic Rivers Act
CFDA # and Title 15.921 Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance
Single Source Justification Criteria Cited Continuation
NPS Point of Contact June Zastrow 303-987-6718 june_zastrow@nps.gov

OVERVIEW

The objective of this Agreement is to work jointly to promote and enhance professional river conservation and management. Through this Agreement, NPS and RMS ¿ along with several other Federal agencies, such as the USDA Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, and the Fish and Wildlife Service, will carry out projects of mutual interest and public benefit in such areas as professional development, promotion, research, volunteerism, interagency coordination, technical assistance, and training on behalf of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System and river conservation, use, and management.

RMS is a national non-profit professional organization working to support professionals who study, protect, and manage North America's rivers. The RMS objective is to advance the profession of river management by providing managers, researchers, educators and others with a forum for sharing information about the appropriate use and management of river resources.

RECIPIENT INVOLVEMENT

Plan, develop, and produce informational and educational resources intended to increase awareness of issues and programs associated with the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System, water trails, and general river stewardship and management issues and programs through the RMS website http://www.river-management.org, the publication of RMS Journal, virtual and online training and certification events and targeted products.
Provide planning and organizational support for the interagency river management workshops and the RMS Training Symposium series, occurring in the time span of this Agreement.
Provide organizational support for the Interagency Wild and Scenic Rivers Management Council and NPS Wild and Scenic Rivers Steering Committee activities to provide training and promote awareness of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System, a standard bearer for river management on all US rivers.
Provide organizational support for long term river management continuity and leadership via internships and other mission-related project assignments developed with students and `early career¿ individuals.

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:

Encourage NPS offices, units, regions, and programs, and other Federal agencies to participate as fully as possible in the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System and related river conservation and management activities;
Work with RMS in the development of informational and educational materials to support the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System and other river conservation, use, and management activities; and
Participate with RMS in the organization and presentation of symposia, workshops, and special training sessions concerning the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System and river conservation and management.
Collaborate with RMS on developing and supporting river management career opportunities.

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:

NPS and RMS have worked cooperatively on numerous tasks of a similar nature. Some tasks are ongoing. For example: Under Cooperative Agreement H2240080049/J2240100164 NPS and RMS successfully collaborated on:
¿ Professional development events from 2009 - 2014. These events have provided the primary venue for training by the Interagency Wild and Scenic Rivers Coordinating Council.
¿ We have also collaborated on creating a number of tools for river managers, including a guide for developing sustainable public launch sites. RMS and NPS are currently promoting the use of this document at conferences, and online. This outreach will identify enhancements that would be implemented during the life of this agreement.

RMS and NPS have been collaborating since 2012 to develop a national river recreation database for managers and the public. Continuation is essential. RMS has been at the forefront of engaging volunteer assistance. The vision has been completed with volunteer support of UNC-Greensboro, and work is underway with other volunteer partners, including ESRI and USGS, to guide development of a geodatabase and test pilot data. A graduate student/intern is currently compiling preliminary NPS Wild and Scenic Rivers data. Expanding and further development of this tool is anticipated under the new agreement.

STATUTORY AUTHORITY

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.

16 USC 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.