Community Based Conservation & Recreation Planning Fellowships

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 P14AS00384
Project Title Fellowships in Community-Based Conservation and Recreation Planning
Recipient Southwest Conservation Corp dba Conservation Legacy
Principle Investigator / Program Manager Amy Foss
Total Anticipated Award Amount $370,000.00
Cost Share $246,275.00
New Award or Continuation? Continuation of Cooperative Agreement P13AC01381
Anticipated Length of Agreement From date of award until 3/31/2016
Anticipated Period of Performance From date of award until 3/31/2016
Award Instrument Cooperative Agreement
Statutory Authority 16 USC 1(g)
CFDA # and Title 15.921 Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance
Single Source Justification Criteria Cited (2) Continuation
NPS Point of Contact June Zastrow 303-987-6718 june_zastrow@nps.gov

OVERVIEW

Following a formal Funding Opportunity Announcement and consideration of interested partners in 2012, Cooperative Agreement Number P13AC01381 was entered into by and between the Department of the Interior, National Park Service, (NPS), and the Southwest Conservation Corps, DBA Conservation Legacy (CL) for the purpose of engaging young adults in community-based work and offering internships and training, all of which expose young adults to the importance of parks and conservation and to potential career opportunities therein. Unless otherwise specified herein, the terms and conditions as stated in the Cooperative Agreement will apply to this Task Agreement.

Eleven (11) qualified participants will take part in a 47-week-long program in support of projects and locations where the NPS Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance (RTCA) and other NPS programs are providing technical assistance. Each Fellow will gain an apprenticeship opportunity that includes efforts to engage young people in projects that support community-led natural resource conservation and outdoor recreation projects. Local-area recruitment will be assumed.

This task is an ongoing and long-term project where the need for incremental funding and additional time is anticipated but will be subject to funding availability. Subsequent requests for additional time or funding associated with this task must receive prior approval of the Awarding Officer and will be authorized by modification to this Agreement.

RECIPIENT INVOLVEMENT

CL agrees to:
1. Recruit, appoint, place and support qualified individuals who are acceptable to the supervising NPS staff. Participants will perform a variety of duties related to RTCA or other NPS program projects and activities, which 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 planning workshops and public meetings; and preparation of conceptual designs related to site management and conservation alternatives, under the direction and support of COR staff.
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 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, 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. Develop tools and resources, in close coordination with NPS personnel, for use in attracting and retaining participation and interest by youth and young adults in community projects in ways other than the subject Fellowship program, including production of print, online, and other media that furthers the purpose of this agreement.
6. 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.
7. 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 the Fellows.

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. Determine the acceptability of applicants provided by CL for Fellowships.
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

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 (P14AC01781) under Cooperative Agreement (P13AC01381) in the amount of $370,000.00 with a period of performance from date of award until 03/31/2016.

STATUTORY AUTHORITY

A. 16 U.S.C. 1g, which authorizes the National Park Service (NPS) to enter into cooperative agreements that involve the transfer of NPS appropriated funds to 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 pursuant to 31 U.S.C. 6305.

B. 16 U.S.C. 1f, Challenge Cost Share Authority, which authorizes the NPS to enter into agreements with cooperators for the purpose of sharing costs or services in carrying out authorized functions and responsibilities of the Secretary with respect to any unit or program if the national park system, and affiliated areas, or any designated National Scenic or Historic Trail. This authority allows the agency to negotiate and enter into cooperative agreements with any State or local government, organization, institution, individual or other entity. A cooperative agreement may be utilized if there is substantial involvement in the project on the part of the NPS.