National Park Service Grant for Enhanced Visitor Experience and Natural Resource Management at Golden Gate National Parks

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 Number P12AC10303
Project Title Interpretation and Education
Recipient Golden Gate NATIONAL PARKS CONSERVANCY
Principle Investigator / Program Manager Denise Shea
Total Anticipated Award Amount $95,000
Cost Share None
New Award or Continuation? New Award
Anticipated Length of Agreement 5 Years
Anticipated Period of Performance 4/30/2012 – 4/29/2017
Award Instrument Cooperative Agreement
Statutory Authority 16 U.S.C. §1g
CFDA # and Title 15.944, Natural Resource Stewardship
Single Source Justification Criteria Cited GGNPC has a long standing relationship with Golden Gate National Recreation Area. They also have expertise and extensive experience in both interpretation of historic sites and monitoring natural resources.
NPS Point of Contact Steve Haller

OVERVIEW

This joint program will enable GGNRA and the Parks Conservancy to a. enhance the visitor experience on Alcatraz by providing interpretive opportunities and b. increase capacity of the GGNRA to manage its resources using sound science.

To increase the visitor experience, the GGNRA and Conservancy will partner to augment interpretive programs on Alcatraz. Interpretive programs would include and are not limited to new formal and informal interpretive programs, development of new interpretive media, providing educational presentations, providing information services, providing and enhancing visitor safety. In addition, the program would increase visitor access to historic buildings and monitor wildlife in response to visitor use.

STATEMENT OF JOINT OBJECTIVES/PROJECT MANAGEMENT PLAN

Specifically GGNRA will provide expertise and staff to develop the following:
a. Work with a National Park Service (NPS) Ranger to create site specific interpretive short program about the ‘New Industries Building’. Programs will be no more than 15 minutes in duration.
b. Create new interpretive media about the ‘New Industries Building’ such as brochures, photo displays, web content, social media content or other types of displays.
c. Open and close the ‘New Industries Building’ daily, 4-5 hours of work daily.
d. Identify potential historic artifacts for NPS to purchase and display in the ‘New Industries Building’.
e. Identify volunteer organizations to assist with Alcatraz service projects. Projects should be specific to the ‘New Industries Building’. Projects should include: clean up such as sweeping, window washing, laying and flooring as examples.
f. Provide informal behind the scenes tours for visitors to Alcatraz daily. Tours to be for no more than 15 people at a time.
g. Develop a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for managing the ‘New Industries Building’ jointly with an Alcatraz NPS Biologist. The SOP is to be completed by
h. 1 Sept. 2012.
i. Answer questions from visitors and provide general park information at the dock.
j. Conduct standard dock announcements as time allows.
k. Conduct daily roves around island as time allows.
l. Work with NPS Rangers to complete daily schedule.
m. Assist NPS Rangers on other projects as time allows.

To increase the capacity of managing resources, the GGNRA and Conservancy will partner to enhance long-term scientific monitoring and management in natural areas. Efforts will focus on conducting biological investigations, identification of non-native plants, providing information to prioritize and manage non-native species, and also direct eradication of some non-native species.

Specifically GGNRA will provide expertise and staff to develop the following:
a. Work with NPS Vegetation Ecologist to identify and locate non-native plants on Golden Gate National Recreation Area (GOGA) lands.
b. Work with NPS Vegetation Ecologist to select priority areas for field investigations to locate priority non-native plants.
c. Solicit volunteers to identify and locate non-native plants. Volunteer solicitation to be made through both NPS and Conservancy websites.
d. Train volunteers to identify priority non-native plants. Training to be conducted in class-room setting or through informal one-on-one training.
e. Lead volunteers on field trips to identify and locate priority non-native plants.
f. Develop educational material about non-native plants such as identification guides, web content, or maps.
g. Enter data into computer database and assist vegetation ecologist in analyzing and reporting data.
h. Create formal or informal oral presentations to present data and findings to other staff.
i. Assist with other inventory and monitoring projects as time allows.

RECIPIENT INVOLVEMENT

To increase the capacity of managing resources, the GGNRA and Conservancy will partner to enhance long-term scientific monitoring and management in natural areas. Efforts will focus on conducting biological investigations, identification of non-native plants, providing information to prioritize and manage non-native species, and also direct eradication of some non-native species.

NATIONAL PARK SERVICE INVOLVEMENT

Substantial involvement on the part of 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: See above “STATEMENT OF JOINT
OBJECTIVES/PROJECT MANAGEMENT PLAN”

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 – 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. GGNPC has a long standing relationship with Golden Gate National Recreation Area. They also have expertise and extensive experience in both interpretation of historic sites and monitoring natural resources.