Department of the Interior: Funding for Glacier Transit Agreement

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 NPS-NOIR# P12AC30010
Project Title National Park Service-Title
Recipient
Principle Investigator / Program Manager Jim Foster
Randy Buckley
Total Anticipated Award Amount 760,000.00
Cost Share None Required
New Award or Continuation? New Cooperative Agreement, P12AC30010
Anticipated Length of Agreement Through December 14, 2016
Anticipated Period of Performance Through December 14, 2016
Award Instrument Cooperative Agreement
Statutory Authority 16 U.S.C. 1 (g)
CFDA # and Title 15.944
Single Source Justification Criteria Cited #4 – Unique Qualifications
NPS Point of Contact Tina Holland

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OVERVIEW, RECIPIENT AND NPS SUBSTANTIAL INVOLVEMENT

To provide transit for visitors to Glacier National Park in response to the Final EIS/ROD done in 2002 for the Going-to-the-Sun Road rehabilitation. It is also to provide transit resources for rural communities in the State of Montana who do not have access to these resources.

The public purpose of this cooperative agreement is to provide a free transit system over the Going-to-the-Sun Road to the visiting public. Its purpose accomplishes not only what the Final EIS/ROD required by law but also a small reduction in vehicular traffic on the Road during construction.

Glacier National Park will have direct budgetary oversight and quality control/quality assurance controls of the entire transit operation
Without this substantial involvement it would be very easy to overspend and cause a reduction in transit service to the visitors of Glacier National Park. It is also necessary to keep the policies and values of Glacier National Park as the overarching and guiding principles for the cooperating partner.

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 awarded this task to Flathead County, Eagle Transit based on the following exception.
(4) Unique Qualifications – A. Background:

The National Park Service (NPS) is currently underway with the major rehabilitation of the Going-to-the-Sun Road (GTSR) in Glacier National Park. Rehabilitation, led by the Western Federal Lands Highway Division (WFLHD) Federal Highway Administration, will be ongoing for the duration of this Agreement based on current funding levels. A Congressionally mandated Citizens Advisory Committee, the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) and Record of Decision (ROD) for the project all mandated that the NPS be charged with the responsibility of mitigating construction impacts to the visitor experience and the corresponding impact to local communities during the construction period.

The Final Environmental Impact Study and Record of Decision (FEIS/ROD) solution was instituting a Transit system augmented by an Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) and other visitor services to ensure mitigation goals are met during the construction period:

1. During peak season, visitors will encounter no more than 30 to 40 minutes of cumulative delays driving the GTSR; and

2. Park visitation levels will remain at a minimum of 94% of average visitation.

The project implementation included a shuttle system free to all boarding passengers operating on both sides of the Continental Divide on the GTSR, constructing the new Transit Center near Apgar Village on the west side, upgrading the St. Mary Visitor Center to incorporate Transit operations on the east side, building the commensurate transit stops along the proposed routes and implementing the ITS system focused on transit management.

Glacier National Park, the Montana Department of Transportation, and Flathead County, continue to stand behind the completion of the GTSR rehabilitation project as early as possible with minimal negative impacts to visitors.

The State and County have a vested interest in maintaining and promoting visitation to Glacier National Park, which is one of the goals outlined in the mitigation plan. In addition to being geared toward providing visitors an opportunity for a favorable experience, there are significant economic benefits in the County and throughout the State directly related to park visitation.

The State, in cooperation with Flathead County, is willing to continue the partnership with the park toward the goal of increasing the availability of public transportation in and around the park. The County has identified a need for additional vehicles to serve the rapidly growing public transportation requirements. State funding provides an unprecedented opportunity to expand the transportation system beyond park boundaries.

Flathead County has the experience and expertise in public transportation as demonstrated by having operated Eagle Transit, a local service provider, for the past 25 years. Eagle Transit has the continued capability to operate the park’s transit system with the flexibility necessary to accommodate changing park requirements.