Department of the Interior Grant: 2013 Groundworks USA Youth Summit

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 P13AS00146
Project Title 2013 Groundworks USA Youth Summit
Recipient Groundworks USA
Principle Investigator / Program Manager Rick Magder
Total Anticipated Award Amount $29,995.50
Cost Share None
New Award or Continuation? This is a Task Agreement under Cooperative Agreement P09AC00401
Anticipated Length of Agreement From date of award until 10/31/2013
Anticipated Period of Performance From date of award until 10/31/2013
Award Instrument Cooperative Agreement
Statutory Authority 16 USC 1g
CFDA # and Title 15.921 Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance
Single Source Justification Criteria Cited (4) Unique Qualifications
NPS Point of Contact June Zastrow 303-987-6718 june_zastrow@nps.gov

OVERVIEW

RECIPIENT INVOLVEMENT

A. GWUSA agrees to:

1. Provide transportation and accommodations for youth delegates to attend the Summit;
2. Have youth participants, youth leaders, and Executive Director representatives from the 19 plus Groundwork trusts from across the country in attendance;
3. Present reports on the Groundwork NPS job training and service projects that have taken place across the country;
4. Organize workshops and presentations to include:
¿ utilizing advisory councils and youth employees to build community education exhibits;
¿ processes for networking organizations and community groups to tackle riparian habitat restoration;
¿ fostering stewardship in youth using restoration projects on public lands;
¿ and site tours of local area projects
5. Handle all conference logistics;
6. Provide supervision to the youth attendees.
7. Assemble speakers and presenters for the conference.

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:

B. NPS agrees to:

1. Provide conference space as appropriate;
2. Assist with funding transportation and accommodations for youth participants;
3. Provide speakers and presenters as appropriate;
4. Present information on project planning, policy, performance evaluation to the Groundwork attendees as appropriate;
5. Co-facilitate a NPS-GWUSA meeting and listening session focused on engaging disadvantaged, diverse urban youth populations in conservation and recreation projects, as planned and scheduled.

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

Single Source Justification Description:

THIS IS A NOTICE OF INTENT TO AWARD
This is a Task Agreement P13AC00938 under Cooperative Agreement P09AC00401 in the amount of $29,995.50 with a period of performance from date of award until 10/31/2013.

STATUTORY AUTHORITY

16 U.S.C. §1g authorizes the NPS to enter into cooperative agreements that involve the transfer of NPS appropriated 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.
This section provides broad authority for NPS to enter into cooperative agreements with most recipients for a public purpose. Although broad, this authority must be read in conjunction with the Federal Grant and Cooperative Agreement Act of 1977 and other authorities that prescribe whether a particular relationship should be a procurement contract or a cooperative agreement. Thus, in making this determination, one must always consider whether the principal purpose of the work is to acquire goods and/or services for NPS¿s direct benefit in furtherance of its mission or for a public purpose.