Department of the Interior Grant: Supporting Challenge Cost Share Program with The Outdoor Foundation

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 P14AS00272
Project Title FY 2014 Challenge Cost Share Program
Recipient The Outdoor Foundation
Principle Investigator / Program Manager Christine Fanning
Total Anticipated Award Amount $386,000.00
Cost Share $386,000.00
New Award or Continuation? Continuation of Cooperative Agreement P14AC01267
Anticipated Length of Agreement From date of award until 1/31/2016
Anticipated Period of Performance From date of award until 1/31/2016
Award Instrument Cooperative Agreement
Statutory Authority 16 USC 1(g) & 16 USC 1f
CFDA # and Title 15.943 Challenge Cost Share
Single Source Justification Criteria Cited (2) Continuation
NPS Point of Contact June Zastrow 303-987-6718 june_zastrow@nps.gov

OVERVIEW

Cooperative Agreement Number P14AC01267 was entered into by and between the Department of the Interior, National Park Service (NPS), and the Outdoor Foundation (OF) for the purpose of establishing a collaborative effort to support the Challenge Cost Share Program. Unless otherwise specified herein, the terms and conditions as stated in the Cooperative Agreement will apply to this Task Agreement.

FY¿14 Challenge Cost Share Program: The objective of this Agreement is to establish a collaborative effort with the OF and the NPS to support the Challenge Cost Share Program by reaching out to a broad audience of qualified organizations, supporting and contributing to projects around the country which serve the mutual goals of the OF and support NPS visitors and programs.

RECIPIENT INVOLVEMENT

OF agrees to:
¿ Support Challenge Cost Share projects generated by local partner organizations and approved by NPS, offering support to recipient organizations and helping them to complete projects which address priorities for NPS sites and programs
¿ Execute project agreements with all the selected partners to assure that funding will be used for approved challenge cost share projects, and each project has documented cost share contributions;
¿ Track project execution and collect written and graphic documentation of the results of all Challenge Cost Share projects using grant management software
¿ Provide quarterly reports to NPS of the impact of the grants and track the following measurable:
o Project Success Stories ¿ including narrative, photos, videos
o Pre and Post Program Surveys ¿ measuring overall impact
o Media coverage
o Overall Program / Individual project impact
 Number of Individuals engaged
 Number of outdoor hours
 Number of new partners
 Number of miles / acres restored
 Populations served ¿ including demographic breakdowns
¿ Collaborate with NPS regions and the Washington Office to promote the Challenge Cost Share program, equitably manage, and support projects across the country

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:

NPS agrees to:
¿ Direct the process for soliciting local projects: assuring that they have the NPS site or program endorsement; and a local partner committed to the results including providing a cost sharing contribution.
¿ Provide specific guidelines on the application requirements, accounting, and documentation for the Challenge Cost Share Program.
¿ Identify partnership program coordinators in every NPS region with whom to collaborate on evaluation.
¿ Make the final project selections in collaboration with the OF and verify that NPS site and program participation is specified.
¿ Provide a detailed list of FY 14 local projects, their sponsors contact information and approved funding amount and full applications.
¿ Provide points of contact for a variety of NPS sites and programs with suitable expertise.
¿ 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 (P14AC01497) under Cooperative Agreement (P14AC01267) in the amount of $386,000.00 with a period of performance from date of award until 01/31/2016.

STATUTORY AUTHORITY

16 U.S.C. 1g 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. 16U.S.C. 1f, Challenge Cost Share Authority, 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 of 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.

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 P14AS00272
Project Title FY 2014 Challenge Cost Share Program
Recipient The Outdoor Foundation
Principle Investigator / Program Manager Christine Fanning
Total Anticipated Award Amount $386,000.00
Cost Share $386,000.00
New Award or Continuation? Continuation of Cooperative Agreement P14AC01267
Anticipated Length of Agreement From date of award until 1/31/2016
Anticipated Period of Performance From date of award until 1/31/2016
Award Instrument Cooperative Agreement
Statutory Authority 16 USC 1(g) & 16 USC 1f
CFDA # and Title 15.943 Challenge Cost Share
Single Source Justification Criteria Cited (2) Continuation
NPS Point of Contact June Zastrow 303-987-6718 june_zastrow@nps.gov

OVERVIEW

Cooperative Agreement Number P14AC01267 was entered into by and between the Department of the Interior, National Park Service (NPS), and the Outdoor Foundation (OF) for the purpose of establishing a collaborative effort to support the Challenge Cost Share Program. Unless otherwise specified herein, the terms and conditions as stated in the Cooperative Agreement will apply to this Task Agreement.

FY¿14 Challenge Cost Share Program: The objective of this Agreement is to establish a collaborative effort with the OF and the NPS to support the Challenge Cost Share Program by reaching out to a broad audience of qualified organizations, supporting and contributing to projects around the country which serve the mutual goals of the OF and support NPS visitors and programs.

RECIPIENT INVOLVEMENT

OF agrees to:
¿ Support Challenge Cost Share projects generated by local partner organizations and approved by NPS, offering support to recipient organizations and helping them to complete projects which address priorities for NPS sites and programs
¿ Execute project agreements with all the selected partners to assure that funding will be used for approved challenge cost share projects, and each project has documented cost share contributions;
¿ Track project execution and collect written and graphic documentation of the results of all Challenge Cost Share projects using grant management software
¿ Provide quarterly reports to NPS of the impact of the grants and track the following measurable:
o Project Success Stories ¿ including narrative, photos, videos
o Pre and Post Program Surveys ¿ measuring overall impact
o Media coverage
o Overall Program / Individual project impact
 Number of Individuals engaged
 Number of outdoor hours
 Number of new partners
 Number of miles / acres restored
 Populations served ¿ including demographic breakdowns
¿ Collaborate with NPS regions and the Washington Office to promote the Challenge Cost Share program, equitably manage, and support projects across the country

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:

NPS agrees to:
¿ Direct the process for soliciting local projects: assuring that they have the NPS site or program endorsement; and a local partner committed to the results including providing a cost sharing contribution.
¿ Provide specific guidelines on the application requirements, accounting, and documentation for the Challenge Cost Share Program.
¿ Identify partnership program coordinators in every NPS region with whom to collaborate on evaluation.
¿ Make the final project selections in collaboration with the OF and verify that NPS site and program participation is specified.
¿ Provide a detailed list of FY 14 local projects, their sponsors contact information and approved funding amount and full applications.
¿ Provide points of contact for a variety of NPS sites and programs with suitable expertise.
¿ 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 (P14AC01497) under Cooperative Agreement (P14AC01267) in the amount of $386,000.00 with a period of performance from date of award until 01/31/2016.

STATUTORY AUTHORITY

16 U.S.C. 1g 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. 16U.S.C. 1f, Challenge Cost Share Authority, 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 of 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.