Department of the Interior Grant: Youth Conservation Stewardship

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 P15AS00001
Project Title Youth Engagement and Development
Recipient YMCA of the USA
Principle Investigator / Program Manager John Duntley
Total Anticipated Award Amount 500000
Cost Share
New Award or Continuation? New Cooperative Agreement
Anticipated Length of Agreement From date of award Five Years
Anticipated Period of Performance From date of award Five Years
Award Instrument Cooperative Agreement
Statutory Authority 16 USC 1(g); 16 USC 1723(c); 16 USC 1f
CFDA # and Title 15.931 Youth Conservation Activities
Single Source Justification Criteria Cited (4) Unique Qualifications
NPS Point of Contact June Zastrow 303-987-6718 june_zastrow@nps.gov

OVERVIEW

Provide recreational, educational, volunteer service and employment opportunities that engage and empower diverse young people to become the next generation of natural and cultural resource conservation stewards.

The primary purpose of this agreement is to establish a collaborative national partnership between YMCA of the USA and NPS. The goal of this partnership will be to engage individuals between the ages of 6 and 35 years of age in recreational, educational, volunteer service and employment opportunities in national park sites and affiliated areas. Accordingly, the partnership will develop a new generation of natural and cultural resource conservation stewards.

The collaboration will also achieve mutual mission goals and objectives through a leveraging of financial and intellectual resources. Additionally both organizations will utilize their existing program models and incorporate them into new collaborative models to address natural and cultural resource stewardship issues with young people in the United States of America.

RECIPIENT INVOLVEMENT

A. YMCA of the USA agrees to:

1. Create a multi-site activation program; whereas, local YMCAs integrate a pre-selected curriculum to be delivered through YMCA day and/or resident camps and in collaboration with NPS units, park or historic sites in the areas.

2. Support and develop collaborative programs that align and support the Department of the Interior¿s goals to inspire young people to utilize national parks as a place to play, learn, serve and work.

3. Identify qualified local YMCAs associations to collaborate with NPS in programs and projects.

4. Utilize its Day Camp Program model to engage young people with NPS sites.

5. Engage local YMCAs to work in collaboration with local NPS sites to develop structured and unstructured activities leveraging an agreed upon (NPS, YMCA, both or others) curriculum and other resources.

6. YMCA of the USA working with NPS will co-develop media products to promote camp programs. Marketing tools will include:
¿ development of a ¿toolkit¿ guide for local YMCAs to help with the integration of the curriculum in partnership with NPS sites.
¿ Advertising/promotion of camp opportunities in local summer program guides.
¿ Promoting collaboration with NPS and DOI sites.

7. The YMCA of the USA will provide NPS with a report at the conclusion of the grant period. The report will include:
¿ Lessons Learned, Best Practices and Recommendations.
¿ Outputs and sharing of youth experiences.
¿ Highlights from each participating YMCA of the USA and NPS site.

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. Provide financial assistance as provided for in Article VI.

2. Work in collaboration with the YCMA of the USA in developing a program involving agreed upon focus areas.

3. Provide, in collaboration with the YMCA of the USA, educational curriculum resources related to natural, historical, cultural, recreation, and heritage programs on NPS lands to enhance the environmental awareness of participants.

4. Assign appropriate NPS employee(s) to monitor the ongoing work, to respond to questions about the nature and goals of the partnership, and act as an on-site liaison among the parties.

5. Use existing internal communication channels to promote the camp programs and encourage all NPS sites to reach out and collaborate with their local YMCAs.

6. Conduct webinars to promote and share information about the camp programs and promote collaboration on the local levels.

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

A planning conference to outline the goals and objectives of this new national partnership will strategize how to incorporate the four major components of Secretarial Order 3331: Engaging the next generation into a cost effective program that positively impacts 4,000 to 5,000 youth participants annually. Additionally steps will be developed to write an educational curriculum, develop a marketing plan and other such products that will ensure the successful execution of the program.

The YMCA of the USA is the national resource office that provides programmatic support for 2,700 semi-independent local YMCA chapters. This organization through its¿ network of local chapters serves 22 million men, women and children throughout the United States through programs and services in youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility. The NPS has served as a key partner in the YMCA¿s health and well-being work, including ¿Activate America¿, a bold pan to retool the YMCA¿s around the country to confront the nation¿s rising rates of chronic diseases and has support the YMCA Healthy Kids Day Program. The YMCA has a network of 1,800 day camps and over 300 resident camps that serve more than 1.3 million children and youth. Additionally 80% of US households are within 5 miles of a YMCA chapter.

There is no other youth serving non-profit organization in the United States that has been in continued existence since the mid-19th century with the size and scope performing youth development work at this level of complexity. Additionally the YMCA is the only organization in the United States capable of incorporating a formal day camp program model that targets large numbers of children nationally to collaborate with the NPS recreation, education, volunteer and employment programs.

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.

16 U.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 of the national park system, any affiliated area, 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, public or private agency, organization, institution, corporation, 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 section principally gives authority for joint-funding arrangements entered into with non-federal partners (¿cooperators¿), although it also addresses ¿sharing¿services in carrying out authorized functions and responsibilities¿¿As with 16 U.S.C. §1g, this authority must also be read in conjunction with the Federal Grant and Cooperative Agreement Act of 1977 and other authorities to ensure that a Challenge Cost-Share agreement is not used when a procurement contract would be most appropriate.

16 U.S.C. §1723(c), Public Lands Corps, authorizes the Secretary to enter into contracts and cooperative agreements with any qualified youth or conservation corps to perform appropriate conservation projects referred to in subsection (d) of section 1723. The Secretary may also authorize appropriate conservation projects and other appropriate projects to be carried out on Federal, State, local, or private lands as part of disaster prevention or relief efforts in response to an emergency or major disaster declared by the President under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.).

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 P15AS00001
Project Title Youth Engagement and Development
Recipient YMCA of the USA
Principle Investigator / Program Manager John Duntley
Total Anticipated Award Amount 500000
Cost Share
New Award or Continuation? New Cooperative Agreement
Anticipated Length of Agreement From date of award Five Years
Anticipated Period of Performance From date of award Five Years
Award Instrument Cooperative Agreement
Statutory Authority 16 USC 1(g); 16 USC 1723(c); 16 USC 1f
CFDA # and Title 15.931 Youth Conservation Activities
Single Source Justification Criteria Cited (4) Unique Qualifications
NPS Point of Contact June Zastrow 303-987-6718 june_zastrow@nps.gov

OVERVIEW

Provide recreational, educational, volunteer service and employment opportunities that engage and empower diverse young people to become the next generation of natural and cultural resource conservation stewards.

The primary purpose of this agreement is to establish a collaborative national partnership between YMCA of the USA and NPS. The goal of this partnership will be to engage individuals between the ages of 6 and 35 years of age in recreational, educational, volunteer service and employment opportunities in national park sites and affiliated areas. Accordingly, the partnership will develop a new generation of natural and cultural resource conservation stewards.

The collaboration will also achieve mutual mission goals and objectives through a leveraging of financial and intellectual resources. Additionally both organizations will utilize their existing program models and incorporate them into new collaborative models to address natural and cultural resource stewardship issues with young people in the United States of America.

RECIPIENT INVOLVEMENT

A. YMCA of the USA agrees to:

1. Create a multi-site activation program; whereas, local YMCAs integrate a pre-selected curriculum to be delivered through YMCA day and/or resident camps and in collaboration with NPS units, park or historic sites in the areas.

2. Support and develop collaborative programs that align and support the Department of the Interior¿s goals to inspire young people to utilize national parks as a place to play, learn, serve and work.

3. Identify qualified local YMCAs associations to collaborate with NPS in programs and projects.

4. Utilize its Day Camp Program model to engage young people with NPS sites.

5. Engage local YMCAs to work in collaboration with local NPS sites to develop structured and unstructured activities leveraging an agreed upon (NPS, YMCA, both or others) curriculum and other resources.

6. YMCA of the USA working with NPS will co-develop media products to promote camp programs. Marketing tools will include:
¿ development of a ¿toolkit¿ guide for local YMCAs to help with the integration of the curriculum in partnership with NPS sites.
¿ Advertising/promotion of camp opportunities in local summer program guides.
¿ Promoting collaboration with NPS and DOI sites.

7. The YMCA of the USA will provide NPS with a report at the conclusion of the grant period. The report will include:
¿ Lessons Learned, Best Practices and Recommendations.
¿ Outputs and sharing of youth experiences.
¿ Highlights from each participating YMCA of the USA and NPS site.

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. Provide financial assistance as provided for in Article VI.

2. Work in collaboration with the YCMA of the USA in developing a program involving agreed upon focus areas.

3. Provide, in collaboration with the YMCA of the USA, educational curriculum resources related to natural, historical, cultural, recreation, and heritage programs on NPS lands to enhance the environmental awareness of participants.

4. Assign appropriate NPS employee(s) to monitor the ongoing work, to respond to questions about the nature and goals of the partnership, and act as an on-site liaison among the parties.

5. Use existing internal communication channels to promote the camp programs and encourage all NPS sites to reach out and collaborate with their local YMCAs.

6. Conduct webinars to promote and share information about the camp programs and promote collaboration on the local levels.

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

A planning conference to outline the goals and objectives of this new national partnership will strategize how to incorporate the four major components of Secretarial Order 3331: Engaging the next generation into a cost effective program that positively impacts 4,000 to 5,000 youth participants annually. Additionally steps will be developed to write an educational curriculum, develop a marketing plan and other such products that will ensure the successful execution of the program.

The YMCA of the USA is the national resource office that provides programmatic support for 2,700 semi-independent local YMCA chapters. This organization through its¿ network of local chapters serves 22 million men, women and children throughout the United States through programs and services in youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility. The NPS has served as a key partner in the YMCA¿s health and well-being work, including ¿Activate America¿, a bold pan to retool the YMCA¿s around the country to confront the nation¿s rising rates of chronic diseases and has support the YMCA Healthy Kids Day Program. The YMCA has a network of 1,800 day camps and over 300 resident camps that serve more than 1.3 million children and youth. Additionally 80% of US households are within 5 miles of a YMCA chapter.

There is no other youth serving non-profit organization in the United States that has been in continued existence since the mid-19th century with the size and scope performing youth development work at this level of complexity. Additionally the YMCA is the only organization in the United States capable of incorporating a formal day camp program model that targets large numbers of children nationally to collaborate with the NPS recreation, education, volunteer and employment programs.

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.

16 U.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 of the national park system, any affiliated area, 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, public or private agency, organization, institution, corporation, 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 section principally gives authority for joint-funding arrangements entered into with non-federal partners (¿cooperators¿), although it also addresses ¿sharing¿services in carrying out authorized functions and responsibilities¿¿As with 16 U.S.C. §1g, this authority must also be read in conjunction with the Federal Grant and Cooperative Agreement Act of 1977 and other authorities to ensure that a Challenge Cost-Share agreement is not used when a procurement contract would be most appropriate.

16 U.S.C. §1723(c), Public Lands Corps, authorizes the Secretary to enter into contracts and cooperative agreements with any qualified youth or conservation corps to perform appropriate conservation projects referred to in subsection (d) of section 1723. The Secretary may also authorize appropriate conservation projects and other appropriate projects to be carried out on Federal, State, local, or private lands as part of disaster prevention or relief efforts in response to an emergency or major disaster declared by the President under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.).