Department of the Interior Grants: Support for National Wilderness Conference

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 P14AS00107
Project Title Support for National Wilderness Conference
Recipient Alliance for Wilderness Education and Stewardship
Principle Investigator / Program Manager Lee Lambert
Total Anticipated Award Amount $40,000.00
Cost Share none
New Award or Continuation? Continuation of Cooperative Agreement P13AC00401
Anticipated Length of Agreement From date of award until 9/30/2015
Anticipated Period of Performance From date of award until 9/30/2015
Award Instrument Cooperative Agreement
Statutory Authority 16 USC 1(g)
CFDA # and Title 15.954 NPS Conservation, Protection, Outreach and Education
Single Source Justification Criteria Cited (2) Continuation
NPS Point of Contact June Zastrow 303-987-6718 june_zastrow@nps.gov

OVERVIEW

Cooperative Agreement Number P13AC00401 was entered into by and between the Department of the Interior, National Park Service, (NPS), and the Alliance for Wilderness Education and Stewardship (AWES) for the purpose of establishing a formal cooperative working agreement to collaborate on programs, activities, products, and events associated with the commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the Wilderness Act while improving public awareness of and staff capacity for wilderness and wilderness stewardship. Unless otherwise specified herein, the terms and conditions as stated in the Cooperative Agreement will apply to this Task Agreement.

RECIPIENT INVOLVEMENT

AWES agrees to:
• Lead planning and logistical efforts related to the National Wilderness Conference in Albuquerque, NM on October 15-19, 2014.
• Collaborate, as necessary, with the 50th Anniversary National Wilderness Planning Team to:
o Develop the Wilderness Awareness Trail for the National Wilderness Conference
 Create an interactive series of stations arranged along a walking path that focus on educating the next generation of wilderness stewards.
 Engage young people in exploring the role they play today and into the future in shaping what the next 50 years of wilderness stewardship will entail.
o Develop Wilderness Diversity Festival as part of the National Wilderness Conference
 Plan an outdoor community festival (adjacent to the building hosting the formal conference) that will promote awareness and inspire interest in wilderness.
 Invite Albuquerque and surrounding area residents to attend this free event.
o Provide enhanced technological support for the National Wilderness Conference plenary sessions
 Provide state-of-the-art projector screens and sound systems for plenaries.
 Facilitate optimal viewing of keynote speakers and content for audience.
 Provide webinar access to at least 100 remote conference participants who are unable to attend the conference in person.

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:

• Provide support funds to AWES to contribute towards the 2014 National Wilderness Conference as part of the 50th Anniversary of the Wilderness Act.
• Collaborate, as necessary, with the 50th Anniversary National Planning Team to:
o Incorporate applicable NPS information into the Wilderness Awareness Trail and Wilderness Diversity Festival.
o Provide input on conference programming, presentations, and schedules where appropriate.
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 (P14AC00651) under Cooperative Agreement (P13AC00401) in the amount of $40,000.00 with a period of performance from date of award until 9/30/2015.

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.