Department of the Interior: Groundworks Milwaukee Grant

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 P13AS00213
Project Title Groundworks Milwaukee, Building Capacity
Recipient Groundwork Milwaukee
Principle Investigator / Program Manager Mary Beth Driscoll
Total Anticipated Award Amount $25,000.00
Cost Share none
New Award or Continuation? Task Agreement under Cooperative Agreement P09AC00391
Anticipated Length of Agreement From date of award until June 30.2014
Anticipated Period of Performance From date of award until June 30.2014
Award Instrument Cooperative Agreement
Statutory Authority 16 USC 1g
CFDA # and Title 15.921 Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance
Single Source Justification Criteria Cited (2) Continuation
NPS Point of Contact June Zastrow 303-987-6718

OVERVIEW

Cooperative Agreement Number P09AC00391 (Legacy agreement number H4506090039) was entered into by and between the Department of the Interior, National Park Service (NPS), and Groundwork Milwaukee (GWM) for the purpose of supporting the conservation of natural resources, improving access to parks and recreation areas and reusing Brownfields, and other derelict sites for conservation, recreation, economic development, and community benefit through development of Groundwork Milwaukee organizations as part of the Groundwork USA Initiative. Brownfields are defined as derelict sites that have been contaminated or perceived to have been contaminated through previous uses of the site. Unless otherwise specified herein, the terms and conditions as stated in the Cooperative Agreement will apply to this Task Agreement.

Project Title: Building Capacity at Groundwork Milwaukee (GWM)

The objectives of this task agreement are:

• To assess opportunities for engaging GWM in new program activities;

• To plan the expansion of existing program activities to new areas;

• To evaluate projects, programs and operations of GWM and to develop a two-year Strategic Plan for building the capacity of GWM.

RECIPIENT INVOLVEMENT

Groundwork Milwaukee agrees:

1. That the funds made available through this Task Agreement will be used to assess opportunities for GWM to support reuse of brownfields for community benefit in the 30th Street Industrial Corridor, plan opportunities for development of innovative storm water management strategies in the Riverworks Improvement District, support and engage residents in implementation of the City of Milwaukee’s area wide sustainability planning program, to develop a “Young Farmers” Program that engages residents in growing food on vacant lots, and to develop a two-year strategic plan for building the capacity of GW Milwaukee.

2. That the funds provided under this Task Agreement cannot be used for construction documents or construction of specific projects.

3. To assess opportunities for GWM to support reuse of brownfields for community benefit in the 30th Street Industrial Corridor, by accomplishing the following tasks:

a) Identify and meet with key stakeholders, including the City of Milwaukee and the 30th Street Corridor Economic Development Corridor to identify opportunities for Groundwork Milwaukee to support the reuse of brownfields;

b) In collaboration with the stake holders, plan and develop a suite of activities that supports and enhances the key stakeholders planned initiatives in the Corridor and proactively engages residents and businesses in those activities;

c) Develop an outreach strategy to residents and businesses in the Corridor to engage them in the planning for the reuse of brownfields;

d) Document the findings, recommendations and next steps in a report summarizing the role for GWM in brownfield redevelopment in the 30th St Industrial Corridor.

4. To plan opportunities for development of innovative storm water management strategies and green infrastructure in the Riverworks Improvement District, by accomplishing the followings tasks:

a) Identify and convene partners and stakeholders to participate in stormwater and green infrastructure planning for the Riverworks Improvement District;

b) Compile examples of existing industrial based green infrastructure planning and implementation projects in Milwaukee, such as for the Menomonee Valley and 30th St. Industrial Corridor. Draw on these examples to inform the planning for the Riverworks Improvement District;
c) Review the existing strategic plans for the area and integrate the green infrastructure and stormwater planning efforts with the existing strategic plans for the area;

d) Engage partners, stakeholders and residents in development of the green infrastructure and storm water management plan for the Riverworks neighborhood. Topics should include, but are not limited to:

1. Action steps for non-point source pollution mitigation and control for the project area;

2. Diverse strategies for implementation resource allocation and funding;

3. Specific strategies for continued community outreach and education around coastal and water issues awareness;

4. Opportunities for linking best management practices (BMP’s) and comprehensive planning goals;

5. Identification of strategies for economic development associated with, or resulting from, BMP implementation.

e) Produce the Riverworks Improvement District Green Infrastructure Plan

5. To work with the City of Milwaukee to support and engage residents in implementing the City’s area wide sustainability plan, “Refresh Milwaukee,” by accomplishing the following tasks:

a) Identify key venues for presenting the Sustainability Plan to residents;

b) Develop outreach materials to engage residents in the implementation process;

c) Prepare presentation materials and identify roles and responsibilities for GWM and city staff in the presenting the material to residents;

d) Plan process for gathering and documenting resident feedback and input;

e) Complete presentations and document residents’ ideas and action plans.

6. To develop a “Young Farmers” Program to transform vacant lots for community based agriculture and engage residents in growing food, by accomplishing the following tasks:

a) Identify and convene partners and stakeholders to assess opportunities for expanding the Young Farmers Program and provide input on the best way to do that;

b) Develop a plan for expanding the Young Farmers Program to include more youth participants, including members of the GW Milwaukee Green Team. The plan would include, but is not limited to:

1. Overview of expanded program;
2. Identification of public and private sector partners;
3. Evaluation of opportunities to tie into existing city initiatives, such as Milwaukee’s HOME GR/OWN Program to reuse vacant lots for urban agriculture;
4. Description of curriculum for job training as part of the program for both youth and adults;
5. Assessment of options to provide food produced by the program to community residents, such as a selling shares on a sliding scale and providing food to local cooperatives;
6. Assessment of options to expand program to include adult members of the community.

7. To develop a two-year strategic plan, approved by the GWM Board of Directors, for building the capacity of GWM, by accomplishing by following tasks:

a) Review the status of Groundwork Milwaukee projects, programs and operations;

b) Assess upcoming needs and opportunities and build upon the accomplishments to date to develop a GW Milwaukee two-year strategic plan to guide development of Groundwork Milwaukee, including, but not limited to, operations, staffing, projects, programs, financials, governance, board recruitment, and long-term sustainability;

c) Submit the strategic plan to Groundwork USA for review and approval. Groundwork USA will notify the National Park Service of the outcome of that review and approval process.

8. To document all funding, in-kind services, volunteer hours, materials and equipment leveraged by GWM for its projects, programs and operations.

9. To maintain a photographic record and list of accomplishments for all projects undertaken by GW Milwaukee.

10. To submit quarterly narrative progress reports to the National Park Service documenting the work completed on the tasks outlined above and required financial reports, in accordance with NPS requirements.

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. That the funding under this Task Agreement may be used to support the work of Groundwork Milwaukee (GWM) to assess opportunities for GWM to support reuse of brownfields for community benefit in the 30th Street Industrial Corridor, plan opportunities for development of innovative storm water management strategies in the Riverworks Improvement District, support and engage residents in implementing “Refresh” the City of Milwaukee’s area wide sustainability planning program, to plan the expansion of the GWM “Young Farmers” Program that engages residents in growing food on vacant lots, and to develop a two-year strategic plan for building the capacity of GW Milwaukee.

2. To support GWM with the funding from this Agreement to accomplish the tasks of this agreement.

3. To link GW Milwaukee WI with other Groundwork Trusts that can assist with accomplishing the tasks of this agreement.

4. To participate in the work of GW Milwaukee to accomplish the tasks described, especially the development of the Storm Water and Young Farmers Programs, and the assessment of GWM projects, programs and operations as part of developing the two-year strategic plan.

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 (P13AC01209) under Cooperative Agreement (P09AC00391) in the amount of $25,000.00 with a period of performance from date of award until 06/30/2014.

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.