Department of the Interior: Illinois & Michigan Canal Nomination Update Grant

ABSTRACT
Funding Announcement P13AS00090
Project Title Illinois & Michigan Canal Nomination Update
Recipient Organization of American Historians
Principle Investigator / Program Manager Aidan J. Smith
Total Anticipated Award Amount $59,998.44
Cost Share none
New Award or Continuation? This is a Task Agreement under Cooperative Agreement H2261100002
Anticipated Length of Agreement From date of award to December 31, 2014
Anticipated Period of Performance From date of award to December 31, 2014
Award Instrument Cooperative Agreement
Statutory Authority 16 USC 462(e)
CFDA # and Title 15.912 National Historic Landmark
Single Source Justification Criteria Cited (4) Unique Qualifications
NPS Point of Contact June Zastrow 303-987-6718 june_zastrow@nps.gov

OVERVIEW

Cooperative Agreement Number H2261100002 was entered into by and between the Department of the Interior, National Park Service, (NPS), and Organization of American Historians (OAH) for the purpose of promoting the greater public and private understanding of American history for their mutual benefit and for the people of the United States as well as for future generations, so that they can enjoy the historic resources of the NPS. Unless otherwise specified herein, the terms and conditions as stated in the Cooperative Agreement will apply to this Task Agreement.

The objective of this task agreement is to apply National Historic Landmark (NHL) standards for national significance and integrity to clarify the contributing properties and update the boundary proposed in the draft Illinois and Michigan Canal NHL proposed by Dr. Michael P. Conzen dated December 14, 1999. The entire canal is included within the Illinois and Michigan Canal National Heritage Corridor. The cooperator and the NPS will collaborate with the National Heritage Corridor in informing stake holders along the canal of the purpose of the project. The updated NHL will provide clarity to the communities along the canal and the general public of what resources contribute to the NHL and what resources might have. The information, products and/or services identified or developed by this project will potentially be shared by associated partners of the canal through a variety of strategies to increase public awareness, knowledge and support for historic preservation and stewardship of the Illinois and Michigan Canal.

RECIPIENT INVOLVEMENT

A. The OAH agrees to:

1. The OAH will conduct preliminary documentary research and submit a comprehensive and detailed outline, a first draft for NPS review, a final review draft, and, following approval, a final document.
2. The OAH will prepare a NHL nomination of the Illinois and Michigan Canal and directly associated structures for acceptance as the official NHL documentation. An existing draft, dated December 14, 1999, and written by Dr. Michael P. Conzen, was received by the Midwest Regional Office and by the NHL program in Washington, D.C. The existing review comments shall be considered to bring the draft to conclusion. The nomination shall be submitted according to the format outlined in the National Register Bulletin, How to Prepare National Historic Landmark Nominations (available at: http://www.nps.gov/history/nr/publications/bulletins/nhl/nhlstart.htm) and prepared on a ¿National Historic Landmark Nomination¿ Form 10-900.
3. The OAH will prepare this nomination in accordance with the attached Illinois and Michigan Canal NHL Scope of Work.

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. Make available to the OAH existing draft nomination and all related resources related to the NHL.
2. Provide a NPS technical representative who will serve as the liaison for this task agreement between the NPS and OAH.
3. Provide timely review of the draft and final products.
4. Ensure that the NHL eligibility criteria are fully addressed.
5. Consult with the Canal Corridor Association and the OAH in determining the appropriate qualifications, experiences, and skills required in the primary field project historian(s).
6. Act as a liaison to the Canal Corridor Association and the community.
7. Provide ¿National Historic Landmark Nomination¿ Form 10-900 and U.S.G.S. map(s) as noted in the statement of work.
8. Arrange a post award meeting to discuss technical aspects of the agreement and to confirm the schedule for the submission of the products in conjunction with a public meeting to introduce the project historian(s) to members of the community. The post award meeting shall take place in Illinois within 30 days of the award.

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:

The OAH is the largest professional society dedicated to the teaching and study of American history. Their mission is to promote excellence in the scholarship, teaching, and presentation of American history, and to encourage wide discussion of historical questions and equitable treatment of all practitioners of history. The OAH includes thousands of scholars with knowledge of preservation, architecture and various aspects of history which will ensure that the scholar selected for this project is knowledgeable in community development along the water transportation related features.

STATUTORY AUTHORITY

16 USC § 462 The Secretary of the Interior (Secretary), through the National Park Service, for the purpose of effectuating the policy expressed in section 461 of this title, shall have the following powers and perform the following duties and functions:
(a) Secure, collate, and preserve drawings, plans, photographs, and other data of historic and archaeological sites, buildings, and objects.
(b) Make a survey of historic and archaeological sites, buildings, and objects for the purpose of determining which possess exceptional value as commemorating or illustrating the history of the United States.
(c) Make necessary investigations and researches in the United States relating to particular sites, buildings, or objects to obtain true and accurate historical and archaeological facts and information concerning the same.
(d) For the purpose of sections 461 to 467 of this title, acquire in the name of the United States by gift, purchase, or otherwise any property, personal or real, or any interest or estate therein, title to any real property to be satisfactory to the Secretary: Provided, That no such property which is owned by any religious or educational institution, or which is owned or administered for the benefit of the public shall be so acquired without the consent of the owner: Provided further, That no such property shall be acquired or contract or agreement for the acquisition thereof made which will obligate the general fund of the Treasury for the payment of such property, unless or until Congress has appropriated money which is available for that purpose.
(e) Contract and make cooperative agreements with States, municipal subdivisions, corporations, associations, or individuals, with proper bond where deemed advisable, to protect, preserve, maintain, or operate any historic or archaeological building, site, object, or property used in connection therewith for public use, regardless as to whether the title thereto is in the United States: Provided, That no contract or cooperative agreement shall be made or entered into which will obligate the general fund of the Treasury unless or until Congress has appropriated money for such purpose.
(f) Restore, reconstruct, rehabilitate, preserve, and maintain historic or prehistoric sites, buildings, objects, and properties of national historical or archaeological significance and where deemed desirable establish and maintain museums in connection therewith.
(g) Erect and maintain tablets to mark or commemorate historic or prehistoric places and events of national historical or archaeological significance.
(h) Operate and manage historic and archaeological sites, buildings, and properties acquired under the provisions of sections 461 to 467 of this title together with lands and subordinate buildings for the benefit of the public, such authority to include the power to charge reasonable visitation fees and grant concessions, leases, or permits for the use of land, building space, roads, or trails when necessary or desirable either to accommodate the public or to facilitate administration: Provided, That the Secretary may grant such concessions, leases, or permits and enter into contracts relating to the same with responsible persons, firms, or corporations without advertising and without securing competitive bids.
(i) When the Secretary determines that it would be administratively burdensome to restore, reconstruct, operate, or maintain any particular historic or archaeological site, building, or property donated to the United States through the National Park Service, he may cause the same to be done by organizing a corporation for that purpose under the laws of the District of Columbia or any State.
(j) Develop an educational program and service for the purpose of making available to the public facts and information pertaining to American historic and archaeological sites, buildings, and properties of national significance. Reasonable charges may be made for the dissemination of any such facts or information.
(k) Perform any and all acts, and make such rules and regulations not inconsistent with sections 461 to 467 of this title as may be necessary and proper to carry out the provisions thereof. Any person violating any of the rules and regulations authorized by said sections shall be punished by a fine of not more than $500 and be adjudged to pay all cost of the proceedings.