National Park Service: 50th Anniversary of the Wilderness Act Planning and Implementation

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 P13AS00061
Project Title 50th Anniversary of the Wilderness Act Planning & Implementation Efforts
Recipient Alliance for Wilderness Education and Stewardship (AWES)
Principle Investigator / Program Manager Lee Lambert, Executive Director
Total Anticipated Award Amount No funding is attached to this cooperative agreement. All funding will be a part of each task agreement under this cooperative agreement
Cost Share 0.00
New Award or Continuation? New
Anticipated Length of Agreement From the date of award for five years (2013 to 2018)
Anticipated Period of Performance From the date of award for five years (2013 to 2018)
Award Instrument Cooperative Agreement
Statutory Authority 16 U.S.C. 1g and Title 41 USC Section 253(c)
CFDA # and Title 15.954 National Park Service Conservation, Protection, Outreach, and Education
Single Source Justification Criteria Cited 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
NPS Point of Contact June Zastrow 303-987-6718, june_zastrow@nps.gov
OVERVIEW

The Alliance for Wilderness Education and Stewardship (AWES) is a 501 c (3) organization dedicated to informing, uniting, and supporting the extensive community groups and individuals actively engaged in stewardship of the National Wilderness Preservation System (NWPS). AWES goals are to: 1) engage, inspire, and mentor the next generation of wilderness stewards by supporting the expansion of educational, experiential, and professional training and developmental opportunities; 2) provide career development and networking opportunities; 3) collaborate and partner to increase the knowledge and capacity of agencies and organizations to support the NWPS; 4) develop and deliver state-of-the-art science and best management practices; 5) provide reliable and credible information regarding wilderness stewardship issues and opportunities; and, 6) advance public awareness and support of wilderness stewardship.

In August 2012, the NPS, Bureau of Land Management, US Fish and Wildlife Service, and Forest Service signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with AWES to formalize a collective commitment to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Wilderness Act by collaborating on and facilitating public education and awareness initiatives. The MOU describes the collaborative relationship among the federal land management agencies, AWES, other non-governmental organizations, and academic institutions, collectively operating as the 50th Anniversary National Wilderness Planning Team (Wilderness50). AWES holds a distinct role among Wilderness50 partner organizations as the official fiscal sponsor for 50th anniversary of the Wilderness Act planning events, activities, programs, and products that will be utilized to raise public awareness of the benefits and values of wilderness and its purpose for the use and enjoyment of the American people.

RECIPIENT INVOLVEMENT

The objectives of this Agreement are to cooperatively: 1) Work with AWES and Wilderness50, and other partners to facilitate programs, activities, products, and events associated with the commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the Wilderness Act; 2) Work in partnership with AWES, Wilderness 50, and other partners to improve wilderness stewardship awareness, and increase the public awareness of wilderness; 3) Work with AWES to build capacity, broaden institutional knowledge, and advance education and training for continued high-quality stewardship of wilderness lands; and 4) Work collaboratively with AWES to address current wilderness stewardship issues.

AWES agrees to:
¿ Identify a contact to serve as a liaison between the AWES and the Wilderness Stewardship Division of the NPS and provide regular communication.
¿ Participate in face-to-face or virtual meetings or conference calls convened by the NPS regarding matters that arise out of this Cooperative Agreement and related activities.
¿ Maintain familiarity with the internal structure and operation of the NPS and use that knowledge to facilitate cooperative relationships between the NPS and AWES membership.
¿ On request, make available to the NPS information about the AWES¿s goals and share education and promotional materials with the NPS.

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:
¿ Identify a contact to serve as a liaison between the Wilderness Stewardship Division of the NPS and AWES and maintain regular communications.
¿ Invite AWES to participate in face-to-face or virtual meetings or conferences if matters arise out of this Cooperative Agreement and related activities.
¿ Share structural and operational information about the NPS that contributes to better understanding and cooperative relationships between the NPS and AWES.
¿ Participate and provide guidance in the review of programs, events, and activities associated with the commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the Wilderness Act that are led by or involve the AWES.

The projects or activities under this Agreement will be individually authorized by separate task agreements, with each project or activity having a separate work plan and budget developed cooperatively between the NPS and the Society for Wilderness Stewardship.

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 Alliance for Wilderness Education and Stewardship (AWES) is a 501(c) 3 not-for-profit organization dedicated to informing, uniting, and supporting the extensive community actively engaged in the stewardship of America’s National Wilderness Preservation System through capacity building, networking, and facilitating national awareness-building activities. AWES serves as the lead non-governmental organization for the 50th anniversary of the Wilderness Act as identified by an Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed by the AWES, NPS, and other federal agencies on August 23, 2012.

AWES achieves their mission through the pursuit of special projects and activities designed to meet goals like: 1) Build capacity of agencies, organizations, and volunteers to support the NWPS through collaboration and partnerships; 2) Engage the next generation of wilderness stewards by supporting the expansion of educational, experiential, and developmental opportunities. Market research showed that other organizations have less-inclusive missions and more limited focus on existing professionals, youth, or political advocacy. AWES strives to integrate these dimensions.

The MOU with AWES formalized a collective commitment to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Wilderness Act by collaborating on and facilitating public education and awareness initiatives. The MOU describes the collaborative relationship among the federal land management agencies, AWES, other non-governmental organizations, and academic institutions, collectively operating as the 50th Anniversary National Wilderness Planning Team (Wilderness50). AWES holds a distinct role among Wilderness50 partner organizations as the official fiscal sponsor for 50th anniversary of the Wilderness Act planning events, activities, programs, and products that will be utilized to raise public awareness of the benefits and values of wilderness and its purpose for the use and enjoyment of the American people.

STATUTORY AUTHORITY

16 USC 1 g:

The National Park Service may in fiscal year 1997 and thereafter enter into cooperative agreements that involve the transfer of National Park Service 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 pursuant to section 6305 of title

This is to support projects complementary to National Park Service program efforts in resource conservation and protection, historical preservation and environmental sustainability. These projects may include but are not limited to research, education, outdoor recreation and community outreach and safety. The objectives include promoting the use of culturally diverse resources and environmental advocacy in collaboration and cooperation with state, tribal, and local governments, nonprofit organizations and educational institutions.