National Park Service Grant: Continued Support for Transportation Legislation 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 P14AS00005
Project Title Support implementation of new legislative requirements Task 2
Recipient Surface Transportation Policy Partnership (STPP)
Principle Investigator / Program Manager William Wilkinson III
Total Anticipated Award Amount 110000.00
Cost Share none
New Award or Continuation? Continuation
Anticipated Length of Agreement From Date of Award to September 30, 2014
Anticipated Period of Performance From Date of Award to September 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 June_Zastrow@nps.gov

OVERVIEW

Cooperative Agreement Number H2420090131 was entered into by and between the Department of the Interior, National Park Service (NPS) and the Surface Transportation Policy Partnership (STPP) to cooperatively support NPS efforts to move towards a multi-modal approach to transportation, closely coordinated and in cooperation with State and local governments, other Federal land management agencies and stakeholders. The NPS/Park Roads and Parkways Program wishes to assist the various units of the agency and stakeholders to effectively and efficiently take part in the opportunities provided by Federal surface transportation legislation, as well as fulfilling the requirements of this legislation related to coordination and outreach, planning, and safety.

Specifically, in this Task Agreement (Task Agreement 2 ¿ Year 5), STPP will assist the NPS in preparing for reauthorization of Federal surface transportation legislation (including the Federal Lands Highway Program – Park Roads and Parkways Program) and other legislation affecting the NPS Transportation Program, and implement the requirements of any such new legislation. This will include assisting with planning, developing, and updating program documentation such as: a ¿resource book¿ documenting NPS transportation needs and initiatives; a searchable database on proposed projects; and other background documents. As part of executing the new legislation, the STPP will work with NPS/WASO to implement outreach activities targeted to NPS staff, State Departments of Transportation and Metropolitan and Regional Planning Organizations, partnerships and other stakeholders (as required by current law).

RECIPIENT INVOLVEMENT

STPP agrees to:

Provide substantial involvement and collaboration with developing, reviewing and editing reports, analyzing and evaluating proposed and enacted legislation, codes and regulations, assisting with the development of a database detailing proposed projects, and implementing outreach to NPS regions and park units, State and local governments, and to NPS stakeholders (as required by current law).

Goals & Objectives: A series of documents as required (e.g., resource book updates and additions (e.g., Business Practices), fact sheets, legislative analysis, impact statements, etc.) for print and/or internet; a searchable database/multi-year program of projects; a plan for public outreach and activities related to implementation such as new program requirements and other related items that might be mandated by any new legislation and a report at the completion of each activity.

NATIONAL PARK SERVICE INVOLVEMENT

Substantial involvement is considered necessary because of the public purpose, nature, dynamic and complexity of the Federal Lands Transportation Program and knowledge of position responsibilities of all the participants. The substantial involvement of the NPS allows for a sharing of resources and expertise of each TASK that exceeds the available expertise, resources and capabilities of the NPS on its own. The NPS wants to promote and help provide safe public transportation access and development in the parks and surrounding communities which also supports the core mission of the NPS.

NPS agrees to:

1. Provide a project manager to be substantially involved in all phases of planning and product development, outreach planning, and implementation.

2. Coordination with other NPS personnel and appropriate persons from Federal Lands Highway Program, as needed.

C. STPP & NPS as a result of the activities undertaken together agree to:

1. Produce materials/products, as needed, to support the reauthorization process. NPS and STPP will prepare a memo detailing the scope of work for each product, and including a schedule for delivery. Upon completion, STPP will provide a ¿completion report memo¿ which NPS will acknowledge by way of acceptance.

2. STPP will develop and submit to NPS a proposed approach for new outreach activities prior to any effort related to implementation.

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 (P14AC00013) under Cooperative Agreement (H2420090131) in the amount of $110.00 with a period of performance from date of award until September 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.