National Park Service: Grant for Every 4th Grade Student to a National Park, Centennial Initiative

ABSTRACT
Funding Announcement P16AS00273
Project Title Every 4th Grade Student to a National Park, Centennial Initiative
Recipient Anchorage School District
Total Anticipated Award Amount $27,538.60
Cost Share 50%
Anticipated Length of Agreement 1 year
Anticipated Period of Performance 07/01/2016-9/30/2017
Award Instrument Cooperative Agreement
Statutory Authority 101702(a)
CFDA # and Title 15.406, National Park Service Centennial Challenge
Single Source Justification Criteria Cited Continuation â¿¿ Anchorage School District had the same Cooperative Agreement in 2015 under P15AC01149.
Point of Contact Erica Cordeiro

OVERVIEW
This project is a Centennial initiative project that is being put forth to reach underserved fourth grade youth. Funds will be spent to bring 300 Anchorage 4th grade students to Kenai Fjords National Park and the Alaska Sea Life Center. Students will receive programing from the park service ahead of their arrival. Once they arrive to Seward they will attend 4 different programs including 2.5 hours of instruction at Kenai Fjords National Park and 2.5 hours of instruction at the Alaska Sea Life Center.

STATEMENT OF JOINT OBJECTIVES/PROJECT MANAGEMENT PLAN

The partner organization, The Anchorage School District, will arrange for booking of classroom presentations, presentations on site in Seward and transportation. The Anchorage school district will make this opportunity available to all under- served 4th grade classrooms on a first come first served basis. The Anchorage School district will submit receipts and obtain reimbursements through the ASAP system.

Kenai Fjords National Park will develop programming in alignment with the school districtâ¿¿s curriculum. They will also work with the Alaska Sea Life Center to develop programming that matches the 4th grade curriculum. Park rangers will present to students in classrooms ahead of their trip to Seward. Park rangers will also present 2.5 hours of programming to students at Exit Glacier in Seward, AK.

RECIPIENT INVOLVEMENT

Recipient Involvement: Cost of Alaska Sea Life center programming and Nocturne even will be covered by this agreement. The recipient will also pay for transportation services using a provider of their choice for bringing students to Seward.

NATIONAL PARK SERVICE INVOLVEMENT

Substantial involvement on the part of 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:

THE NPS agrees to create a pre-visit program for students to receive in their classrooms. The NPS will further, develop an onsite program for students which adheres to the curriculum standards of Anchorage fourth grade science. The park service will work with the Alaska Sea Life Center to help plan their programs with this fourth grade audience.

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 â¿¿ 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 â¿¿ 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 â¿¿ The language in the applicable authorizing legislation or legislative history clearly indicates Congressâ¿¿ intent to restrict the award to a particular recipient of purpose;

(4) Unique Qualifications â¿¿ 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 â¿¿ 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.

NPS did not solicit full and open competition for this award based the following criteria:

(1) Continuation â¿¿ 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;