National Park Service Grant: Promoting Aesthetic Flows in Hydro-Power Projects

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 P14AS00245
Project Title Promoting Aesthetic Flows in Hydro-Power Projects
Recipient American Rivers
Principle Investigator / Program Manager Rupak Thapaliya
Total Anticipated Award Amount 30,100.00
Cost Share none
New Award or Continuation? Continuation of cooperative agreement P14AC00335
Anticipated Length of Agreement From date of award until 7/31/2017
Anticipated Period of Performance From date of award until 7/31/2017
Award Instrument Cooperative Agreement
Statutory Authority 16 USC 1(g); 16 USC 1271
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 P14AC00335 was entered into by and between the Department of the Interior, National Park Service, (NPS), and American Rivers (AR) to encourage public involvement in river conservation and recreation; to develop new guidance materials and update and enhance existing tools to promote effective river conservation and management; produce and disseminate educational materials to promote river conservation and public use of rivers. Unless otherwise specified herein, the terms and conditions as stated in the Cooperative Agreement will apply to this Task Agreement.

Through the project ¿Promoting Aesthetic Flows in Hydropower Projects,¿ NPS and AR will support public involvement in river conservation and management by preparing and developing guidance material on aesthetic flows at hydropower projects.

RECIPIENT INVOLVEMENT

1. Develop and disseminate information and provide planning for development of technical document on aesthetic flows at hydropower projects.
2. Prepare a detailed work plan within one month of the final signature for this agreement and provide contract support to develop a technical report that, among other things, will identify study methodologies to determine appropriate aesthetic flows at hydropower projects.
3. Help develop and participate in outreach activities to promote the technical report and related education materials.
4. Seek additional funding to engage additional stakeholders in mutually beneficial projects.

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. Help represent public interests in recreation and conservation in the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) hydropower licensing proceedings under consultation requirements of the Federal Power Act and technical assistance provisions of the Outdoor Recreation Act, Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, and National Trails System Act.
2. Provide assistance to AR in development of technical report and relevant education materials.
3. Assist in planning of and participate in outreach activities to educate the public about the importance of aesthetic flows and their relation to recreation and river conservation.
Support AR in mutually agreed upon activities by participating in planning, development of agendas and informational and educational materials, and participating in meetings and workshops, to support public engagement in FERC hydropower licensing and related river conservation and management activities.

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:

THIS IS A NOTICE OF INTENT TO AWARD
This is a Task Agreement (P14AC01462) under Cooperative Agreement (P14AC00335) in the amount of $30,100.00 with a period of performance from date of award until 07/31/2014.

STATUTORY AUTHORITY

16 USC 1271 et seq. Specific authorities of the Secretary of Interior under Section 11 (b) the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act of 1968, as amended, to enter into cooperative agreements including provisions for limited financial or other assistance to encourage participation in the protection and management of river resources. These authorities are delegated to the Director of the National Park Service by Part 245 of the Department of the Interior Manual.