The National Park Service is offering the Muir Woods Trail Repair and Maintenance Grant

NOTICE OF INTENT TO AWARD

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 Number P12AC11037
Project Title Split Rail Fence Repairs and General Trail Maintenance on Trails within Muir Woods National Monument
Recipient Conservation Corps North Bay
Principle Investigator / Program Manager Max Korten

Total Anticipated Award Amount $172,732.00
Cost Share None
New Award or Continuation? New
Anticipated Length of Agreement 2 ½ years
Anticipated Period of Performance 7/31/2012-12/31/14
Award Instrument Cooperative Agreement
Statutory Authority 16 U.S.C. §1g
CFDA # and Title 15.944 – Natural Resource Stewardship

Single Source Justification Criteria Cited The objective of this Task Agreement is for the CCNB volunteers to benefit in developing their skills by assisting with natural resource management projects through training and providing services to the public. The benefit to the NPS is the CCNB enhancement of our services to provide for public enjoyment while preserving the resources that the park preserves and the visitors must understand and respect. These improvements will enhance the overall experience for park visitors as well as enrich the environmental quality of the park. By rehabilitating the trail infrastructure, safety and circulation will be improved while ensuring protection of the resources of Muir Woods National Monument and Golden Gate National Recreation Area’s Trails. This agreement will be processed under an existing Cooperative Agreement, H8147050519.
Pursuant to 505DM, 2.14B(4), the park has determined that only one source will adequately satisfy the agency requirements for this project based on the unique qualifications of The CCNB, as follows:

Unique Qualifications: Department of Interior, National Park Service, Golden Gate Recreation Area (“GGNRA”) has an existing Cooperative Agreement with this cooperator, The Student Conservation Corps North Bay. GGNRA selected the Cooperator because of their board knowledge of the project area, accomplishment of significant projects of this nature and their vast experience in providing this type of labor intense work for the GGNRA on similar projects. Additionally, it is felt that CCNB volunteers will benefit in developing their skills by assisting with this natural resource management projects because of the exposure through training of what it means to provide services to the public. The benefit to the NPS is the CCNB enhancement of our services to provide for public enjoyment while preserving the resources that the park preserves and the visitors must understand and respect. Under this Task Agreement the CCNB would provide: repair of safety and erosion controlling structure such as check steps, water bars, tread surface, fencing, closing old social trails, and performing general maintenance runs on the trails within Muir Woods National Monument and Golden Gate National Recreation.
Consistent with Department of Interior Manual DM 505, for this project, use of the Cooperative Agreement, H8147050519 is an appropriate procurement instrument to use based on the following reasons: 1) funding is being given to the CCNB for the purpose carrying out a public purpose and 2) GGNRA will have substantial involvement with the CCNB as it carries out this public purpose. 16 U.S. C. § 1g authorizes the NPS to enter into cooperative agreements that involve the transfer of NPS appropriated funds, among others, private non-profit organizations for the public purpose of carrying out NPS programs pursuant to 31 U.S.C 6304.
NPS Point of Contact Keith Stegall

OVERVIEW

STATEMENT OF JOINT OBJECTIVES/PROJECT MANAGEMENT PLAN

A Cooperative Agreement was entered into by and between the Department of the Interior, National Park Service (NPS) and the (CCNB). For the placement of high school and college-aged individuals and other qualified persons who volunteer their services through CCNB in exchange for training and educational experience which furthers their educational, career or personal goals.

The objective of this Task Agreement is for the CCNB volunteers to benefit by developing their skills in to assist with resource management through training and by providing services to the public. The benefit to the NPS will be that CCNB will help the enhancement of our services and provide enjoyment for the public while preserving resources.

CCNB Duns: 186420048

A. CCNB shall:

Perform general trail maintenance tasks throughout Muir Woods National Monument (MUWO) and Golden Gate National Recreation Area (GGNRA). Maintenance tasks will include brushing, drainage cleaning, and repairing safety and erosion controlling trail structures;

Recruit and select Corps Members who will create a crew called “CCNB Natural Resources Crew” to perform split rail fence repairs and general trail maintenance on trails within MUWO. The crew will be made up of 1 Supervisor and 10 crew members;

Provide administrative support to include the issuance of crew expense accounts;

Provide crew with transportation to and from Golden Gate National Recreation Area;

CCNB project supervisor will coordinate with NPS Trail staff representative on logistical details and project specifications;

Follow all OSHA and GGNRA Park rules and regulations.

B. NPS shall:

Provide all needed materials and hand and power tools necessary to perform all assigned work;

Provide financial assistance in the amount of $172,732.00;

Provide general orientation to park operations and NPS mission;

Provide work specifications necessary to perform project work;

As substantial involvement NPS will provide a technical representative to be on-site with the CCNB volunteers to assist with specifics of the project as needed and to educate volunteers in NPS land management topics.

C. Both parties agree:

That no change in financial assistance amount, term of project, volunteer participant (including backfilling) or any other provision of this Task Agreement shall take place without the execution of a written modification documenting the change(s).

Provide educational programs regarding work projects and resource management at the park to increase Corps member’s knowledge of environmental problems, natural and cultural resources, and NPS stewardship of public lands and resources.

ARTICLE VI- AWARD AND PAYMENT

Financial Assistance: NPS will provide financial assistance to the CCNB for an amount not to exceed $172,732.00 (price includes vehicle rental fees for crew) for the work project listed herein. No additional funds are anticipated to be added to this project in future years.