Conservation Interns for Trail Maintenance Projects

Post Date

December 18th 2015

Application Due Date

December 25th 2015

Funding Opportunity Number

P16AC00039

CFDA Number(s)

15.931

Funding Instrument Type(s)

Other

Funding Activity Categories

Education

Number of Awards

1

Eligibility Categories

Other

This is a notice of intent to award a youth task agreement off the National Cooperative Agreement P15AC00031 to the Student Conservation Association for projects in Glacier Bay National Park Alaska.

Funding

• Estimated Total Funding:

  $34597

• Award Range:

  $0 - $34597

Grant Description

This Funding Announcement is not a request for applications. This announcement is to provide public notice of the National Park Service (NPS), intention to fund the following project activities without competition. ABSTRACT Funding Announcement P16AC00039 Project Title Conservation Interns for trail maintenance projects Recipient Student Conservation Association Total Anticipated Award Amount $34,597.30 Cost Share $12,162.29 Anticipated Length of Agreement 4 weeks Anticipated Period of Performance 4/22/2016 _ 7/30/2016 Award Instrument Task Agreement Statutory Authority 16 USC 1723 (c)(1) CFDA # and Title 15.931 Single Source Justification Criteria Cited Point of Contact James Cato OVERVIEW Cooperative Agreement Number P15AC00031 was entered into by and between the Department of the Interior, National Park Service, (NPS), and Student Conservation Association (SCA) for the purpose of Conservation Projects. Unless otherwise specified herein, the terms and conditions as stated in the Cooperative Agreement will apply to this Task Agreement. STATEMENT OF JOINT OBJECTIVES/PROJECT MANAGEMENT PLAN Project Title, Project Description; The objective of this Task Agreement is to support and stimulate work and/or education and training opportunities for young adults through collaborative participation with Glacier Bay National Park & Preserve, the Division of Facility Maintenance. RECIPIENT INVOLVEMENT The projects to be carried out at Glacier Bay National Park, as outlined here: 1. Trail repairs, Dry Bay. ATV trails used in ANILCA granted commercial fisheries are needing sight distance brushing and drainage repairs. Worst sections of the 65 mile trail network will be chosen, and the work directed by NPS staff on site. Tasks involve working with chain saws, power trimmers and assorted hand tools common to brush clearing work. Dry Bay, a remote station near the northern boundary of Glacier Bay NP is accessible by small plane. The base camp is located adjacent to the NPS ranger station with emergency radio contact to USCG and NPS through that station. Worksite accessibility is via ATV and UTV machinery provided by the NPS. Airplane accessibility to and from Dry Bay is weather dependent, with flight delays often considered normal. 2. Trail repairs, Bartlett Cove. Hiking trails within the Bartlett Cove developed area need routine brushing, tread and drainage repairs. Worst sections of the 11 mile trail network will be chosen, and the work directed by NPS staff on site. Tasks involve working with assorted hand tools common to trails work. Worksites are accessible by an NPS provided vehicle and by foot. The base camp site is located at a campground within the Bartlett Cove developed area. 3. Roadside and boundary brushing, Bartlett Cove. Road shoulders and NPS boundary line corridors need routine brushing to maintain visitor safety and resource protection. Worst sections of the 4 miles of road and 19 miles of maintained boundary will be chosen, and the work directed by NPS staff on site. Tasks involve working with chain saws, power trimmers and assorted hand tools common to brush clearing work. The base camp site is located at a campground within the Bartlett Cove developed area; some of the distant boundary work may require access via small boat and a temporary spike camp. 4. Invasive plant removal, Bartlett Cove. Invasive plant eradication is needed throughout the Bartlett Cove developed area. Focus areas will be chosen and the work directed by NPS staff on site. Tasks involve working with a variety of hand tools common to hand pulling of invasive plants. Base camp will be at the campground within the Bartlett Cove developed area. 5. Huna Tribal House landscaping, Bartlett Cove. Post construction landscaping is needed to grounds of the newly constructed Tribal House. Using plants native to the area, a landscape of natural contours will be constructed as directed by NPS staff on site. Tasks involve working with a variety of hand tools common to landscaping. Base camp will be at the campground within the Bartlett Cove developed area. SCA agrees to: 1. To assist with recruitment and selection of selected candidates as Conservation Associates to participate in the work described in the above Scope of Work. 2. To provide living allowance, insurance, and Americorps awards (when applicable). 3. To provide for in-service commercial travel during the project period of performance. 4. Provide 24/7 staffed hotline assistance, site visit, and performance evaluations. . B. NPS agrees to: 1. To provide financial assistance in the amount of $34,597.30 2. To provide general orientation to park operations, NPS mission, and safety training. 3. To provide a NPS technical representative, Bill Friesen, to be on-site with the SCA Volunteer to assist with specifics of the project as needed. 4. To provide housing for the partner participant. 5. To provide all necessary equipment and supplies applicable for the project. 6. A written completion evaluation from Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve per project evaluating the outcome and performance of that project. NATIONAL PARK SERVICE INVOLVEMENT 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 Congressм 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. NPS did not solicit full and open competition for this award based the following criteria: Rationale: The Student Conservation Association provides an Alaska based Trails program, capable of fielding crews trained in Alaska trails building methods, experienced safely camping in brown bear habitat and leave no trace wilderness camping. All criteria needed for success of this endeavor Other youth programs considered, American Conservation Experience, CA# P15AC000015, not operating an Alaska based program The Corps Network, CA# P15AC000029, the SCA is the only Alaska based program in this group Environment for the Americas, The Geologic Society of America, Groundwork USA and HistoriCorps do not offer trail crew programs through their agreements.

Contact Information

• Agency

  Department of the Interior

• Office:

  National Park Service

• Agency Contact:

  James Cato
  Contract Specialist
  Phone 907-644-3302

• Agency Mailing Address:

  work

• Agency Email Address:

  james_cato@nps.gov