Building Capacity at Groundwork Dona Ana, NM Green Teams to Green Jobs
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. The purpose of this Task Agreement is to develop Green Job and Brownfield Training Programs and Certification, work with new communities in Dona Ana County to identify and develop projects and develop a two year strategic plan for building the capacity for Groundwork Dona Ana ABSTRACT Funding Announcement NPS-WASO-P13AS Project Title Building Capacity at Groundwork USA Dona Ana Green Teams to Green Jobs Recipient Groundwork USA Total Anticipated Award Amount $57,143.00 Cost Share N/A Anticipated Length of Agreement Date of award to June 30, 2014 Anticipated Period of Performance Date of award to June 30, 2014 Award Instrument A Task Agreement under Cooperative Agreement H4531110704 Statutory Authority 16 U.S.C. 460.1-1(d) of the Outdoor Recreation Act; 16 U.S.C. Section 1g CFDA # and Title 15.921 Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance Single Source Justification Criteria Cited Unique Qualifications Point of Contact June Zastrow 303-987-6718; june_zastrow@nps.gov OVERVIEW Cooperative Agreement Number H4531110704 was entered into by and between the Department of the Interior, National Park Service (NPS), and Groundwork USA (GW USA) for the purpose of supporting the reuse of Brownfields, and other derelict sites for conservation, recreation, economic development, and community benefit through development of Groundwork Trust organizations as part of the Groundwork USA Initiative. Brownfields are defined as derelict sites that have been contaminated or perceived to have been contaminated through previous uses of the site. Groundwork USA, the national office of the Groundwork USA network, is a critical component of the Groundwork model. Its mission is to support the development of the existing and new Groundwork Trusts, promote and coordinate the work of the network, access national resources and partnerships to support local projects and programs and establish and maintain best practices across the network of GW Trusts. Unless otherwise specified herein, the terms and conditions as stated in the Cooperative Agreement will apply to this Task Agreement. The objectives of this task agreement are: ¿ To develop a GW Dona Ana Green Job Training Certification Program; ¿ To develop hands-on training opportunities for the GW Dona Ana Green Job and Brownfield Training Program; ¿ To work with new communities in Dona Ana County to identify and develop projects; and ¿ To develop a two-year Strategic Plan for building the capacity of GW Dona Ana NM. STATEMENT OF JOINT OBJECTIVES/PROJECT MANAGEMENT PLAN RECIPIENT INVOLVEMENT A. GW USA agrees: 1. That the funds made available through this Agreement will be used to support the work of GW Dona Ana NM to develop a Green Job Training Certification Program, to develop with hands-on training opportunities for the program, to work with new communities in Dona Ana County to identify and develop projects and to develop a two-year strategic plan for building the capacity of GW Dona Ana; 2. That the funds provided under this Agreement cannot be used for construction documents or construction of specific projects; 3. That for the duration of this Agreement, quarterly progress reports shall be submitted to NPS documenting the work undertaken toward completing the tasks specified in this agreement, including additional support leveraged from other sources to support this effort; 4. To support the work of Groundwork Dona Ana to develop a Green Job and Brownfield Training Certification Program as part of its Environmental Education Program, by accomplishing the following tasks: a) Identify partners from businesses, educational organizations, state and local agencies that would be able to provide curriculum materials and training for the Green Job Training Certification Program; b) In collaboration with partners, identify core curriculum for the Certification Program. Curriculum may include: managing hazardous materials, underground storage tanks, solid waste management, innovative and alternative treatment technologies, wastewater treatment, and specialized training topics in reducing exposures, safety, stewardship, pollution prevention, general worker practices, and/or other topics related to local environmental issues; c) Identify and work proactively with key education, government and business stakeholders in Doña Ana County and New Mexico to develop a green jobs network that will help identify green job opportunities and help place program graduates in available jobs; d) Develop a pathway for alumni of the GW Dona Ana Green Team Environmental Service Learning Program to move into the Green Job Training Certification Program; e) Develop electronic and print outreach materials to engage partners, and community members with the program and to recruit participants for the program; f) Identify and participate in training opportunities for GW Dona Ana staff to expand knowledge of Green Job Training, as part of attending the 2013 Brownfields Conference of the Environmental Protection Agency; and g) Document work completed to develop the Green Job and Brownfield Job Training Certification Program. 5. To support the work of Groundwork Dona Ana to assess the feasibility of providing hands-on Green Job training opportunities that assists limited income, elderly, and/or disabled individuals to continue living independently in their homes, by accomplishing the followings tasks: a) Develop a core group of partners with local agencies and organizations that provide services to low income, elderly and disabled persons to complete a needs assessment of individuals in need of assistance in maintaining their homes and yards, and undertaking low cost improvements to conserve/reduce energy costs; b) Identify and research similar programs throughout the network of Groundwork Trusts and other national programs. Develop strategies to address the need, using existing training programs/strategies wherever possible; c) Assess the feasibility of developing a similar program at GW Dona Ana as part of its Green Job Training Certification Program; and d) Document findings and produce a report assessing the feasibility of developing the program at GW Dona Ana. If it is feasible, include recommendations for next steps to implement the program. 6. To work with GW Dona Ana to reach out and expand GWDA¿s presence into communities that GWDA has not served by accomplishing the following tasks: a) Identify key community members and stakeholders in underserved communities in Doña Ana County; b) Hold meetings with key community members and stakeholders to assess needs, identify projects and evaluate how GWDA can assist the communities to improve their local environment; c) Develop a prioritized list of community projects GWDA can work with key stakeholders and community members to complete; and d) Select two projects for further evaluation and work with partners and community members to develop plans for those projects. 7. To work with GW Dona Ana to assess projects, programs, and operations by accomplishing the following tasks: a) Organize an operations review with Groundwork USA and host a meeting with GW USA staff to assess development of GWDA; b) Plan, organize, and complete a Groundwork Dona Ana staff and board member day-long workshop. Topics to be covered include: 1) Findings and recommendations from the operations review with GW USA; 2) Board member and executive director roles and responsibilities in management of the organization; 3) SWOT analysis (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats) of GWR¿s mission and work in Dona Ana NM; 4) Developing and prioritizing actions for the staff and board to undertake to address critical issues and opportunities identified as part of the SWOT analysis; and 5) Initiate work on a strategic plan to build the capacity of GW Dona Ana over the next 2 years, including a board development plan. c) Document the discussions, findings and recommendations from the operations review and the daylong workshop. 8. To support GW Dona Ana in developing a two-year strategic plan, in accordance with the Strategic Planning Guidelines of Groundwork USA, for building the capacity of GWDA, drawing on the findings and recommendations of the operations review with GW USA, by accomplishing by following tasks: a) Review the status of Groundwork Dona Ana projects, programs and operations; b) Assess upcoming needs and opportunities and build upon the accomplishments to date to develop a two-year strategic plan in accordance with the Strategic Planning Guidelines of Groundwork USA to guide development of Groundwork Dona Ana, including, but not limited to, operations, staffing, projects, programs, financials, governance, board recruitment, and long-term sustainability; and c) Submit the strategic plan to Groundwork USA for review and approval. Groundwork USA will notify NPS of the outcome of that review and approval process. 9. To support the work of Groundwork Dona Ana to document all funding, in-kind services, volunteer hours, materials and equipment leveraged by Groundwork Dona Ana for projects, programs and operations. 10. To submit quarterly narrative reports to the National Park Service documenting the work completed on the tasks outlined above and required financial reports, in accordance with NPS requirements. NATIONAL PARK SERVICE INVOLVEMENT NPS agrees: 1. That the funding under this Agreement may be used to support the work of Groundwork USA and GW Dona Ana to develop Green Job Training Certification Program and hands on training opportunities, to develop environmental improvement project opportunities in underserved communities of Dona Ana County, and complete an operations review with Groundwork USA and develop a two-year strategic plan for building the capacity of GW Dona Ana; 2. To support GW USA and Groundwork Dona Ana with the funding from this Agreement to accomplish the tasks of this agreement; 3. To support the work of GW USA to link GW Dona Ana with other Groundwork Trusts that could assist with accomplishing the tasks of this agreement; and 4. To participate in the work of GW USA and GW Dona Ana to accomplish the tasks described, especially the development of the Green Job Training program, and assessment of GWDA projects, programs and operations as part of developing the two-year strategic plan. 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. NPS did not solicit full and open competition for this award based the following criteria: Groundwork USA was selected based on the requirements of the EPA - NPS Interagency Agreement, the significant experience its has leading the GW network and supporting development of the GW Trusts and its ability to bring additional resources to the work of the task agreement.
Office: National Park Service
June_Zastrow@nps.gov
