Groundworks USA Brownfields Area Wide Planning Technical Assistance
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 P14AS00022 Project Title Brownfields Area Wide Planning Technical Assistance Recipient Groundworks USA Principle Investigator / Program Manager Kate O¿Brien Project Manager Total Anticipated Award Amount 99,988.08 Cost Share none New Award or Continuation? Task Agreement under Cooperative Agreement H4531110407 Anticipated Length of Agreement From Date of Award until June 30, 2015 Anticipated Period of Performance From Date of Award until June 30, 2015 Award Instrument Cooperative Agreement Statutory Authority 16 USC 1 g and 16 USC 460.1-1(d) 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 H4531110704 was entered into by and between the Department of the Interior, National Park Service (NPS), and Groundwork USA (GW USA) to support the reuse of brownfields, derelict sites, and green spaces for conservation, recreation, and other community benefits. Brownfields are defined as derelict sites that have been contaminated or perceived to have been contaminated through previous uses of the site. The purpose of this task agreement is to support the work of Groundwork USA to draw on the expertise it has developed through the Groundwork USA network to provide technical assistance to communities impacted by brownfields and other environmental justice issues. The technical assistance will help recipients of Brownfields Area Wide Planning Grants to develop site and area cleanup and reuse plans, and implementation strategies, to improve access to parks, recreation, conserved natural resources and other community benefits. The Brownfield Area Wide Planning Grantees include NPS developed Groundwork Trust organizations and grant recipients from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Brownfields Program. 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 Groundwork network, promote and coordinate the work of the network, access national resources and partnerships to support local projects and programs, establish and document best practices and share the expertise and best practices it has developed with communities doing similar work. 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 share experience and provide technical assistance to communities impacted by brownfields and derelict land issues. ¿ To build capacity for sustaining community engagement in brownfields area-wide planning and implementation activities over the long-term, especially those projects that will improve access to parks, recreation and conserved natural resources. To help communities transition from planning activities to implementation. RECIPIENT INVOLVEMENT GW USA agrees: 1. That the funds made available through this Agreement will be used to promote access to parks, recreation and conserved natural resources in communities that are recipients of EPA Brownfields Area Wide Planning Grants (grantees) and Groundwork Trusts by developing and providing training webinars, providing direct technical assistance to selected grantees, support networking of grantees and Groundwork Trust organizations, to coordinate technical assistance with other resources that may be available from other sources and to highlight and document successes, challenges and lessons learned from providing this type of technical assistance program. 2. That the funds made available through this Agreement cannot be used for construction documents or construction of specific projects. 3. To include Groundwork Trust organizations that are not grantees in the Brownfield training and information sharing activities when possible. 4. To develop a work plan in consultation with NPS and EPA specifying how the following tasks will be accomplished, who is responsible, timing and expected outcomes. 5. To develop and present five (5) training webinars to the Area Wide Planning grantees and Groundwork Trusts in consultation with EPA, by accomplishing the following tasks: a. Assess needs of the grantees and identify webinar topics that will be of most benefit. Topics would be selected in consultation with EPA and NPS to address current challenges faced by Area Wide Planning grantees and Groundwork Trusts working on brownfield issues. Topics will include, but are not limited to: i. innovative community engagement examples (including engaging youth in planning) and various stakeholder/partnership examples that can be used to sustain long-term community interest in the project and support of stakeholder and decision makers, ii. case studies that share the details of how actual brownfields cleanup/redevelopment and area revitalization came about, especially when improving access to parks, recreation and conserved natural resources, sharing the process from planning to implementation and including information on key partnerships and how resources/financing was secured. b. Develop the other webinar topics based on input from the grantees and EPA and NPS. If possible include presentations from the grantees about their experience in the content for each webinar; c. Develop and provide a schedule for the webinars. If possible, include opportunities for one (1) repeat presentation of each webinar; d. Work with EPA to arrange for the webinar platform, which EPA will provide; 6. As part of the webinars, introduce participants to the opportunities for technical assistance from the National Park Service Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance Program (RTCA). 7. To provide direct technical assistance, such as mentorship, brainstorming, problem-solving, project collaboration, or facilitation, to selected Area Wide Planning grantees, by accomplishing the followings tasks: a. Develop the process, criteria and materials needed to select up to five recipients for direct technical assistance in consultation with EPA and NPS. Criteria should include, but are not limited to improving access to parks, recreation and conserved natural resources; b. If a competitive process is determined to be the most effective method to select the five (5) recipients for technical assistance, solicit project proposals from the grantees, and manage the competition. EPA, NPS and GW USA will jointly review and select the recipients of the direct technical assistance from the proposals submitted; c. Identify how the technical assistance will be provided to each recipient and the outcomes anticipated for each technical assistance project; d. Work with each technical assistance recipient to produce a brief report or presentation documenting the findings and outcomes of the technical assistance. 8. To develop and facilitate networking opportunities between grantees and Groundwork Trusts, by accomplishing the following tasks: a. Determine the most effective and efficient way to organize on-line, conference call and/or in-person networking activities; b. Initiate networking activities and help make connections amongst projects, to share experiences and discuss any challenges they are facing. This may include helping to organize smaller ¿affinity group¿ conference calls or on-line discussions amongst grantees, such as an affinity group focused on improving access to parks, recreation and conserved natural resources. Other examples of affinity groups could be based on region, types of projects, similar challenges faced, or community size. 9. To participate in an Area Wide Planning workshop organized by EPA in Washington DC, by accomplishing the following tasks: a. Identify topics for training sessions to be presented at the workshop in consultation with EPA and NPS; b. Organize and develop the content for one or more of the training sessions and lead those sessions; c. Identify opportunities to organize small group discussions based on the affinity groups previously established and facilitate those discussions; d. Compile best practices and project challenges identified in the training sessions and small group discussions. 10. To participate in calls led by the EPA to coordinate the technical assistance being provided by Groundwork USA with other technical assistance providers working with the EPA for the benefit of the grantees. 11. To prepare an interim presentation for the EPA Brownfields and Land Revitalization Program in Washington, DC and meet with the program staff to review progress, challenges and successes and develop recommendations for strengthening the technical assistance program. 12. To prepare a final report for the EPA and NPS documenting the successes, challenges, and lessons learned from providing this technical assistance to Area Wide Planning grantees and Groundwork Trusts. To submit quarterly narrative progress 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 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: NPS agrees: 1. That the funds made available through this Task Agreement will be used to promote access to parks, recreation and conserved natural resources in communities that are recipients of EPA Brownfields Area Wide Planning grants (grantees) and Groundwork Trusts by developing and providing training webinars, to provide direct technical assistance to selected grantees, to support networking of grantees and Groundwork Trust organizations, to coordinate technical assistance with other resources that may be available from other sources identified by the EPA and to highlight and document successes, challenges and lessons learned from providing this type of technical assistance program. 2. To support GW USA with the funding from this Agreement to accomplish the tasks of this agreement. 3. To support the work of GW USA to link communities working on Area Wide Planning projects with technical assistance from the NPS Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance Program for projects the improve access to parks, recreation, and conserved natural resources. 4. To participate in the work of GW USA to select grantees for direct technical assistance and identify training topics for the Area Wide Planning workshop with a focus on improving access to parks, recreation and conserved natural resources. To coordinate support activities with Groundwork USA, EPA and other partners involved in supporting Area Wide Planning grantees. 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: (2) CONTINUATION SINGLE SOURCE JUSTIFICATION DESCRIPTION: THIS IS A NOTICE OF INTENT TO AWARD This is a Task Agreement (P14AC00082) under Cooperative Agreement (H4531110407) in the amount of $99,988.08 with a period of performance from date of award until June 30, 2015. STATUTORY AUTHORITY A. 16 U.S.C. Section 1g. Authorizes the NPS to enter into cooperative agreements that involve the transfer of NPS appropriated funds to state, local, and tribal governments, other public entities, educational institutions, and private nonprofit organizations for the public purpose of carrying out National Park Service programs. B. 16 U.S.C. 460.1-1(d) of the Outdoor Recreation Act authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to provide technical assistance and advice, and to cooperate with States, political subdivisions, and private interests, including nonprofit organizations, with respect to outdoor recreation.
Office: National Park Service
June_Zastrow@nps.gov
