Development and Building Capacity at Groundworks Buffalo

From date of award until 9/30/2016 Anticipated Period of Performance From date of award until 9/30/2016 Award Instrument Cooperative Agreement Statutory Authority 54 USC 101702(a) 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 P15AC10704 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 other 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 are 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 Groundwork 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 support the work of GW Buffalo to: ��� Develop partnerships and identify project opportunities to reuse brownfields for parks, recreation, conserved natural resources and other community benefits; ��� Develop innovative approaches to improve water quality in urban waters bodies; ��� Evaluate projects, programs and operations of GWB as part of an operations review with Groundwork USA and develop a two-year strategic plan for building the capacity of GWB. RECIPIENT INVOLVEMENT A. GW USA agrees: 1. That the funds made available through this Agreement will be used to support the work of Groundwork Buffalo to develop partnerships with other organizations and agencies and identify projects to reuse brownfields and other vacant lands for community benefit, to develop new opportunities for youth to participate in environmental service learning projects in the community, to support development of innovative approaches to conserve urban water resources and improve water quality, and to assess projects, programs and operations of Groundwork Buffalo and develop an updated two (2) year Strategic Plan. 2. That the funds provided under this Agreement cannot be used for construction documents or construction of specific projects. 3. To support the work of Groundwork Buffalo to develop partnerships with other organizations and agencies involved with environmental restoration in Buffalo to achieve holistic solutions to the reuse of brownfields and other vacant lands for parks, recreation and other community benefits, by accomplishing the following tasks: a) Identify potential partners and existing collaborative efforts that would strengthen the work of GW Buffalo to reuse brownfields and other vacant lands for community benefit; b) Research with these partners effective best management solutions for addressing storm-water management, environmental justice and extensive vacancy of urban lands; c) Examine the effectiveness of clustered small Green Infrastructure installations to achieve ecological, economic and social benefits in communities impacted by these issues; d) Document the findings and recommendations for achieving holistic solutions to the reuse of brownfields and other vacant lands. 4. To support the work of Groundwork Buffalo to identify potential projects for the partners to collaborate on that would improve access to parks, recreation, conserved natural resources and other community benefits, based on the Brownfields and Vacant Lot mapping that GW Buffalo has already completed. The partners would include, but are not limited to the Buffalo Sewer Authority, Buffalo Niagara RIVERKEEPER, Grassroots Gardens, PUSH Buffalo and the City of Buffalo. Select and undertake a demonstration project. 5. To support the work of Groundwork Buffalo to identify and provide new opportunities for youth from the communities it serves to participate in environmental service learning projects in their community as part of the GW Buffalo Green Team, by accomplishing the following tasks: a) Convene meetings with the city and community partners to identify new project opportunities for the Green Team and youth programs to partner with to engage the youth they serve with GW led project activities; b) Develop an overview of environmental service learning project activities for the GW Green Team to undertake in 2015 with selected youth programs; c) Develop a plan for how they will be accomplished, and a calendar of activities; d) Review and update as needed outreach materials to engage local youth and partners with the GW Buffalo Green Team; e) Review and update as needed curriculum materials in consultation with local schools to align service learning activities with school curriculum. Compile the curriculum materials for use by the Green Team; f) Work with youth program partners to identify and undertake one or more of the environmental service learning project activities led by GW Buffalo; g) Document the activities of the Green Team Program with pictures and videos. 6. To support the work of Groundwork Buffalo to develop partnerships with other organizations and agencies involved with restoration of urban water resources in Buffalo to develop innovative approaches to improving water quality, by accomplishing the following tasks: a) Identify potential partners and existing collaborative efforts, such as the Buffalo State College���s Great Lakes Center, that would strengthen the work of GW Buffalo to address water quality issues in Buffalo; b) Research with these partners innovative approaches for assessing and improving water quality and identify opportunities for implementing these approaches in Buffalo in selected pilot locations; c) Document the findings and recommendations for innovative approaches to improving water quality and developing pilot projects in selected locations. 7. To work with Groundwork Buffalo to assess projects, programs, and operations as part of a GW USA led operations review of GWB, by accomplishing the following tasks: a) Organize an operations review with Groundwork USA and a site visit with Groundwork Hudson Valley to draw on the operations experience of GW Hudson Valley and assess development of GWB; b) Document the discussions, findings and recommendations from the operations review; c) Organize a training and site visit for GW Buffalo staff to GW Hudson Valley. 8. To support the work of Groundwork Buffalo to develop an updated two -year strategic plan, approved by the GWB Board of Directors, for building the capacity of GWB, by accomplishing the following tasks: a) Review the status of Groundwork Buffalo projects, programs and operations; b) Assess upcoming needs and opportunities and build upon the accomplishments to date to develop a GW Buffalo two-year strategic plan to guide development of Groundwork Buffalo, including, but not limited to, operations, staffing, projects, programs, financials, governance, board recruitment, and long-term sustainability; c) Integrate findings and recommendations from the Operations Review into the updated strategic plan; d) Submit the strategic plan to Groundwork USA for review and approval. Groundwork USA will notify the National Park Service of the outcome of that review and approval process. 9. To document all funding, in-kind services, volunteer hours, materials and equipment leveraged by GWB for its projects, programs and operations. 10. To maintain a photographic record and list of accomplishments for all projects undertaken by GW Buffalo. 11. 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: B. NPS agrees: 1. That the funds made available through this Agreement will be used to support the work of Groundwork Buffalo to develop partnerships with other organizations and agencies and identify projects to reuse brownfields and other vacant lands for community benefit, to develop new opportunities for Youth to participate in environmental service learning projects in the community, to support development of innovative approaches to conserve urban water resources and improve water quality, and to assess projects, programs and operations of GW Buffalo and develop an updated two - year strategic plan. 2. To support Groundwork Buffalo with the funding from this Agreement to accomplish the tasks of this Agreement. 3. To link Groundwork Buffalo with other Groundwork Trusts that can assist with accomplishing the tasks of this Agreement. 4. To participate in the work of Groundwork Buffalo to accomplish the tasks described, especially the assessment of projects and programs and development of an updated strategic plan to build the capacity of GW Buffalo. 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 (P15AC01003) under Cooperative Agreement (P15AC00034) in the amount of $52,144.44 with a period of performance from date of award until 09/30/2016. STATUTORY AUTHORITY 54 U.S.C. 101702 (a) (formerly 16 U.S.C. �� 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.