River Conservation Tools and Learning Network Development

Agreement From date of award until09/30/2015 Anticipated Period of Performance From date of award until09/30/2015 Award Instrument Cooperative Agreement Statutory Authority 16 USC 1(g) CFDA # and Title 15.921 River, 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 P13AC00143 was entered into by and between the Department of the Interior, National Park Service (NPS), and River Network for the purpose of working collaboratively to empower the public to protect rivers and other bodies of water by advancing watershed protection goals. Unless otherwise specified herein, the terms and conditions as stated in the Cooperative Agreement will apply to this task agreement. This task agreement outlines a multi-year partnership between NPS and River Network with the goal of developing networks and tools that are of benefit to various audiences, including national water trail managers. This collaborative effort will focus on high-priority needs of the water trails managers that are also ranked highly by the national river and watershed conservation community. Topics that rank highly for all audiences based on a comprehensive needs assessment include stimulating citizen engagement around the protection of rivers, watersheds and open spaces, and promoting financial innovation to support such conservation efforts. Although this agreement is specific to work to be funded and completed during the next year, our expectation is to continue to collaborate moving forward, subject to funding availability. Specifically, the initial year of this task agreement will focus on establishing a learning network for national water trail managers, including creating the network structure, hosting national water trails training workshop, and working with this network to develop educational materials that capture best practices and methodologies for broader application and dissemination beyond the participants of this network. These three components are broadly outlined below. A more specific work plan will be developed in the first month of this agreement and will outline activities designed to capture existing opportunities provided by other ongoing efforts, including River Network¿s developing collaboration with the River Management Society and NPS¿s internship program. Other subsequent phases of this agreement will be defined in future modifications that will fall under this main task. RECIPIENT INVOLVEMENT 1. Establish a National Water Trails Managers Learning Network that meets the needs identified through the 2014 needs assessment and is informed by River Network¿s experience with learning networks. The structure of the Network will include an online forum that facilitates regular interactions and exchange of information/documents among water trail managers and a regular schedule of peer calls to encourage information sharing around topics identified by the participants. 2. Cooperatively with NPS, develop a strategy for phase two implementation of national water trails learning network, including support for a national water trails training workshop. 3. Provide logistical, organizational and facilitation support for national water trails training workshop to be held in the Spring/Summer 2015. 4. Administer NPS scholarship awards for attendance to the national water trails workshop in coordination with local host organization(s), pending available funding. 5. Plan, develop, and produce an educational program (e.g., webinar series, how to manual, etc.) that allows the best practices and methodologies developed through this Learning Network to have broader application and dissemination beyond this network. Priority will be given to developing tools that help entities increase public and citizen engagement around river and watershed protection, helping move members of the public along the ¿Recreation  Volunteer/Supporter  Engaged Citizen¿ continuum. These materials will be developed through a process that includes researching the experiences of River Network¿s affiliates, convening trail managers to share best practices and inviting experts from outside the water recreation or environmental arena to share their experiences. In addition to citizen engagement materials, if additional staffing or intern resources are provided and resources are available during this or future task agreement periods, we will expand our focus to also include financial innovations for river and watershed protection (e.g., ballot initiatives, tax measures, water funds, etc.). 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: 1. Cooperatively with River Network, develop a strategy for the creation of a National Water Trails Managers Learning Network and its ongoing development, based on the 2014 needs assessment. 2. Provide leadership and organizational support for national water trails training workshop. 3. Provide contact and background information for the managers of the national water trails. 4. Solicit support for development of the National Water Trails Managers Learning Network from the Interagency National Water Trails team. 5. Include tasks that support NPS and River Network¿s cooperatively held goals in work plans guiding NPS RTCA internship programs. 6. Maintain ongoing contact with River Network staff, including participating in regular monthly calls to keep staff apprised on progress on the above tasks. 7. Provide financial support to River Network to accomplish the above mentioned tasks. 8. Promote National River Rally as training and networking opportunity to RTCA and other NPS staff, national water trail managers and other members of RTCA¿s national network. 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 (P14AC01550) under Cooperative Agreement (P11AC00143) in the amount of $25,000.00 with a period of performance from date of award until 09/30/2015. STATUTORY AUTHORITY 16 U.S.C. 1(g) NPS authority to enter into cooperative agreements and transfer appropriated funds to nonprofit organization for the public purpose of NPS programs. 16 U.S.C. § 1a-2G NPS authority to enter into agreements with public or private educational institutions, States and their political subdivisions, for the purpose of developing adequate, coordinated, cooperative research and training programs concerning the resources of the National Park System, and pursuant to such agreements, to accept from and make available to the cooperator such technical and support staff, financial assistance for mutually agreed upon research projects, supplies and equipment, facilities, and administrative services relating to cooperative research units as the Secretary deems appropriate; except that this paragraph shall not waive any requirements for research projects that are subject to Federal procurement regulations. 16 USC 1271 et seq The Wild and Scenic Rivers Act of 1968, Section 11 (b)(1) authorized Federal assistance, cooperation through written agreements, and limited financial or other assistance to private organizations and others to protect and manage river resources.