National Park Service

Description

P16AS00269 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 Project Title Enhance Outreach at Parks through Joint Education Programs Recipient University of Alaska Fairbanks Total Anticipated Award Amount $40,000 Cost Share 0.00 Anticipated Length of Agreement 4 years Anticipated Period of Performance 05/20/2015-01/30/2018 Award Instrument CESU Task Agreement Statutory Authority 54 USC 100703 CFDA # and Title 15.945, Cooperative Research and Training Programs Single Source Justification Criteria Cited Continuation CESU Task Agreement Point of Contact Erica Cordeiro OVERVIEW Develop and establish mutually beneficial education programs. Courses could include, but are not limited to, field painting, writing, photography, history of the Yukon, and teacher workshops. While attending UAF summer courses, members of the public will learn about and experience the park's natural and cultural history while learning about the subject matter of the course in an immersive setting. Students will receive instruction from both NPS staff and UAF instructors. Students will also incorporate aspects of park resources and what they have learned into their projects, which may be shared publicly through First Friday art events, web pages, social media, and lesson plans. In addition, these on-site field courses will increase the relevancy of national parks among Participants. A number of the participants will be traditional college-age students under the age of 25. This full immersion experience in the park provides a critical step in the pathway to employment when combined with youth education programs, YCC and college intern positions, and low-graded permanent and seasonal positions. It will attract diverse youth and help them connect in very meaningful ways with the park, and may even build interest in a career with the NPS. Courses will reach a new audience and provide them with a unique opportunity to connect with the history of Yukon-Charley Rivers. Course participants will be housed in the historic Coal Creek Camp complex, which is part of a large historic landscape that includes a gold dredge and Slaven's Roadhouse. In addition, they will spend time on the Yukon River and learn about Native culture and history in the area. Producing art and writing is an especially powerful way to learn about and become connected with the meanings of the site. Through their projects, they will also depict and share their excitement, knowledge and connection with the cultural history of the area. Hosting these courses directly supports the America 's Great Outdoors initiative and the MOU between the Department of the Interior and Department of Education, which promotes the use of parks as 21st Century Education Centers. STATEMENT OF JOINT OBJECTIVES/PROJECT MANAGEMENT PLAN The University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF) agrees to: 1. Organize and market the courses, register students, and collect course fees. 2. Collect medical forms and liability waivers from each course participant. 3. Compensate the instructor. 4. Pay for transportation of the students, instructor, cook, food, and gear into and out of the backcountry at the beginning and end of the courses. Provide transportation for NPS representative(s) as mutually agreed upon in advance and as space allows. 5. Provide food for students. 6. For courses in Yukon-Charley Rivers, provide a cook for the course participants and instructors. NATIONAL PARK SERVICE INVOLVEMENT 1. Assist with planning and logistics for all courses 2. Provide orientations for the instructor and course participants prior to the course as needed. 3. For courses in Yukon-Charley Rivers: a. Provide cooking facilities and housing for participants and leaders of the UAF Summer Session courses at Coal Creek Camp b. Offer an interpretive tour of the gold dredge and evening interpretive programs about the natural and cultural history of the area c. If possible, provide a short excursion on the Yukon River to expand the students' experience and understanding of the preserve. (Dependent upon the availability of an NPS boat and qualified staff person to operate it.) 4. For courses in Gates of the Arctic: a. Provide boats and other gear, such as a stove, water filters, bear resistant food containers, etc. for the courses b. Provide an NPS representative for the course to offer interpretive programs and enhance the experience for course participants. 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 â¿¿ 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 â¿¿ 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 â¿¿ The language in the applicable authorizing legislation or legislative history clearly indicates Congressâ¿¿ intent to restrict the award to a particular recipient of purpose; (4) Unique Qualifications â¿¿ 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 â¿¿ 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: CESU Task Agreement AND a Continuation of the original CESU task agreement P15AC00395.

Who can apply

• Public and State controlled institutions of higher education

Contact

Erica Cordeiro 907-644-3315<br/>Erica_Cordeiro@nps.gov<br/>
Erica_Cordeiro@nps.gov