OpportunityTitle: Cooperative Agreement -Youth Conservation
Description: COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI), National Park Service (NPS), Yellowstone National Park, Grand Teton National Park, Glacier National Park, Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area, Grant Kohrs Ranch National Historic Site, Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument, and Devils Tower National Monument. BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Recipient and the NPS have a mutual interest in accomplishing needed conservation, environmental restoration, development, maintenance, research and public education tasks, construction or rehabilitation projects in park units as listed. The involvement of young adults in the care and enhancement of public resources stimulates the public purpose of environmental education, development of responsible citizenship and productive community involvement, and furthering the understanding and appreciation of natural and cultural resources through the involvement of local youth and young adults in the care and enhancement of public resources. Recipient is uniquely qualified for conservation development programs related to environmental resources. The mission of Recipient is to inspire young people through hands on conservation service to be leaders, stewards of the land and engaged citizens who improve their communities. Recipient seeks to protect and enhance the environment while developing young adults to become an inspiration of individual action within the environmental community. The NPS and Recipient desire to build upon the good record of partnership developing youths and supporting the NPS&#146;s resources in a cost-effective and efficient manner. The NPS and Recipient also wish to cooperate with one another for their mutual benefit of the people of the United States and future generations to enjoy the natural and cultural resources of the National Park System. AUTHORITY A. Federal: 1. 16 U.S.C. &#167; 1g, provides that the NPS may enter cooperative agreements that involve the transfer of NPS-appropriated funds to non-profit organizations for the public purpose of carrying out NPS programs pursuant to 31 U.S.C. &#167; 6305. 2. 16 U.S.C. &#167;1f, Challenge-Cost Share authority, authorizes the NPS to enter into agreements with cooperators for the purpose of sharing costs or services in carrying out authorized functions and responsibilities of the Secretary with respect to any unit or program of the national park system, any affiliated area, or any designated National Scenic or Historic Trail. This authority allows the agency to negotiate and enter into cooperative agreements with any State or local Government, public or private agency, organization, institution, corporation, individual, or other entity. A cooperative agreement may be utilized if there is substantial involvement in the project on the part of the NPS. 2. The Youth Conservation Corps and Public Land Corps statutes (16 U.S.C. &#167;&#167; 1701 et seq) at 16 U.S.C. &#167; 1723 (c)(1). STATEMENT OF WORK A. The NPS agrees to: 1. Provide financial assistance as shown in Article VI. 2. Work with the Recipient in developing a program involving cooperative efforts in accomplishing environmental and cultural restoration projects. 3. Perform all required cultural and natural resource compliance work prior to permitting the Recipient members to begin work on a project. 4. Provide logistical and facility support to Recipient personnel. Participate with Recipient in overall project management and monitoring; provide materials, transportation, and equipment as available and necessary to perform the environmental restoration projects. 5. Assign an appropriate NPS employee to monitor the on-going work, provide technical direction, and respond to questions about the nature and goals of the project and act as an on-going liaison among the parties. 6. In collaboration with the Recipient, provide interpretation and education programs for the Recipient members to enhance their environmental awareness. 7. In conjunction with the Recipient, review and approve each phase of each project prior to commencement of subsequent phases. 8. Complete the Recipient project-related forms in conjunction with each project. B. The Recipient agrees to: 1. Develop a youth conservation program of public benefit in cooperation with the NPS to expose youth and young adults to public service while furthering their understanding and appreciation of the Nation&#146;s natural and cultural resources. 2. Recruit and hire young adults (Recipient corps members) to accomplish environmental restoration/conservation services, development, maintenance, research and public education tasks, construction or rehabilitation. These corps members will be employees of Recipient, which is responsible for payroll, payroll taxes and work compensation liability. 3. Coordinate with the NPS to ensure that young adult corps members have opportunities for training in resource conservation and vocational skills including occupational safety. 4. Provide supervision, transportation, basic tools and other support for Recipient crews. 5. Coordinate project activities, including personnel hiring, processing payroll, travel arrangements and reimbursements. This includes the cost share requirement for a 25% non-Federal match of funds or in-kind services, facilities, materials, equipment or any combination thereof. C. NPS and the Recipient agree to: 1. Cooperate in the design and implementation of needed environmental and conservation projects. 2. Undertake pre-project and closeout task agreements, modifications and final briefings for each project. 3. Provide educational programs about the work projects and resource management at the individual NPS site to increase Recipient program participant&#146;s knowledge of park problems, cultural and natural resources, the NPS&#146;s environmental restoration and conservation methods and NPS stewardship of public lands and resources. 4. To create a cooperative partnership to maximize the benefits from the projects accomplished by both organizations. TERM OF AGREEMENT This Agreement shall remain in effect for a period of one year from the date of approval by both parties, with four one-year options not to exceed five years total, unless terminated earlier per Article XI. The period from the effective date to the expiration date is the period of performance for the Agreement. KEY OFFICIALS A. Key officials are essential to ensure maximum coordination and communications between the parties and the work performed. B. Communications &#150;The Recipient will address any communication regarding this Agree-ment to the Contracting Officer with a copy to the Superintendent of the referenced area. Communications that relate solely to routine operational matters described in the current work plan may be sent only to the Contracting Officer. C. Changes in Key Officials &#150; The NPS nor the Recipient may not make any permanent change in a key official without written notice to the other party reasonably in advance of the proposed change. The notice will include a justification with sufficient detail to permit evaluation of the impact of such a change on the scope of work specified within this agreement. Any permanent change in key officials will be made only by modification to this agreement. AWARD AND PAYMENT The commitment of funds in furtherance of this Agreement will be authorized by individual Task Agreements issued against this Cooperative Agreement identifying each project or group of projects, amount of financial assistance and any other special term or condition applicable to that project. Payment will be made by reimbursement upon Recipient submitting an original Standard Form 270 Request for Advance or Reimbursement to the Agreements Officer. The SF-270 shall be supported by an itemized account of all reimbursable expenses outlined in the budget estimates for task orders. All correspondence pertaining to requests for payment shall be addressed to the Agreements Officer, National Park Service, Yellowstone National Park, P.O. Box 168, Yellowstone NP, WY 82190. Any award beyond the current fiscal year is subject to availability of funds. There is no guarantee of funding. Allowable and Eligible Costs: Expenses charged against awards under the Agreement may not be incurred prior to the beginning of the agreement, and may be incurred only as necessary to carry out the approved objectives, scope of work, and budget. Each task agreement will identify the NPS Agreement Technical Representative (ATR) responsible for administering the technical aspect of the Agreement. The representative is authorized to clarify technical requirements, and to review and approve that which is clearly within the scope of the work specified in the Agreement and task agreements. He/She is not authorized to issue changes or in any other way modify or otherwise change the terms or scope of this Agreement. The Agreement Technical Representative is responsible for overall coordination of the project to include scheduling job and safety training, on-site inspection of the work and for providing the Recipient program representative any special instructions, guidance, or training necessary to complete the work in an orderly manner. PRIOR APPROVAL The Recipient shall obtain prior approval for budget and program revisions, in accordance with OMB Circular A-110 as codified in 43 CFR &#167;12.925. LIABILITY Recipient agrees: A. To indemnify, save and hold harmless, and defend the United States against all fines, claims, damages, losses, judgments, and expenses arising out of, or from, any act or omission of the Recipient, its officers, employees or (members, participants, associates, representatives, agents, as appropriate) arising out of or in any way connected to activities authorized pursuant to this agreement. This obligation shall survive the termination of this agreement. B. To purchase public and employee&apos;s liability insurance at its own expense from a responsible company or companies with a minimum limitation of One Million Dollars ($1,000,000.) per person for any one claim, and an aggregate limitation of Three Million Dollars ($3,000,000.) for any number of claims arising from any one incident. The policies hall name the United States as an additional insured, shall specify that the insured shall have no right of subrogation against the United States for payment of any premiums or deductibles due thereunder, and shall specify that the insurance shall be assumed by, be for the account of, and be at the insured&apos;s sole risk. Prior to beginning the work authorized herein, the Recipient shall provide the NPS with confirmation of such insurance coverage. C. To pay the United States the full value for all damage to the lands or other property of the United States caused by the Recipient, its officers, employees, associates, or representatives. D. To provide worker&#146;s compensation protection to the Recipient officers, employees, representatives and associates. E. To cooperate with the NPS in the investigation and defense of any claims that may be filed with the NPS arising out of the activities of the cooperator, its agents, employees and/or associates. F. In the event of damage to or destruction of the buildings and facilities which may be assigned for the use of Recipient in whole or in part by any cause whatsoever, nothing herein contained shall be deemed to require the NPS to replace or repair the buildings or facilities. If the NPS determines in writing, after consultation with the Recipient, that damage to the buildings or portions thereof renders such buildings unsuitable for continued use by the Recipient, the NPS shall assume sole control over such buildings or portions thereof. If the buildings or facilities rendered unsuitable for use are essential for conducting operations authorized under this Agreement, then failure to substitute and assign other facilities acceptable to the Recipient will constitute termination of this Agreement by the NPS. REPORTS A. The Recipient and NPS will mutually agree to an appropriate schedule and content of progress reports for each activity. B. All final financial, performance, and property reports as required in Cooperative Agreements pursuant to this Agreement will be in accordance with OMB Circular A-110 and 43 CFR part12. PROPERTY UTILIZATION All tools, equipment, and facilities furnished by the Park will be on a loan basis. Tools, equipment and facilities will be returned in the same condition except for normal wear and tear in project use. Property Management standards as set forth in 43 CFR Paragraph 12.933 through 12.935 apply to this Agreement. MODIFICATION AND TERMINATION A. This Agreement may be modified only by a written instrument executed by the parties. B. Either party may terminate this Agreement by providing the other party with thirty (30) days advance written notice. In the event that one party provides the other party with notice of its intentions to terminate, the parties will meet promptly to discuss the reasons for the notice and to try and resolve their differences. RECIPIENT&apos;S TECHNICAL QUALIFICATIONS: Proven ability to fully engage a wide variety of required technical trail construction modalities for the project including reroutes, log bridges and masonry walls utilizing rigging equipment, chain saw, rock drill as well as traditional wilderness hand tools and crosscut saws. Proven ability to hike long miles (10-30) into the wilderness backcountry living in primitive spike camp conditions while suspending up to 400lbs of food with cable suspension systems in prime grizzly bear habitat and adhering to &#145;Leave no Trace&#148; ethics and the minimum impact protocols.
GrantorContactEmailDescription: tina_holland@nps.gov
GrantorContactText: Tina  Holland &lt;br/&gt;Financial Assitance Agreements Officer &lt;br/&gt;Phone 307-344-2082