OpportunityTitle: Development of Outdoor Eco-Learning Centers Dallas, TX
Description: 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&#191;s intention to fund the following project activities without full and open competition. ABSTRACT Funding Announcement P14AS00093 Project Title Development of Outdoor Eco-Learning Centers Dallas, TX Recipient Groundworks Dallas Principle Investigator / Program Manager Peter Payton Total Anticipated Award Amount $54,651.30 Cost Share None New Award or Continuation? Continuation of Task Agreement # P12AC13101 Anticipated Length of Agreement From Date of Award until 03/30/2015 Anticipated Period of Performance From Date of Award until 03/30/2015 Award Instrument Cooperative Agreement Statutory Authority 16 USC 1(g) &amp; 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 This modification modifies ARTICLE II &#191; Statement of Work, ARTICLE III &#191; Term of Agreement, ARTICLE IV - Key Officials, ARTICLE V &#191; Award and Payment, and ARTICLE VI &#191; Reports and/or Deliverables. This modification continues the work that was begun in TA P12AC13101 to develop the Eco Learning Environmental Education program in one school and this modification expands it to additional schools in Dallas TX, based on the work that was already completed. RECIPIENT INVOLVEMENT Groundwork Dallas agrees to: 1. That the funds made available through this Task Agreement will be used to support the continued development of Groundwork Dallas Eco Learning outdoor education programs in partnership with the City of Dallas, the Dallas Independent School District (DISD), and other public, private and non-profit partners in accordance with the Groundwork model. 2. That the funds provided under this Agreement cannot be used for construction documents and construction of specific projects or for fundraising purposes. 3. To undertake planning and development activities, and programming to engage students with Groundwork Dallas in outdoor learning and eco-classroom development, by accomplishing the following tasks: a. Secure written agreement with Dallas Environmental Science Academy (DESA), a DISD middle school, to replicate Green Team Program in the school to collaboratively create outdoor learning experiences during the school day and during extracurricular activities. The agreement will be secured by summer 2014 and the Green Team will commence regular meetings by the fall semester, 2014. b. Secure necessary written agreements with the City of Dallas for use and improvement of the Elm Fork region for outdoor classroom improvements, youth and adult activities, timelines, and stewardship programs. c. Design and implement a written and oral assessment of school-based Green Teams through survey and feedback from 15 - 20 students, teachers, and facilitators d. Assess the documented educational activities, research, and site improvements conducted in the outdoor eco-classroom program and use as a model for implementing a Green Team at DESA. 4. To undertake planning, development activities, and programming to engage Groundwork Dallas and its youth and community partners in the conservation and restoration of the Elm Fork of the Trinity River, by accomplishing the following tasks: a. Conduct water quality monitoring in the Elm Fork of the Trinity River on a monthly basis. b. Train Green Team students and volunteers in citizen forestry practices &#191; reforestation, forestry training, and education &#191; in cooperation with the City of Dallas Citizen Forester Program. c. Conduct and document clean-up activities at the adopted outdoor classroom site on a monthly basis. d. In cooperation with affiliates at Southern Methodist University (SMU) and Botanical Research Institute of Texas (BRIT) train students to identify invasive flora and document them for removal. 5. To undertake the planning and implementation activities for expanding the Groundwork Dallas Green Team program to a career track-education track program through environmental service learning, focusing on youth from diverse backgrounds, by accomplishing the following tasks: a. Recruit and train 10 - 15 Green Team leaders from local community colleges and Universities and train them as crew supervisors. b. Create partnerships with environmental professionals, universities, and college students for roles as mentors, trainers, technical experts, role models, and providers of career information to Green Team participants with the goal of securing 3 &#191; 5 such partnerships. c. Create a document containing activities and training events completed to measure results of career/education track program. 6. To develop strategies and methods for transferring program results, lessons learned, and successes to the Dallas community, the Groundwork network, and others who may use this as a model for outdoor learning eco-classroom programming, by accomplishing the following tasks: a. Develop and produce educational documentary video that tracks and documents ongoing and completed activities in the Elm Fork. b. Develop and produce an edited and condensed version of video from 6.a to share information with target audiences, recruit students to Green Team programs, and provide a model for other implementation sites. c. Engage youth in developing program outreach including the Groundwork Dallas website, social media, and newsletter. Student input will contain, but is not limited to: testimonials, written reflections, photo documentation of program activities, and/or other opportunities leveraged due to Green Team participation. Youth reports will be included at least twice per calendar quarter in the above mentioned outlets. d. Maintain list and photographic record of accomplishments for all projects undertaken through this funding, with a minimum 5 annotated photographs per Green Team event or activity. Record and list will be maintained and published through GWD website and blog. e. Create a document containing strategies used to share information across local and national networks. Document will also contain information and analytics on audiences reached. 7. To document all funding, in-kind services, volunteer hours, materials, and equipment leveraged by Groundwork Dallas to complete the tasks listed above. 8. To leverage additional resources to support the work of GWD to develop these programs. 9. To submit quarterly narrative reports to the National Park Service documenting the work completed on the tasks outlined above and required financial reports, in accordance with the 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: The NPS agrees to: 1. That the funding under this Task Agreement may be used for planning, organizing and promoting the continued development of Groundwork Dallas&#191; youth watershed education and outdoor eco-classroom programs and projects. 2. To support GWD with the funding from this Task Agreement. 3. To continue the ongoing technical assistance and direction to support and guide the development of Groundwork Dallas and the outdoor eco-learning classrooms and activities, especially those related to conservation of natural resources; developing and caring for new or improved parks, recreation areas, nature reserves, trail systems and other green space amenities. 4. To provide staff support and direction through the Rivers &amp; Trails Program to assist with the development of GWD Eco Learning Outdoor Learning Program. 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 &#191; 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 &#191; 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 &#191; The language in the applicable authorizing legislation or legislative history clearly indicates Congress&#191; intent to restrict the award to a particular recipient of purpose; (4) Unique Qualifications &#191; 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 &#191; 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 (P12AC13101) under Cooperative Agreement (P09AC00389) in the amount of $54,651.30 with a period of performance from date of award until 03/30/2015. STATUTORY AUTHORITY 16 U.S.C. &#167;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.
GrantorContactEmailDescription: June_Zastrow@nps.gov
GrantorContactText: June Zastrow, 303-987-6718&lt;br/&gt;June_Zastrow@nps.gov&lt;br/&gt;
CloseDateExplanation: This is a Notice of Intent to Award not a request for proposals