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United States Department of the Interior

NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area

NOTICE OF INTENT

TO AWARD



This Funding Announcement is not a request for applications.

This announcement

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is to provide public notice of the National Park Service (NPS), intention to fund the following project activities without full and open competition.







ABSTRACT

Funding Announcement J8542090030

Project Title Youth Education

Recipient Nature Bridge

Total Anticipated Award Amount $120,00 0. 00

Cost Share Per PLC 79% cost share

Anticipated Length of Agreement Through March 30, 2010

Anticipated Period of Performance Through March 30, 2010

Award Instrument Cooperative Agreement

Statutory Authority 16 U.S.C.

? 1g; 16 U.S.C.

? 1723(c)

CFDA # and Title 1 5. AAN

Single Source Justification Criteria Cited Unique Qualifications, Unsolicited Proposal

I. NatureBridge is considered one of the leading providers of outdoor environmental field science education and teacher professional development in the Western United States.

They have more than 35 years experience working with the National Park Service.

They currently manage institutes and provide programming at three National Park units- Yosemite National Park, Olympic National Park and Golden Gate National Recreation Area.

NatureBridge provides curriculum-based field programs to students in grades 5-12, teacher professional development, family and public field activities and other programming.

They would like to pilot a science education program and potentially form a fourth NPS partnership with the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area due to the park?s close proximity to the second largest urban area in the United States.





II. NatureBridge has a thirty five year history of providing overnight education programs to students in National Parks.

They have experienced naturalist and program managers.

Many organizations utilize their training materials and a significant number of their former students and employees have gone on to become National Park Service and California State Park employees, teachers and field science educators.





III. When Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area management was approached by NatureBridge; staff talked with other parks that work with NatureBridge and were told that they offered programs of high quality that meet the objectives of the National Park Service and state curriculum.

Staff also talked to teachers and other partners that have used their services and all spoke positively regarding their experiences either as students or teachers who participated in NatureBridge activities.



IV. NatureBridge has a nationally recognized naturalist program.

Their naturalist will provide curriculum based programs to students.



V. NatureBridge has invested 35 years and many hundreds of thousands of dollars at other National Park Units.

They are requesting facilities and some funds to pilot a possible institute in the Santa Monica Mountains.

The benefit to the government is that we will be gaining a nationally known and respected partner who will be able to provide high quality overnight experiences for students in the greater Los Angeles area.

NatureBridge will be gaining a site that is closer to the population that they serve.



Point of Contact Edmond Avakem, Contracting Officer

Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area

401 W.

Hillcrest Drive

Thousand Oaks, CA 91360

Phone:
805-370-2324





OVERVIEW



The objective of this Cooperative Agreement is to establish NatureBridge as an equal partner to work with the NPS in the performing of activities and task that support NPS education goals, whether performed and/or financed by the NPS or performed and/or financed by NatureBridge within the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area.



Task agreements with specific goals will be created for each project, as they become needed.

This agreement will serve as the overall umbrella for these tasks.

Examples of tasks that may be developed include but are not limited to:
K-12 field science education, teacher professional development, community outreach programs, summer youth programs, and adult and family field courses.



STATEMENT OF JOINT OBJECTIVES/PROJECT MANAGEMENT PLAN



1. Work together to ensure a quality student experience through overnight and day programs and expand the number of students served in the greater Los Angeles area.



a. Coordinate the scheduling of programs and site selection to avoid conflicts.



b. Conduct employee development sessions to increase the knowledge and skill level of both NPS and NatureBridge staff and volunteers.



c. Develop curriculum-based materials and hands-on student field activities.



d. When staffing allows jointly present programs or components of programs.





RECIPIENT INVOLVEMENT



a. Pilot both overnight multi-day and one-day curriculum based field science education programs in the Santa Monica Mountains for students in grades 5- 12 grade students with an instructor ratio of approximately 1 instructor per 15 students.

The total cost share provided by NatureBridge will be $454,00 0. 0 0.



NATIONAL PARK SERVICE INVOLVEMENT



Provide facilities and staff, training, guidance and National Park Service staff and expertise

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.





NPS did not solicit full and open competition for this award based on the Single Source justification outlined above.