Grooundworks Richmond CA Project and Program Development | Apply Online

Opportunity Summary:

The "Groundwork Richmond CA Project and Program Development" opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number P14AS00054) is a National Park Service (NPS) notice of intent to award a cooperative agreement to Groundwork Richmond, CA. It is not an open solicitation and not a request for applications. Instead, it serves as public notice that NPS plans to fund specific project activities without full and open competition, using single-source justification. The award is tied to the NPS Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance Program (CFDA 15.921) and is authorized under 16 USC 1g and 16 USC 460.11(d). The anticipated agreement length and period of performance are both five years, structured as a new cooperative agreement (not a continuation award to an existing agreement number, but explicitly designed to continue previously initiated work). No cost share or matching requirement is listed.

At its core, the award supports the creation and maturation of a local Groundwork organization in Richmond, California, as part of a larger federal partnership between NPS and the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Through an interagency agreement (EPA #DW 14 95766101), NPS and EPA aim to help communities affected by brownfields and other derelict lands improve quality of life and support economic regeneration. The strategy emphasized here is to turn underused or contaminated properties into community assets by expanding and improving parkland, trails, recreation areas, nature reserves, and other green infrastructure. The opportunity also sits within a broader effort to replicate the "Groundwork model" that has a track record in Great Britain and is being expanded in the United States through the Groundwork USA network of locally based Groundwork Trust organizations.

Richmond was selected into the Groundwork USA program through a competitive process, and the city had already obtained EPA Brownfields Program funding, which is described as a prerequisite. After selection, the City of Richmond and the Richmond Greenway Coalition convened a Groundwork Richmond Steering Committee with representation from residents, neighborhood groups, businesses, nonprofits, civic groups, and the city. That group, working with NPS and EPA, completed a feasibility study and strategic plan and concluded the Groundwork approach was a good fit for Richmond. Groundwork Richmond was then established as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, and early projects and programs began based on the feasibility study goals. Going forward, NPS funding would be provided through separate task agreements under the umbrella of this cooperative agreement, drawing from the EPA-NPS interagency agreement as funds are available.

The stated objective is to support the development of Groundwork Richmond and to advance community-led conservation, stewardship, and environmental improvement work in neighborhoods impacted by brownfields, derelict land, and environmental justice concerns. This includes improving and caring for parks and natural areas, expanding trails and green space amenities, encouraging reuse of brownfields for community benefit, and engaging youth and families from diverse communities with conservation and stewardship, including connections to the National Park Service. Importantly, the award is framed around capacity-building and program/project development rather than capital construction.

The recipient responsibilities focus on implementing the Groundwork model locally and building a functioning organization that can plan, coordinate, and deliver community-based environmental improvements. Groundwork Richmond is expected to support transformation and reuse of brownfields and derelict sites for conservation, recreation, economic development, and other community benefits. Allowed activities are broad and include organizational planning and operations; project and program planning, development, and implementation; youth engagement, community involvement, education, public outreach, networking, and partnership building; strategic planning; creation of outreach materials and reports; and documenting results and outcomes. The agreement also requires practical accountability measures: tracking leveraged resources (cash and in-kind contributions, volunteer hours, materials, and equipment), keeping a photographic record and accomplishments list, seeking additional resources beyond federal support, and submitting quarterly narrative and financial reports. A key limitation is that funds under the agreement cannot be used for construction documents or construction of specific projects, reinforcing that the intent is technical assistance, planning, coordination, and capacity development rather than building infrastructure directly.

Because this is a cooperative agreement, NPS anticipates substantial involvement rather than a hands-off grant relationship. NPS commits to using the agreement to plan, organize, and promote Groundwork Richmond's development and its participation in the Groundwork USA network, subject to fund availability through the interagency agreement. NPS will advise on project and program development, provide ongoing technical assistance and direction (especially around community engagement in conservation and stewardship, parks and trail development concepts, and reuse of brownfields for green space purposes), and review plans aimed at building organizational capacity and expanding service to additional Richmond-area communities. NPS also plans to connect Groundwork Richmond with relevant NPS sites and programs, EPA resources, and the broader Groundwork USA network, and to provide staff support through the Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance Program. Individual projects or activities will be authorized through separate task agreements, each with its own jointly developed work plan and budget.

The notice explains why NPS is proceeding without full competition. The single-source justification cites two Department of the Interior criteria: continuation and unique qualifications. On continuation, NPS argues the cooperative agreement continues work that began with the City of Richmond and the steering committee during the feasibility and startup phase, and that moving the work to a different entity would disrupt continuity and be inefficient, particularly now that Groundwork Richmond exists as the purpose-built 501(c)(3) created through the earlier planning process. On unique qualifications, NPS emphasizes Groundwork Richmond's local legitimacy and readiness stemming from extensive community outreach, planning, and alignment with identified needs in brownfield-impacted communities. The justification repeatedly notes that shifting responsibility to an organization unfamiliar with the Groundwork model in Richmond would not serve the community well and would not be cost effective, especially given that the interagency agreement is specifically intended to support the development of Groundwork organizations.

Administratively, the posting date is March 31, 2014, with an original and current closing date of April 14, 2014, reflecting the window for public notice rather than an application deadline. The listing shows one expected award and identifies eligible applicants generally as 501(c)(3) nonprofits, but the content makes clear the intended recipient is Groundwork Richmond, CA, with Sarah Calderon listed as the principal investigator/program manager and June Zastrow as the NPS point of contact (junezastrow@nps.gov, 303-987-6718). The anticipated award amount is shown as 0.00 in the abstract, which aligns with the structure described: funding would be provided later through separate task agreements as projects are authorized and as interagency funds are available, rather than as a single upfront lump-sum award in the notice itself.

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