Public Involvement in River Conservation and Recreation | Apply Online

Opportunity Summary:

The "Public Involvement in River Conservation and Recreation" opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number P14AS00074) is a National Park Service (NPS) notice of intent to award a cooperative agreement, not an open call for applications. In other words, it is a public transparency notice that NPS plans to fund specific project activities with a named recipient without full and open competition. The planned recipient is American Rivers, a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit, with Jean Moyer listed as the principal investigator/program manager and June Zastrow as the NPS point of contact (junezastrow@nps.gov). The anticipated agreement term and period of performance are both five years from the date of award, and there is no cost share or matching requirement noted.

The purpose of the cooperative agreement is to jointly promote and expand public involvement in river conservation and river-based recreation across the United States. American Rivers is described as a nationwide river conservation organization headquartered in Washington, DC, with regional operations and multiple field offices. The core idea behind the partnership is that NPS and American Rivers will collaborate on efforts that help communities and stakeholders protect rivers while also supporting appropriate recreational use, with particular attention to topics like hydropower impacts, Wild and Scenic Rivers, and water trails (often referred to as blue trails).

Three main objectives are laid out for the work under this agreement. First, the project is meant to encourage greater public involvement in river conservation and recreation, essentially building participation and support for protecting rivers while helping people use them responsibly. Second, it aims to develop new guidance materials and update or improve existing tools that support effective river conservation and management. Third, it includes producing and sharing educational materials that promote both river conservation and public recreational use, meaning outreach products that translate technical or policy concepts into practical information for communities, partners, and the general public.

The announcement spells out substantial involvement by both parties, which is a defining feature of a cooperative agreement (as opposed to a more hands-off grant). American Rivers is expected to collaborate with NPS on activities of mutual public benefit tied to river conservation and recreation nationwide, provide support for research and interagency coordination, and deliver technical assistance and trainings. Their work is expected to emphasize hydropower, Wild and Scenic Rivers, and water trails, and also to contribute to public outreach through development of educational materials that encourage river stewardship and responsible recreation. On the NPS side, the agency anticipates an active role in planning and executing the work: collaborating with American Rivers on conservation and recreation initiatives, encouraging NPS offices and other federal agencies to support public involvement in river conservation and management, and assisting with both the planning/execution of activities and the planning/production of educational materials.

A major feature of this notice is the single-source justification explaining why NPS does not plan to compete the award. Under Department of the Interior single-source policy (505 DM 2), NPS must document why competition is not practicable. The cited justification is criterion (4), "Unique Qualifications." The document explains that NPS reviewed nationwide organizations and compared factors such as target audiences, methods of public engagement, expertise in hydropower and Wild and Scenic Rivers and water trails, and relationships with river conservation and recreation groups. Based on that review, NPS concluded American Rivers is uniquely qualified, in part due to its national advocacy and on-the-ground project experience, its tools and training capacity, and its convening role through partnerships like the Hydropower Reform Coalition and networks connected to Wild and Scenic Rivers. The notice also indicates NPS has worked successfully with American Rivers under a previous cooperative agreement, which strengthens the case for continuity and reduces disruption risks even though the formal single-source rationale is framed as unique qualifications.

From an administrative standpoint, the opportunity is listed under CFDA 15.921, Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance, and falls within several activity categories including community development, education, environment, natural resources, and regional development. The posting date is April 14, 2014, with an original and current closing date of April 28, 2014, reflecting the notice period rather than an application deadline in the usual sense. While the abstract lists a total anticipated award amount of 0.00, the record also shows fields like estimated total funding and award ceiling/floor set to 1, which reads like placeholder or system-required entries rather than clear funding figures. The key practical takeaway is that this posting functions as a notice of a planned, non-competitive cooperative agreement with one expected award.

Finally, the legal authority for the award is tied to NPS cooperative agreement authority under 16 USC 1(g), which allows NPS to enter cooperative agreements with public entities and private nonprofits to carry out NPS programs, and it also references authorities connected to the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act (16 USC 1271 et seq.), including the Secretary of the Interior's authority under Section 11(b) to enter cooperative agreements and provide limited assistance to encourage participation in protecting and managing river resources. These authorities support the project focus on engaging the public, producing guidance and educational materials, and coordinating with partners around major river conservation and recreation priorities nationwide.

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