Opportunity Information: Apply for P13AS00074
Apply for P13AS00074
- The National Park Service in the community development education environment natural resources regional development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Urban Waters Learning Network" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.921 Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance.
- This funding opportunity was created on May 29, 2013 and posted on May 29, 2013.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 11, 2013. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $99,987.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $99,987.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Urban Waters Learning Network opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number P13AS00074) is a National Park Service notice of intent to award, meaning it is not an open solicitation and is not asking the public to apply. Instead, it serves as formal public notice that the National Park Service (NPS), within the Department of the Interior, plans to make a single award to Groundwork USA under a cooperative agreement structure. The anticipated federal funding amount is $99,986.86 (about $99,987), with no cost share required, and the work is expected to run from the date of award through August 31, 2014. The award is issued as a task agreement under an existing cooperative agreement (H4531110704) and is tied to CFDA 15.921, Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance.
At its core, the project is about strengthening community-led restoration of impaired urban waterways, especially in places facing brownfields impacts and environmental justice concerns. The NPS and Groundwork USA partnership is positioned to help local organizations, tribal governments, and local governments build the practical skills needed to restore and conserve urban rivers, lakes, wetlands, and shorelines over time. The work is organized through the Urban Waters Learning Network, which includes NPS-created Groundwork Trust organizations as well as Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Urban Waters Program grantees. Groundwork USA, as the national office for the Groundwork network, is described as the coordinating hub that can gather lessons learned across communities, document best practices, and move that knowledge efficiently to local partners doing on-the-ground work.
The main activities funded are technical assistance, peer learning, and capacity-building rather than direct construction. The announcement explicitly states that these funds cannot be used for construction documents or for construction of specific projects. Instead, Groundwork USA is expected to run at least six webinars or conference calls for urban waters program managers and staff, with topics chosen alongside EPA, NPS, and other federal partners to address challenges facing EPA Urban Waters grantees. The organization will also manage and energize the Learning Network's online collaboration space (Basecamp) by sharing tools and resources, prompting member-to-member exchanges, organizing discussions among similar programs, and encouraging members to request and offer advice on specific issues.
A notable emphasis is placed on environmental justice. Groundwork USA is tasked with supporting Learning Network discussions on environmental justice, summarizing those discussions for the network, and producing written guidance that urban waters organizations can use to address environmental justice issues using existing best practices and reference materials. In addition, the project includes building visibility and professional development opportunities for local practitioners by identifying relevant national and regional conferences and workshops, recruiting Learning Network members to present their work, and providing presentation support. The award also supports locating lower-cost training options (including web-based trainings) and keeping the network informed about them.
The River Rally conference is singled out as a major venue for structured, in-person training and network development. Groundwork USA is expected to develop and coordinate multiple Urban Waters-focused sessions across River Rally 2013 and River Rally 2014. These include facilitated pre-conference sessions designed to build skills and communication within the network, an intensive workshop open to all conference participants that highlights grantee projects and emerging practices, and a later facilitated session focused on highlighting accomplishments, evaluating how well the network model works, capturing lessons learned, and developing recommendations for future improvement.
Beyond training and peer learning, the task agreement requires Groundwork USA to actively relay field-based needs back to federal partners. Twice each year, it must provide summaries from the Learning Network members' perspective describing issues affecting urban waters work, including policy challenges, barriers that limit conservation or water quality improvement, and concrete suggestions for how federal partner coordination could be improved. It must also provide coordination assistance twice during the agreement period to help bring EPA tools and resources to grantees and practitioners, such as supporting a regional conference or a joint federal partner meeting. Another specific responsibility is to connect Learning Network members with technical assistance opportunities from the NPS Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance (RTCA) program and create avenues for RTCA staff to engage with the network.
The award includes structured storytelling and performance communication. Each calendar quarter, Groundwork USA must compile one or more success stories from Learning Network grantees, including a short written summary, one or two photos, and contact information, and then share these with NPS, EPA, and the broader network. There is also a targeted support component for organizations that may be struggling: at the direction of EPA and NPS, Groundwork USA can provide one-on-one coaching to grantees identified by EPA regional staff as being at risk of not completing their grants successfully. This individualized coaching is capped so that it does not exceed 20 percent of the total agreed-upon budget and may cover practical organizational issues such as financial management, board development, personnel management, partnership building, and navigating connections to federal support.
Reporting and documentation requirements are built into the agreement. Groundwork USA must maintain a photographic record and a list of accomplishments tied to the tasks, submit quarterly narrative progress reports and required financial reports to NPS, and produce a final report at the end of the project that documents outcomes and offers recommendations for the Urban Waters Learning Network model and the related work under this task agreement.
From the federal side, this is explicitly a cooperative agreement, meaning NPS anticipates substantial involvement rather than a hands-off grant. NPS will provide funding support, coordinate with EPA and other partners, participate in implementing the work (including technical assistance to communities), and help connect communities to RTCA assistance. The legal authority cited is 16 U.S.C. 1g, which allows NPS to enter cooperative agreements with eligible entities, including nonprofit organizations, for public-purpose activities that carry out NPS programs.
Finally, the award is intentionally single-source, justified under the Department of the Interior policy category of "Unique Qualifications." The announcement argues that Groundwork USA is uniquely positioned to do this work because it already leads the Groundwork network, is supporting the ongoing Urban Water Initiative, and plays a central role in coordinating, documenting, and disseminating best practices across Groundwork Trusts and EPA Urban Waters grantees. The notice lists one expected award, identifies eligible applicants generally as 501(c)(3) nonprofits (other than institutions of higher education), and provides the NPS point of contact as June Zastrow (303-987-6718, junezastrow@nps.gov).
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the Urban Waters Learning Network opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number P13AS00074)?
This notice describes the National Park Service (NPS) plan to support work under the Urban Waters Learning Network through a single cooperative agreement award. The work focuses on strengthening community-led restoration of impaired urban waterways through peer learning, technical assistance, and capacity-building.
Is P13AS00074 an open grant competition that the public can apply for?
No. This is a National Park Service notice of intent to award. It is not an open solicitation and it is not requesting applications from the public.
Who does NPS intend to fund under this notice?
NPS intends to make a single award to Groundwork USA.
How many awards are expected under this opportunity?
The notice identifies one expected award.
What type of award is planned?
The planned award is a cooperative agreement, issued as a task agreement under an existing cooperative agreement (H4531110704).
What does it mean that this is a cooperative agreement?
It means NPS anticipates substantial involvement in the project rather than a hands-off grant relationship. NPS will participate in implementing the work, coordinate with EPA and other federal partners, and help connect communities to technical assistance (including through NPS Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance).
What is the anticipated federal funding amount?
The anticipated federal funding amount is $99,986.86 (approximately $99,987).
Is a cost share or match required?
No cost share is required under this notice.
What is the expected project period?
The work is expected to run from the date of award through August 31, 2014.
Which CFDA program is this tied to?
This task agreement is tied to CFDA 15.921, Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance (RTCA).
What is the main purpose of the project?
The project is intended to strengthen community-led restoration and conservation of impaired urban waterways (rivers, lakes, wetlands, and shorelines), particularly in communities facing brownfields impacts and environmental justice concerns.
What is the Urban Waters Learning Network described in this notice?
The notice describes a network that includes NPS-created Groundwork Trust organizations and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Urban Waters Program grantees. It is organized to share lessons learned, document best practices, and move practical knowledge to local partners doing on-the-ground work.
What role does Groundwork USA play in the Urban Waters Learning Network?
Groundwork USA is described as the national coordinating hub for the Groundwork network. Under this award, it is expected to coordinate peer learning, manage collaboration tools, gather lessons learned across communities, document best practices, and share resources with local organizations and partners.
What kinds of activities are funded under this award?
The funded work emphasizes technical assistance, peer learning, network coordination, and capacity-building. Examples include webinars and conference calls, maintaining an online collaboration space, environmental justice guidance development, conference session development, success story compilation, and reporting.
Are construction activities allowed with these funds?
No. The announcement explicitly states the funds cannot be used for construction documents or for construction of specific projects.
What training or peer-learning events are expected?
Groundwork USA is expected to run at least six webinars or conference calls for urban waters program managers and staff, with topics selected alongside EPA, NPS, and other federal partners to address challenges facing EPA Urban Waters grantees.
What online tools or platforms are referenced for collaboration?
The notice references Basecamp as the Learning Network's online collaboration space. Groundwork USA is expected to manage and energize it by sharing tools and resources, prompting member-to-member exchanges, organizing discussions among similar programs, and encouraging members to request and offer advice.
How does the project address environmental justice?
Groundwork USA is tasked with supporting Learning Network discussions on environmental justice, summarizing those discussions for the network, and producing written guidance that urban waters organizations can use to address environmental justice issues using existing best practices and reference materials.
What conference-related work is included?
The award includes identifying relevant national and regional conferences and workshops, recruiting Learning Network members to present their work, and providing presentation support. It also includes locating and sharing lower-cost training options (including web-based trainings).
What is River Rally and why is it important in this project?
River Rally is highlighted as a key venue for structured, in-person training and network development. Groundwork USA is expected to develop and coordinate multiple Urban Waters-focused sessions at River Rally 2013 and River Rally 2014.
What Urban Waters-focused sessions are expected at River Rally?
The notice describes multiple session types, including: (1) facilitated pre-conference sessions to build skills and communication within the network; (2) an intensive workshop open to all conference participants highlighting grantee projects and emerging practices; and (3) a later facilitated session focused on accomplishments, evaluation of the network model, lessons learned, and recommendations for improvement.
Does the project include feedback from local practitioners back to federal partners?
Yes. Twice each year, Groundwork USA must provide summaries from the Learning Network members' perspective describing issues affecting urban waters work, including policy challenges, barriers to conservation or water quality improvement, and suggestions for improving federal partner coordination.
What coordination assistance is required during the agreement period?
The notice requires coordination assistance twice during the agreement period to help bring EPA tools and resources to grantees and practitioners, such as supporting a regional conference or a joint federal partner meeting.
How does NPS Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance (RTCA) connect to this work?
Groundwork USA is expected to connect Learning Network members with technical assistance opportunities from the NPS RTCA program and create avenues for RTCA staff to engage with the network. NPS also expects to help connect communities to RTCA assistance as part of its cooperative agreement involvement.
Are success stories or communications deliverables required?
Yes. Each calendar quarter, Groundwork USA must compile one or more success stories from Learning Network grantees, including a short written summary, one or two photos, and contact information, and share these with NPS, EPA, and the broader network.
Is one-on-one coaching included, and who is it for?
Yes. At the direction of EPA and NPS, Groundwork USA may provide one-on-one coaching to grantees identified by EPA regional staff as being at risk of not completing their grants successfully.
Is there a budget limit on the one-on-one coaching component?
Yes. The individualized coaching is capped so that it does not exceed 20 percent of the total agreed-upon budget.
What topics can the one-on-one coaching cover?
The notice lists practical organizational topics such as financial management, board development, personnel management, partnership building, and navigating connections to federal support.
What reporting and documentation are required?
Groundwork USA must maintain a photographic record and a list of accomplishments tied to the tasks, submit quarterly narrative progress reports and required financial reports to NPS, and produce a final report documenting outcomes and recommendations for the Urban Waters Learning Network model and the task agreement work.
What is the legal authority cited for this cooperative agreement?
The notice cites 16 U.S.C. 1g as the authority allowing NPS to enter cooperative agreements with eligible entities, including nonprofit organizations, for public-purpose activities that carry out NPS programs.
Why is the award described as single-source?
The notice states the award is intentionally single-source under the Department of the Interior policy category of "Unique Qualifications," arguing that Groundwork USA is uniquely positioned due to its leadership of the Groundwork network and its central role coordinating, documenting, and disseminating best practices across Groundwork Trusts and EPA Urban Waters grantees.
Who is listed as eligible in the notice?
The notice generally identifies eligible applicants as 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations (other than institutions of higher education), while also stating that this particular action is a notice of intent to award a single agreement to Groundwork USA (not an open application process).
Who is the NPS point of contact for this notice?
The point of contact listed is June Zastrow at 303-987-6718 and junezastrow@nps.gov.
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