NOTICE OF INTENT: FY2017 Implementation of Management Plan | P17AS00121

Opportunity Information: Apply for P17AS00121

This grant opportunity, titled "NOTICE OF INTENT: FY2017 Implementation of Management Plan" (Funding Opportunity Number P17AS00121), is a National Park Service (NPS) cooperative agreement under the U.S. Department of the Interior. It supports the FY2017 implementation of the management plan for the Sangre de Cristo National Heritage Area (SdCNHA). The heritage area itself was established by Congress through the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-11, Title VIII, Subtitle A, Section 8001), which also directs the Secretary of the Interior to enter into a compact with the heritage area management entity, Sangre de Cristo National Heritage Area, Inc. The central purpose is to help carry out activities that serve a public purpose and align with the heritage area enabling legislation and the approved management plan, recognizing that National Heritage Areas are nationally important landscapes where natural, cultural, historic, and scenic resources come together to tell significant stories about the American experience.

The award is structured as a cooperative agreement, which means NPS is expected to stay involved beyond simply providing funds. The opportunity was listed as discretionary funding in the natural resources activity category (CFDA 15.939), with an expected single award and an award ceiling of $1. The posting was created on March 13, 2017, with an original closing date of March 23, 2017. While the eligibility field is broadly labeled "Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification)," the narrative makes it clear the work is centered on SdCNHA as the designated management entity, operating under the terms and conditions of an existing cooperative agreement and the task agreement described in the notice.

The funded work for FY2017 focuses heavily on organizational capacity and on-the-ground delivery in three major areas: administration and operations, public outreach, and grants/projects tied to the management plan. A major theme throughout the statement of work is accountability and compliance. SdCNHA emphasizes that federal funds will be closely monitored to ensure staff time, services, and other costs fall within federal rules and regulations, with responsible accounting practices supported by staff, the Board Treasurer, and an accountant. This reflects the expectation that the organization will maintain strong financial controls and documentation suitable for reimbursement-based federal assistance.

On the operational side, SdCNHA plans to maintain core staffing consisting of an Executive Director, a Financial Officer, and an Administrative Assistant, with the intention to leverage internships and in-kind contributions when possible. The organization also intends to strengthen internal governance through board development and refinement of foundational documents and systems. That includes revising bylaws, organizing and activating board committees, and clarifying committee roles within the overall structure. The committees specifically highlighted are the Executive Committee, the Grants and Projects Committee, and the Marketing and Outreach Committee, each meant to guide the board on initiatives and policies and provide clearer oversight and accountability.

Training and professional development is another major component of the FY2017 plan. SdCNHA intends to provide orientation and training for new board members while continuing skill-building for existing board members and staff. Training topics include understanding the task agreement, work plan, and reimbursement process; defining board and committee roles and responsibilities; learning SdCNHA policies and procedures; supporting rebranding efforts; exploring National Park Service and community partnership opportunities; and strengthening project development capabilities. The plan anticipates using a mix of local resources, NPS support, online and in-person courses, conferences, and job shadowing to deliver training in a practical and cost-effective way.

Public outreach is described as a core program emphasis, with attention to festivals, education, and partnerships. The plan calls for consistent marketing and communications activities intended to increase visibility for SdCNHA programs and accomplishments. Specific outreach tactics include purchasing advertisements in targeted publications, producing at least two press releases per month, creating radio public service announcements (with particular mention of KRZA, the local NPR station), attending at least five local community festivals to distribute program information and brochures, posting daily on social media about events and history, and conducting regular outreach with county commissioners and local boards. The organization also intends to produce an annual report, positioning it as both an accountability product and a communications tool.

A significant program delivery element is historic preservation and project support through a grants program. SdCNHA intends to continue developing its grantmaking infrastructure by revising the grant program handbook, updating the grant application, refining selection criteria, and revising contract agreements as needed. This is paired with a broader emphasis on improving general project planning, oversight, and management, suggesting that FY2017 is meant to strengthen both how projects are chosen and how they are carried out and monitored.

Partnership development is woven throughout the work plan, including collaboration with other National Heritage Areas in Colorado and New Mexico and participation in the Alliance of National Heritage Areas (ANHA). Named partners include Cache la Poudre National Heritage Area, Northern Rio Grande National Heritage Area, Sangre de Cristo National Heritage Area, and South Park Heritage Area. SdCNHA plans to engage through ANHA meetings, including fall and spring conferences and the annual Washington, DC meeting, both to learn best practices and to participate in national advocacy and coordination for heritage areas. Staff travel is also anticipated for partnership building, representing SdCNHA at meetings, visiting heritage area sites, and providing support to grantees when needed.

The FY2017 management emphases also include a detailed list of organizational decisions and systems the heritage area intends to strengthen. These include establishing clearer guidelines and standard operating procedures with support from staff and NPS; continuing development of employee policies, an employee handbook, and a board orientation manual; ongoing bylaw review and revisions; review and updates to employee contracts; and providing annual performance evaluations for all staff. In addition, the organization plans to build the structure needed for both short-term operations and long-term sustainability by recruiting, selecting, and training staff and board members, and by investing in targeted skills training such as grant-series trainings, InDesign training, and human resources training. An annual board retreat is also planned as a key professional development and planning milestone.

NPS responsibilities are clearly spelled out and reflect the cooperative nature of the agreement. NPS commits to providing advisory, technical, and financial assistance related to management plan implementation. NPS will also review SdCNHA subgrant applicant lists and recommended awards to ensure they comply with the management plan, the enabling legislation, and federal cost principles under 2 CFR 200. For projects that implicate historic preservation compliance, NPS will provide technical assistance related to Section 106 consultation, including advising on the appropriate level of effect, reviewing projects for alignment with the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties, and helping facilitate consultation between SdCNHA and the Colorado State Historic Preservation Office. Finally, NPS may review and comment on draft planning documents for projects identified in an attachment to the agreement when requested by SdCNHA or initiated by NPS.

Overall, this opportunity is best understood as operational and program implementation support for a congressionally designated National Heritage Area, with FY2017 priorities centered on building strong internal systems, expanding and professionalizing outreach and marketing, administering a compliant grants and preservation project portfolio, and deepening regional and national partnerships, all under active NPS collaboration and federal compliance requirements.

• The Department of the Interior, National Park Service in the natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "NOTICE OF INTENT: FY2017 Implementation of Management Plan" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.939.
• This funding opportunity was created on Mar 13, 2017.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Mar 23, 2017. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $1.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).

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