Fiscal Year 2010: No Current Data Available Fiscal Year 2011: No Current Data Available Fiscal Year 2012: No Current Data Available

Uses and Use Restrictions

North Cascades National Park Service Complex was established in 1968 "In order to preserve for the benefit, use, and inspiration of present and future generations certain majestic mountain scenery, snowfields, glaciers, alpine meadows and other unique natural features in the North Cascade Mountains" (North Cascades"s Act, Oct.

2, 1968, 82 Stat.

926, 16 U.S.C.

90).

North Cascades National Park contains three hydroelectric power plants operated by Seattle City Light that predate establishment of the Park.

As part of the license agreement from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, mitigation elements were required.

North Cascades Institute operates the residential North Cascades Environmental Learning Center, an 11.6 million dollar facility which is imbedded within NOCA as required by a Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) agreement with Seattle City Light, operator of three hydroelectric dams within NOCA.

The Learning Center is one of the required mitigation elements for Seattle City Light"s federal FERC license for continued operation of three hydroelectric reservoirs on the Skagit River.

The NPS has, or is able to obtain, qualified personnel to conduct interpretive training, participate in related programs with a public purpose of support or stimulation of outdoor recreation, resource preservation, and appreciation, and recognizes the Institute as an educational organization.

Discretionary appropriated funds shall be made available for Task Agreements on a case specific basis.

Discretionary appropriated funds shall be made available for Task Agreements on a case specific basis.

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Eligibility Requirements

Applicant Eligibility

The North Cascades Institute has a legal relationship with Seattle City Light to provide the facilities and programs that meet the requirements of the FERC to provide the learning center within North Cascades National Park Complex.

Ability to provide qualified personnel to conduct training and develop programs for educational purposes in support of outdoor recreation, resource preservation and appreciation.

Experience in cooperatively developing successful, cost-effective programs that meet both park and Institute educational and budgetary goals, including providing integrated educational programming.

Beneficiary Eligibility

General Public
Education Professional
Student/Trainee
Graduate Student
Scientists/Researcher
Education(0-8)
Education(9-12)
Education(13+)
Credentials/Documentation
Sponsored Organization
Public Nonprofit Institution/Organization
Other Public Institution/Organization.

Credentials/Documentation

Unique qualifications met by North Cascades Institutes. OMB Circular No. A-87 applies to this program.

Aplication and Award Process

Preapplication Coordination

All funded projects will be developed collaboratively between the three partners and executed in accordance with availability of appropriations, application law and regulations including DOI Regulations regarding Financial Assistance awards at 43 CFR Part 12 and the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).

An environmental impact statement is required for this program.

An environmental impact assessment is required for this program.

This program is eligible for coverage under E.O.

12372, "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs." An applicant should consult the office or official designated as the single point of contact in his or her State for more information on the process the State requires to be followed in applying for assistance, if the State has selected the program for review.

Application Procedures

OMB Circular No. A-102 applies to this program. OMB Circular No. A-110 applies to this program. Projects will be documented in task agreements to be issued under the terms and conditions of a master Cooperative Agreement. Each project will include the appropriate documentation for a Financial Assistance award in accordance with National Park Service policy and regulation.

Award Procedures

Projects will be selected based on criteria developed with the partners and as approved by the Superintendent, North Cascades. All awards will be made in accordance with Department of the Interior"s Policy, Departmental Manual 505DM2 based upon Unique Qualifications.

Deadlines

Not Applicable.

Authorization

16 U.S.C. 1g provides that the National Park Service may enter into cooperative agreements that involve the transfer of National Park Service appropriated funds to State, local and tribal governments, other public entities, educational institutions, and private nonprofit organizations for the public purpose of carrying out National Park Service programs pursuant to 31 U.S.C. 6305 to carry out public purposes of National Park Service programs.

The Outdoor Recreation Act, as amended, 16 U.S.C., 4601-1(f), (1988), states that the Secretary is authorized to sponsor, engage in, and assist in research, undertake studies through cooperative agreements, and cooperate with educational institutions in establishing educational programs and activities relating to outdoor recreation.

The North Cascades Environmental Learning Center (NCELC) is a residential education facility located on the shore of Diablo Lake in North Cascades National Park. The Learning Center is one of the central elements of the 1995 federal relicensing of Seattle City Light"s Skagit River dams. This project and others are designed to mitigate the impact of hydroelectric projects on the Skagit River environment.

Seattle City Light, the National Park Service and North Cascades Institute each have unique responsibilities in this partnership:
- Seattle City Light funded the design and the construction of the facility, own the buildings, and are leasing them to North Cascades Institute.
- The National Park Service dedicated land for the Learning Center within the Ross Lake National Recreation Area of North Cascades National Park Service Complex. The National Park Service also provides services such as water, sewer, fire management and educational support.
- North Cascades Institute is a non-profit organization based in Sedro-Woolley, Washington. It operates the Learning Center and provide environmental education programs for all ages and backgrounds.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time

Not Applicable.

Appeals

Not Applicable.

Renewals

In accordance with applicable law and regulation.

Assistance Considerations

Formula and Matching Requirements

Statutory formulas are not applicable to this program.
Matching requirements are not applicable to this program.
MOE requirements are not applicable to this program.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance

Not applicable. Method of awarding/releasing assistance: lump sum.

Post Assistance Requirements

Reports

Reports, if any, shall be specified in each Task Agreement and DOI regulations (OMB Circular A-110 and the Common Rule 43 CFR Part 12, Subpart F, paragraphs 12.951 through 12.953, and 12.971 through 12.973) and subsequent modifications as implemented by OMB.

Cash reports are not applicable.

Progress reports are not applicable.

Expenditure reports are not applicable.

Performance monitoring is not applicable.

Audits

In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 27, 2003), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations," nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $500,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $500,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133.

Records

NCI is recognized as a Nonprofit having 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, all applicable record keeping applies. The Cooperative Agreement and each task agreement will specify requirements, and all applicable regulatory record keeping applies.

Financial Information

Account Identification

14-1036-0-1-303.

Obigations

(Direct Payments for Specified Use (Cooperative Agreements)) FY 09 $46,170; FY 10 $49,000; FY 11 $55,000 - Request for Reimbursement schedules vary depending on projects.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance

$35,000 - $100,000; Average award - $45,000.

Regulations, Guidelines, and Literature

The following OMB Circulars and other regulations will be incorporated by reference into the Cooperative Agreement:

1. (a) OMB Circular A-110, as codified by 43 CFR Part 12, Subpart F, "Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants and Agreements with Institutions of Higher Education, Hospitals, and other Non-Profit Organizations."
(b) OMB Circular A-122, "Cost Principles for Non-Profit Organizations."

(c) OMB Circular A-133, "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations."

(d) 43 CFR Part 12, Subpart D, "Government-wide Debarment and Suspension (Non-procurement) and Government-wide Requirements for Drug-Free Workplace (Grants)."

(e) 43 CFR Part 12, Subpart E, "Buy American Requirements for Assistance Programs." FAR Clause 52.203-12, Paragraphs (a) and (b), Limitation on Payments to Influence Certain Federal Transactions."

2. Non-Discrimination - All activities pursuant to this Agreement shall be in compliance with the requirements of Executive Order 11246; Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended, (78 Stat. 252; 42 U.S.C. 2000d et seq.); Title V, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, (87 Stat. 394; 29 U.S.C. 794); the Age Discrimination Act of 1975 (89 Stat. 728; 42 U.S.C. 6101 et seq.); and with all other federal laws and regulations prohibiting discrimination on grounds of race, color, sexual orientation, national origin, disabilities, religion, age, or sex.

3. Lobbying Prohibition - 18 U.S.C. 1913, Lobbying with Appropriated Moneys, as amended by Public Law 107-273, Nov. 2, 2002 - No part of the money appropriated by any enactment of Congress shall, in the absence of express authorization by Congress, be used directly or indirectly to pay for any personal service, advertisement, telegram, telephone, letter, printed or written matter, or other device, intended or designed to influence in any manner a Member of Congress, a jurisdiction, or an official of any government, to favor, adopt, or oppose, by vote or otherwise, any legislation, law, ratification, policy, or appropriation, whether before or after the introduction of any bill, measure, or resolution proposing such legislation, law, ratification, policy or appropriation, whether before or after the introduction of any bill, measure, or resolution proposing such legislation, law, ratification, policy, or appropriation; but this shall not prevent officers or employees of the United States or of its departments or agencies from communicating to any such Members or official, at his request, or to Congress or such official, through the proper official channels, requests for legislation, law ratification, policy, or appropriations which they deem necessary for the efficient conduct of the public business, or from making any communication whose prohibition by this section might, in the opinion of the Attorney General, violate the Constitution or interfere with the conduct of foreign policy, counter-intelligence, intelligence, or national security activities. Violations of this section shall constitute violations of section 1352(a) of title 31.

4. Anti-Deficiency Act - 31 U.S.C. 1341 - Nothing contained in this Agreement shall be construed as binding the NPS to expend in any one fiscal year any sum in excess of appropriations made by Congress for the purpose of this Agreement for that fiscal year, or other obligation for the further expenditure of money in excess of such appropriations.

5. Minority Business Enterprise Development - Executive Order 12432 - It is national policy to award a fair share of contracts to small and minority firms. The NPS is strongly committed to the objectives of this policy and encourages all recipients of its Cooperative Agreements to take affirmative steps to ensure such fairness by ensuring procurement procedures are carried out in accordance with 43 CFR 12.944 for Institutions of Higher Education; Hospital and other Non-Profit Organizations, and 43 CFR 12.76 for State and Local Governments.

Information Contacts

Regional or Local Office

See Regional Agency Offices. Charles Beall
Chief of Interpretation and Education
North Cascades National Park
810 State Route 20
Sedro-Woolley, WA 98284
360-854-7302
Charles_beall@nps.gov.

Headquarters Office

Deanne Adams, National Park Service, Pacific West Regional Office, 1111 Jackson Street, Suite 700, Oakland, California 94607 Phone: (360) 854-7302.

Criteria for Selecting Proposals

Projects will be accomplished in cooperation with the three partners and be in accordance with established priorities. Funding source will be determine criteria for prioritization.