Construct Spur Trail to Research Bay Overlook / Perform Parkwide Trail Maintenance at Katmai National Park and Preserve | P17AS00013

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1) What is Funding Announcement P17AS00013?

Funding Announcement P17AS00013 is a National Park Service (NPS) public notice stating the agency's intent to fund a specific, pre-identified project at Katmai National Park and Preserve. It was issued by NPS within the Department of the Interior.

2) Is this notice a request for applications (RFA) or an open call for proposals?

No. The announcement explicitly states it was not a request for applications and was not meant to invite proposals from the general public.

3) Who was eligible to apply for this opportunity?

Applications were only allowed from the Student Conservation Association (SCA). The notice limited eligibility to SCA because the work was being carried out under an existing, previously competed youth organization master agreement.

4) Why was the opportunity not competed openly?

The NPS used a single-source approach because the relevant youth organization master agreements had already been competed. This project was issued as a task agreement under that established framework rather than being opened again for full competition, consistent with Department of the Interior policy (505 DM 2).

5) What master agreement was this project tied to?

The work was conducted under an existing, previously competed youth organization master agreement identified as Master Agreement P15AC00031.

6) What is the CFDA number and program name for this opportunity?

This opportunity falls under CFDA 15.931, titled "Conservation Activities by Youth Service Organizations."

7) What legal authority supported this cooperative agreement?

The announcement cites statutory authority at 54 U.S.C. 101702(a), which supports cooperative agreements and the transfer of appropriated funds for service-related conservation work.

8) Where would the project work take place?

The project would take place at Katmai National Park and Preserve, including work along the Valley of 10,000 Smokes Road (Research Bay Overlook area) and on several established park trails (Dumpling Mountain Trail, Ukak Falls Trail, and Brooks Falls Trail).

9) What were the main goals of the project?

At a high level, the project combined two efforts: (1) constructing and upgrading a short spur trail to improve visitor access to a scenic viewpoint, and (2) completing priority maintenance on other trails across the park to address vegetation encroachment, drainage, tread damage, and deteriorated infrastructure.

10) What new or improved trail segment was planned?

The central construction task was to create and upgrade a roughly 600-foot spur trail connecting a bus pullout along the Valley of 10,000 Smokes Road to the Research Bay Overlook.

11) What was the purpose of the spur trail work?

The spur trail work aimed to convert an existing route into a more universally usable trail so more visitors, including wheelchair users, could reach the overlook safely and comfortably.

12) How wide was the spur trail expected to be after improvements?

The plan called for widening the full 600-foot trail to about 3 feet to better accommodate wheelchair use.

13) What accessibility-related grading work was planned for the spur trail?

The work plan included improving trail grades to align with ADA outdoor accessibility expectations, including cut-and-fill work over about 200 linear feet where terrain required reshaping. It also included correcting side slopes along about 100 feet of the route to meet accessibility requirements.

14) How would the spur trail surface be stabilized?

The plan was to excavate to about a 3-inch depth, install a geo-cell confinement system, fill it with suitable gravel road base, and compact it to create a firm, stable, more all-weather trail tread.

15) What vegetation management (brushing) was included for the spur trail?

Crews would brush the corridor to remove tall grasses, brush, and overhanging branches to reduce immediate obstructions and help prevent vegetation from quickly reclaiming the trail edge.

16) Which other trails were included for maintenance work?

The agreement included scheduled, cyclic maintenance and repairs on three other established trails: the Dumpling Mountain Trail (6 miles), the Ukak Falls Trail (1.5 miles), and the Brooks Falls Trail (1 mile).

17) What work was planned for the Dumpling Mountain Trail?

On the 6-mile Dumpling Mountain Trail, the crew would brush the full length and improve drainage on upper sections, including installing about 15 timber waterbars to redirect runoff and reduce erosion.

18) What work was planned for the Ukak Falls Trail?

On the 1.5-mile Ukak Falls Trail, the plan focused on tread repairs and user safety on steep terrain, including installing about 5 waterbar drainage structures, building roughly 25 steps, and rehabilitating about 500 linear feet of rutted tread.

19) What work was planned for the Brooks Falls Trail?

On the 1-mile Brooks Falls Trail, crews would conduct brushing to clear the corridor of overhanging vegetation. The project also included work on the Falls Trail platform sections, including removing lichens and other buildup to reduce slip hazards and improve cleanliness.

20) Were any platform materials planned for replacement on the Falls Trail?

Yes. The plan included replacing about 20 rotted deck boards and railings with recycled plastic dimensional lumber to extend service life and reduce future maintenance.

21) How did the agreement connect conservation work with youth development?

The agreement emphasized both conservation outcomes and youth workforce development. NPS youth programs are intended to support career training and professional development for young people in conservation, resource management, and related fields, while also delivering tangible improvements in park infrastructure.

22) What responsibilities were assigned to the Student Conservation Association (SCA)?

SCA was responsible for recruiting and selecting participants (referred to as Conservation Associates), arranging transportation to and from Katmai, and providing subsistence support during the assignment. SCA also provided participant benefits such as a living allowance, insurance, and AmeriCorps education awards when applicable. Additional responsibilities included covering in-service commercial travel during the project period, providing 24/7 hotline support, conducting site visits, and completing performance evaluations.

23) What responsibilities were assigned to the National Park Service (NPS)?

NPS responsibilities focused on funding, oversight, and on-the-ground support. NPS committed to providing orientation to park operations, mission, and safety procedures, assigning an NPS technical representative to assist participants as needed, supplying necessary tools/equipment/materials, funding housing for the SCA volunteer(s), and providing a written completion evaluation to document performance and outcomes.

24) What was the anticipated award amount and was cost share required?

The total anticipated award amount was $47,147.49, and no cost share was required.

25) What level of financial assistance did NPS list?

NPS listed financial assistance of $45,732.82 as part of its involvement.

26) What was the award ceiling and how many awards were expected?

The award ceiling was listed at $50,000, with one expected award.

27) What was the project period and expected field work window?

The project was planned as a one-year task agreement with an anticipated field performance window from 07/31/2017 to 09/15/2017.

28) Why was the field work window limited to that time period?

The timing reflected practical constraints of seasonal work in Alaska, as described in the opportunity summary.

29) What type of agreement mechanism was used?

The announcement describes the use of a cooperative agreement and a task agreement structure under the existing youth organization master agreement framework.

30) Who was the point of contact named in the announcement?

The named point of contact for the announcement was Erica Cordeiro.