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

Opportunity Information: Apply for P17AS00013

The National Park Service (NPS), within the Department of the Interior, issued Funding Announcement P17AS00013 to publicly notify that it intended to fund a specific, pre-identified project at Katmai National Park and Preserve without open competition. This notice was not a request for applications and was not meant to invite proposals from the general public. Applications were only allowed from the Student Conservation Association (SCA), reflecting that the work was being carried out under an existing, previously competed youth organization master agreement (Master Agreement P15AC00031). The opportunity falls under CFDA 15.931, Conservation Activities by Youth Service Organizations, and uses statutory authority at 54 U.S.C. 101702(a), which supports cooperative agreements and transfer of appropriated funds for service-related conservation work.

At a high level, the project combined two main efforts: constructing a short, accessible spur trail to improve visitor access to a scenic viewpoint, and completing priority maintenance work on several other trails across the park. 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. The intention was to convert an existing route into a more universally usable trail so that more visitors, including wheelchair users, could reach the overlook safely and comfortably. In addition to the spur trail work, the agreement included scheduled, cyclic maintenance and repairs on three other established trails to address vegetation encroachment, drainage problems, tread damage, and deteriorated infrastructure.

The spur trail portion was designed around accessibility and durability. The work plan called for improving trail grades to align with ADA outdoor accessibility expectations, including cut-and-fill work over about 200 linear feet where the terrain required re-shaping. It also included correcting side slopes along about 100 feet of the route to meet accessibility requirements. To accommodate wheelchairs, the full 600-foot trail would be widened to about 3 feet. The surface would be stabilized by excavating to about a 3-inch depth and installing a geo-cell confinement system, then filling it with suitable gravel road base and compacting it to create a firm, stable, and more all-weather tread. Crews would also brush the corridor to remove tall grasses, brush, and overhanging branches, reducing immediate obstructions and helping prevent vegetation from quickly reclaiming the trail edge.

Beyond the overlook spur, the project targeted several high-use trails for maintenance. 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. On the 1.5-mile Ukak Falls Trail, the plan focused on treadway repairs and user safety on steep terrain. That work included installing about 5 waterbar drainage structures, building roughly 25 steps to make the climb and descent more manageable, and rehabilitating about 500 linear feet of rutted tread. 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: removing lichens and other buildup to reduce slip hazards and improve cleanliness, and replacing about 20 rotted deck boards and railings with recycled plastic dimensional lumber to extend service life and reduce future maintenance.

The agreement structure 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. SCA, as the designated recipient, was responsible for recruiting and selecting participants (described 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.

NPS responsibilities focused on funding, oversight, and on-the-ground support. The total anticipated award amount was $47,147.49 with no cost share required, and NPS listed financial assistance of $45,732.82 as part of its involvement. The park committed to providing orientation to park operations, mission, and safety procedures, and assigning an NPS technical representative to be on-site to assist SCA participants as needed. NPS would also supply the necessary tools, equipment, and materials for completing the tasks, fund housing for the SCA volunteer(s), and provide a written completion evaluation to document performance and outcomes.

The project was planned as a one-year task agreement with an anticipated field performance window from 07/31/2017 to 09/15/2017, reflecting the practical constraints of seasonal work in Alaska. The award ceiling was listed at $50,000, with one expected award. The single-source approach was justified under Department of the Interior policy (505 DM 2) on the basis that the relevant youth organization master agreements had already been competed, and this project was issued as a task agreement under that established framework rather than being opened again for full competition. The named point of contact for the announcement was Erica Cordeiro.

• The Department of the Interior, National Park Service in the education, employment, labor and training, environment, natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Construct Spur Trail to Research Bay Overlook / Perform Parkwide Trail Maintenance at Katmai National Park and Preserve" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.931.
• This funding opportunity was created on Nov 04, 2016.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Nov 15, 2016 Applications will only be allowed from the Student Conservation Association.. (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 $50,000.00 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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