RECOVERY ACT - Repair Ice Age Trail

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This is a Notice of Intent to award without competition to the Ice Age Park and Trail Foundation, Inc. The maintenance work to be accomplished on three segments of the Ice Age NST is a continuation of the long-term stewardship of the trail by the volunteers of the Ice Age Park and Trail Foundation. The purpose is to repair and replace trail structures (bridges, boardwalks) that have deteriorated and become unsafe, and to provide a quality experience to those who use the trail. The local volunteers have identified this work as needed to maintain the sections they are responsible for in a safe and sustainable condition for trail users. Congress clearly intends that the Ice Age NST should be maintained by volunteers. Section 2(c) of the National Trails System Act states: “The Congress recognizes the valuable contributions that volunteers and private, nonprofit trail groups have made to the development and maintenance of the Nation’s trails. In recognition of these contributions, it is further the purpose of this Act to encourage and assist volunteer citizen involvement in the planning, development, maintenance, and management, where appropriate, of trails.” Because of the long-established partnership for the accomplishment of such work between the NPS and the Foundation, it is appropriate to award this assistance to the Foundation.The Ice Age Park and Trail Foundation staff and volunteers are uniquely qualified to do this work. Volunteer support and cost-sharing are involved in the work to be accomplished. The Foundation staff and volunteers have important technical expertise in trail and trail structures design and construction. The Foundation staff and volunteers have the relationships with the public and private owners of the lands where the work will be performed and have permission to do such work on their lands. Another entity, either for-profit or nonprofit, would not have that permission.

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