PARTNERSHIP PROJECT REVIEW CONCEPT

DRAFT NCR PARTNERSHIP PROJECT REVIEW CONCEPT
FOR INTERNAL DISCUSSION:
January 23, 2008
J. Glenn Eugster

1. Direction from November 13, 2007 memo from RD/DRD to field.

Based on the input received, we will implement the following recommendations effective immediately.

2. The NCR Office of Partnerships will work with the parks and regional program managers to define partnerships, partnership construction projects, and when a review process will apply, consistent with NPS national policies and practices. It is our hope to have this process in place and communicated to all by March 3, 2008.


2. Definitions:

a. Partnerships: A partnership is basically an agreement between two or more organizations, created to achieve or assist in reaching a common goal. Partnerships may involve one organization utilizing another's unique abilities, equipment or services, or it may be a "sharing" of resources (money, time, knowledge, equipment, etc.) to accomplish short or long-term objectives for one or all of the participating partners (Department of Interior definition). See the following website for more information:
http://www.doi.gov/partnerships/partner_whatis.html

b. Types of Partnerships: NPS engages in many types of formal and informal partnership arrangements including: grants and cooperative agreements; memoranda of understanding; donations to the Department; and statutory partnerships. These tools are available for use in structuring the partnership arrangements specific to the needs of, and to the mutual benefit of the parties involved (Department of Interior website). See the following website for information on types of partnerships.
http://www.doi.gov/partnerships/about_partnerships.html

c. Partnership Construction Projects: A private-public, or a public-public, partnership construction project. A joint project between NPS and a non-governmental entity (NPF, or a Friends Group, for example) or another unit of government (the District, a federal, state, regional or local government) where the partner will be engaged in fundraising, and/or the partner will contribute funding.

d. When the review process will apply?
All partnership construction projects.
All fundraising agreements and plans for projects and campaigns over $ 100,000 (if a park manager or staff has completed partnership training).
All park, site or regional program donor recognition plans.
All donations or grants, involving partners, over $ 100,000 (if a park manager or staff has completed partnership training).
Anything else?

3. Proposed Review & Streamlining Process Concept

Partnerships Office Role
Coordinate, direct, expedite and track regional and WASO
review and approval of all NCR partnership projects, including all Centennial Initiative projects.
Develop, implement and communicate a process for National
Capital Region partnership construction projects.
Foster collegiality.
Create opportunities for leadership dialogue—when requested by park managers or the Regional Directorate.
Serve as a mandatory clearinghouse for partnership project review and approved copies of partnership projects, agreements and donor recognition plans.
Maintain a NCR park and regional portfolio of partnership projects and needs for consideration of National Park Foundation, the Centennial Initiative, and other partners.
Provide information on NCR partnership project review steps, partnership construction project review requirements, NCR donor recognition plans, and NCR case study examples.
Revise the NPS partnership construction process chart for NCR so that it is simpler, partner friendly and smaller.
Other?

4. NCR Partnership Project review and Streamlining Process

Step 1. Laying the Groundwork
Park or regional program managers originate ideas with input from partners where appropriate.
Partnerships Office manager routinely provides identification of funding sources. Technical assistance and training is provided on a request basis.
Park managers complete and keep current a Donor Recognition Plan.
Park and regional program managers provide opportunities for at least one manager or staff to be trained in partnership projects. Minimum training requirements include:
- General Agreement Training (as required now)
- DO-21 Training, including updates (as is being proposed)
- Fundraising agreements and plans (as is being proposed)
- Donor recognition plans (to be provided by NCR)
- Partnership construction projects (as is being proposed)
- Sources of non-NPS funding for implementation (to be provided by NCR or others)

Step 2. Early Discussion & Perspective
Park or regional managers meet with Regional Director and Deputy Regional Director to discuss project concept. Park or regional managers provide a one page proposal describing the project prior to the meeting(outline needed).

The perspective questions to be discussed during this step include:
What is the purpose of the proposal?
Should we take the next step?
How should we do this?
What resources will the park have or will the park need to do this project?
What support is there for the project? (Apply the political screen)
Should we make a decision now to go or not to go forward?

Step 3. Detailing the Proposal
Park or regional managers prepare detailed proposal working with park, regional and WASO managers, the Solicitor’s Office, NPF, and partners, as appropriate.

Step 4. Review & Approval
Park or regional managers submit detailed proposal and arrange with Partnerships Office for lateral technical and Solicitor’s Office review and sign-off. Partnerships Office:
provides park or regional program managers of requirements for review and approval—checklist of what will be reviewed.
screens project to decide who looks at it first.
identifies key projects that need to be looked at early in the process—with RD/DRD input.
checks with Business Office for legality of commercial activities.
checks with Solicitor’s Office for legal and policy review.
provides park and regional managers an opportunity to discuss post-approval implementation actions and funding.
secures surname approval from Associate Regional Directors
notifies the park, under the RD/DRD signature, of approval and if appropriate conditions of such approval.

Step 5. Approval
Park or regional managers take project back to regional and Deputy Regional Director, through Partnerships Office, for approval.

Step 6. Implementation & Tracking
Regional leadership participates in the regular partnership construction work sessions with the Denver Service Center.

Partnerships Office tracks park and regional program manager commitments to implement projects and agreements (may overlap with others in budget but worth discussing).